[Item 7 (Part 1 of 2)]
[00:00:08]
OKAY.UH, THE TIME IS, UH, UH, THREE OH FOUR.
I AM RECONVENING THE CITY CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I AM ALSO CONVENING CONCURRENTLY.
HE A CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING THAT'S FOR THREE O'CLOCK, UH, ON THIS SAME, UH, SAME DAY.
WE HAVE A, UH, A QUORUM COUNCIL MEMBER FOR MADISON.
ARE YOU HERE? COUNCIL MEMBER MARIA IS HERE AT CAMPUS ORCA STARS HERE.
SO YOUR KITCHEN, UH, AIR COUNCILOR FLYING AGAIN, UH, IS COUNCILOR POOL IS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS IS HERE A COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO IS HERE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
UH, SO WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED.
BEFORE WE START WITH THE MAYOR, BEFORE YOU START, COULD YOU SAY THAT COUNCIL UNDER HYPER MADISON IS, OR IS NOT? I DO NOT SEE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON YET.
I WOULD ASK THAT WE WAIT TWO MINUTES OR THREE TO TEXT HER AND OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER MEDICINE.
UM, BEFORE WE BEGAN, I NOTE THAT THE, UH, UM, MEMORIAL IN MINNEAPOLIS, UH, HAS JUST BEGUN OR, UH, FOR, FOR GEORGE LLOYD.
AND AS WE BEGIN OUR MEETING HERE, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT, UH, AS WE'RE ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED, UH, RACIAL EQUITY, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, GEORGE FORD IS BEING MEMORIALIZED TODAY NOW IN MINNEAPOLIS, IN THE CHAOS AND, UH, EMOTION OF LAST WEEK, UH, AND THE IMPORTANT WORK TO COME, UH, I'D LIKE US ALL TO JUST STOP FOR A BEAT AND REFLECT ON THIS MAN, UH, BEING THE FATHER WHO WAS LOST FOR YOU.
JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I, IN MEMORY OF HIS LIFE, THAT OUR WORK HERE CAN BE, UH, IN PART ATTRIBUTED TO HIM ALSO TO HAVE IN OUR THOUGHTS, THE FAMILIES OF MIKE RAMOS AND THE PEOPLE WHO RE-INJURED THIS WEEKEND.
UM, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS IN FRONT OF US.
WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS SLATED FOR ACTION.
UM, DOES ANYBODY NEEDS TO DISCUSS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN OR CAN WE PASS THAT STEP? GETTING GRANT FUNDING AND MOVE ON OR MOTION TO APPROVE THE GRANT FUNDING AND ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, COUNSELOR POOL MAKES THE MOTIONS FOR A SECOND.
THAT'S MY RIGHT TO REASSESS DISCUSSION.
THERE ARE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
WOULD WE BE HAVING AN ISSUE, NOT HEARING THOSE SPEAKERS BEFORE WE HOPE WE COULD.
I WAS MAKING PROPER, PERHAPS THE WRONG ASSUMPTION THAT PEOPLE WERE SIGNING UP THERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE OTHER ITEM.
UM, BUT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND HOLD OFF.
LET'S REMEMBER TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT ITEM BEFORE WE LEAVE TONIGHT SO THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TOMORROW.
UH, SO IF YOU ALL WOULD HELP ME REMEMBER TO DO THAT, I WOULD, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT IS, UH, IT, IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
MINE IT'S ACCEPTING GRANT MONEY IS ACCEPTING GRANT MONEY.
UM, SO COULD STAFF EXPLAIN WHAT SEVEN IS MANAGERS? THERE'S SOMEONE HERE THAT COULD EXPLAIN THAT, OR NUMBER SEVEN ACM ARIANO CAN CHIME IN AS WELL, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS JUST ACCEPTING, UH, A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS MOTOR VEHICLE, CRIME PREVENTION, AUTHORITY.
UH, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST AND WE WOULD CONTINUE WITH THIS, BUT, UM, IT'S JUST THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT.
YOU SEE MARIANNA, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? YOU MAY NOT BE ON?
[00:05:01]
OKAY.WE GET A FURTHER EXPLANATION FROM THAT.
IF A RAY COMES BACK ON THE LINE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON IT NOW.
CAUSE I THINK THAT THE POINT'S WELL TAKEN, THAT THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP AND WE CAN'T BE SURE WHAT THEY WERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ABOUT.
HI, THIS IS KAREN FITZGERALD WITH APD.
DID YOU WANT ME TO GIVE A SUMMARY? THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING A RESOLUTION.
THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW APD TO BUY FOR $430,685 AND CONTINUATION GRANT FUNDING FROM A STATE AGENCY, THE MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION AUTHORITY.
THE FOCUS OF THE GRANT IS MOTOR VEHICLE FOR CLERY, INCLUDING THEFT OF PARTS AND MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT IT'S CONTINUATION PROPOSAL.
SO WE'RE BASICALLY SUBMITTING THE EXACT SAME BUDGET AND NARRATIVE THAT WE DID IN 2019.
ALL FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED FOR FIVE POSITIONS, THREE SWORN TO CIVILIAN SPECIFICALLY THE GRANT WILL FUND 80% OF THE BASE SALARIES OF THREE DETECTIVE POSITIONS AND 100% OF THE BASE SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS FOR AN ADMIN SPECIALIST.
I HAVE THE GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE NEXT FRIDAY, JUNE 12TH.
AND THE REQUEST TO RESOLUTION HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE PROPOSAL FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED VALID I'M UNFORTUNATELY I CHECKED THE GRAND TOUR DOES NOT PROVIDE EXTENSIONS ON THE APPLICATION DEADLINE.
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS RESOLUTION, THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO APPLY A PERFORMANCE MEASURES WISE.
THE DETECTIVES, EACH DETECTIVE THAT'S ASSIGNED TO THE GRANT WORKS ABOUT 600 CASES ANNUALLY.
AND WE'VE HAD THIS GRANT SINCE I WANT TO SAY 1997 MAYOR.
YES, THIS IS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM USED TO BE CALLED THE AUTO THEFT PREVENTION ACT.
AND IT DID START BACK IN THE NINETIES.
I WAS WORKING AT TECH STOUT AT THE TIME I HAPPENED TO BE IN THE VEHICLE TITLING AND REGISTRATION DIVISION, AND THIS WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
THE FUNDING COMING FROM THE STATE AT THE TIME THAT HELPED, UM, COMBAT, UM, UH, THE LOSS OF CARS, CARS WERE BEING STOLEN AND PARTS WERE BEING PILFERED AND STOLEN ON THE BLACK MARKET.
AND SO FOR THEM, THE PROPERTY OF FOLKS IN OUR STATE WHO OWNED CARS, THEY, UH, TECH START REALLY RELIED ON THIS PROGRAM TO, UM, BE ABLE TO COMBAT THE AUTO THEFT.
UH, I THINK IT'S MORPHED INTO WHAT IT IS NOW CALLED ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT PEOPLE TITLES AND REGISTRATION HAD MOVED OUT OF TEXTILE.
AND NOW IT'S AT SOUND STATE AGENCY.
THIS IS A LONG STANDING PROGRAM, PROBABLY 30 YEARS OLD.
AND, UM, FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER, UM, SINCE WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT VERY MUCH, IT IS DOING THE WORK THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO DO.
I WOULD URGE, UM, APPROVAL TO ALLOW OUR STAFF TO, UM, SUBMIT FOR THIS GRANT.
AND THE REASON I'M SUPPORTING THIS IS THAT NOW MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST, UH, I BELIEVE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST AUTO THEFT GOING AROUND WHERE YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO AGE 35, AND PEOPLE MIGHT NOT WANT TO BELIEVE THIS, BUT THERE ARE GROUPS OF GANGS OUT THERE THAT THEIR WHOLE PURPOSE IS TO GO OUT AND STEAL VEHICLE AND SELL IT AND BREAK IT DOWN INTO PARTS AND SELL THEM OUT IN THE BLACK MARKET.
SO, YOU KNOW, W WE'RE WE'RE CONSTANTLY ALWAYS GETTING REPORTS OF VEHICLES BEING OUT OF OUR, UH, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HERE OUT OF OUR PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE SUPPORTED THIS GRANT.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I'M LUCKY ENOUGH THAT NO ONE WANTS TO STEAL MY VEHICLE, BUT, UH, IF, IF I DID HAVE ONE, I'D BE VERY AFRAID AND WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP IT INSIDE.
YOU HAVE A LOCK BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE STEALING VEHICLES.
ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT THIS POINT? YES.
UM, IS IT ALL GRANT MONEY OR ARE THERE MATCHING CITY DOLLARS IN THIS PROGRAM? THERE IS THE MATCH.
UM, IT'S ABOUT, I WANT TO SAY 28% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT COSTS AND WE MATCH USING EXISTING CITY PERSONNEL SALARIES.
I'LL JUST ADD, I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR OBVIOUSLY
[00:10:01]
FROM THE SPEAKERS, BUT MMM.THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH DISCUSSION.
WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE, AND PART OF THAT IS CHANGING THE WAY WE'VE DONE THINGS IN THE PAST.
SO, UM, I'LL JUST, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS? WE'LL PICK THIS ITEM UP AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
UM, I'M KIND OF TEETERED WITH SEEING THE VIDEO AND THE, MMM.
CAN'T REMEMBER HARPER, MADISON JUST WANTED TO ECHO DAY HIS CONCERNS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CLARITY.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO, UM, OKAY.
[Item 1 (Part 1 of 2)]
I'LL GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO TALK.MINUTE OR TWO, UH, THEN WE'LL, UH, RECOGNIZE THE CHIEF TOPEN AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SPEAKERS.
UM, SOMEONE ON COUNCIL WANT TO, UH, TO SPEAK IF NO ONE'S GOING TO SPEAK THEN.
LET'S REMEMBER PAUL YOU'RE MUTED.
UM, I'VE ALREADY MADE MY REMARKS OFFICIALLY AT WORK SESSION AND THE STATEMENT THAT I PUT OUT ON MONDAY.
SO I WANT TO USE, UM, MY BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME TO OFFER FOR THE RECORD COMMENTS FROM TWO DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENTS THAT I GOT, WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, AND THEN MAKE ONE LAST POINT BRIEFLY AT THE END.
SO THE FIRST, UM, WRITER WAS, UH, A YOUNG MAN WHO WALKED HIS LETTER TO MY DOOR ON SUNDAY.
UM, AND HE WROTE THIS, THIS IS A LITTLE EXCERPT FROM WHAT HE WROTE YESTERDAY.
I ATTENDED THE PROTEST AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING AND POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
THE EVENTS WERE SCARY AND CONFUSING.
IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WITH EXTREME VITRIOL DEMONSTRATED BY MANY OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED ON ALL SIDES OF THIS LARGER ISSUE OF POLICING AND CITIZENRY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND HEAR MY CITY OFFICIALS, PARTICULARLY NON LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS, DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO CALL THEM THIS DIRE SITUATION THAT IS ENGULFING OUR POPULACE.
AND THEN I GOT A EMAIL FROM OUR GOOD FRIEND, ROY WHALEY, WHO ISN'T TABLED TO COME SPEAK TO US TODAY.
AND SO THIS IS THE SECOND OF THE TWO THAT I WANTED TO READ FROM ROY WHALEY.
I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO SPEAK TOMORROW.
SO IT'S NOT TO TAKE TIME AWAY FROM OTHERS OF ALL THE THINGS I HAVE TO SAY.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, NO MORE BEAN BAGS FIRED IN TO THE CROWDS.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THAT ANYONE HAS TO BE TOLD THIS DEAL WITH THE SITUATION, PLEASE, AND THEN GET TO THE REAL WORK NEEDED FOR SOCIAL AND RACIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FOR ALL, MAKE REAL CHANGE, SACRIFICE YOUR CAREERS FOR THIS.
DON'T JUST SAY A BUNCH OF WORDS AND FOLLOW UP WITH WINDOW DRESSING ACTIONS
[00:15:01]
TO DEAL WITH RACISM.WE ALL MUST LOOK INSIDE OURSELVES TO SEE WHERE IT'S LURKING IN BEHIND OUR LIBERAL SELF PERCEPTIONS, NOT BIGOTRY.
I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF YOU ARE BIGOTS, NOR AM I JUST IMPERFECT.
IT'S INEVITABLE BECAUSE OF THE SOCIETY WE ARE RAISED IN AND LIVE IN.
NO MATTER HOW SOME OF US TRY THE BLIND SPOTS ARE STILL THERE.
I DO MY BEST AND PRAY FOR HELP.
WHEREVER IT MAY COME, PLEASE DO THE SAME WITH LOVE, OR AT LEAST AS MUCH AS I CAN MUSTER IN THESE TIMES RIGHT AWAY.
AND SO TO CLOSE, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE SOMETHING I SAID ON TUESDAY, PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING POLICED WHEN THEY SHOULD FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING PROTECTED.
AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS POINT.
THE POLICE ARE ONE VERY VISIBLE PART OF THE REFORM WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND WORK ON, BUT I'M COMMITTED TO ROOTING OUT THE INEQUITIES THAT ARE SYSTEM-WIDE.
AND IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE BUILD TRUST AND RESILIENCE IN AUSTIN.
I FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY POLICING DONE, RIGHT? THAT APPROACH HELPS BUILD THE RESILIENCE THAT WE SO NEED, BUT WE MUST BUILD TRUST.
WE DO THAT THROUGH PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.
THAT'S THE BASIS FOR THE PIECE THAT WE ARE ALL SO DESPERATE FOR.
WE HAVE TO STOP THE MILITARIZATION IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S THE CULTURE CHANGE WE DESPERATELY NEED AND FOCUS FIERCELY ON BUILDING RESILIENCE.
YES, MARY, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP HERE IN AUSTIN, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IN THE SIXTIES, 50 SIXTIES AND OTHER RACIAL HATE WERE JUST OUT OPEN THERE.
WASN'T I MEAN, WE LIVED IN A SEGREGATED CITY AND IT WAS WRITTEN ALL OVER THE WALL.
OH, COLORS HERE, COLOR ONLY OVER HERE.
WHEN YOU COULDN'T SIT AT THE COUNTER, HE COULDN'T SIT AT THE FRONT OF THE BUS.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY I GREW UP HERE.
AND THEN IN THE SEVENTIES, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR BROWN COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, I WAS A LITTLE SEVEN YEAR OLD BOY.
OUR EIGHT YEAR OLD CAN REMEMBER HIS EFFECT.
A, HE WENT TO THE LITTLE LOCAL GROCERY STORE RIGHT ACROSS, HE LIVED IN SANTA RITA EVERY RIGHT ACROSS WHERE ONE IN A MILLION IN SANTA RITA.
AND HE WENT INTO THE GROCERY STORE AND STILL ONE LOAF OF BREAD THAT HE WAS HUNGRY AND A POLICE OFFICER SAW HIM RUNNING AND KILLED HIM.
YEAH, THAT WAS A KIND OF, THAT WAS A TIME WHEN THAT WAS IT.
WE WOULD NOT GOING TO TOLERATE.
WE WENT TO THE STREET, WE DEMONSTRATED, WE HAD ANOTHER BOTHER THAT CALLED THE POLICE OFFICER AND HIS, HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS SON AND HE IS ENDED UP GETTING SHOT BY THE POLICE OFFICER.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON YEAR AFTER YEAR.
YOU KNOW, I TRIED DOING COMMUNITY POLICING, YOU KNOW, IT WORKED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I TRY TO PROMOTE IT ALL OVER THE CITY.
AND EVERY TIME WE THOUGHT WE GOTTEN, WHEN I GOT ELECTED, I TRIED TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY POLICING HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND EVERY TIME WE GOT CLOSE, IT WAS ALWAYS SOMEBODY THAT HAD TO MESS IT UP IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY SHOOTING SOMEONE OR THROWING THEM OUT OF THE CAR.
I MEAN, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND IMMEDIATELY ADOPT THE EIGHT POLICIES THAT OBAMA WAS TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY.
YOU KNOW, THE POLICIES THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT HE ADVOCATED FOR.
AND I'M SURE MAYOR THAT YOU HEARD IT BECAUSE HE REACHED OUT TO ALL THE MAYORS OF ALL THE CITY.
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THESE POLICIES.
YOU KNOW, BANDIT, CHUCK COLES, AND THE STRANGULATION HOLES REQUIRED THIS DEESCALATION, YOU KNOW, REQUIRE ONE.
AND BEFORE YOU SHOOT EXHAUST, OTHER MEANS BEFORE YOU SHOOT, YOU KNOW, INTERVENE, DO WE NEED TO INTERVENE, YOU KNOW, BAND SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES.
I MEAN, WE ENDED UP LOSING MICHAEL RAMAT KNOW, AND HE WAS, HE GREW UP IN EAST AUSTIN AND HE WAS A BOXER WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER AND, YOU KNOW, HE BOX IT OR A GYM HERE AT THE SUMMIT.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, REQUIRE YOU.
SO, YOU KNOW, REQUIRE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO ADOPT A POLICY IMMEDIATELY THAT SHOWED THAT, UH, THE, UH, CITIZENS OF BOSTON THAT WE REALLY ARE CONCERNED.
AND WE REALLY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ARE WE REALLY GOING TO CHANGE? AND IF WE IMPLEMENT THESE POLICIES IMMEDIATELY, I MEAN THE NEXT DAY, AND THEN COME BACK AND WE'LL WORK ON THE TRAINING PROCESS THAT WAS GOING TO BE NEEDED.
THAT OUR COLLEAGUE, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, UM, NATASHA,
[00:20:02]
YOU KNOW, BROUGHT UP.I MEAN, THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO REALLY START DOING.
YOU KNOW, I I'M SO FAT AND SICK AND TIRED OF, I DEMONSTRATE IT SO MANY TIMES ON OUR STREETS HERE IN AUSTIN, OVER THE POLICE BRUTALITY.
I MEAN, I'M OVER 50 YEARS OF ARCHING HERE.
HOW MANY, HOW MANY YEARS MORE DO I HAVE TO DO TO MARCH TO PROTEST? YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THIS STOP, WE NEED IT TO STOP AND STOP NOW.
THIS WEEKEND REVEAL THE SAD TRUTH.
ONE THAT MANY PEOPLE ALREADY KNEW AND OTHERS UNFORTUNATELY TREAT WITH DENIAL.
WE DISCOVER THAT AUSTIN IS BROKEN FOR YEARS.
THE DIVISIONS IN OUR SOCIETY HAVE GROWN INTO GIANT CANYONS OF DISTRUST AND DESPAIR.
AND WHAT WE WITNESSED THIS WEEKEND IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT STONEWALL WAS A RIOT AGAINST UNFAIR AND BRUTAL POLICING LED BY TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR AND COMMEMORATED IN JUNE AND CELEBRATED WITH FESTIVALS AND PARADES.
WE DON'T NEED PARADES RIGHT NOW.
NOW THAT INCLUDES CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP AND CHANGES IN THE BUDGET TONIGHT.
I LISTEN FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES AND FOR AS MANY MEETINGS AND HEARINGS I'LL LISTEN.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I COMMIT TO GETTING THIS WORK DONE WITHOUT DELAY WORK.
THAT INCLUDES DISMANTLING WHITE SUPREMACY AND ALL ITS FORMS. AND IN RESPECT FOR THE LONG LIST OF NAMES, WE MUST SAY LIKE GEORGE FLOYD, TONY MCDADE AND MIKE RAMOS BLACK LIVES MATTER, BUT I CAN'T BREATHE WITHOUT IT FOR THE REST OF MY TIME TO THE COMMUNITY BEING DIRECTLY AFFECTED.
I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IN TWO MINUTES AND IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY HARD.
UM, MOST OF MY COMMENTS AND THIS WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN IN A ROOM WITH OUR CHIEF, I'LL BE AT VIRTUAL RIGHT NOW AND EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN APD LEADERSHIP.
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I EXPRESSED TO GROUP THAT I'VE BEEN THAT I WAS AN EARLY SUPPORTER OF CHIEF MANLEY, BUT HAVE BECOME INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT FELT AND WHAT FEELS LIKE COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE REFORM EFFORTS IS COUNCIL HAS CONSISTENTLY TRIED TO IMPLEMENT.
AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPRESSED TO A GROUP THAT MY FAITH AND OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN SHAKEN.
I KNOW THAT THESE ARE INCREDIBLY TOUGH TIMES FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR OFFICERS.
THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ARE ALWAYS HARD AND POSSIBLY HARDER FOR ME BECAUSE OF MY PUBLIC SAFETY BACKGROUND.
AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT, THERE WERE MEMBERS OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AS POLICE OFFICERS, MY FRIEND, MY FAMILY HAS FRIENDS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THOSE FRIENDS ARE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME AND SOME OF THEM ARE BORN AND RAISED.
I KNOW ALL THESE PEOPLE TO BE HONORABLE AND TO BE GREAT AT PUBLIC SERVANTS.
BUT I ALSO KNOW OUR POLICE OFFICERS BEHAVE AS THEY ARE TRAINED TO, AS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BY THEIR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH POSITION.
IT'S SOMETHING WE UNDERSTAND WHEN WE TAKE THIS JOB, WE ARE RIGHTFULLY EXPECTED BY THE PEOPLE THAT PUTS US IN THESE SEATS TO RESPOND TO COSTS FOR CHANGE.
I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS A SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO DEMAND POLICE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND POLICE REFORM WHILE UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT OUR COMMUNITY SO DESPERATELY NEEDS TO HEAR.
NOW MORE THAN THAT, OUR LEADERS ARE LISTENING.
THIS COUNCIL CAN PASS RESOLUTIONS ALL DAY EVERY DAY, BUT THEY MEAN NOTHING.
IF APD LEADERSHIP CONTINUALLY CHOOSES TO IGNORE THAT POLICY DIRECTION, WE MUST PASS IMMEDIATE REFORMS AND WORK ON LARGER INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS. BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THESE CALLS FOR CHANGE ARE BEING ANSWERED
[00:25:01]
BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.WE MUST LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY DEMANDING CHANGE, AND I AM PREPARED TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO ENSURE THAT CHANGE.
THERE REALLY IS NO ALTERNATIVE.
WE MAKE SURE I'M UN-MUTED I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT DAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO THIS ISSUE, BUT INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS WEEKEND SHOULD NOT BE REFLECTIVE OF AUSTIN, BUT SADLY IT APPARENTLY IS.
IT IS ALSO A SIDE OF AUSTIN THAT IS EXPERIENCED DISPROPORTIONATELY BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF COLOR.
THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS BEGUN WORK TO ADDRESS ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, AND A CULTURE OF OVER-POLICING IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WELL UNDER POLICING AND OTHERS, THE TACTICS REFERRED TO AS LESS LETHAL ARE CLEARLY NOT.
NON-LETHAL THREE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH THEIR LIVES FOREVER CHANGED BY THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEKEND.
AND THE SO CALLED BEANBAGS ARE NOT THAT AT ALL, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A GAME WHO IS MAKING THESE CALLS.
WE CLEARLY HAVE SOME OFFICERS STANDING RESPECTFULLY AND OTHERS READY TO SHOOT, AND THEY'RE STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
I STAND WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN ANGER AND DISBELIEF, AND I PROMISE TO BE AN ALLY AND TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND IT ABSOLUTELY BIKES MY HEART TO SEE THIS RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
I AM HERE TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SEE TODAY AND WHO HAVE EMAILED AND WHO HAVE CALLED US OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.
AND I ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESSES BEING FOLLOWED OR BROKEN WITHIN THE VERY SAME POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT ALL IN AUSTIN HAVE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR CITIZENS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INJURED THIS WEEKEND AND THEIR FAMILIES, I KNEEL WITH YOU BECAUSE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO START BY THANKING ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, WHO ARE JOINING US TODAY AT WHAT IS REALLY AN EMOTIONAL AND PIVOTAL TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.
UM, MANY OF, MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THIS LAST SEVERAL DAYS, WE'VE RECEIVED LOTS OF PHONE CALLS.
WE'VE RECEIVED MORE THAN 8,000 EMAILS AT THIS POINT.
AND TODAY WE HAVE MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THOSE WAYS IN THIS CONVERSATION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH, UM, FOR SHARING YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR HOPES AND YOUR IDEAS FOR HOW TOGETHER WE CAN FORGE A MORE, JUST, JUST AN EQUITABLE AUSTIN.
MY HEART, UM, LIKE ALL OF YOURS IS WITH THE GRIEVING FAMILY OF GEORGE LLOYD AND THE FAR TOO MANY WOMEN AND MEN OF COLOR WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE GREATEST INJUSTICE OF A VIOLENT DEATH AT THE HANDS OF POLICE.
AND ALONG WITH, WITH YOU, I'M OUTRAGED AND DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH AND ALSO IN DEMANDING A FULL AND TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION OF THE DEATH OF MIKE RAMOS HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED OVER THE LAST WEEKEND TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED HERE IN AUSTIN.
I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU WERE INJURED WHEN YOU CAME DOWNTOWN TO BE PRESENT, TO RAISE YOUR VOICE, TO GIVE VOICE TO VALID CONCERNS.
AND I SEND MY DEEPEST WISHES AND MOST SINCERE WISHES FOR A FULL RECOVERY, YOU KNOW, WHILE OUR COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING THE SHOCK AND TRAUMA OVER WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THOSE ACROSS THE NATION.
THE REALITY IS SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SAID TODAY IS THAT THESE EVENTS HAVE REALLY ONLY JUST SHOWN A LIGHT ON WHAT WAS ALWAYS THERE IN AUSTIN, AS WELL AS IN EVERY COMMUNITY, A DEEP HISTORY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT WE AS A SOCIETY AND I, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE, TO
[00:30:01]
DISMANTLE AND TO ERADICATE.I SUPPORT MEANINGFUL POLICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM HERE IN AUSTIN, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THOSE OFFICERS WHO ARE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WITH FAIRNESS, COURAGE, AND DIGNITY.
I SUPPORT THE REFORMS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS CALLED FOR WITH REGARD TO POLICE TRAINING AND PROTOCOL.
AND I KNOW THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND INEQUITIES EXIST ACROSS ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS, THOSE SYSTEMS THAT ARE CREATING BARRIERS TO HOUSING, TO HEALTHCARE, TO EDUCATION AND JOBS AND MORE SO FOR THOSE PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S MEETING, I COMMIT TO YOU TODAY.
AND FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES, I WILL BE PRESENT TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN FROM YOU AND FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND FROM THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THIS WORK.
UM, AND AS IMPORTANTLY TO JOIN WITH YOU IN MULTIPLE ACTION MEMBER KITCHEN, UM, THANK YOU.
UM, I WANT TO, UM, I WANT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AND BE, BE VERY CLEAR TO I'M FREEZING.
SO I WANT TO START BY THANKING THE THOUSANDS OF EMAIL, MY OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO'VE CALLED TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES WITH US.
UM, AND LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M LISTENING.
I'VE SEEN MANY OF THE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS FROM THE LAST WEEK, AND I HAVE A LOT OF SERIOUS QUESTIONS THAT DEMAND ANSWERS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT AS A CITY AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
I WANT TO BE HERE TODAY AND MOVING FORWARD TO LISTEN.
AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY OUR NEXT STEPS FOR ME, I'M APPROACHING THESE ISSUES, NOT ONLY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT ALSO AS A MOTHER.
I'M THINKING OF THE MOTHERS OF MY GRANDMAS AND GEORGE FLOYD AND THE MOTHERS WHO WORRY EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY SINGLE TIME THEIR KID WALKS OUT THEIR DOOR IN OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR COUNTRY, NO PARENT OR CHILD SHOULD HAVE THIS PERVASIVE FEAR WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR HOME.
WHEN WE HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS AND FOLLOW OUR WORDS WITH ACTION.
WE HAVE MANY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH DECISIONS AHEAD OF US IN THE COMING DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND CARE THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE PUT INTO THE THOUGHTS YOU'RE SHARING WITH US TODAY.
MY HOPE THAT AUSTIN CAN BE A LEADER IN MOVING US FORWARD AS A COUNTRY, WE ARE ALL HERE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY THAT IS FAIR AND JUST WHERE EVERY AUSTINITE CAN FEEL SAFE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY WITH US.
THAT'S, WE'RE CONCERNED THE LAST 24 HOURS, I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH BRENDA AND I'M MOST LIKE SMALL.
I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH EDWIN AYALA.
UH,
AND IN THE FIVE YEARS IN THIS JOB, I'LL TELL YOU THAT NEVER GET USED TO THOSE PHONE CALLS.
I'M GLAD THAT WE'LL BE HEARING FROM EDWIN TODAY.
I THANK GOD THAT LEVI IS ALIVE AND JUST IN HOWL IS ALIVE AND OTHERS, UM, HAVE, HAVE SURVIVED, BUT MANY HAVE SUFFERED REAL, REAL HARM.
MIKE RAMOS SHOULD BE ALIVE TOO.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE OUT PROTESTING.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE OUT PROTESTING IN A PANDEMIC IT'S THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO SO THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WILL RESPOND.
AND IT'S UP TO US NOW TO RESPOND.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE NOW NOT ONLY HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE POLICE KILLINGS.
WE ALSO HAVE TO RESPOND TO WHAT, HOW THE POLICE HANDLED THIS WEEKEND.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ATTENDING A DEMONSTRATION IT'S UNEXPECTED.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT SPEAKERS WILL BE COMING TO SHARE THEIR STORIES TODAY.
I WISH THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO, BUT ONCE YOU'RE DONE TESTIFYING, THE BALL IS CLEARLY AN ARTICLE.
I SHARE THE DISAPPOINTMENTS OF LEADERSHIP SHARED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN POLICING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, FROM BUDGET TO POLICY TO PERSONNEL.
YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT POLICE ENFORCEMENTS CAN'T BE OUR PRIMARY TOOL FOR DEALING WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THIS CITY.
[00:35:01]
AND ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WE'VE GOT TO START MAKING A MEDIA CHANGE.AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO COLLEAGUES ABOUT SOME OF THAT BEING AS SOON AS OUR NEXT VOTING SESSION NEXT WEEK, THAT MEANS BANNING EXPLICITLY BANNING THE CHOKE HOLDS THAT KILLED GEORGE FLOYD AND ERIC GARNER.
IT MEANS NOT ALLOWING TEAR GAS AND USE IMPACT MUNITIONS TO BE USED AGAINST PEOPLE JUST EXPRESSING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
IT MEANS ADOPTING SOME OF THOSE AIDS KIDS WEIGHTS, AND ACTUALLY JUST GETTING THROUGH, GETTING ALL EIGHT OF THEM DONE AS COUNCIL MEMBER AT ENTITY.
I MENTIONED AS SOON AS OUR NEXT VOTING SESSION, THAT MEANS ALL OF US ON THE DICE HERE TRYING MEANS AUSTIN TRYING TRY THE BEST WE CAN TO BE WHO IT IS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? IS THIS, IS THIS, UH, WELL, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY TO ADD MY VOICES, TO ADD MY VOICE, TO WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES, UH, WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.
UM, FIRST OFF I, UM, I JUST WANT, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT I AM, I I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE RIGHT WORDS, BUT I AM GREATLY DISTURBED.
AND WHAT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEKEND IN AUSTIN? UM, AS I SAID, AS I SAID A FEW DAYS AGO, UM, IT IS, AND I THINK AS OTHERS MAY HAVE SAID IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT PEOPLE ARE INJURED BY THE POLICE IN OUR CITY THAT CANNOT CONTINUE.
WE CANNOT HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THAT EVEN BECOMES A POSSIBILITY AND WE ALL ARE, DO ALL ARE, DO AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AND COMPLETE REVIEW OF THESE INCIDENTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I DO, UM, I DO RESPECT AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO SERVE OUR CITY HONORABLY.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE FAILED IN OUR SOCIETY BY, UM, OFTEN BY NOT INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE AND ENDING UP WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS STOOL.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND NOT UP FOR DEBATE THAT WE HOLD OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP AND OUR CHIEF ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
WE SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO HONORABLY SERVE OUR CITY.
WHEN WE HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MEETING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.
I MEAN, THIS IS A CITY WE SHOULD BE, WE SHOULD BE THE BEST IN, IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT WE ARE FAR FROM IT AS WE CAN SEE WE, WE HOLD, WE, WE SUPPORT OUR OFFICERS WHEN WE HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MEETING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR CITY.
THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR POLICE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY EXPECT OF THEIR DEPARTMENT.
AND SO, UM, I AM, I AM ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO LISTEN TODAY.
I KNOW, I KNOW IT MUST BE VERY, VERY HARD.
I KNOW IT IS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND TALK WITH US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM, WHAT THEY SAW HAPPEN.
UM, AND IT IS, IT IS, UM, VERY DIFFICULT AND I APPRECIATE SO MUCH YOU COMING, YOU CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT.
SO I AM ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO LISTENING TODAY.
AND THEN I WILL ALL OF MY HEART AND MY MIND AND IN COLLABORATION WITH YOU AND WITH MY COLLEAGUES FOR FUNDAMENTAL, IMMEDIATE CHANGE.
AND I APPRECIATE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASARA HAS MENTIONED.
AND OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, WE CAN, WE CAN DO THIS.
I MEAN, WE CAN DO THIS, WE HAVE TO DO THIS AND WE MUST IMMEDIATELY MAKE CHANGE.
AND SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING WITH US.
AS ARE THE HARPER MADISON, DO YOU WANT TO GO BEFORE OR AFTER ME? YEAH, THE CHAIR.
I'LL LET YOU MAKE THE CALL AND I'M GOING TO GO FIRST AND LET YOU CLOSE.
[00:40:01]
REALLY CLEAR THAT THIS IS THE MOMENT TO STAND AGAINST INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES.WE HAVE TO RISE TO THIS OCCASION.
WE HAVE TO DELIVER ACCOUNTABILITY, WRONGS AND DISMANTLE THE DENIALS OF BASIC JUSTICE.
IT MUST LEAN IN TO HAVE REAL ACTION.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CANNOT HAVE OUR PLACE SHOOTING INTO CROWDS OF PROTESTERS, RIGHT? TO PROTEST, AND TO DISRUPT, CANNOT BE FRAUGHT WITH HERE.
THAT ISSUE THAT LED ME TO JOIN WITH COLLEAGUES TO SET THIS DELIBERATION AND CONVERSATION TODAY, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE DO DEMONSTRATIONS IN THIS CITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OVER TIME.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ENCOURAGING EXPRESSION AND KEEPING EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, PROTECTED DEMONSTRATORS, POLICE OFFICERS, BUSINESS OWNERS.
WE HAVE TO START SEEING EACH OTHER AS PART OF ONE COMMUNITY RISE AND FALL TOGETHER.
WE SHOULD NOT FOLLOW ANY VOICES THAT SUGGEST OTHERWISE WE SHOULD NOT FOLLOW ANY VOICES THAT SUGGEST THAT QUESTIONS AND CRITICISMS OF POLICE, TACTICS AND PROTOCOLS ARE SOMEHOW INDICTMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE HOPE THAT IN AUSTIN, WE CAN HAVE A POLICE FORCE.
WE CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE THE AUSTIN THAT WE ASPIRE TO BE THE PROTESTS THAT I PLAYED ON LOCALLY.
SINCE GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING, I FOCUSED OUR ATTENTION ON MR. FLOYD'S SENSELESS, DEATH KILLING AND MIKE GRANDMA'S HERE IN AUSTIN AND OF OTHER BLACK PEOPLE WHOSE INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE TURNED FATAL WITH AN ALARMING REGULARITY, ANGUISH, BLACK MEN AND WOMEN.
ALL AGENTS HAVE BEEN JOINED BY NEIGHBORS OF ALL STRIPES AND BELIEFS TO DECLARE THAT THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE AIR DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND THIS COUNCIL HERE'S THAT I HEARD SOMEONE SAY RECENTLY THAT THEY WERE TIRED OF LIVING IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, WHICH WAS A FUNNY WAY OF SAYING THAT IT'S HARD TO OVERSTATE.
HOW COMPLICATED A MOMENT LIKE THIS IS IN OUR HISTORY.
WE ARE FINALLY, IT SEEMS YOU NEED TO TAKE ON INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT THAT ENTAILS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE FINALLY READY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS.
I AM THE, THE CHEERLEADER ON COVID AND THE VIRUS.
I AM ALARMED THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY OR OUR DAILY AVERAGE OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS IS INCREASING.
AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT IMPACT ON POPULATIONS, HOLLER, AND ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS VIRUS.
I WANT AS MANY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE HERE TO EXPERIENCE THE MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD TOGETHER.
THAT MAKES BEING SMART AND PREPARE FOR THE CHOICE TO GO OUT INTO THE CROWDS DURING THIS PANDEMIC, YOUR HEART CALLS YOU OUT TO PROTEST.
PLEASE SAY ASKED TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU CAN PLEASE MAINTAIN AS MUCH DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE.
I AGREE WITH MY FRIEND AND MENTOR OR THAT PIERCE PER THAT THE PRESIDENT OF HOUSTON TILLOTSON JUST SAID TO HER HOUSTON TILLOTSON COMMUNITY TO STAND SHOULDER, TO SHOULDER AS WARRIORS WARRIORS WHO MUST SMART AND STRATEGIC ANNOUNCING VIOLENCE WARRIORS, WHO RECOGNIZE THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT SMART AND IN NO WAY, STRATEGIC VIOLENCE, NEITHER ERADICATION OR DISMANTLES, ANYTHING BESIDES HARDWIRED HARD WON PROGRESS.
I ALSO WANT TO CALL OUT THE MOMENTS OF GRACE THAT WE HAVE WITNESSED DURING THE PROTESTS OF THE AMONG PROTESTORS AND OUR POLICE.
THERE WERE PEOPLE PICKING UP TRASH IT 35 STRANGERS COMFORTED ONE ANOTHER AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND FLOWED FROM THE COMMUNITY TO HELP MAKE SMALL BUSINESSES ALL AGAIN, THROUGHOUT HISTORY, PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, INCLUDING MOHAMMAD GANDHI AND MARTIN LUTHER KING HAVE USED THEIR BODIES TO DISRUPT DAILY LIFE WHERE THEY COMFORT AND TO COMMAND THE ATTENTION OF THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
[00:45:01]
TO BE BY INTERRUPTING BUSINESSES.USUAL PROTESTS ARE ALSO DISRUPT PATTERNS OF THOUGHT AND POLICY AND IMPORTANT WAYS.
MANY OF OUR BANDS IN OUR ARC TOWARD JUSTICE HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF PROTEST.
EVERY BLACK PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO IS ANGUISHED BY RECENT EVENTS, EVERY MOTHER WHO SEES HER OWN CHILD AND MIKE GRANDMAS AND GEORGE FLOYD IS THIS.
I WANT THESE PROTESTS TO REAL CHANGE, AND I WANT YOU TO SEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR SHARING YOUR HEARTFELT WORDS.
UM, ALTHOUGH I'VE BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO CRY AGAIN, IF I NEED TO, UM, I WENT THROUGH A PRETTY GREAT DEAL OF EMBARRASSMENT ABOUT CRYING IN FRONT OF Y'ALL ON TUESDAY.
SO I'M GONNA TRY TO NOT DO THAT AGAIN TODAY.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT YOUR WORDS ARE, ARE INSPIRING.
AND I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HEARTFELT, BUT I WOULD FEEL LIKE WE'D BE REMISSED TO TAKE ONE MORE MINUTE OF THIS MEETING AND NOT HAVE OUR POLICE CHIEF NOT SHOW HIS FACE.
I IMPLORE YOU WHEN THESE PEOPLE COME BEFORE YOU, IF YOU COULDN'T DO IT FOR MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN THESE CHIEF WILL COME BEFORE YOU TO SHARE THEIR PART WITH YOU, I WANT THEM TO LOOK AT YOU WHEN THEY DO IT.
AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THEM.
I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT RUMORS.
I'M HEARING ABOUT PROVOCATE TOURS.
WE HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF TAKING WHAT SHOULD BE A MOMENT FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, TOO RECOGNIZED.
A VERY LONG LIST OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE TURNS OUT THERE'S THE WHITE PEOPLE ON THAT LIST TOO.
AND I'M NOT SURE DISREGARDING THEM FOR A MOMENT, BUT TODAY, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS HOW BLACK LIVES MATTER.
IF THAT'S NOT WHY YOU WERE OUT HERE DEMONSTRATING.
IF YOU'RE A PERSON WHO WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH YOUR AGENDA.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT BLACK LIFE, THE DEB BLESS HAD SHAME ON YOU, BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO MAY FIND THEMSELVES ALONGSIDE THESE PEOPLE DO NOT LET THEM SWAY YOU OR CONFUSE YOUR MISSION.
IF YOUR GOAL WAS TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BLACK LIFE, DON'T LET PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT THERE'S A PARTY WHO THINKS THIS IS LOLLAPALOOZA OUT HERE AND THEY'RE HAVING A BREAK TIME.
DON'T LET THOSE PEOPLE CONFUSE YOU AND DON'T LET THEM GET YOU IN TROUBLE OR GET YOU HURT.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT PERSON DON'T DEAL WITH THEM.
IF SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO HAND YOU SOMETHING AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SOMETHING YOU OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE WITHOUT THEM HANDING YOU THAT THING AND TELLING YOU TO THROW IT, I AM BEGGING YOU TO NOT LET THESE PEOPLE CONFUSE YOU AND THE MISSION RIGHT NOW, THEN I'LL GO ON TO SAY THIS, IF I MAY, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE BRIEF.
I ALREADY SAID IT THE TIME FOR US CONTINUING TO TALK.
AND, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT A SLIGHT AGAINST ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I'M JUST SAYING WE'RE TIRED OF TALKING AND I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE FEELING BAD.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S INTENDED TO SOUND LIKE THIS, BUT WHEN YOU SAY YOU MUST FEEL SO BAD RIGHT NOW, YOU MUST BE SO SAD RIGHT NOW, WE ALL SHOULD FEEL BAD AND FEEL SAD.
THIS IS NOT MINE OR THAT OF ANY OTHER BLACK OR BROWN OR OTHERWISE MARGINALIZED PERSON.
[00:50:01]
WE ALL SHOULD FEEL SAD AND MAD AND DEMAND THAT WE STOP TALKING.THE OUTCRY FOR JUSTICE IT'S BEEN PRESENT, BUT WE DIDN'T ANSWER IT.
SO WHEN THE PRISON OUTCRY WAS THEN ANSWERED HERE WE ARE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, SINCE THE DAY, THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY WAS FOUNDED.
EVERYTHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY WAS INCLUDED RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT, IT JUST SO HAPPENS.
IT'S THE LOUDEST IT'S EVER BEEN, BUT IT'S NOT A NEW SOUND.
THERE ARE JUST SOME FOLKS WHO WERE ABLE TO IGNORE THE SOUND WHO WERE ABLE TO GAS, LIGHT PEOPLE AND TELL THEM THAT THEIR CONCERNS WEREN'T VALID.
WELL, TOM DIDN'T SHOW UP NO MORE TIME FOR TALKING NO MORE TIME FOR TALKING IN CIRCLES.
IT'S TIME TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.
I CAN'T WAIT TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE TO TELL US THEIR TRUTH, BECAUSE THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THEY'VE BEEN TELLING US THEIR TRUTH FOR GENERATIONS, HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF PEOPLE SAYING THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE.
AND IN THE MODERN DAY ERA OF BEING ABLE TO CLICK ON THE DRAMATIC ASS VIDEOS, BY THE WAY, PEOPLE BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SHARE, PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
THE CONTINUATION OF TRAUMA DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL ANY MORE COMPELLED TO SPEAK MY TRUTH.
I WAS ALREADY TELLING YOU ALL MY TRUTH, BE CAREFUL.
AND PLEASE BE GENTLE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH PRESENT TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
THERE'S NO POST IT'S RIGHT NOW.
AND AS WE NAVIGATE THAT SPACE, I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW.
WE HEARD YOU, YOU SEE, YOU WERE ABOUT TO HEAR FROM MORE OF YOU.
AND WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TELL US THE TRUTH AND WE NEED TO HEAR YOU.
WE NEED JUSTICE AND WE NEED IT RIGHT NOW.
I, SOMEBODY REACHED OUT TO ME TO TELL ME THAT MY WORDS, AS OF LATE, MADE THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE THAT THEY WERE TOO AGGRESSIVE, NOT LADYLIKE TO THINGS I NEVER TOLD Y'ALL.
I WAS A LADY AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
WE NEED TO GET IT TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
AND WE HAVE TO DO IT AS A COMMUNITY BOUND BY THE RECOGNITION OF THE TRUTH.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO BE HONEST WITH.
I HAVE TO STAY IN MY CHAIR AND NOT CRY.
AND I JUST, I WILL CLOSE WITH THIS.
THANK YOU TO EVERY PERSON WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SHARE YOUR TRUTH WITH US TODAY, I WILL KEEP MY CAMERA ON.
EVEN IF MY KIDS COME IN, EVEN IF MY DOG BARKS MY CAMERA'S ON.
CAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I SEE YOU AND I HEAR YOU.
AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO, FOR ONE MOMENT, NOT BELIEVED THAT WE SEE AND HEAR YOU, AND THAT YOUR WORDS, YOUR ACTIONS, YOU STANDING UP IT IS WHAT'S PUSHING US FORWARD TO DO THINGS THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT, BUT THE TIME HAS COME.
AS A REMEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE DIOCESE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA RECOGNIZE, UH, THE CHIEF, UH, HAND THE MANAGER, UH, IF THEY WANT TO, UH, UH, SAY SOMETHING AND THEN WE'LL GO TO SPEAKERS AFTER SPEAKERS REGARDING TO RECESS THE MEETING UNTIL TOMORROW AFTER SPEAKERS, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO VOTE ON ITEM SEVEN AND THEN WE'LL RECESS THE MEETING UNTIL TOMORROW.
DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I WASN'T A MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.
UH, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TODAY BECAUSE OVER THE LAST PAST WEEKS AND MONTHS, OUR CITY AND BROADLY, OUR NATION HAS AGAIN BEEN FORCED TO CONFRONT A TRAGIC LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED A RANGE OF EMOTIONS AND MANY ARE JUSTIFIABLY,
[00:55:01]
OUTRAGED, SAD, ANXIOUS, AND FOR SOME EVEN FEARFUL FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.AND WHILE WE ALL ARE RIGHTLY DISTURBED BY MUCH OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN, I'VE ALSO WITNESSED THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE ON THE PART OF OUR CITY TO FACE THESE ISSUES, HEAD ON AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO CONFRONT OUR DEEPLY TROUBLING HISTORY OF INEQUITY AND JUSTICE AND SYSTEMIC RACISM.
AND I PERSONALLY STRUGGLED WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS MOMENT AND REALIZE THAT OUR FEELINGS CAN'T, AND SHOULDN'T BE LIMITED TO ONE OR TWO CHOICES.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CONDEMN THE DISGUSTING ABUSE OF POWER AUTHORITY AND TRUST BY SOME OFFICERS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THOSE WHO CHOOSE POLICING AS A CALLING AND TREAT OTHERS WITH THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT WE ALL DESERVE.
I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR FAR TOO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY LIVED EXPERIENCE HAS LEFT THEM FEELING HOPELESS, AFRAID, AND CONVINCED THAT NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE.
I WANT EVERYONE IN AUSTIN TO KNOW THAT I AM COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO HARD WORK, HAVING THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, TAKING THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS AND FINDING A WAY FORWARD THAT REBUILDS THAT LOSS OF TRUST WHILE IMPROVING OUR POLICE FORCE TO ENSURE THAT AS REFLECTIVE OF THE VALUES THAT AUSTIN HOLDS DEAR TODAY IS ABOUT LISTENING TOMORROW.
WE WILL HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TACTICS THAT WERE USED LAST WEEKEND.
UH, BUT WITH THIS I'LL PAUSE AND PASS IT OVER TO OUR POLICE CHIEF, THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL AND I TO TAKE THIS AS A VERY IMPORTANT AND MOMENTOUS TIME, A TIME WHERE WE NEED TO REFLECT ON WHAT BROUGHT US HERE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S, WHAT'S BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, AND THAT IS THINGS INVOLVING POLICE, COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND AREA THAT WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
THE BOSTON AREA WE HAVE WORKED ON SO FAR.
I TOO STRUGGLED TO WATCH THAT VIDEO OF MINNEAPOLIS.
I, ALONG WITH MANY OF MY PEERS AS POLICE CHEATS AND MANY RANK AND FILE MEMBERS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY SPOKE OUT.
IT'S WHAT WE SAW BECAUSE THAT DOES NOT REFLECT, OKAY.
I GUESS OUR MEN AND WOMEN AGREE DYNAMIC SITUATIONS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
YOU TRAIN THEM TO THE REST OF OUR PRIORITIES.
WE GIVE THEM THE BEST OF OUR NERVE RELEASE, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE WILL BE MISTAKES.
AND I THINK THE MOMENTUM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS TO LOOK AT POLICE AND TO LOOK AT OUR INTERACTIONS, WITH, TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE WE'VE HEARD OR SHOULD BE DOING BETTER OR DIFFERENTLY.
AND TO UNDERSTAND CHIEF, IT'S HARD TO HEAR YOU.
UM, AND YOU GET CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE.
I'M SORRY, IS THIS BETTER? MUCH BETTER.
DO I NEED TO START ALL OVER? NO, BUT I, I WILL, I WILL WRAP THEM.
I THINK I WILL WRAP WITH JUST SAYING THAT, UM, WE ARE COMMITTED THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, TO SERVE THEM RIGHTLY AND APPROPRIATELY, AND TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE COMMENTS AND TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES AGAIN, TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THOSE AREAS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS, SPANKED, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, SORRY.
UM, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, AS A FOLLOW UP, THERE'S AN EVENT THAT'S TAKEN PLACE THIS WEEKEND AT HOUSTON TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY.
UM, IT'S GOING TO BE HOSTED BY AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK AND BROWN VOICES TO LEAD THE CONVERSATION, UM, WHICH WHILE WE CAN APPRECIATE ALL THE VOICES OF ALL OF THE ALLIES, SOMETIMES IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU NEED TO TAKE UP SPACE AND WHEN YOU NEED TO LISTEN.
SO THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE TO TAKE UP SPACE AND EVERYBODY ELSE TO LISTEN.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EVENT THIS WEEKEND AS HOUSTON TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT GO OUT.
UM, THIS EVENING OR TOMORROW EVENING OR SATURDAY EVENING, THERE WILL BE A TIME AND A PLACE IN A SPACE THAT WE CAREFULLY CURATE IN A WAY THAT WE ARE BEING MINDFUL ABOUT THE MESSAGE, THE GOALS AND THE AGENDA.
AND IT WILL BE A PLACE IN HIS FACE FOR US TO LEAD THE CONVERSATION
[01:00:01]
AND OTHER PEOPLE TO LISTEN.UM, IF FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY AND A PLACE AND A TIME, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY ON SUNDAY AT HT TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE SPECIFICS IN TERMS OF TIME AND EVERYTHING, BUT I WILL PROMISE YOU THAT BEFORE THIS MEETING IS OVER, I WILL MAKE CERTAIN TO SHARE IT ON MY PAGE.
I'LL MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE CITY IS SHARING THE INFORMATION, BUT THERE WILL BE A PLACE AND A SPACE AND A TIME, UM, FOR US TO HAVE OUR VOICES BE HEARD AND FOR ANTI-RACIST ALLIES TO LISTEN.
UM, COULDN'T NOT SAY THAT AND I'LL BRING WHATEVER OTHER DETAILS I HAVE LATER.
UM, JUST PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND, FOLKS.
AND WHEN WE WERE GOING TO TRY AND GET TO THE SPEAKERS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROCEDURAL I'M HEARING THAT SOME SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CUT OFF FROM THE SPEAKER LINE AND ARE HAVING TROUBLE CALLING BACK IN.
DOES THE STAFF HAVE ANY ADVICE ON FOLKS BEING ABLE TO REACCESS THE LINE? SO THEY WERE DISCONNECTED AND THEN THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE, UM, CALLING BACK IN OR WE SHOULD THEY CONTACT, CAN WE GET SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT? IF THEY HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED? UH, MANY OF THEM ARE EMAILING ME AND I'M GIVING THEM, GIVE ME GIVING THEM THE INFORMATION, BUT ALSO PROVIDE IT TO THREE, ONE, ONE.
DID YOU SAY IT OUT LOUD ONCE? WHAT DID, WOULD THE INFORMATION? UM, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE NUMBER OUT.
UM, BUT MANY OF THEM ARE EMAILING ME AND I'M PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION AND I WILL ALSO PROVIDE IT TO THREE, ONE, ONE.
AND FOR ANYONE LISTENING, UM, IF THEY ARE IN THE QUEUE, THEY NEED TO PRESS ZERO TO BE ADMITTED.
I THINK WE'RE PREPARED NOW FOR YOU TO, UH, UH, RECOGNIZE SPEAKERS AS WE DISCUSSED COLLEAGUES.
UH, UM, FIRST 20 SPEAKERS ARE GOING TO GET THREE MINUTES.
THERE'VE BEEN SOME INVITED TESTIMONY THAT WILL BE GIVEN SIMILAR TIME.
UH, AND THEREAFTER SPEAKERS WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 334 SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP YESTERDAY TO SPEAK.
SO I NOW TURN IT OVER TO, UH, THE CLARK AND THE OTHERS TO, UH, TAKE US THROUGH THE SPEAKERS.
UM, WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE SPANISH SPEAKERS.
SO IF, UM, THE INTERPRETER CAN BE ADMITTED AND EACH COLOR WILL, WILL GET TWO MINUTES.
THE FIRST SPANISH SPEAKER IS GARDENA SANCHEZ.
MY NAME IS KARINA AND I AM CALLING BECAUSE YEAH, YEAH.
AND I'M CALLING TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE BOOK FOR THE RIDE, FOR THE RIDE COMMUNITY OF THE 70 MILLION THAT IS ON TODAY BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY FOUNDATION THAT'S HELPED US.
MMM
THIS IS THE HELP THAT WE NEED.
WE NEED HELP OR BE ABLE TO PAY OUR RENT AND TO PAY FOR OUR FOOD.
[01:05:06]
UM, IT'S PLAYING A THING, YOUR MOTHER
CAUSE THEY'RE MOMENTS THAT WE COUNT AS A COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND IF SOMEONE, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS BEEN HELPING MOST OF THE FAMILIES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO MOVE AHEAD.
AND THEY NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE JOBS.
IT'S OUR ONLY WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH IT'S SO YUCKY, UH
[01:10:01]
WHEN I DO THAT CORRECTLY, IT HELPS US A LOT.
THOSE ARE BILLS AND OUR INSURANCE AGAIN, FOR THEM TO TELL YOU THAT
I CAN ALSO APPLY SOME OF THAT MATH.
IN FACT, WHAT IS THAT FUNDING? YEAH, BUT IT'S PINNED DIMMICK YEAH.
I'LL SEE WHERE THE
I TREAT THEM BEING
IN THE RIGHT
MA'AM WOULD IT MAKE SENSE FOR THE TRANSLATOR TO LET THE SPEAKERS KNOW THAT WE HAVE APPROVED THE 70 MAYOR? I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
BIOMEDICAL
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPANISH SPEAKERS THERE.
PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT ONES ON THE LIST.
I GALA YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UM, MY NAME IS EDWIN ON THE YESTERDAY, THE ONE WEEK, UH, MY LITTLE BROTHER'S 16TH BIRTHDAY.
UM, AND ON SATURDAY HE HAD JUST LEFT SATURDAY MORNING.
HE LEFT JERSEY MIKE'S JOB WORK, SAVE UP PITTSBURGH, HIS CARD AT WORK.
HE WILL DO A BROKEN
HE WOULD KNOW UNTIL HE GOT TRANSFERRED TO THOSE CHILDREN.
WHEN WE HEARD, WHEN MY MOM HEARD, WE DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL, I, I SEEN IT ON THE CAR, RIDE HOME ON THE CAR RIGHT THERE.
COULDN'T EVEN FIND A PLACE CAUSE SHE WAS JUST SO IN SHOCK.
AND BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY TOLD US,
[01:15:01]
THEY SAID THAT HE HAD A PUNCTURE IN HIS HEAD AND THE RISK OF INTERNAL BLEEDING WOULDN'T BE KNOWN UNTIL THEY GOT INTO THE SURGERY.WE STARTED THE SURGERY AT 11 AND WE DIDN'T KNOW, WE THOUGHT HE WAS IN THE DIE.
WE PRAYED ALL DAY ON THE PHONE.
THE DOCTORS THOUGHT IT WAS A RUBBER BULLET.
THEY LEFT IT IN THERE FOR HOURS.
THEY LEFT A RUB WITH THE QUOTE UNQUOTE RUBBER BULLETS.
UM, ONCE THEY GOT IN THERE, THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY A BEANBAG BACK, HAD A LARGER SURFACE AREA THAN THE RUBBER BULLET.
IT ACTUALLY CREATED A VERY LARGE WOUND, A VERY LARGE HOLE ESSENTIALLY ON HIS FOREHEAD.
NOT ONLY THAT IT HAD PENETRATED THE SKULL, IT HAD RUPTURED, FRACTURED IT THAT INVENTED INTO THE BRAIN AND LEFT THE LARGE CONCUSSION CONTUSION, WHICH IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN A CONCUSSION.
HIS PREFRONTAL CORTEX IS DAMAGED.
HE HAS PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW MANAGING HIS EMOTIONS BECAUSE THAT PART OF HIS BRAIN IS DAMAGED.
HIS COGNITIVE ABILITIES WILL HAVE TO BE ASSESSED WITHIN THE FEW MONTHS COMING.
WE HOPE FOR RECOVERY, BUT WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW.
LET ME GIVE YOU MY BEAUTIFUL SHADOW.
AND BECAUSE OF THE, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE QUOTE UNQUOTE BEANBAG, THE RISK OF INFECTION WAS SO LARGE.
HE WAS ON MULTIPLE ANTIBIOTICS.
THE SURGERY WAS AROUND SEVEN HOURS DUE TO THE COMPLICATIONS.
THEY HAVE TO GET A PLASTIC SURGEON IS GOING TO HAVE A SCAR ON HIS FOREHEAD, THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
HEY, BUT THEY TOLD US THAT HOPEFULLY WE ARE HOPING FOR A GOOD RECOVERY.
THE FACT IS THE BEAN BAGS ARE NOT INNOCUOUS.
IT'S THEIR SHOT AT THE HEAD, WHICH IS WHAT WE SUSPECT OF GOING ON BECAUSE IN THE VIDEO HE WAS ON A HILL AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN MISS SHOOTING AT THE HEAD.
YOU KNOW, THEY WERE AIMING ABOVE HIS HEAD.
THE BULLET WOULD GO DOWN INTO IT.
IT HIT HIM RIGHT IN THE FOREHEAD AND TWICE IN THE BODY.
WE JUST WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH REGION, LARGE AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY, POLICE, NOTHING WRONG.
LISTEN NOW BECAUSE THE PART OF HIS BRAIN THAT CONTROLS MOTION DAMAGE.
SO WHENEVER HE FEELS EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF PAIN, HIS BRAIN GOES INTO OVERDRIVE AND IT MAKES YOU TENSE UP HIS BODY.
AND I'M ASKING FOR ANYBODY THAT WAS THERE TO CONTACT US, TO PROVIDE US WITH THE FOOTAGE FROM THE POLICE AS WELL.
CAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
THEY KEPT USING BAGS, DANGEROUS INFECTION, THE PAIN, THE DOCTOR SAID IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER IF IT WAS A RUBBER
[01:20:01]
BULLET, BECAUSE THEN THE PUNCTURE WOUND WOULD HAVE BEEN SMALLER.AND THE RISK OF INFECTION LOWER THE WOUND WOULD HAVE BEEN NOT AS SCARRED.
THE SURGERY WOULD HAVE BEEN SHORTER, NAKED WHIPLASH DAMAGE.
HIS NECK HURTS HIM MORE THAN HIS HEAD.
HE CAN'T COME IN WITHOUT HELP AND SUPPORT.
AND I'M READY TO HIT WITH SOME BUTTONS.
IT'S SO HARD TO GET EVEN REGGIE HE'S GOING THROUGH.
IT'S ALL WE HAD WAS THE TRANSPARENCY, THE TRUTH TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
EDWIN, THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH ME EARLIER TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
EVERYONE HERE IS HEARTBROKEN, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN SAY TO MAKE IT BETTER, PLEASE, PLEASE.
NO, HE WOULD FLOW CLOSE TO THE VELOCITY.
HIT HIM WITH A HUNDRED KILOMETER BASEBALL SMASH SNEAKERS CALLED TITANIUM MESS PLATE.
I WAS GONNA ASK, DO YOU HAVE SOME, DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE THERE WITH YOU WITH YOU? OKAY.
MAYBE WE COULD TRY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SOMEONE THERE WILL.
IF THAT ONE PLEASE WITH EDWIN.
WHY? WHY WOULD THEY EVER KNEW? OKAY.
WE CAN EVEN MENTION IT FRIENDS CAUSE THEY CRY.
OUR HOPE IS WITH THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAVE STARTED HERE THIS EVENING WITH THE OTHER SPEAKERS AND YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND WITH PRESENTATION, WE'LL GET HOPEFULLY SOME ANSWERS AND SOME CORRECTIONS.
WHEN YOU SAID WE WEREN'T GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, BUT I AM GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO LET US ASK A COUPLE FOR YOU WHILE YOU'RE ON THE LINE.
UM, MANAGER, CHIEF, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO A SINGLE PERSON EVER AGAIN.
WHAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU, WHAT WE ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE, TO THIS FAMILY.
I WON'T SPEAK TO SOME IMMEDIATE CHANGES DEPLOYMENT FOR THE PROTEST THIS WEEK.
AND THAT IS THAT THE USE IS BEING BAGGED OUT, BE USED IN A CROWD SITUATION.
IT IS STILL A APPROPRIATE IN MANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND SO IT IS STILL APPROVED FOR USE HOWEVER, IN CROWDS.
SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DIRECT ANSWER I CAN GIVE YOU REGARDING WHAT HAPPENED, CIRCUMSTANCE MANAGER.
WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN A REVIEW OF OBVIOUSLY THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN BE FULLY ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.
UH, BUT WE'RE ALSO INCLUDING IN THAT MORE IMMEDIATE REVIEW OF THOSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT WAS REALLY INITIATED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL BACK IN DECEMBER WITH, UH, AS ALLUDED THING.
[01:25:01]
WAITING THE INITIATION OF THAT.WE'RE ALREADY STARTING THAT PROCESS.
I'VE SEEN THE VIDEO OF LEVI AND HE WASN'T IN A CROWD.
SO CHANGING THE POLICY FOR CROWDS WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON ASKING QUESTIONS, BUT THAT INSUFFICIENT.
I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS.
LET'S CONTINUE TO LET THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP, HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
UM, AND I'M SORRY, TRULY, UM, I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A HUG.
UM, BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT, SAY THAT, UM, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW AND WHO YOU AND OTHER FOLKS ON THE LINE WE ARE, WE'RE JUST PEOPLE UP HERE.
UM, AND WE'RE, BUT WE'RE NOT IMMORTAL.
RIGHT? AND SO TO HEAR SOMEBODY SHARE REALLY PERSONAL, REALLY PAINFUL, REALLY EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY, YOU JUST SHARED IS SOMETIMES REALLY HARD.
AND SO I JUST LET EVERYBODY KNOW YOU AT ONCE AND ANYBODY WHO MIGHT COME UP AFTER YOU, IF WE MUTE OUR CAMERA, IT'S STOPPED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT LISTENING AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PRESENT.
IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE MORE IMMEDIATE AND SOMETIMES WE'RE EXPECTED TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY PROFESSIONAL AND GRACEFUL.
AND IF WE TURN OFF OUR CAMERA, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT LISTENING.
SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO COMPOSE OURSELVES.
SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY OFFICE AND I WILL BE IN TOUCH.
LET'S CONTINUE ON WITH THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM ALL OUR SPEAKERS BEFORE MIDNIGHT, IF WE CAN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHY MITCHELL.
UM, I AM SIMPLY HERE TODAY TO CHANNEL A VIDEO THAT MANY PEOPLE PUT TIME AND ENERGY INTO COLLABORATING ON THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO SEE KIND OF ALL IN ONE PLACE, A NUMBER OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT YOU SHOULD ATTEND TO.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST THREE MINUTE VIDEO AND I BELIEVE IT IS READY FOR YOUR VIEWING.
IF THEY KNEW I WAS RECORDING THEM RIGHT NOW, I REALLY THINK THEY'D BE HANDLING THIS DIFFERENTLY.
[01:30:04]
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, MAYOR ADLER AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
UH, SO I WAS, UH, PEACEFULLY PROTESTING ON SUNDAY, UH, MAY 31ST IN SOLIDARITY WITH BLACK MATTER.
UM, WHEN I WAS NEAR
UH, I WAS SHOT WITH WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE EITHER A RUBBER BULLET, UH, OR A BEANBAG.
UH, I WAS HIT IN MY FACE IF I WERE NOT WEARING SUNGLASSES AT THE TIME.
I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT I WOULD BE BLIND RIGHT NOW.
UH, I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE GROUND AND WAS DRAGGED AWAY BY FELLOW PROTESTORS.
AND I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
THERE WAS BLOOD ALL OVER MY CHEST AND MY HANDS.
I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND IT ALL HAPPENED EXTREMELY QUICKLY.
UM, THE DAMAGE THAT I TOOK WAS A VERY LARGE LACERATION DUE TO THE SUNK, THE CUT FROM THE SUNGLASSES, FROM THE BULLET, UH, HITTING THEM.
UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS ALSO FIVE OR SIX BROKEN BONES, UH, NEAR MY, MY UPPER CHEEK AND THE BONE SUPPORTING MY EYE.
I ALSO HAVE, UM, UH, HOPEFULLY TEMPORARY, UH, RETINAL BRUISING.
UM, I HAVE TO UNDERGO ANOTHER SURGERY IN A WEEK THAT SURGERY, IT IS RISKY BECAUSE I WILL BE GETTING MULTIPLE TITANIUM PLATES TO SUPPORT MY EYE.
THERE'S A RISK FOR THE, FOR MY BODY TO REJECT THOSE PLATES.
THERE'S A RISK FOR INFECTION WITH THOSE PLATES.
UH, THERE'S ALSO A RISK OF GOING BLIND FROM THE SURGERY BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO THE SURGERY, THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN INCISION IN MY LOWER, IN MY LOWER LEFT EYELID.
UM, AND THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT RISK.
I WAS TOLD BY AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST OF PERMANENT VISION LOSS, UH, EITHER TEMPORARY OR, UH, EITHER PARTIAL OR PERMANENT.
UH, EVEN IF THE SURGERY GOES WELL, I'M CURRENTLY UNABLE TO EAT ANYTHING EXCEPT PUREED FOODS.
I HAVE TO DRINK THROUGH A STRAW.
I AM IN ENORMOUS PAIN, BOTH PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SOON TO BE FINANCIALLY.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK, UM, SOME OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE CALLED OUT, UM, THE POLICE CHIEF FOR NOT SHOWING HIS FACE AND FOR NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT ANSWERS TO USING THESE QUOTE UNQUOTE LESS LETHAL ROUNDS ON PEOPLE, PROTESTERS, I THINK THAT'S WRONG IN ANY SCENARIO.
SO, UH, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
[01:35:03]
BRENTLEY DONALD.UH, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, THEY CAN HEAR YOU.
I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE NEW, UH, NEWLY FORMED GROUP ST.
UM, WE, UH, WE PROVIDE NONPARTISAN SUPPORT THE CARE WHEN TRADITIONAL, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES CAN NOT, CAN NOT REACH A, UH, LOCATION, UH, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
UM, SEVERAL OF OUR MEDICS WERE INJURED, UM, INCLUDING ONE, UH, WHO NOW WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO MAJOR SURGERY IN HER HANDS.
SHE WAS, UH, ESCORTING JUSTIN HOWELL, UH, TO, UH, POLICE AS SHE WAS INSTRUCTED TO DO VIA NINE 11 AND, UH, HAD OUR HANDS IN THE AIR AND WAS SHOT DIRECTLY, UH, IN HER HANDS.
WE ALSO TREATED ABOUT A DOZEN, VERY SEVERE HEAD WOUNDS FROM, UH, BACKGROUNDS AND A COUPLE OF HUNDREDS, UM, MUCUS, MUCUS MEMBRANE, UH, IRRITANTS FROM, UH, BOTH GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, EMS COMMANDER, UH, WESLEY HOPKINS WAS FANTASTIC TO WORK WITH THE MOMENT THAT HE KNEW THERE WERE EXPERIENCED MEDICS ON THE GROUND.
HE HAD, UH, HE HAD ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATION WITH US WITHIN MINUTES, UH, AND HIS, HIS ACTIONS, UH, REALLY HELPS US TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO A LOT OF THINGS.
UH, I DID ASK HIM TO PASS MY INFORMATION OFF ON SATURDAY MORNING TO UNIFY A COMMAND.
UM, I KNOW HE'S DONE THAT A FEW TIMES, UH, AND UNIFIED COMMAND NEVER, NEVER REACHED OUT TO, UH, TO WORK WITH US, TO PROTECT LIFE.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UM, FOR HAVING, HAVING ME ON TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AND, UH, AND FOR THE ACTIONS THAT YOU'LL TAKE MOVING FORWARD, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
I PARTICIPATED IN THE PROTESTS ALL WEEKEND.
UM, I, I, NO POINT IN TIME THAT I CAN MAKE AN ACT OF VIOLENCE OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, YOU KNOW, ON SATURDAY I WAS WITH BHUTAN'S MACED THREE TIMES TEARGASSED AND HAD COUNTLESS SHOTS FIRED IN MY DIRECTION.
I WAS MACED TWICE, HAD MANY SHOTS FIRED AT ME AND I WITNESSED WHAT I CAN ONLY CALL A MASSACRE.
SUNDAY NIGHT, I HAVE WITNESSED COUNTLESS HEINOUS, VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTS FROM MANY APD OFFICERS COMMITTED AGAINST PEACEFUL CIVILIANS.
THE TACTICS OF POLICE WERE LITERALLY EXACTLY LIKE A GANG.
AND WHEN SOMEONE THREW A PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE FROM 30 TO 50 YARDS AWAY, THE OFFICERS WOULD RETALIATE BY SHOOTING AND MACING, PEACEFUL PROTESTERS STANDING ON THE FRONT LINE.
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW A GANG RETALIATES.
I SPOKE WITH OFFICERS WHO SWORE THEY CARED FOR OUR CAUSE AND KNEW THAT APD HAS TRIGGER HAPPY AND RACIST OFFICES YET WHEN THEY WITNESSED THESE HEINOUS AND VIOLENT CRIMES, THEY DID NOTHING FOR THAT.
THEY ARE ACCOMPLICES TO THE CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE OTHER OFFICERS.
I BELIEVE EVERY SINGLE OFFICER WHO WORKED THE PROTEST EITHER COMMITTED ONE OF THOSE CRIMES OR WITNESSED ONE OF THOSE CRIMES BEING COMMITTED AND DID NOTHING.
I WITNESSED A COUNTER PROTEST OR RUN OVER A PEACEFUL WOMAN PROTEST OR ON HIS MOTORCYCLE AND FALL OFF HIS BIKE AND ATTACK A PROTESTER.
AND THEN IMMEDIATELY GETS WORN BY MANY PROTESTERS TO BE DETAINED.
THEN POLICE ADVANCE THEIR LINE TO THE POSITION OF THE MOTORCYCLIST, BEATING PROTESTERS OUT OF THE WAY WHO HAD DETAINED HIM, THE MAN, LET HIM GET ON HIS BIKE AND RIDE AWAY.
THERE IS A VIDEO EVIDENCE OF THIS HAPPENING I WITNESSED.
AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SAY, I REALLY, IT FELT LIKE A MASSACRE.
WHAT WAS SUNDAY NIGHT, SHORTLY BEFORE IT BEGAN.
I NOTICED ONE OF THE OFFICERS HOLDING A WEAPON WITH LIVE AMMUNITION WHO LOOKED QUITE EXCITED TO BE OUT ON THE LINE.
I STARTED TO INFORM HIS FELLOW OFFICERS ON THE LINE AND I WAS INFORMED BY TWO OTHER PROTESTERS THAT WHEN ASKED IF HE CARES, IF HE SHOOTS ANYONE TONIGHT, HE SCOFFED AND SAID NO OUTRAGED.
I RAN UP AND DOWN THE LINE, YELLING AT THE OFFICERS TO TELL THEIR
[01:40:01]
SERGEANT LITTLE DID I KNOW THE SERGEANT WAS STANDING ON THE LINE SILENTLY.I ONLY FOUND OUT AFTER I ASKED ONE OF THE OFFICERS WHERE HIS SERGEANT IS, AT WHICH POINT IN TIME, HE POINTED TO THE MAN STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM.
I BEGGED HIM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I TOLD HIM WHAT WAS SAID AND BROUGHT THE TWO WITNESSES OF THE OFFICER IN QUESTIONS, COMMENTS TO THE SERGEANT TO CONFIRM THE ACCUSATION.
SOME OFFICERS EVEN SHOOK THEIR HEADS IN DISAPPOINTMENT.
UPON HEARING ONE OF THEIR FELLOW OFFICERS SAID THAT THEY KNEW THEIR OFFICERS IN THEIR DEPARTMENT WHO, WHO THINK THAT WAY WITH THAT MENTALITY.
SERGEANT TOLD ME HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
UNLESS I SHOW HIM EVIDENCE THAT THE OFFICER IN QUESTION SAID THAT I SAID, THIS ISN'T A COURT OF LAW.
THEN THE SERGEANT WENT TO THE OFFICER IN QUESTION, SPOKE WITH HIM BRIEFLY THEN APPROACHED.
AND THE TWO WITNESSES, ONE OF THE WITNESSES ASKED IF HE DENIED IT.
AND THE SERGEANT SAID, OF COURSE HE DENIED IT.
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THE OFFICER EITHER.
HE TOLD ME HE COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND WALKED AWAY MOMENTS LATER, THE SHOOTING STARTED.
I WAS STANDING APPROXIMATELY 15 YARDS AWAY FROM JUSTIN HOUSE.
AS HE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WHILE RUNNING AWAY, I WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT HIM WHEN IT HAPPENED RIGHT AT HIS FACE.
I SAW IT GO FROM EMOTIVE TO COLD.
AND THAT MOMENT KEEPS PLAYING IN MY HEAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
CHIEF MANLEY CLAIMS A PROTESTOR STANDING NEXT TO JUSTIN THROUGH A BACKPACK AND A WATER BOTTLE AT POLICE.
I DEMAND THAT CHIEF MANLEY RELEASED THE VIDEO FROM THE APD HALO CAMERA.
I'VE SEEN HIGH QUALITY FOOTAGE OF THAT MOMENT FROM SOMEONE RECORDING IN THE CROWD, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO PROJECTILE IN THE AIR GOING TOWARDS THAT APD LINE.
A CLIP FROM THE VIDEO WAS IN THE COMPILATION.
WE RAN JUSTIN TO MEDICS AND I WENT BACK OUT TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE SOUTHBOUND ACCESS ROAD AND HID BEHIND A TREE CROUCHED DOWN, RECORDING LIVE ON FACEBOOK.
AT WHICH POINT IN TIME, OFFICER'S ON THE
WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS, I'M THINKING IT MUST HAVE BEEN A COORDINATED EFFORT BETWEEN MULTIPLE OFFICERS TO SHOOT ME IN THE BACK WHILE I WAS RECORDING.
ONE OF THE SHOTS WERE SO CLOSE TO HITTING ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD THAT A PIECE OF THE BARK BROKE OFF THE TREE AND HIT ME IN THE FACE.
THIS JUST MINUTES AFTER I WITNESSED JUSTIN GET SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD, THAT MOMENT ALSO PLAYS IN MY HEAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
OFFICER WAIT UNTIL MEDICS GOT CLOSE AND IN WHAT SEEMED TO BE A COORDINATED FASHION IN THEIR WEAPONS AT THE MEDICS AND PROTESTORS, CARRYING JUSTIN AN OPEN FIRE STRIKING ONE OF THE MEDICS WHO HAD VERY CLEAR HIGH VISIBILITY TAPE FROM THREE FEET AWAY.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT SHE HAD BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE POLICE LINE WHO REQUESTED THEY CARRY JUSTIN FROM THE MEDIC STAGING AREA TOWARD POLICE OFFICERS FIRING INTO THE CROWD.
MEDICS FOLLOWED ORDERS THAT MEDIC THE LEAD MEDIC.
THE ONE WHO SPOKE WITH APD TODAY, SHE GAVE ME PERMISSION TO SAY THIS LAST NIGHT, I WAS SPEAKING WITH HER AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WOULD SPEAK AT THIS MEETING TODAY AND THAT SHE WANTED TO SPEAK AT THIS MEETING TODAY.
BUT SHE TOLD ME THIS MORNING, SHE TOLD ME SHE COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE SHE HAD NIGHTMARES ALL NIGHT, LAST NIGHT.
AND HER ANXIETY WAS TOO HIGH TO SPEAK TODAY.
I HOPE THAT ONE DAY SHE HAS HEARD WHERE SHE HAS MANY, MANY STORIES OF OVER THE WEEKEND.
APD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE THERAPY.
UPD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE, OF EVERY PROTESTER AND MEDIC AND NEED STRAIGHT FROM THEIR BUDGET.
SUNDAY NIGHT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF A MASSACRE.
PEOPLE BEING PEACEFUL, PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY, ALL FACING NEARLY SUSTAINED FIRE FROM POLICE IN FRONT AND BEHIND FOR SEVERAL MINUTES.
IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL.
I BELIEVE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDER AND DEBATE DISBANDING THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REPLACING IT WITH AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTITUTION.
WE CANNOT LET THIS STAMP MINOR REFORMS WILL NOT DO THE TRICK, BUT I'VE SEEN OVER THE WEEKEND WAS A MASSIVE CULTURE PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF APD.
AND NO OFFICER IS WILLING TO STAND UP AGAINST ANOTHER OFFICER, PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY ARE FEAR.
THEY FEAR FOR RETALIATION AGAINST THEM BY THEIR FELLOW OFFICERS.
PLEASE DO SOMETHING, PLEASE HELP US.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS HARRIS.
[01:45:01]
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.STEPHANIE'S UM, UH, I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE FOR THE ALMOST FAMILY ALLAH FAMILY, THE MARTIN FAMILY, AND ALL THE FAMILIES IMPACTED BY RECENT POLICE VIOLENCE IN AUSTIN, UH, THROUGH THE FIRE OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED AND THE POLICE LEADERSHIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LETTER YOU ALL RECEIVED FROM ORGANIZERS AND ADVOCATES, FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF MIKE WELLS.
I'M ALSO HEARING A CALL FOR DIVESTMENT, FROM POLICE AND INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY, INCLUDING FOR THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
SO MANY NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND RECESSION, TRAUMATIC STORIES AND VIDEOS OF POLICE VIOLENCE OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS THAT HAVE SHOCKED THE CONSCIENCE OF THIS CITY, THIS NATION IN THE WORLD, ALL TOO FAMILIAR TO THOSE OF US THAT HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES TO ITS END, THIS VIOLENCE DEMAND, NOT ANOTHER STUDY OR ANOTHER ROUND OF TRAINING OR ANOTHER PIECE OF TECH OR ANOTHER LAYER OF CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT, BUT A FUNDAMENTAL RESTRUCTURING OF HOW WE DEFINE AND PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY DEMANDS THAT WE BE FUND POLICE.
THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY, THERE'LL BE CUTTING THE POLICE BUDGET BETWEEN 100 AND $150 MILLION THIS YEAR REPRESENTING AN EIGHT TO 12% CORRECT.
AND INVESTING THAT MONEY IN COMMUNITY OF COLOR, YOU ARE MORE THAN 40 CITY.
COUNCIL CANDIDATES ARE CALLING FOR A BILLION DOLLAR CUT TO THE NYTD $6 BILLION BUDGET OVER FOUR YEARS TO HELP FUND OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS BEEN SEEKING SOMEWHERE.
YOU CAN PUT IN THE FORT WORTH.
THIS IS JUST A START AND THE DECADES OF SCHOLARSHIP AND PRACTICE BY ABOLITIONISTS BLACK WOMEN.
AGAIN, ANGELA DAVIS, WHO WAS IN DEAL MORTAR, MARION, KAABA, AND MORE MUST BE RECOGNIZED LEADING US HERE, ORGANIZED PEOPLE OF COLOR, NOT ONLY COMMUNITY HAD THEM MAKING SIMILAR DEMANDS TO YOU AND YOUR PREDECESSORS, A BUDGET CYCLE AFTER BUDGET CYCLE TOO OFTEN ON DEAF EARS.
NOW, NOW THAT WE ALL SEE HOW BROKEN THE INSTITUTION OF POLICING IS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING NOW AND SEE HOW THIS INSTITUTION TOLERANCE ENABLES AND PROTECTS HORRIFIC VIOLENCE BY MEETING AND THEY'RE EMPLOYING, ESPECIALLY AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT VIOLATES ANY POLICY, YOU MUST RECOGNIZE THE LIMITS OF REFORM.
WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CITY POLICIES CHANGE TO REFLECT THE VALUES OF THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S ALSO CLEAR THAT WE CAN NO LONGER, ESPECIALLY WITH CURRENT POLICE LEADERSHIP, COUNT ON, PULL OUT POLICIES, BEING ENFORCED, OR HOPEFULLY REFORMS TO IMPROVE THE INTERACTIONS OFFICERS HAVE WITH PEOPLE.
WE JUST HAVE TO DRASTICALLY REDUCE THOSE INTERACTIONS.
YOU HAVE TO DIVEST FROM POLICE, INVEST IN THE HEALTH, HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL IMPROVE SAFETY FOR ALL, AND ULTIMATELY CREATE NEW COMMUNITY BASED APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING CONFLICT AND HARM THAT GUIDE US TOWARD A FUTURE FREE OF POLICE PATROLS AND STATE VIOLENCE.
YOU, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ONE SECOND.
I'M WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP IN TEXAS ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE.
I'M ALSO AN AUSTIN RESIDENT, A BLACK MAN AND A FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSON.
SO I PARTICIPATED IN, IN EVERYDAY OF A PROTEST THIS WEEKEND AS WELL AND MONDAY AS WELL.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE FIRST BIT OF VIOLENCE THAT I SAW WAS WHEN JUST, UH, WEST OF CITY HALL, UH, POLICE OFFICERS SNATCHED AN UMBRELLA OUT OF THE HANDS OF A VERY SMALL FEMALE IDENTIFYING PERSON.
AND THEN WHEN SHE TURNED TO ASK, WHY SPRAYED HER WITH PEPPER SPRAY IN HER FACE FROM ABOUT THREE FEET AWAY? THE ONLY REASON I CAN SAY THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IS BECAUSE I WAS WATCHING IT WITH A CLEAR LATERAL VIEW AND I SAW IT ALL.
WELL, I WAS NOT SURPRISED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I WOULD HOPE NONE OF YOU HEARING THIS WOULD BE SURPRISED BASED ON THE AMPLE DATA AND EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT WELL SINCE INCEPTION, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN RACIST AS HELL.
AND I HOPE YOU WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED EVEN THOUGH ALL OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL TODAY AND, AND, AND, AND MR. MAYOR, YOU HAVEN'T ALL BEEN HERE THE ENTIRE TIME THAT AUSTIN'S BEEN AROUND, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE ALREADY HEARD THESE COMPLAINTS IN THESE CRIES AND HE'S CONCERNED.
AND SO I WANT TO LIFT UP THAT.
WHAT, IN THIS MOMENT, I FEEL LIKE APD IS THE BIG BULLY IN TOWN.
[01:50:02]
WE GET BEAT UP BY THE BULLY, WE GO TO THE PARENT'S HOUSE SAY, HEY, YOUR SON IS BEATING UP ON US.AND THE PARENTS SAY, OH, WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY SAID.
SO WE WERE GOING TO TRUST OUR KID.
THEN THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED, THE PEOPLE IN THE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH REPRESENTING THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY HARMED BY THIS BULLY OR THESE BULLIES.
IF THEY'RE A FAMILY OF THEM, THEY'VE BEEN GO TO THE PARENTS AND SAY, HEY, PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE, PEOPLE ARE BITTER AND, AND THEY'RE JEALOUS, OR THEY'RE JUST TARGETING OURS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T PROVED, LET US KNOW WELL TO YOU, THE COUNCIL, I SAY THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM A REPORT THAT THE CITY PAID FOR SAYING, APD HAS RACED THE TAIL TO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING APD HAS DONE SINCE ITS INCEPTION, RIGHT? MANLY IS A CALVIN, A RACIST FIRE.
IF SPENCER CRONK IS NOT AVAILABLE, OR IT'S NOT UP TO THE JOB OF MANAGING APD, FIRE HIM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
SO EARLY TODAY, WE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT MONEY WENT INTO THE RIDE FUND.
AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT YOU VOTED FOR THAT 70 MILLION, BUT I NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU WERE OKAY IN LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED THAN YOU WILL LISTEN TO US NOW, WE'LL BE SAFE.
DO NOT APPROVE ANYTHING THAT PUTS MORE MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF APD, BECAUSE ALL THAT IS IS FINANCING A GROUP FULL OF BULLIES.
AND THEY ARE ALL BULLIES BECAUSE EVEN IF 10 OUT OF A THOUSAND ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE DONE WRONG, THE OTHER 990 COMPLICIT, BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE NOTHING BECAUSE THEY'VE STOOD BEHIND THAT BLUE LINE.
THEY HAVE COWARDLY CHOSEN NOT TO UPHOLD THE OATH TO WHICH THEY HAVE SWORN, BUT INSTEAD THEY WANT TO UPHOLD THEIR OWN SELF INTERESTS AND THEIR FRED CHILD TOXICALLY MALE EGO.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE WOMEN IN THE FOURTH SUIT, BUT INTERNALIZE THE FRESHMAN AS A THING.
SO I SIMPLY ASK THAT THE COUNSEL TO THE EIGHT DECIDE TO LISTEN TO HIS PEOPLE.
DON'T BE THE PARENTS THAT ALWAYS EXCUSED OR BULLY YOUR BELIEF.
YOU'RE BULLYING, YOU'RE BULLYING DAUGHTER.
INSTEAD, DO WHAT GOOD PARENTS DO.
CHILDREN RESTRICT THEIR ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND TAKE AWAY THEIR BLANK BLANK.
BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU ALLOW THEM TO ADD THEIR TOYS, AS LONG AS YOU ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THEIR BUDGETARY ABILITY, AS LONG AS YOU ALLOW THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO, WHEN THEY WRONG, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WRONG US.
SO STOP FUNDING APD, AND PUT THE MONEY INTO HEALTHCARE WITH THE MONEY.
PUT THE MONEY INTO DIRECT CASH TRANSFER, PUT THE MONEY INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ISN'T RESTRICTED FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE JUSTICE INVOLVED BY ALL MEANS.
I WOULD RATHER YOU THROW THE MONEY INTO THE DUMPSTER AND TO GIVE IT TO APD, BECAUSE AT LEAST I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT A DUMPSTER KILLING MYSELF OR MY SON.
THIS IS MARINA FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
JUST A QUICK STATEMENT TO THE COM SPEAKERS.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DIALED ZERO, PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIVERS WATSON.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES SHIVERS WATSON.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS NITA DE BLASIO.
MY NAME IS NITSA AND I'M A CHILDCARE PROVIDER IN EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
UM, I AM HERE TO DISCUSS MY DISPROVAL OF HOW AUSTIN FUNDS ARE BEING USED WITH YOUTH TO WEAPONIZE AND, UM, AGAINST AUSTIN PUBLIC CITIZENS.
AS AN EDUCATOR, I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE FEAR BUCK HAVE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER EARLIER THIS SEMESTER WHEN ONE OF MY OLDER STUDENTS COME TO MY TEE SHIRT BECAUSE AN APD OFFICER WAS WALKING THROUGH HER HALLWAY AND SHE WAS SCARED AT THAT.
SHE BEGGED ME TO PROTECT THEM, AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED BLACK CANNOT
[01:55:01]
BLACK KIDS IN OUR CITY.SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE NEWS.
THEY RECOGNIZE THE SOUNDS OF FEAR AND PAIN AND HER PARENTS' VOICES.
THEN THEY'RE FORCED TO RECONCILE WITH THIS AND HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GEORGE, GEORGE, FLOYD BEING MURDERED, AND THEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.
MICHAEL RAMOS BEING SHOT BY CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR OF APD WITH NO JUSTICE AND ONLY AT ATTEMPTS TO COVER IT UP TO SYSTEM FAILURE, TEACHERS, THE CYCLE OF FEAR AND RESENTMENT.
AND I'M HERE TO SAY NO MORE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AT THE PROTEST.
SUNDAY, APD MOBILIZED BICYCLES TO FORCIBLY ASSAULT.
ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS BEFORE WE COULD EVEN REACH HER TO HELP A FORMER POLICE SWARM TURF.
OFFICER THREW HER TO THE GROUND.
AND THAT SAME DAY I WATCHED AS APD OFFICERS.
AIN'T NO NONLETHAL WEAPONS THAT HOSPITALIZED BRAD LIBER, ELENA AND JUSTIN HOWE AS CIVILIANS FROM ROOFTOPS TO SAY FROM THE CHAOS THEY WERE CREATING.
INITIALLY I HAD PLANNED TO BRING MY LITTLE SISTER TO SHOW HER THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPED IT WOULD BE A BEAUTIFUL LESSON ON THE APARTMENT AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, RECOGNIZING THAT AS A BLACK WOMAN, THERE IS A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF ALLIES.
WHO'LL STAND UP FOR HER WHEN SHE IS NEEDS, WHEN SHE NEEDS IT.
A MESSAGE IT'S RARELY SHARED WITH OUR BLACK YOUTH.
UM, I CAN SAY THAT I WATCHED FAMILIES WITH KIDS RUN FROM THE STREETS.
I FELT RELIEF THAT I DIDN'T BRING HER BECAUSE I HAD NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE IN AUSTIN.
A CITY THAT I'VE LIVED IN FOR 13 YEARS AND A YEAR END AT TWO 30, APD CHEER GAS.
MOST OF US STANDING IN FRONT OF APD AND THEY LAID HER, LIED TO THE MEDIA AND THE NEWS THING, BUT IT WAS JUST STASH OR SMOKE OR SMOKE BOMBS.
AND IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL TO THE PROTESTORS.
AS WE RAN FROM THE CHAOS, I HANDED PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY, WATER BOTTLES AND WASHCLOTH, AS WE DESPERATELY WASHED CHEMICALS FROM OUR MOUTH AND EYES.
AND THE ONLY THREAT WAS CAUSED BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ARMED, WHICH WAS APD.
THIS IS WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO DEFUNDING PD.
I'M ASKING YOU TO REMOVE OFFICERS, BRIAN MANLEY, CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR, AND THE OFFICERS WHO USED UNNECESSARY FOR SOME CIVILIANS WHILE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, I FIND IT OPPRESSIVE, BUT BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS ALREADY STRUGGLED TO PAY FOR EMERGENCE.
REGULAR HEALTHCARE FOR APD AGGRESSION WAS $3 MILLION TO USE ON WEAPONS AND ITS OWN CITIZENS.
AND WE ASKING FOR JUSTICE THAT IS NOT A SOCIETY YOUR CHILDREN DESERVE.
AND I AM ASKING YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME OF 400 YEARS TO STAND UP BECAUSE BLACK LIVES DO MATTER.
AND WHAT YOU DO TODAY WILL REFLECT ON THE PROCESS OF HEALING THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESPERATELY NEEDS.
I HAVE MET MOST OF YOU IN PERSON, AND I SHOOK YOUR HANDS.
I'VE LOOKED YOU IN THE FACE, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD INTENTIONS AT HEART.
SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU TO STAND UP FOR MY LITTLE SISTER TO STAND UP FOR ME, TO STAND UP FOR MY MOM, TO STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE I LOVE.
DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN ANYMORE.
AND ONLY YOU, IF WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING, YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES MAKING THE LAWS AND YOU GUYS HAVE, WE ARE BEING PAINTED AS VIOLENT WHEN WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LISA BROWN.
MY NAME IS LISA BROWN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NUMBER NINE.
AND I'M SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ITEM SEVEN.
I'M A WHITE PERSON, AND I'M HERE SUPPORTING THE DEMANDS OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN, GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP, AUSTIN JUSTICE, COALITION, AND OTHERS, UM, TO, UM, DEMAND THAT COUNCIL FIRE, CHIEF MANLEY, DEFUND AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND INVEST IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT WILL TRULY KEEP US SAFE.
UM, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE WHO HAVE SHARED THE IMPACT OF THESE EVENTS ON THEM AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
I SEE THE REST OF MY TIME TO DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIVERS WATSON.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES SHIVERS WATSON.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANA HAGGERTY.
[02:00:09]
YES.AM I ABLE TO BE HEARD? DIANA HAGGERTY? GO AHEAD.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
SO MY NAME IS DIANA HAGGERTY AND I AM A PROUD HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT FIVE AND BUSINESS OWNER WITHIN STRYCHNINE.
BUT I ARRIVED TODAY AS A MOTHER, A ROLE LIFE SHARE WITH SEVERAL OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL.
AND I THINK YOU'LL AGREE THAT THE SACRED ROLE OF MOTHERHOOD WEAVES THREAD BETWEEN US THAT ARE VISCERAL AND WHEN A CHILD CALLS OUT FOR MAMA, WE ALL TURN OUR HEADS ON A CHILD IS HURT OR KILLED.
AND WE HEARD FROM SO MANY MOTHERS CHILDREN ALREADY TODAY, AND I AM THE MOTHER OF FOUR INCREDIBLE DAUGHTERS WHO I WILL DEFEND WITH MY LIFE AND THE POLICE RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS HERE IN AUSTIN RENDERED ME CONFUSED AND HELPLESS AND TERRIFIED AS IT HAS SO MANY BLACK MOTHERS AND ALL MOTHERS OF COLOR AND COUNTLESS SITUATIONS.
MY HEART IS WITH THOSE MOTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CHILDREN ABUSED, INJURED, AND KILLED AT THE HANDS OF POLICE THIS WEEKEND.
AND FOR SO MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE THIS PAST WEEK IN AUSTIN HAS BROUGHT THOSE FEELINGS UNCOMFORTABLY, CLOSE TO HOME.
AS I HAVE FELT SAFE TO SEND MY TEENAGER ALONE TO NUMEROUS CIVIC ENGAGEMENTS.
AND I BROUGHT MY FAMILY TO NEARLY EVERY MARCH.
AUSTIN HAS SEEN SINCE I MOVED HERE IN 2007, AND I AM CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THE FACT THAT RECENT EVENTS ARE SO SHOCKING TO ME AND TO SO MANY OF MY WHITE FEMALE COUNTERPARTS IS DUE TO PRIVILEGE.
THIS LEVEL OF POLICE BRUTALITY IS NOT SHOCKING TO OUR BLACK COUNTERPARTS IN AUSTIN, AS THEY HAVE HAD TO ENDURE NOT ONLY IN EQUITABLE TREATMENT AND OVER POLICING, BUT VIOLENCE AND ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF POLICE THAT ARE THERE TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE.
AND AS AN EAGLE MONTOYA SAID, YOU KEEP USING THAT WORD.
AND I DO NOT THINK IT MEANS WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS.
AND SINCE THAT'S MOMS ARE SO EXCELLENT AT RESEARCH, AS WE ACT AS OUR FAMILIES, HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS, PERSONAL ASSISTANTS, AND RISK MANAGERS, WE QUICKLY HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT NEW TO AUSTIN.
AND IN FACT IS FAR WORSE THAN WE COULD HAVE IMAGINED.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN HANGING OUT IN THE MOMS GROUPS LATELY, BUT BETWEEN OUR KIDS BEING HOME 24 SEVEN SINCE MARCH AND ARE SOCIALLY ENFORCED NEED TO FIX EVERYTHING.
WHITE, OFTEN MOTHERS ARE OVER IT.
WE WANT MORE FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR CITIZENS AND NOT JUST WHITE CITIZENS.
WE DON'T WANT OUR CITY TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GO OUR WHOLE LIVES WITHOUT A MEANINGFUL INTERACTION WITH A PERSON OF COLOR.
AND WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEKEND, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WATCHING AND WE ARE LISTENING.
AND I WOULD URGE NOT ONLY THE COUNCIL, BUT WHITE ALLIES TO MOVE OVER AND LET THESE BRAND AND CAPABLE BLACK COMMUNITY LEADERS SHOW US THE WAY WE ARE LISTENING TO OUR BLACK COUNTERPARTS AND THE BLACK LEADERS OF THIS MOVEMENT.
WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY AND WE'RE PREPARED TO ACT AS A HEART.
WRENCHINGLY ACCURATE STATEMENT REPLAYS OVER AND OVER IN MY MIND, ALL MOTHERS WERE SUMMONED WHEN GEORGE FLOYD CALLED OUT FOR HIS MAMA, I CLEARLY DO NOT SPEAK FOR ALL MOTHERS, BUT THIS MOTHER IS DEFERRING TO BLACK LEADERSHIP.
AND TO THE OFFICE FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT URGE YOU TO HEED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS BROUGHT TODAY MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
CAN'T WAIT PROTOCOL TO DEFEND OUR BLACK LEADERS AND TO LISTEN TO THEIR VOICES FOR WHAT THEY SEE FIT AS WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, TO FIRE THE OFFICERS, TO KILL MIKE RAMOS AND FOR A TOP DOWN CHANGE IN THE CULTURE, OFTEN POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT LEADS TO A SHIFT IN THE WAY OFTEN CITIZENS ARE PROTECTED AND SERVED AND MANLY.
IF YOU LOVE YOUR CITY AND YOUR DEPARTMENT, AS I THINK YOU DO, YOU'LL STEP ASIDE AND MAKE WAY FOR THE CHANGE THAT THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES.
MR. CRUMP, IF HE DOESN'T STEP ASIDE, I'D LIKE YOU TO PLEASE MAKE SURE HE DOES CITY COUNCIL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS A MEAT PATEL.
SO I'M KIND OF LOCATED WITH A COUPLE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE ME.
UM, I'VE PERSONALLY MADE A VERY CLEAR, COULD YOU CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO JASON ALEXANDER IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THAT'S THE STOMACH POLICE ABUSE IS AN ISSUE.
I'VE HAD TO FACE IT AS A BRAND INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I COME FROM A PRIVILEGED FOR THEM.
MY PARENTS WERE FAIRLY WEALTHY, SO I'VE SET UP AND I FOUGHT FOR IT.
AND IN WHICH CASE I PERSONALLY MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER OR THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND SHOWED HIM DETAILED VIDEOS, RECORDING OF THIS ABUSE OF UNLAWFUL ORDERS BEING GIVEN IT WAS BLOWN OFF.
SO AT THIS POINT, ANYONE THAT DENIES THAT THIS HAS BEEN EXISTED, OR IT'S JUST COMING TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM.
[02:05:01]
SO IMMEDIATELY BE LET GO FOR GROWTH NEGLIGENT AS A TAXPAYER.I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT WE HERE, THIS HAS BEEN A FRAUDULENT EFFORT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE THAT'S IN COVERED UP.
SO WE'LL JUST COUNCIL BE RECOVERING OUR FUNDS.
AND WHAT WILL THOSE BE PLACED TOWARDS? THANK YOU.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I LIVE IN THE SEVEN EIGHT SEVEN ZERO FOUR.
I JUST MOVED HERE FROM HARVARD LAW SCHOOL.
UM, I'M CALLING FOR A DEFUNDING OF THE POLICE AND INVESTMENT INTO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
UM, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN THE CITY NEED BETTER.
IT IS ABSURD THAT 40% OF AUSTIN'S BUDGET GOES TO POLICE.
AND NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A KIND OF A FREE MONEY SITUATION FOR THE GRANT.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW PUBLIC HEALTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING RECEIVED 10% COMBINED.
UM, I, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, TRANSFER TO LIKE 20% OF THE POLICE BUDGET, UM, TO, UH, OR MORE, UM, TO, TO THIS AS LIKE, I FEEL LIKE A MEAGER ASK.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ASK THAT I HAVE IS THAT YOU, UM, PLEASE FIRE THOSE OFFICERS THAT KILLED MY KRONOS AND THAT YOU ALSO, UM, CONSIDER FIRING POLICE CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF, TROY GRAY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, RAY AUTO, UM, ARELLANO HAVE NOT DONE THEIR JOB AND KEEPING THIS COMMUNITY SAFE AND BRINGING ACCOUNTABILITY, UM, TO, UH, THESE COPS WHO'VE ABUSED THEIR POWER.
AS MANY HAVE MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, DEMANDING JUSTICE FROM MIKE RAMOS AND HIS MOTHER, BRENDA, UM, BLACK LIVES MATTER.
AND I'M GOING TO STEP OUT OF THE WAY FOR, UM, PEOPLE OF COLOR TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN COWARD.
HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I'M THE 10TH GRADE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT KIPP AUSTIN.
I'M CALLING TO SHARE ABOUT BRADLEY BY YELLOW AND SHARE MY CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
I KNOW BRAD IS AN HONORS STUDENT AT OUR SCHOOL WHO TOOK ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES IN HISTORY.
I FIRST MET HIM IN AP WORLD HISTORY CLASS.
WHEN I HEARD HIM CALL OUT, MISS, IS THIS TRUE? OR IS THIS JUST WHAT Y'ALL WANT US TO LEARN ABOUT HISTORY? GRAD LOVES HISTORY.
AND WHEN HE WAS WALKING HOME THAT DAY AND SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, HE TOLD HIS MOM ON THE PHONE, I'LL BE HOME SHORTLY.
I WANT TO SEE HISTORY HAPPENING.
HE NEVER MADE IT HOME AND HE HASN'T BEEN HOME SINCE THEN.
CHIEF MANLEY SAID THE OFFICERS WHO SHOT DAD WORK WITHIN THE POLICY.
THAT'S THE POLICY TO SHOOT UNARMED, PEACEFUL CHILDREN.
AND THE HEAD IS THAT WHAT ALL OF YOU ARE SIGNING OFF ON RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ADVER YOU URGED US NOT TO MAKE BAD TACTICS AND INDICTMENT ON THE INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS.
AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. MAYOR HARD DISAGREE.
THIS WAS NOT A CASE OF BAD POLICE TACTICS OR LACK OF TRAINING OR AN ACCIDENT.
THIS WAS INTENTIONAL CHIEF MANLEY, WHO ANSWER TO EDWIN EARLIER WAS COMPLETE AND ABSOLUTE GARBAGE.
HOW DARE YOU LISTENED TO A BREATHING BROTHER AND SPEW YOUR IDIOCY ABOUT WHAT IS WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE POLICY POLICY.
YOUR OFFICER SOUGHT BRAD OUT AND SNIPERS HIM DOWN BECAUSE HE WANTED TO A 16 YEAR OLD BOY PEACEFULLY OBSERVING IN THE DISTANCE WE NEED ACTION.
WE NEED THE OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE, FIRED, AND CHARGED.
WE NEED CHIEF MANLEY FIRED AND WE NEED TO DEFUND FUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW.
HE FUND THEM AND GIVE THAT MONEY TO OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
RAISE THE AUSTIN POLICE PENSION FUNDS AND USE THEIR MONEY TO PAY FOR BRAD AND JUSTIN HEALTH MEDICAL BILLS.
AND FOR MIKE RAMOS'S FUNERAL COSTS NO MORE PLATITUDES.
YOUR PRAYERS AND HOPES ARE NOT ENOUGH.
MIKE'S FAMILY NEEDS YOU AND OUR BLACK AND BROWN CITIZENS IN THE CITY NEED YOU TO ACT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIVAAS WATSON.
PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOUR PHONE IS NOT NEEDED.
[02:10:04]
YES, PLEASE PROCEED.I SAT WITH ROCKLAND REPRESENTING A DISTRICT ONE AND ALL OTHER AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN, DISTRICT THREE, DISTRICT SIX, DISTRICT TWO, UM, DISTRICT 10.
SO THAT MAKES ME IN DIRECT CORRESPONDENCE WITH SEVERAL OF YOU.
I APPRECIATE ANYONE WHO FINALLY SAYS TO BLACK LAWS.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE LISTENED TO SEVERAL OF US WHO HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH APD AND PULL THEM OUT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A BLACK MAN.
I CAN'T SAY WITH ANY CERTAINTY THAT BLACK LIVES THAT MATTER BEFORE AS MANY CONFESS NOW THROUGH THIS UNDER OBSERVATIONAL, WE DEALT WITH TRIGGER-HAPPY OFFICERS IN APD AND UNDER GREG HAMILTON, THE SHERIFF, WE DEALT WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE I'M ON COUNTY OFFICES.
SO WHEN APRIL, 2018, WE AS COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, WE BEGGED YOU ALL TO HOLD A COMPREHENSIVE SEARCH FOR POLICE CHIEF, BUT WE WERE DENIED FOR THE EXISTENCE SHEET WHILE UNDER ACEVEDO'S LEAD OF A HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY'VE ACCOUNTED FOR 111 POLICE POLICE INITIATED SHOOTINGS AND 34 MOTORS.
SO APPLE SIGNED TOM MANNY'S $430 MILLION OPERATION HAS COVERED UP INVESTIGATIONS AND SIGNED MORE BOTTOMS. SO MAY APPROACH HIM CARS.
I HEARD YOU SAY BLACK LIVES MATTER.
AND IF WE WERE TO ANALYZE THE RESISTING ARREST CHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN FILED BY, UH, AS A RESULT OF A APD INTERACTION, YOU GAIN SCORES OF EXCESSIVE FORCE IN BRUTALITY, UH, BRUTALLY BRUTALITY THAT RECOLLECTIONS SEE BLACK LIVES ALSO MATTER WHEN A MAN LIKE GEORGE FLORIDA, MY GRANDMAS MAKE IT TO TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL AND HAVE TO ENGAGE IN AN INDIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL ATTORNEYS.
THAT WAS ONLY CONSEQUENCES THAT DENY REHABILITATION AND REENTRY, AND MORE THAN LIKELY LEAVE OFF THE NIGHTS WITH DOCUMENTED STAINS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM RESOLVING BASICALLY A BLACK LIFE DOESN'T MATTER YET TO THIS CITY.
AND IT'S REFLECTED IN FAIR CHANCE, HIRING AWARENESS AND ENFORCEMENT AND RESPONSES TO HOMELESS DECRIMINALIZATION.
UH, AND TO BE HONEST, UH, A BLACK LIFE HAS TO MATTER FOR SCALE AT THIS POINT.
AND I'M SAYING EVEN MORE THAN SIDEWALKS, BIKE LANES AND BARS, I'VE BEEN TO THE CITY IN 39, ALMOST 39% OF THE GENERAL FUND IN THE CURRENT BUDGET GOES TO A DEPARTMENT THAT WANTS TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS ONLY.
SO THEY CAN TEAR GAS AND ATTENTION TO MURDER MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND PEACEFUL GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
AND I THINK IT'S A, I THINK IT'S TIME TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS AND DISBAND INTERACTIONS WITH APD AND BY DEFUNDING THEM.
I THINK IT'S LARGELY INFLUENCED BY ME RECENTLY USING THE CITY'S BUDGET TOOL IN OBSERVING HOW MUCH IS DEDICATED TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN AUSTIN.
I THINK THE DISPARITIES THAT A CALL FROM AN INSTANT DEFUNDING, THOSE WHO I STAND WITH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, COMMUNITIES IN WHICH I'VE LIVED IN, IN WHICH YOU REPRESENT THAT NEED RISE FROM ASSISTANCE AND OTHER ADVOCATES YOU HEAR TODAY.
I THINK WE'RE SEEKING FROM NOW ON TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU IN WAYS THAT ARE IMMEDIATE AND SKILLED AND DIVERSION OF FUNDS WHEN IT COMES TO APD AND OPERATION TO ACCOUNTABILITY, I'VE PERSONALLY TAKEN ON DOING RACISM WITH APD LEADERSHIP OUTSIDE OF MANLY.
AND I FELT THAT THESE WERE STILL UNSUCCESSFUL REASONS TO FUND A DEPARTMENT $430 MILLION WITHOUT MOVING AWAY FROM SUCH AN EXPENSIVE OPTION TO EVEN PUT HIS STAFF.
I THINK IT'S TIME TO LET SPECIFIC ONES GO OUT.
THANK YOU, BOTH EQUITY ADVOCATES ALREADY.
YOU'VE GOT AUSTINITES WITH EXPERIENCE FROM THIS PAST PAST WEEKEND THAT CAN TESTIFY BEFORE A GRAND JURY AND APD CULTURE THAT DEFIES EVEN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
SO ALONG WITH DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE 70 MILLION DIVERSION INTO THE RISE FUND FOR COVID-19 FAMILIES, WE ASKED FOR THE REMOVAL OF A LIST OF OFFICES AND OF MANLY MUCH LIKE, UH, MANY OF YOU MAYBE DIDN'T WANT CHARLIE STRONG AT UT.
YOU'RE AWARE THAT BECAUSE AFTER PARTICIPATED IN DIRECT PASS ACTIONS THAT BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN LONG BEEN IGNORED BECAUSE OF A NEGATIVE INVOLVEMENT WITH APD.
SO I SUPPORT CHRIS'S EARLY RECOMMENDATION TO DISBAND THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE MEDIA OF DENYING THE FUNDING, LIKE WHAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER WITH ITEM SEVEN AND, AND SKIN YOU HOLD THE AUTHORITY TO RESOLVE THE CHANGE IN APD LEADERSHIP.
I'VE TAKEN A RACE THROUGH THEM WITH YOU AS WELL.
AND I AGREE WITH MASS ACCOUNTABILITY.
I THINK YOU'VE HEARD TWO'S TODAY, BUT LOOK AS A BLACK MAN UP IN HERE IN TEARS FOR YEARS, ALL BASED ON APD KILLING.
SO I THINK WE DO NEED TO MAKE AN INSTANT CHANGE AND WE WILL COME TO YOU WITH INITIATIVES, PROFESSIONAL ONES THAT I THINK CAN EXIST WITH, UH, WITH, UH, EFFORTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE GROWN UP.
IF YOU'RE ON MUTE, PAUL, ADRIAN.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I'M AN EIGHTH GENERATION TEXAN.
WE ATTENDED UT AUSTIN AND LATER THE HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL.
I WORKED TWO DECADES AS A BROADCAST JOURNALIST.
AND FOR THE LAST DECADE I'VE BEEN IN TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEUR WHO CO-FOUNDED LATIC HERE, A CLOUD
[02:15:01]
BASED VIDEO TRANSFER SOLUTION USED BY SOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST MEDIA COMPANIES.IN SHORT, I AM A PRIVILEGED WHITE GUY.
I WAS NOT AT THE PROTEST, BUT I DID SEE VIDEO ON THE NEWS THAT CANNOT BE UNSEEN OF AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS LINED UP SIDE BY SIDE, REPEATEDLY FIRING THEIR SHOTGUNS, BEING BAGS, LESS LETHAL ROUNDS, WHATEVER THAT IS, CHEER GUESTS.
I CAN'T STOP SEEING THOSE OFFICER'S SIDE BY SIDE SHOOTING.
I ALSO CAN'T STOP SEEING THE VIDEO OF 16 YEAR OLD BRAD AYALA STANDING BY HIMSELF ON THE EMBANKMENT, DOING NOTHING OTHER THAN DROPPING BY THE PROTEST TO SEE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
HIS BROTHER WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER, THE INJURIES THAT FEEL HOSPITALS DURING THE PROTEST WERE PREDICTABLE.
THEY HAPPENED BECAUSE THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DRESSED ITS OFFICERS LIKE STORMTROOPERS AND SENT THEM TO A FREE SPEECH EVENT, ARMED WITH GUNS THAT WOULD BE AIMED AT AUSTINITES LIKE BRAD.
THE KEY ISSUE TO ME IS THAT APD THINKS IT IS OKAY FOR ITS OFFICERS TO TAKE GUNS TO A FREE SPEECH EVENT AT ALL.
AND THAT IT'S OKAY FOR THOSE OFFICERS TO USE THOSE GUNS ON AUSTINITES.
EVEN TODAY, YOU HEAR THIS IN THE EXPLANATIONS FROM THE POLICE CHIEF.
IT REMINDED ME OF THAT MARCH IN SELMA, WHERE THERE WAS UNDENIABLY A RIGHT SIDE AND A WRONG SIDE, A GOOD SIDE, AND A BAD SIDE, THAT BAD SIDE WAS ARMED WITH STICKS AND GUNS AND DOGS.
THE GOOD SIDE GOT INJURED, BUT CHANGE THE WORLD THIS WEEK.
APD PLAYED THE ROLE OF THOSE COPS AND SELMA THIS TIME, THE BLOOD OF THAT 16 YEAR OLD IS ON MY HAND AS AN AUSTIN VOTER AND A TAXPAYER.
AND I ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH IS WHY I'M SPEAKING TODAY.
I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ALL OF YOU AND FOR WHAT YOU DO TO GROW AND PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INJURIES AT THAT PROTEST BECAUSE YOU HIRE THE CITY MANAGER WHO HIRES THE POLICE CHIEF, WHO AUTHORIZED THIS USE OF FORCE ON AUSTIN CITIZENS.
YOU APPROVED THE POLICE BUDGET THAT PAID FOR THOSE GUNS.
THE REMEDY IS TO SAY IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, THAT WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK IN AUSTIN WAS WRONG AND THAT IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND I BELIEVE YOU DO THAT BY REMOVING THE POLICE CHIEF FROM HIS JOB.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT BY REMOVING THE PERSON THAT YOU CAN REMOVE, THE CITY MANAGER, SHOOTING CIVILIANS IS WRONG, AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE DIRECT ACTION TO ENSURE THAT EVERY POLICE OFFICER KNOWS THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER EVER AIM ANY GUN EXERCISING, THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, WHICH BE HERE.
DID YOU HEAR THE BUZZER AT THAT TIME? OKAY.
UM, I'M GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPPOSING VIEWS.
UH, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SAY I WAS BORN IN AUSTIN.
I AM ACTUALLY DID ENDURE POLICE BEING OVERBEARING TO ME PERSONALLY IN THE EIGHTIES.
I HAD GUNS DRAWN ON ME WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR IN A STATION WAGON.
UM, SO I, I FELT WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.
UM, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, UM, RAN FOR OFFICE AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN.
SO JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, I AM GOING TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK THAT YOU SHOULD DEFEND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M SAYING THAT BASED ON, UH, HERE, MORE TRAINING NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
THERE'S A SHORT DIP OFF OFFICERS.
I HEAR ALL THE TIME THAT APE CANNOT PATROL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN'T RESPOND TO.
AND THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS RETIRING OR RESIGNING EXCEEDS THE NUMBER WHO ARE GRADUATING.
THEY HAVE A DELAYED RESPONSE TO PROPERTY CRIMES.
IF THEY RESPOND AT ALL, THEY TAKE OFFICERS FROM ASSIGNED SECTORS ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO PUT THEM IN OTHER SECTORS, WHEEZING, EVERY SECTOR IN TOWN, SHORT OF THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF OFFICERS REQUIRED.
THEY REQUIRE BACKUP BY OTHER AGENCIES.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO COMMUNITY POLICING.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO DO THAT IS WHAT I'M CONSTANTLY TOLD.
I DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITH AREAS OF TOWN BEING BOARDED UP.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT HAS TO BE THE CASE.
[02:20:02]
A YEAR AGO, CHIEF MANLEY WAS HAILED AS A HERO CITIES ALL OVER TOWN, WANTED HIM TO COME TO WORK FOR THEM.PRIOR TO THESE PROTESTS, THERE WAS A TRIBUNAL.
THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED THAT A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP CALLS FOR A TRIBUNAL ON CHASE MAN LIGHTS.
I SEE HIM AS THE VOICE OF CALM AND REASON.
I THINK HIS SENSITIVITIES REFRESHING.
I THINK HE'S HORRIFIED BY SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED THIS WEEKEND.
HE'S NOT THE FIRST CHIEF TO HAVE PEOPLE CRITICIZE HIM.
ART INNOVATIVE WAS CRITICIZED BEFORE HE LEFT AUSTIN.
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO FIND THE PERFECT PERSON.
I THINK YOU NEED TO WORK WITH CHIEF MANLEY.
I WANT TO ASK WHAT ABOUT INJURIES TO COPS? IT'S TERRIBLE THAT THERE WERE INJURIES TO ANYBODY, BUT WHAT ABOUT INJURIES TO COPS? I DON'T HEAR ANYBODY ASKING ABOUT THAT.
I THINK PROTECTING THE CITIZENS AND YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS NEEDS TO BE YOUR NUMBER ONE JOB, NO NEIGHBORHOOD, VERY FEW NEIGHBORHOODS CAN AFFORD TO HIRE PRIVATE SECURITY.
I KNOW A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FEELING LIKE THEY NEED TO.
NOW I KNOW MY NEIGHBORHOOD CAN'T AND WE'RE IN BAKER SECTOR.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING I THINK THE SECTORS NEED TO BE SMALLER.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE TRAFFIC IN AUSTIN.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE POLICE TO EVEN ANSWER CALLS.
THAT'S BEEN ON THE NEWS CONSTANTLY.
I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER SOME OF WHAT I'VE SAID.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO HELP, UH, LET SPEAKERS KNOW WHEN THEIR BUZZER AS WRONG.
I'M GOING TO TRY AND START TO TRY DOING THAT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MOLLY MALONE.
UM, I'M HERE TO DISCUSS, UH, TODAY'S HEARING ABOUT, UH, DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
UM, THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE AS EVERYONE HAS INDICATED HERE TODAY THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN TACTICS, CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED IN THE PAST, OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL.
SO IN MY OPINION, I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE START DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND PUTTING THOSE RESOURCES TOWARDS OTHER PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CITY THAT CAN HELP CREATE CHANGE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AS PEOPLE HAVE DISCUSSED TODAY IN PUBLIC HEALTHCARE, UM, ALSO IN, UM, PUBLIC HOUSING AND OTHER AREAS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH CARE, UM, HELPING RESOURCES AND NEEDS AND REALLY GOING THROUGH AND REALIZING THAT ON A CONSISTENCY OF, OF CRISIS AND COMMUNITY, IT'S VERY, VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE THE LIVES THAT THEY ARE INTENDED TO LIVE.
SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT TODAY AND I WILL DEFER THE REST OF MY TIME TO OTHER FOLKS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEXANDRIA HART.
UM, I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH A THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN HARPER, MADISON, I'M VERY, VERY PROUD TO LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
UM, MY NAME IS ALEX HEART AND I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR EIGHT YEARS AND EVERY YEAR WHEN THE ANNIVERSARY OF MOVING HERE, COACHES, I LIKE TO WONDER IF I QUALIFY AS AN AUSTINITE YET NEEDING AN OFF NIGHT TO GET SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE BOTH APPRECIATIVE AND PROUD OF.
AND WHILE THERE'VE BEEN MANY DAYS SINCE THE 2016 ELECTION THAT I'VE BEEN ASHAMED AT THE END OF AMERICANS, I'VE NEVER FELT SHAME IN REGARDS TO AUSTIN UNTIL NOW AS THE PROTEST STARTED, IT SEEMED AS THOUGH OUR POLICE FORCE WOULD NOT BEHAVE IN THE BRUTAL AND DESPICABLE MANNER THAT WE'VE SEEN ON SCREEN AND REPLAYING IN OUR HEADS SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE
IT WAS NAIVE TO THINK THAT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY IS IN ANY WAY, IMMUNE TO THE DEEP SEATED RACISM THAT PLAGUES OUR COUNTRY.
WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE JUSTIN, HOW MAY DIE? 16 YEAR OLD LEVI YALA IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
A BLACK PREGNANT WOMAN WAS SHOT IN THE BELLY.
NONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS POSED A THREAT TO THE OFFICERS AND ALL OF THIS WAS DONE AT THE HANDS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ALSO NO SURPRISE THAT EACH PERSON I'VE MENTIONED HERE, IT'S A PERSON OF COLOR BEFORE THESE INDIVIDUALS EXERCISING, THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS WAS EXCESSIVE AND IT'S CRIMINAL.
[02:25:01]
COURAGE AND COMPASSION, NO ADDRESSING THE WRONGDOINGS OF APD AND FOR MYSELF, FELLOW LATINOS, OH, THAT'S A MENTALHERE WE COME BACK TO YOU ON THE, AFTER THE FIRE, THE OFFICERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CRIMES, CHARGED THEM FOR CRIMINAL ACTION AND DO IT IMMEDIATELY THEN REQUIRE ALL OFFICERS TO GO THROUGH IMPLICIT BIAS TESTING.
I DO NOT PUT OFFICERS IN THE FIELD WHO ARE A DANGER TO OUR COMMUNITY REQUIRE WARNINGS BEFORE SHOOTING REQUIRES DEESCALATION BEFORE SHOOTING MAKES YOU TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT ADOPT EIGHT COUNT WAIT, WHICH HAS BEEN PROVEN TO DECREASE POLICE VIOLENCE, REQUIRE OFFICERS TO PROTECT AND SERVE, NOT POLICE AND MURDER.
FULL-STOP LASTLY, TAKE SOME OF THE 400 PLUS MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO THE APD AND USE THAT MONEY TO HELP HEAL OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDE BETTER HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT'S THE MEDICAL SERVICES AND HOMELESSNESS THAT ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THE POLICE ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW AND IT'S YOUR JOB TO PROVE THAT NOW PROVE TO US THAT AUSTIN IS ACTUALLY A HOME WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
PLEASE ACT NOW AND TAKE NO HALF MEASURES.
AND ACTION WILL CAUSE MORE SUFFERING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN INFLICTED UPON THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITY, ALL OF THE MINORITY COMMUNITY FOR FAR TOO LONG.
I REALLY HOPE THE COUNCIL SEES THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET A NATIONAL STANDARD.
IT STARTS HERE WITH YOU AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IF IT DOESN'T START WITH YOU, THERE WILL SOON BE SOMEONE ELSE IN YOUR CHAIR WILLING TO LET THE THINGS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE REMEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I JUST LIKE TO GIVE A MOMENT TO ADDRESS THAT LAST FIGURE.
NOT JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A
AND I THINK AS WE MOVED THROUGH THIS, RIGHT, I WANT TO BE, Y'ALL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME.
I'M GOING TO TRY MY BEST ALL DAY TO LIKE COMPOSE MYSELF.
SO, UM, I THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, UM, THE THING THAT SHE SAID THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE, THAT EVERYBODY CAN APPRECIATE, UM, SHE TALKED ABOUT CIVIL ENGAGEMENT, CIVIC, RATHER ENGAGEMENT.
SO THESE THINGS THAT ARE MAKING US ALL SO VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, RIGHTFULLY UNCOMFORTABLE.
I MEAN, TO THE POINT WHERE I'M, I'M USING MY CAMERA AS OFTEN AS I CAN.
CAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE ME CRY.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE ME WIPING MY NOSE.
AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY ON THE LINE.
WHO'S TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH US TO THINK THAT IF WE KNEW IT OURSELVES ON CAMERA, THAT WE'RE NOT LISTENING TO YOU MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.
IT'S A MATTER OF US JUST TRYING TO REMAIN PROFESSIONAL AND COMPOSED.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT LAST SPEAKER, THE THING THAT THEY DID ABOUT GETTING CIVICALLY ENGAGED, UM, I DON'T OFTEN GET THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS MOMENT.
YOU GOT TO GET ENGAGED CIVICALLY.
YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE.
YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PREPARED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS, NOT EVEN FROM THE MUNICIPAL PROCESS, BUT LIKE, AS IT MOVES INTO WHO GOVERNS US, UM, JUST ONE QUICK MOMENT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, PLEASE GET ENGAGED.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU'RE CONCERNED, IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, FIND US, Y'ALL KNOW HOW TO FIND OUR EMAIL ADDRESSES.
LIKE WHEN, WHEN YOU WANT TO YOU FIND US.
SO PLEASE FIND US IF THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED ANYTHING IN THE WAY OF GUIDANCE, ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WE CAN HELP YOU.
CALCULATED AND INTENTIONAL DECISIONS ABOUT WHO YOU VOTE FOR.
WE HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SPEAKING FOR THREE MINUTES EACH AND WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 300 SPEAKERS THAT ARE SPEAKING FOR A MINUTE EACH.
UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE US PROBABLY, UM, UH, FIVE AND A HALF, SIX HOURS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS AT THREE MINUTES.
WE'RE STILL ANTICIPATING TAKING A BREAK ABOUT SIX O'CLOCK.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SUMMER MANSFIELD.
[02:30:06]
HI.I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN ON, I AM JUST SO MANAGE YOUR CHRONIC.
WHAT MORE EVIDENCE DO YOU NEED TO SEE THAT OFTEN I DO NOT APPROVE OF OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP THAT OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP HAS FAILED MASSIVELY ASSISTANT CHIEF, JUSTIN NEWSOME WAS OPENLY RACIST.
HE ADMITTED THIS TO CHIEF MANLY, MANLY FAILED TO FIRE HIM.
THIS ALONE IS GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL PERIOD.
THE ACCOUNTS OF POLICE ACTIONS WE HAVE HEARD HERE TODAY, CERTAINLY GIVE CREDENCE TO THE PERCEPTION THAT ALL COPS ARE BAD COPS, BUT I WANT TO PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE FOR A MINUTE.
YOUR FAILURES HAVE NOT ONLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
YOU HAVE PUT YOUR OWN OFFICERS IN DANGER AS A BYPRODUCT.
IF THE COMMUNITY IS ANGRY, THEY WILL TAKE IT OUT ON THE POLICE.
AS WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF EVENTS THIS WEEKEND, NOT ONLY WERE THE OFFICERS PHYSICALLY ABUSED, THEY WERE MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DEGRADED AS SUCH.
IT STANDS TO REASON AS HUMAN NATURE DICTATES THAT THESE OFFICERS UNLESS TREATED PROPERLY TO GO ON TO HARBOR, EVEN GREATER FEAR AND RESENTMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE TO PROTECT THEREFORE IN ORDER TO KEEP PEACE AND COME TOGETHER, CITIZENS AND POLICE FORCE, WE MUST FRESH FROM A PLACE OF MUTUAL RESPECT AND TRUST.
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO DO SHE'S FAMILY.
I WISH YOU PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SAVANNAH JONES.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND COUNCIL, WOMAN HARPER, MADISON FOR CALLING OUT CHIEF MANLEY.
I'M NOT BEING FULLY PRESENT BY HAVING A CAMERA ON IN THIS MEETING WHEN THIS IS ALL HAPPENING BECAUSE OF HIM AND HIS POLICE FORCE.
I AM A LONGTIME RESIDENT AND I AM SPEAKING IN REGARDS TO APD TACTICS OF CROWD CONTROL OVER THE WEEKEND.
AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO EXPEDITE THE OPEN INVESTIGATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ATTACKS ON BRAD, ELLA AND MULTIPLE OTHER VICTIMS. JERRY, HOW A PEACEFUL PROTEST AS YOU KNOW, A MINOR BY THE NAME OF BRAD ALA WAS STANDING ALONE DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
AND WHILE IT IS SAFE, DISTANCE FROM THE CROWD WAS STRUCK DOWN VIA A HEADSHOT BY LESLIE.
SO AMMUNITION, ANOTHER VICTIM, JUSTIN, HOW A 20 YEAR OLD BLACK MALE RECEIVED A HEADSHOT.
WELL, ODDLY STANDING BY AND THERE WERE REPORTS IN WHICH HE WAS BEING CARRIED AWAY BY A TEAM OF MEDICS UPSTAIRS, CONTINUED TO SHOOT IT WITH RUBBER BULLETS AND BEAN BAGS, ATTACKING INNOCENT PROTESTERS AS SUCH AS COMPLETELY ABSURD AND CRIMINAL.
WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO FIND THEIR ATTACKERS? AND WHEN SOUNDS, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE? ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS THERE NEEDS TO BE A DISCUSSION AND ERADICATING THE USE OF RUBBER BULLETS AND BEANBAGS FOR CROWD CONTROL IN OUR CITY.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR THE EXTREMITIES OF LESS LETHAL AMMUNITION.
LUCKILY, SO, I MEAN, I SHOULDN'T HAVE CAUSED MULTIPLE INJURIES, INCLUDING BRAD ALA WHO HAD TO UNDERGO NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY, SURGERY AND REMAINS IN INTENSIVE CARE.
ALSO A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF TARA NIKA.
MARTIN WAS SHOT IN THE ABDOMEN AND BACK MULTIPLE TIMES AS SHE RAN FOR COVER.
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT.
AND ALTHOUGH IT IS REPORTED BY HER HUSBAND, THAT THEIR BABY IS OKAY, THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO CHANGE.
THIS FORM OF CROWD CONTROL IS SUPPOSED TO BE ADMINISTERED BELOW THE WAIST ONLY TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURIES AS SUCH THE OFFICERS HAVE DISPLAYED THAT THEY ARE NOT CAPABLE OF USING THIS METHOD RESPONSIBLY.
AND WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN IT IS? YES.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN'T USE THINGS RESPONSIBLY? THEY HAVE IT TAKEN AWAY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE CHIEF MANLEY REPLACED BY SOMEONE WHO IS COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT.
THE FACT THAT HE IS UNWILLING TO REALLY TAILOR THE FOOTAGE FROM THE CAMERAS ON THE FRONT LINE AND SIT AND SIT IN FRONT OF THE CITY AND LIE ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED IS A COMPLETE DISGRACE.
HAVING SOMEONE LIKE HIM RUNNING THE FORCE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SERVE AND PROTECT US.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF MIKE LLAMAS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
WE NEED YOU TO STAND FOR US AS LEADERS AND WHAT CITIZENS AND ASSESSED CITIZENS OF THIS WONDERFUL CITY BRING JUSTICE TO THE VICTIMS OF PROTESTS AND HOLD THE CRIMINALS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO SPEAKERS SPEAKING ONE MINUTE.
EACH I WILL TELL EVERYONE ON THE LINE THAT I'LL PROBABLY DO THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK AROUND SIX O'CLOCK FOR DINNER.
IF YOU'RE ONLINE AND ON THE PHONE, DON'T HANG UP.
CAUSE YOU'LL LOSE YOUR PLACE IN LINE.
WHEN WE TAKE THE BREAK, WE'LL SAY WHAT TIME WE'RE COMING BACK.
BUT IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE AND HAVEN'T BEEN CALLED, DON'T HANG UP AS YOUR LOSE YOUR PLACE.
YOU'D CALL THE FIRST ONE MINUTE SPEAKER PLACE AND
[02:35:02]
YES, GO AHEAD.DO YOU WANT RESIDENTS BY SHARE THE HISPANIC QUALITY OF LIFE CONDITION? I WAS A PEACEFUL COLCHESTER ON SUNDAY AND WAS SHOT AND CHEERED OUT BY APD PEOPLE NEXT TO ME WERE VOMITING AND PASSING OUT AND STILL GETTING SHOT AT.
SO I'LL TRY TO REGAIN THEIR BREASTS.
I WAS HIT ON THE HEAD WITH THE SO CALLED DOG PEOPLE.
WELL, HE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT I AM OKAY BECAUSE I WAS WEARING A HELMET.
I WORE A HELMET BECAUSE I EXPECTED THAT APD APD, MY, SHE HAD TO HEAR THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WEEKEND INNOCENT PEOPLE WERE BRUTALIZED BY THE POLICE CITY, HOW MUCH BLOOD NEEDS TO BE FILLED IN.
SO YOU GET A BETTER SENSE OF CLOCK.
YOUR STATEMENT YESTERDAY SAID OUR CHIEF OF POLICE IS COMMITTED.
IT'S SOMEBODY WHO SENT A LETTER TO 10 PACKS AND TRYING TO EXONERATE THE OFFICER WHO KILLED MICHAEL RAMOS, CHIEF OF POLICE THAT IS COMMITTED TO SOMEONE WHO FOR A WEEK REFUSED TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE APDS, RACIAL DISPARITIES AND SEARCHES AND ARRESTS, A SERIOUS ISSUE.
THE CHIEF OF POLICE THAT IS COMMITTED.
IT'S SOMEONE WHO PUBLICLY STATED THAT THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH APD THAT IS COMMITTED.
NEXT SPEAKER, CASSIE MATTHEWS.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND I KNOW ONE MINUTE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TIME FOR ANYBODY TO BE ABLE TO REALLY SPEAK.
SO YOU GET TO PICK ONE, PROBABLY ONE REALLY IMPACTFUL THOUGHT, BUT YOU DO HAVE ONE MINUTE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LISTENING TO SPEAKERS TILL ABOUT MIDNIGHT.
I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CALL ATTENTION WITH GLARINGLY OBVIOUS RACIAL DISPARITIES AND INJUSTICES HELD BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS EVIDENCE IN THE HANDLING TWO PROTESTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
ONE BEING THE INFO WARS PROTESTS, WHICH WERE LARGELY WHITE CITIZENS AND THE OTHER BEING THE PROTESTS IN THE RECENT WEEK REPRESENTED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND ARE UKRAINE AND THE OPPRESSION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR APD, YOUR RACIST PRINCIPLES AND YOUR FEAR OF THE RISING UP OF PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE ON GRAND DISPLAY.
AUSTIN CITIZENS ARE WATCHING YOU.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE NAME OF SARAH NIKA.
I HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT? WHEN YOU KNOW MARTIN, ONE MORE TIME, WHO WAS SHOT IN THE BACK WHILE I WAS PREGNANT AND ATTEMPTING TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST.
I AM DEMANDING THE RESIGNATION OF CHIEF MANLY AND THE OFFICERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF MIKE LLAMAS.
MCGARIGGLE YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
I WAS DOWN IN PROTESTS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
UH, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A MUCH LARGER ISSUES HERE.
I'M GOING TO COME TO MY POINT.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY MUCH LARGER ISSUES HERE, BUT I'M HERE TO SUGGEST A RESOLUTION FOR HOW PROTESTS ARE MANAGED AND HAVE A CONSTRAINT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, INSTEAD OF SPENDING MONEY ON, RIGHT, YOUR TEAR GAS, ANOMALIES WEAPONS.
I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE START A NEW CITY FUNDED DEPARTMENT OF MEDIATION AND CROWD CONTROL WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING AND TACTICS.
THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR BEANBAGS AND TEAR GAS.
UH, IT'S JUST SILLY THAT THE POLICE ARE IN CHARGE OF A, OF A PROTEST AGAINST THE POLICE THERE.
IT'S LIKE YOU'RE BEGGING FOR CONFRONTATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD USE A POLICE FORCE SHOULD BE USED TO COMBAT VIOLENT CRIMINALS AND THAT'S ALL THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDIATION AND CROWD CONTROL WOULD BE ALSO USEFUL ON WEEKENDS ON SIXTH STREET FESTIVALS, ET CETERA.
AND WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING WOULD CUT DOWN ON RACIALLY MOTIVATED POLICE VIOLENCE IN PROFILE.
THE FACT THAT SHE WAS PUT DOWN THE TRAUMA THAT HE'S CAUSED TO HIS, IT WAS OFFICERS THAT, I MEAN, JUST THE TOUR MANAGEMENT AND THE TRAUMA THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE ALL THESE, THE POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL.
MY MESSAGE IS JUST GOING TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS
[02:40:01]
THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY.I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I'M EXTREMELY DISGUSTED BY HOW YOU TREATED PROTESTORS THESE PAST FEW DAYS.
SAY YOUR JOB IS TO SERVE AND PROTECT US, BUT THE ONLY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE PROTECTING US WERE THE MEDICS AND Y'ALL WERE EVEN SHOOTING THEM.
WE HAD TO DEPEND ON EACH OTHER FOR TREATING INJURIES.
WHEN YOU GUYS SHOT RUBBER BULLETS AND TEAR GAS AND MACED US AND BEAT US WITH BATON PERSONALLY, AT ONE PROTEST, I WAS COVERING AND PROTECTING A BLACK WOMAN WITH FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WHO Y'ALL MAY SMILE.
SHE GOT HER EYES FLUSHED OUT WHEN APD OFFICERS STORMED US.
EVEN AFTER WE SCREAMED THAT WE WERE HELPING AN INJURED PERSON, ONE OF THE OFFICERS YELLED BACK WELL, THEN PICK HER UP AND LEAVE FIVE SECONDS BEFORE THEY ALL BARRELED INTO US, BEATING THE PEOPLE AROUND ME WITH THE BATON, PUSHING US WITH SHIELDS AND ME PERSONALLY GETTING PEPPER SPRAYED IN MY EYES.
AND I RAN AWAY BLIND ME BLINDLY.
WHILE YOU GUYS STARTED FIRING RUBBER BULLETS, INDISCRIMINATELY AT ANYONE, YOU COULD SEE SHE FINALLY, HOW CAN YOU SIT UP THERE AND YOUR OFFICE WITH YOUR FACE AND CLAIM YOUR OFFICERS? GREAT JOB AT THE PROTEST WHEN HE WAS EVERYWHERE OF APD COMMITTING BRUTALITY AGAINST A CIVILIAN FOR PRACTICING ITS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
THIS IS WHAT THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF STILL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING NEXT SPEAKER, JUSTIN GULLIES.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY CONCERN AND ANGER OVER THE WAY PROTESTERS WERE TREATED LAST WEEKEND BY THE APD, THE POLICE TOOK AN OATH TO DEFEND AND SERVE THE PUBLIC SHOOTING KIDS, PREGNANT WOMEN OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER DOES NOT FIT WITHIN THAT OATH.
I'M ASKING FOR AN OPEN AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO HOW THIS HAPPENED AND HOW IT CAN BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU REMOVED CHIEF MANLEY, WHOSE LEADERSHIP ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THE KILLING OF MY COOLNESS.
I'M ALSO ASKING THAT YOU DELAY THE CURRENT CADET CLASS TO IMPLEMENT TRAINING REFORM.
I'M ASKING THAT ALL OF YOU PROPOSE AND PASS POLICIES THAT DAN SHOW CALLED AND STRANGLE HOPES REQUIRE THAT OFFICERS DEESCALATE SITUATIONS FIRST, BEFORE THE USE OF FORCE DAN, THE SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES AND REQUIRE OFFICERS TO FILE COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS AFTER THE USE OR THREATENED TO USE FORCE AGAINST THE CIVILIAN.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU DEFUND THE APD.
IF YOU DO NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE AND CREATE POLICIES IN OUR INTERESTS, WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT.
UM, I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT THE FUNDS MAKING UP THE CRIMINAL BLOATING POLICE BUDGET MUST BE REALLOCATED.
WE HAVE TO STOP SEEKING A SOLUTION TO CRIME THAT ASSUMES THAT THE EXISTENCE OF A GIVEN AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON REDIRECTING THAT MONEY INTO NEGLECTED COMMUNITIES, ELIMINATING THE CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO CRIME RATHER THAN CONDITIONING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RESORT TO CRIME AND CONDEMNING THEM THROUGH A CYCLE OF IMPRISONMENT AND VICTIMIZATION OF THE POLICE.
IN THIS CASE, IN THE PANDEMIC, WE SHOULD USE THESE FUNDS, CUSSING THE POLICE BUDGET OR RENT SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO BE EVICTED STARTING WITH JUNE 1ST, AS WELL AS AN IMMEDIATE REVERSAL OF ANY EVICTIONS STARTED ON JUNE 1ST.
IN ADDITION, CHIEF MANLEY MUST BE REMOVED FROM HIS POSITION IMMEDIATELY IS CLEARLY CONDONED AND AUTHORIZED VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTORS.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS DIRECTLY TO YOUTUBE MANLY, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY TOO MANY WITNESSES TO THE VIOLENCE.
THIS LAST WEEKEND, THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DOWNPLAY THE ACTIONS OF APB AND MAKE UP STORIES TO JUSTIFY THE VIOLENCE RETROACTIVELY.
I E THE BACKPACK STORY TO JUSTIFY SHOOTING JUST IN HOW PEOPLE WERE THERE.
YOU RIDE ANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY BY POLICE UNION, POLITICAL CAREERS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY AND DONATE TO LOCAL DOLLARS BEFORE PREVIOUSLY MENTORING INJURED.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING NEXT SPEAKER, SHANE JOHNSON.
UM, ONE THAT'S HOW MUCH TIME CHANGE ANTHONY CAN PRONOUNCE IN DISTRICT THREE AGAINST PRIDE AND SEVEN.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE NICE WORDS, MOSTLY ALL SET IN YOUR INTRODUCTION.
I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THEM UNTIL I ACTUALLY SEE THEM INTO PRACTICE, PUT INTO PRACTICE.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS BOOK FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
AND AS A BLACK MAN, I HAVEN'T HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF NOT REALIZING HOW BRUTAL AND WHY AND HOW MUCH APD COULD ACT LIKE THE FEMINIST CULTURE AND AUSTIN, AS A BARE MINIMUM, YOU SHOULD INSTITUTE ALL OF THE EIGHT PRIMARY POLICE, DEESCALATION TACTICS THAT CAMPING GEAR AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PUT OUT.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABSURD THAT AP
[02:45:01]
DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THINGS LIKE DEESCALATE OR DO OTHER METHODS BEFORE SHOOTING AT PEOPLE.AND I'M A FIRE CHIEF MAMMALS, FIRE, ATB, CHIEF OF STAFF, TROY GAYE, FIRE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, RAY ARIANO, WHO PERSONALLY DRAGGED HIS FEET AND, AND TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE CREASE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
I PROGRAM A PROGRAM THAT IT HADN'T BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
PEOPLE ASK ME WOULD BE MURDERED.
UM, AS WHEN I END WITH SAYING THAT IF YOU DON'T DO THESE THINGS, YOU'RE GOING TO WISH THAT THE PROCESS STAYED AS SMALL AS THEY HAVE BEEN.
HI, MY NAME IS CECILIA DAKIN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.
AND, UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO DEMAND THAT YOUR QUOTE STRAIGHT HOOK FROM THE APD.
UM, I THINK IT IS DISCUSSING THAT APD OF CLAIM THAT THEIR ACTIONS THIS WEEKEND MORE TO PROTECT PEOPLE.
THERE'S COUNTLESS EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
HANDING OUT COOKIES AND KNEELING AND HUGGING FOR PHOTO OPS AND LYING TO COVER UP.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND IS NEVER GOING TO BRING BACK THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN MURDERED AND WILL NEVER FIX THE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE LIVES AFFECTED BY MASS INCARCERATION OF BLACK PEOPLE.
I'M HERE TO SAY THAT ABD SHOULD BE TRAINED, HAS GOT ALL OTHER ALTERNATIVES BEFORE TURNING TO WEAPONS AND THAT OTHER PROCEDURES LIKE WEARING BODY CAMS HAVE PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE.
THE APD BUDGET IS EXTREMELY DISPROPORTIONATE AND I DEMAND THAT THEY ARE DEFUNDED AND THAT CHIEF OFFICER MANLEY STEPPED DOWN, RESIGNED BE FIRED.
UM, AND, UM, Y'ALL NEED TO DO BETTER.
THIS IS DISGUSTING THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING CALL AND TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT JOB.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PROFESSIONAL AND YOU ARE PROVING TO BE THE CRIMINALS AND Y'ALL ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE LOCKED UP.
WHEN I CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF CHIEF MANLEY DUE TO NON TRANSPARENCY, I KNOW I CAN DO SOMETHING AND THAT IS VOTE FOR YOU.
SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I NEED FOR YOU TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION.
DO YOU SUPPORT A NATIONAL REGISTRY FOR OFFICERS REGARDING DISCIPLINARY AND SEMINAL REPORT? WHAT ACTIONS DO YOU CURRENTLY TAKE TO RUN ADEQUATE BACKGROUNDS? HOW MANY SECONDARY WEAPONS IS AN OFFICER ALLOWED TO CARRY? PLEASE DEFINE CARRY THE APPROVED LESSON.
BLISS STATES AR FIFTEENS CAN BE CARRIED BY BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY OFFICERS.
ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS AT ALL TO CARRY
SERVING IS AN OFFICER REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.
AND THEN LASTLY, IN REGARDS TO THEM, I KNOW BRAD, HE HAS SUFFERED AND HEADWINDS BY BEING NEEDLESSLY SHOT WHILE HE WAS UP AGAINST THE FENCE.
OFFICER MANLY STATED HE WAS SHOT WHILE HE WAS CLEARING THE HIGHWAY.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO IDENTIFY THE SHOOTER, EITHER APD, BODY PANTS.
ARE THERE ANY BALLISTIC TESTING THAT CAN BE DONE? THAT'S TONIGHT.
AS A WHITE PERSON, AS A WHITE PERSON, I CAN NOT KNOW THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF, OR SPEAK FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND I WAS NOT THE RECENT PURCHASE.
SO THAT THOSE THAT WERE SPEAK THAT AS AN ALLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM OUTRAGED OVER THE USE OF FORCE TACTICS, INCLUDING JUDY PROTESTERS WITH SO-CALLED LAST WEEK.
WE'LL BE BACK THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT USED TO GET PEOPLE PEACEFULLY, PROTESTING POLICE BRUTALITY AND POLICE TACTICS THAT HAVE LED TO THE KILLINGS OF COUNTLESS BLACK PEOPLE ACROSS OUR NATION, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY, GEORGE FORD AND MIKE RAMOS RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS JUST COMES ON THE HEELS OF THE TATUM REPORT AND ALLEGATIONS THAT DEEP RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND ON THE HEELS OF POLICY WERE BURSAL CHANGES UNDER CHIEF MANLEY'S LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING REINSTATING THE ABILITY OF AUSTIN POLICE TO SHOOT AT MOVING VEHICLES.
A POLICY THAT LED TO THE KILLING OF MICRON THAT I CALL ON US
[02:50:01]
AND TO THE COUNCIL TO DEFEND ATD.AND WE ALLOCATE THAT MONEY TO FRIENDS, NON-POLICE SOLUTIONS, SOLUTION SECURITY ISSUES, SUCH AS BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND MORE MENTAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS, INVESTING IN HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY BASED SECURITY AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS. AND SO I CALL HIM COUNSEL, IF YOU WOULD MOVE AND REPLACED BY MEN, WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP POLICE REFORM IN AUSTIN ACTUALLY OCCURRED AS COUNCIL MEMBER, HALF MASS.
HE SAID, WE NEED TO STOP TALKING, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, DEMANDING JUSTICE AND TAKE ACTIONS.
NEXT SPEAKER PATCHES FOR SHEAR.
I'VE LIVED IN DISTRICT TWO FOR 12 YEARS.
I'VE SPOKEN TO THE COUNCIL MANY TIMES AND IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO THE RACISM OF SOME SYSTEM IN THIS CITY.
ANYONE WHO'S BEEN PAYING ATTENTION HAS SEEN THIS COMING FOR A LONG TIME.
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN BRINGING THESE PROBLEMS TO LIGHT.
OUR CITY'S BUDGET HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED THESE EXCESSIVE POLICING THAT HAS LED US HERE DEFUND AND DISBAND OUR CITY'S POLICE FORCE.
ANY APD OFFICERS THAT DIDN'T QUIT THIS WEEKEND AS PART OF THE PROBLEM, PLEASE LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF THOSE AFFECTED MOST.
THAT, YEAH, MY NAME IS LAUREN J GAETANO.
YOU ALL KNOW THE EIGHT STEPS TO TAKE.
WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN APOLOGIES.
WE WANT TO ACCEPT THESE PROMISES OF REFORM.
SINCE THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE VIOLENT, WE'RE NOT FOOLED OR IMPRESSED BY YOUR PERFORMANCE OF TAKING A KNEE.
THEY'RE RELEASING ALL PEACEFUL PROTESTORS, BEGIN PLANNING TO DEFEND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOLD THE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE, REALLOCATE FUNDS INTO THE COMMUNITY AND KNOW THAT KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WILL CONTINUE TO PROTEST UNTIL THE CITY STARTS DISMANTLING THE RACIST SYSTEM OF THE POLICE AMOUNT.
MY NAME IS DAVID CHASE AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE THE PEACEFUL PROTEST THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.
SO THESE LAST FOUR DAYS, AND I TALKED TO A LOT OF PROTESTS LATELY, AND WE ALL FEEL THAT THE POLICE SHOULD NOT BE WRITING THEIR OWN POLICE REPORTS.
IT SHOULD BE DONE BY A THIRD PARTY, POSSIBLY THE DIRECTOR OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.
I DON'T SEE WHY THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN A LONG TIME AGO.
RIGHT NOW THE SYSTEM IS BIASED BECAUSE POLICE OFFICERS MOTIONS ARE INVOLVED.
THE MENTALITIES ARE INVOLVED AND WE DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THAT MENTALITY AND THOSE EMOTIONS.
IF WE HAD A SECOND THIRD PARTY REVIEW BOARD OR SOMETHING, CHECK THESE POLICE REPORTS OR MAKE A SECOND POLICE REPORT, THEN WE WOULD HAVE AN UNBIASED SYSTEM.
BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE.
I ALSO CALL FOR MANLEY'S RESIGNATION AND DEFUNDING.
IF THIS IS, IF THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
APPRECIATE EVERYONE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND NOT HOPE I SEE SOME CHANGE.
I'M A BLACK WOMAN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF BOSTON AND DISTRICTS VARY EVERY INTERACTION I'VE HAD WITH THE POLICE AND NERVE WRACKING BECAUSE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE FOR JUST TREATMENT.
I HAD TO PUSH THROUGH MANY THREATS TO MY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TO PROTEST AT THE CAPITOL ON SUNDAY.
THE BIGGEST THING, THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF THE FARM POLICE OFFICERS THAT CONTINUE TO USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF FORCE AGAINST CIVILIANS FOR EXERCISING.
OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO FIRE AND CHOOSE MAINLY.
AND THE OFFICERS INVOLVED WITH MY GRANDMA'S MURDER YOU THE POLICE, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN TO SEND INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT, LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE CURRENT POLICE DEPARTMENT.
[02:55:02]
LET'S LET'S ON NOW.UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I DID.
UM, Y'ALL THIS IS BRUTAL AND I DON'T THINK WE SPEND ENOUGH TIME OUTSIDE OF POLICY WORK, TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
UM, I'M STRUGGLING TO STAY ON THE CALL TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
UM, I CAN'T EVEN SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA TALK TO US TONIGHT.
I AM STRUGGLING TO STAY ON THIS CALL BECAUSE IT'S BRUTAL AND IT'S PAINFUL.
AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE BREAK, THAT EVERYBODY TAKES A MOMENT TO DO SOME DEEP BREATHING, DRINK SOME WATER, EAT FOOD, HUG, YOUR LOVED ONES, LIKE TAKE A MINUTE FOR YOURSELF.
AND I WILL ENCOURAGE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING TO SPEAK TO DO THE SAME WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT THE SUBJECT MATTER IS SO VERY IMPORTANT.
I, I AM PRETTY GOOD ABOUT ALL OF US.
I DO THIS THING WHEN I'M ANXIOUS, YOU KNOW, I ROCK AND SOMEBODY WAS LIKE, YOU LOOK LIKE AN ABSOLUTE MANIAC RIGHT NOW.
I'M DOING WHAT I NEED TO DO FOR MYSELF.
YOU HAVE TO DO FOR YOURSELF, WHATEVER MINUTE YOU HAVE TO TAKE FOR YOURSELF TO BE OKAY IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS, THAT'S SO INCREDIBLY ABSURD AND WAY THEY LIKE IT'S THE MOMENT.
SO I HOPE PEOPLE ARE TAKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
I WILL ALSO SAY THIS WITHOUT DISCOUNTING, THE RELEVANCE OF BEING ACCOUNTABLE.
UM, I'M LOOKING AT BRIAN MANLEY WHO TURNED ON HIS CAMERA.
UM, THAT'S A WHOLE HUMAN PERSON RIGHT NOW.
SO WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY THAT IS ENTIRELY RELEVANT AND US HOLDING HIM BY WAY OF HIS POSITION OF LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE.
MAN'S FACE, THAT'S A WHOLE HUMAN PERSON.
WE CAN HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE AND ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT HE MIGHT NEED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO.
SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO JUST SEE, TO JUST KNOW THAT I'M NOT FEELING OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT I DON'T FEEL OKAY.
I WANT Y'ALL TO ALL TAKE A MINUTE, TAKE SOME BREATHS, EAT SOME FOOD, DRINK SOME WATER, DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
AND REMEMBER, NONE OF US ARE IMMORTAL.
WE'RE ALL HUMAN PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF OUR OPINIONS OF HOW YOU DID OR DID NOT, FRANKLY, DO YOUR JOB.
AND I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT, WHICH I'M CERTAIN WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.
UM, MY HOPE IS THAT WE ALL REMEMBER EVERYBODY EVERY TIME THE FACE YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW AS A HUMAN FACE, THESE AREN'T ROBOTS.
GIVE A MINUTE, PLEASE GIVE THEM A MINUTE TO BE HUMAN.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING ME CHAIR, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
SOMETIMES SOME OF THE HARD TIMES I GET ARE BY WAY OF THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND THEIR LEADERSHIP.
THE FACT THAT KEN CASSIDY, AKA BOX, THE LEADER OF THE UNION FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT ON THIS CALL.
I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO PUT OLIVE AND I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY APOLOGIES.
I THINK SOME OF THE WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED, SOME OF THE FEARS AND ANGER THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED TOWARDS OUR POLICE CHIEF ARE ENTIRELY VALID.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WHEN IT COMES TO THE LOUD VOICES, THEY COME FROM APA.
[03:00:01]
AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND KEN CASSIDY AND HIS LEADERSHIP THERE.I THINK IT'S PROBLEMATIC THAT HE'S NOT ON THE CALL.
SO MY HOPE IS DURING THE COURSE OF THE BREAK, WE GET HIM ON THE CALL BECAUSE IN MY MIND'S EYE, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT INTRODUCTION TO THIS DIALOGUE.
YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF EVERYBODY TONIGHT AND THAT'S NOT FAIR COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE ABOUT 120 PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN IN THE QUEUE THAT HAVE YET TO SPEAK THE OTHER 150.
I WOULDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO CALL IN, BUT AT THIS POINT ABOUT 120 PEOPLE, IT IS SIX OH FOUR.
I SUGGEST WE COME BACK AT SEVEN, UH, TO, TO COMPLETE THE CALLS.
SO I WORKED FOR EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY 55 MINUTES.
SO YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY REST, OKAY.
THEN HERE AT, UH, SIX OH FOUR, UM, BOTH THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL CALLED, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING ARE BOTH IN RECESS UNTIL SEVEN O'CLOCK.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, THIS IS MONA FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE REMINDER TO NOT HANG UP OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR SPOT IN LINE.
UM, ALSO IF YOU HAVE NOT PRESSED ZERO, PLEASE DO SO NOW, SO THAT YOU ARE ADMITTED TO THE CALL.
WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE A CITY COUNCIL MEETING SET FOR, UM, IN FORTH 2020.
UH, IT IS ALSO CONCURRENTLY, UH, THEY A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ALSO FOR THIS SAME DAY, JUNE 4TH, 2020, WE WERE LISTENING TO SPEAKERS THAT HAD SIGNED UP.
UM, I AM, WE'LL START BACK IN ON THAT PROCESS.
WHEN WE ARE DONE HEARING ALL THE SPEAKERS WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
UH, AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, UH, WE WILL ALL HOLD OUR COMMENTS, UH, AND, UH, RECONVENED AT NINE O'CLOCK TOMORROW MORNING, THIS MEETING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE PRESENTATION.
UH, AND THEN, UM, UH, QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS, I WOULD SAY OUT LOUD AGAIN, THAT THAT HAVING ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK IS CLEARLY INSUFFICIENT TIME FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK.
UM, THE REASON THE COUNCIL DECIDED THIS, UH, POLICY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO, UH, UNFAIR TO HAVE PEOPLE HAVING TO WAIT HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS, AND ONLY GET TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AT TWO OR THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, WE HAD 334, FOUR PEOPLE SIGN UP.
EVERYBODY SPOKE FOR THREE MINUTES, THAT'S ALMOST 17 HOURS.
AND WE WOULD HAVE PEOPLE SPEAKING AND IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT AS A COUNCIL, WE GET TO DISCUSS PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS ASSOCIATED WITH DEMONSTRATIONS.
CERTAINLY BEFORE WE GO BACK INTO, UH, DEMONSTRATIONS THIS, THIS WEEKEND, BUT THAT SAID, UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE ON WITH THE SPEAKERS.
UM, BUT I WOULD ASK THE SPEAKERS TO TRY TO HOLD TO THAT ONE MINUTE, UH, SO THAT, UM, ALL THE REMAINING SPEAKERS HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK BEFORE WE, WE GET TO LATE.
HOW DO WE STILL HAVE THE, UH, UH, FOLKS ON THAT ARE HELPING US RECOGNIZE SPEAKERS? YES, WE'RE HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND CALL THE NEXT FEW BRETT TARR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UM, I AM A BUSINESS OWNER AND I'VE LIVED HERE IN AUSTIN FOR 18 YEARS AND PARTICIPATED IN THE PROTEST A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY EVENING.
WHAT I WITNESSED WERE MULTIPLE ACTS OF APD OFFICERS, UH, FIRING AT UNARMED, UH, PEACEFUL PROTESTORS SHOOTING IN THE HEAD AND THE TORSO AND NOT TAKING APPROPRIATE MEASURES AS OUTLINED BY NPP FEMALE BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF.
I KNOW THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE THAT I MANAGE AND OVERSEE.
I DID NOT HEAR A CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY PARTICIPATING IN THIS WEEKEND'S ACTIVITIES.
[03:05:01]
ANY TYPE OF REPORTS OF OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE, BUT WHAT I SAW FIRST HAND WERE INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS FIRING MULTIPLE TIMES WITH OTHER OFFICERS STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AND NOT SAY ANYTHING.WHAT I SAW OR PEACEFUL PROTESTORS POLICING THEMSELVES, PUTTING OUT FIRES.
UM, AT ONE POINT, UM, PEACEFULLY CONFRONTING A MAN, WIELDING A KNIFE, UM, TELLING OTHERS NOT TO THROW WATER BOTTLES.
UM, AND I PERSONALLY CONSTRUCTED, UH, POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE INDISCRIMINATELY FIRING LIVE ROUNDS OR THE NONLETHAL ROUND, UH, INDIVIDUALS.
AND ONCE THEY SAW A SEMI, UM, POSEY IN 45 YEAR OLD MALE COME THROUGH THEM VIDEO VIDEOING THEM.
THEY STOPPED FIRING OUT THAT INDIVIDUAL.
JUST ONE OFFICER DID AND THEN, UM, STOPPED FIRING.
SO YOU HAD PEACEFUL PROTESTORS, POLICING, APD.
YOU HAD LEADERSHIP NOT PARTICIPATING AND GETTING READY.
NEXT SPEAKER, CRYSTAL ERICKSON, COLLINS, CRYSTAL ERICKSON COLLINS.
I AM A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE TEA EQUITY PANEL YESTERDAY.
I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT YOU SAID.
I AGREE TODAY IS ABOUT OVERDUE JUSTICE.
NO MOTHER SHOULD FEAR FOR THE LIFE OF HER WHERE'S JUSTICE FOR BRENDA RAMOS.
FOR YEARS, PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE SPOKEN, ENGAGED, COLLABORATED, AND PATIENTLY SOUGHT REFORM.
IT'S TIME FOR DEEP AND TOTAL CHANGE TO ALL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS.
NOW SHE'S MANLY HAS GIVEN LIP SERVICE TO REFORM WHILE ALLOWING RACISM TO FLOURISH.
HIS POLICY CHANGES DIRECTLY RESULTED IN THE MURDER OF MIKE RAMOS.
HE MUST BE FIRED IF A SYSTEM MANAGER CRUMP WON'T, HE SHOULD BE FIRED.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT MORE SWORN OFFICERS.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE SAD, HAVE GOOD EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND JOBS.
WE MUST REDIRECT ON TERM, ADD PERSONNEL BUDGET TO HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND CONTRIBUTE $70 MILLION TO RISE FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF UNDERFUNDED FAMILIES.
I GOT THE WORD WITH TEAR GAS DEALS, BUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HEAR MY OWN STATE EAR WASH OUT.
IF THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT PEOPLE PROTESTERS WITH ALL EYES ON THEM, HOW CAN YOU TRUST CPD WITH OUR COMMUNITY POLICE VIOLENCE? SHOULDN'T BE MY WHITE PRIVILEGE.
BLACK LIVES MATTER REALITY AT THE APD BUDGET.
MY NAME IS NICO ARNOLD AND I SPOKE AT THE POPE, UH, THIS WEEKEND.
UM, MY HEART ATTACK IS WE ARE NOT EVEN, HEY.
I WANT YOU ALL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AUSTIN IS THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS FOR A REASON.
WE STARTED AS A SLAVE TRADE AND OFTEN CHIEF MANLEY AND MR. CRUMP, DON'T STAND ON IT, GIVE IT TO THE COMMUNITY, GIVE IT TO BLACK PEOPLE.
HEALTHCARE ARE COMING TO SCHOOL.
WELL, HOW LONG IS DOWN HERE? WE'RE SCARED OUT HERE.
IF Y'ALL FEEL LIKE ELEPHANT PROTECTS US DEFUNDED PERIOD, NO MORE POLICE.
WE CAN FUND OURSELVES AND PROTECT OURSELVES.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR 27 YEARS.
IF Y'ALL FEEL LIKE THIS IS ENOUGH, STAND WITH US, STAND WITH US AND SAY, THIS IS ENOUGH FREE.
MY NAME IS NICO DAN WITH THE NOT AGAINST US.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING NEXT SPEAKER, MARY CHISM,
[03:10:01]
MARY CHISHOLM.MAKE SURE YOU UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
HI, MY NAME'S MARY CHIS ON MINE FROM, UH, OUR 11 DISTRICT FOUR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER CAN TERMINATE THE GRANT NOTED IN ITEM SEVEN.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO, UH, DIRECT THE MANAGER, TO DISMANTLE THE POLICE AND START NEW.
AND I AGREE WITH CHRIS HARRIS AND THE GENTLEMAN AFTER HIM AND CHRIS HARRIS HAS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD MANLEY CASSIDY AND ALL OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT KEN CASSIDY HAS ASSAULTED PEOPLE.
IT'S ON VIDEO AND I URGE EVERY PERSON WHO WAS INJURED WHILE PROTESTING TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO FILE A CIVIL RIGHTS SUIT AGAINST AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR OFFICERS.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN POLICY DIRECTOR FOR DAVA GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN SPEAKING ON ITEM SEVEN AND
IT IS HORRIFYING TO KNOW THAT PEACEFUL PROTESTERS IN MULTIPLE INSTANCES WERE MET WITH VIOLENT RESPONSES BY APD THAT HAVE LEFT MULTIPLE YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
WHILE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, SO-CALLED NON LETHAL AMMUNITION IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.
AND IN FACT, LETHAL WHEN USING THE MANNER THAT AWESOME POLICE OFFICERS PRIOR TO THE PROTESTERS AND BYSTANDERS, THESE POLICIES AND PRACTICES CAN NOT STAND THE NOT ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO APD WITHOUT FIRST ADDRESSING THE EGREGIOUS EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK AND IDENTIFYING IMMEDIATE CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE TO PREVENT THIS FORM FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
INSTEAD OF FUNDING, APD REQUESTS USE THOSE FUNDS TO ADDRESS HEALTH AND OTHER SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES, STARTING WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AS WELL AS LONG REQUESTED PROJECTS AS IS WRITING IN THE CAR, WHICH ARE MORE COST EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.
AND AS I SAID THIS MORNING REGARDING ITEM SEVEN, I URGE TERMINATING THE GRANT, FREEING UP CITY FUNDS FOR ALLOCATION TO THE RISE FUND, FACILITATING ACH TRANSFERS DIRECTLY TO THE RESIDENCE.
AND I APPRECIATE MY FELLOW CITIZENS.
I'VE LIVED IN THE AUSTIN METRO FOR 12 YEARS NOW IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
I DID NOT PHYSICALLY PROTEST, BUT I BORE WITNESS.
I'VE SEEN HORRIFIC FOOTAGE, 17 MILES FROM MY HOME, AND IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
WE NEED JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MIKE RAMOS AND HIS MOTHER.
WE NEED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST FASCISM AND RACISM AND SHAVE IT INTO SUBMISSION.
I DEMAND THAT APD LAY DOWN WEAPONS AND VIOLENCE.
RATHER THEY RISK PUTTING MORE FOLKS IN CRITICAL CONDITION WITH NON-LETHAL TOOLS LIKE THEY DID WITH MR. HOWL OR SHOOTING AN UNARMED PREGNANT WOMAN LIKE MRS. MARTIN SHOOTING, MEDICS AND JOURNALISTS.
WE CANNOT TOLERATE THIS POLICE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD RESEMBLE THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I ASK THE COMMITTEE TO SHOW FAITH IN THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN FIRST AND UNDERSTAND YOU NEED TO EARN OUR FAITH.
THE APD BUDGET IS WAY TOO MUCH OF THE PIE.
IT NEEDS TO BE REDUCED A PRIORITY AND SPENDING SHOULD BE EDUCATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE MUST INVEST WISELY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BLACK LIVES MATTER AND POLICE VIOLENCE AND RACISM.
I WAS IN THE PROTEST LAST SUNDAY DURING THE PART AT THE CAPITOL AND GOVERNOR GOVERNOR MANSION AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE RECENT PROTESTS, INCLUDING THE ONES IN AUSTIN BY MY OWN DIRECT WITNESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE EVENTS THAT WENT ON, UH, LATER IN THE EVENING WERE PEACEFUL.
BASICALLY PEOPLE, VERY TIRED OF THE POLICE KILLINGS, THE SYSTEMATIC RACISM OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND SO ON, PRIMARILY DIRECTED AT PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT, THAT PEOPLE HERE IN AUSTIN ENGAGED IN PEACEFUL CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ON 35 FOR A LIMITED PERIOD THAT COULD HAVE ENDED WITH RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE
[03:15:01]
AND VERY MILD MEANS THAT'S THE PEOPLE TO LEAVE.BUT INSTEAD APD, AS YOU KNOW, AS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING NEWS, HIGHLY DAMAGING, CAPABLE OF NAMING AND KILLING PEOPLE ELEMENTS, BUT THE RUBBER BULLETS IN THE BEANBAG, UM, MY SON WHO WAS THERE IN THE EVENING, UH, SAW, UH, POLICE OFFICERS LINED UP ON NINE 35 WITH AN OFFICER POINTING HIS RIFLE DIRECTLY DOWN AT THE CITIZENS BELOW IN FRONT OF THE APD.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PARTICIPANT.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
UM, I WAS AT THE PROTEST THIS PAST WEEKEND WEEKEND PEACEFULLY CAUSE THAT'S MYSELF.
AND FOR THE RECORD, I DID NOT WANT FEEL THREATENED BY MYSELF, PROTESTERS, BUT I JUST FELT THREATENED AND UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THE POLICE TACTICS USED.
I WON'T PROBABLY GO INTO DETAIL BECAUSE OF THE TIME, BUT EVERYTHING THAT HAS MADE SENSE IN REGARDS TO WHAT EXTENT IS A HUNDRED PERCENT ACCURATE.
THEY DID NOT GO THE EXTRA MILE TO KEEP, THEY CAN ESCALATE OUT OF CONTROL, BUT ACTIVIST INSTIGATORS, I WAS NOT INJURED MYSELF, BUT I FELT LIKE I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN ONE OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN INJURED BECAUSE ADP WAS TRIGGER HAPPY AND FIRING THE RUBBER BULLETS AT RANDOM TO THE CROWD.
I FIRST EXPERIENCED A TERRIFYING SITUATION.
AND AS A PRIVILEGED WHITE FEMALE, I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW BLACK AMERICANS HAVE FELT FOR SO LONG.
THE ANSWER IS NOT TO DO THAT AS OUR CURRENT MODEL, BUT REFORM AND COMPLETELY CHANGE IT.
AND WE NEED MORE THAN A FEW WORDS THAT WE CAN START BY DEFINING APB AND JUSTICE FROM OKLAHOMA.
RENFIELD SINCE IT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED FIRST, THE IDEA OF A CURFEW IN AUSTIN IS ABSURD AT BEST, AND IT'S ANOTHER EXCUSE FOR THE APD TO BEAT UP PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.
THERE'S A 2017 RESEARCH PAPER ONLINE AT BMJ JOURNALS ON RUBBER BULLETS.
3% OF PEOPLE INJURED BY RUBBER BULLET GUY, 15% ARE PERMANENTLY DISABLED.
IF YOU BAN THEM ONLY IN CROWD CONTROL SETTINGS, THAT DISTINCTION IS ANOTHER SHIELD FOR THE POLICE TO HIDE BEHIND.
IMMEDIATELY CHANGE THE POLICY TONIGHT, BRAD
AND I WONDER IF CITY MANAGER CRUMP WAS ASLEEP IN HIS OVERSIGHT, LIKE HE WASN'T MINNEAPOLIS AND THE APD IDENTIFIED THE OFFICERS THAT SHOT THOSE BOYS, OR ARE THOSE OFFICERS STILL ON DUTY RIGHT NOW BEING PAID EXTRA TO WORK THESE PROTESTS.
I WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER WE WHO ARE BEING ROUTED TO FUND THIS POLICE BRUTALITY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE PAYING THOSE COPS SALARY, HEALTHCARE HARMON, OR MANY PEOPLE IN AUSTIN ARE OUT OF JOBS.
AND WHILE BRAD AND JUSTIN ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT LINE.
UM, THANKS EVERYONE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR US OUT.
UM, I'M HAPPY THAT MANY OF YOU ARE WILLING TO ADOPT THE EIGHT CAN'T WAIT POLICY AND HOPE THAT WILL HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY, BUT THAT IS HARDLY A BABY STEP.
WE NEED TO SIGNIFICANTLY CUT FUNDING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REALLOCATE THOSE RESOURCES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ADDITIONALLY, DA MARGARET MOORE HAS STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY PROSECUTE POLICE REPEAT.
SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH LAWYERS TO HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.
FOR THAT REASON, THE KILLING OF MAURICE, THE SILVA WAS NEVER PROSECUTED.
AND THE OFFICER IN THAT CASE WITH THE SAME WHO KILLED MICHAEL
YOU SHOULD NOT HIRE MORE OFFICERS.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE STAFF THAT CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND YOU CERTAINLY SHOULD STOP HANGING ON TO STAIRS WHEN THEY ARE BEING INVESTIGATED.
THE NEXT THING I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS AS THE MEDIA ACTIONS REGARDING THE PROTEST IN THE COMING DAYS, THERE ARE REPORTS THAT CHIEF MANLEY IS CONSIDERING A CURFEW AND I PLEAD WITH YOU NOT TO ENFORCE THE CURFEW.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT CURRENCIES ARE ABUSED BY THE LEP, THE FREEWAY VENDORS, PEOPLE SIMPLY WALK HOME FROM WORK.
HE FOUND THE POLICE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
[03:20:03]
GOOD EVENING.I AM A CONSTITUENT IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 10 YEARS.
I'M HERE TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE WHO COULD SEND THE UNPROVOKED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE USED BY APD AT THIS PROTEST.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS AT KIPP AUSTIN, I'M HERE IN PARTICULAR IN SUPPORT OF BRAD IOLA.
AS A REMINDER, BRAD IS 16 YEARS OLD AND REMAINS IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN.
YOU NEED TO DEMAND TOTAL TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS.
TERMINATE THE OPPOSITE OF WHO CLEARLY VIOLATED POLICY TO WARN BEFORE FIRING AND FULLY REIMBURSED EVERY VICTIM USING EXISTING APD FUNDING.
NOW I WANT TO ADDRESS HIS FAMILY'S RESPONSE.
THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF TRAINING OR POLICIES THAT WEAK LEADERSHIP, THE CHANGING CHOIR ARE NOT TWEAKS.
THEY WILL TAKE VISION AND BATHROOM.
NEXT SPEAKER, CHRISTOPHER SCHOLAR.
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER SCHOLARED.
I'M AN ANN KITCHENS DISTRICT FIVE, DESPITE AUSTIN'S TOLERANT PROGRESSIVE REPUTATION.
THE ATG WHEN FACING ITS CITIZENRY SHOWS ITS RACIST OPPRESSION TIME AND AGAIN ON SATURDAY MAY 30, MY MINOR SON AND I ATTENDED A PROTEST AT APD HQ.
WE WILL PREPARED FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST.
WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR VIOLENT ATTACKS BY THE POLICE AS SEVERAL VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW.
MY PASSIVELY RESISTING CHILD WAS ATTACHED BY SEVERAL MOUNTED POLICE OFFICERS IN A CONCENTRATED AND DELIBERATE FASHION.
IN FACT, COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN HAD A PHOTO OF THIS HAPPENING TO MY CHILD ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE.
WE'VE ALL SEEN TOO MANY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT SO LUCKY.
YOU PARENTS WHO DIDN'T BEFORE NOW KNOW HOW APD WILL TREAT YOUR CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF COLOR.
THE APD HAS DEMONSTRATED TIME AND AGAIN, BUT IT EXISTS CHEAPLY TO OPPRESS CITIZENS OFTEN WITH RACIST VIOLENCE AS A TAXPAYER CITIZEN AND HUMAN IT'S A MAN WITH THE ACDC DEFUNDED DISMANTLED, AND ONLY THEN IF NEEDED REBUILT FROM THE GROUND UP.
PLEASE BE SURE TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CHARLES MOORE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED.
DISTRICT TEND TO NO LONGER BLINDLY FIND A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS ALWAYS VIOLENTLY RACIALLY PROFILED OR BLACK AND LATIN X COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT APD SENT CITIZENS EXERCISING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO THE HOSPITAL.
THE INCOMPETENT POLICE PRESENCE AT PROTEST USE WEAPONS BOTH OFTEN LETHAL OR SEMI LEGAL WAYS.
BUT IF LEFT SIDE OF THE SCENE SEVERELY DAMAGED BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THESE MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND ANY FUTURE LEGAL FEES.
MY FOLLOWING SUGGESTION FOR POLICE REFORM HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY CAMPAIGN ZERO AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, THE 2020 AUSTIN BUDGET SURVEY.
I WANT TO REMIND CHAIRMAN SHE, A WOMAN ASKED AN ALTERNATE STUFF.
YOU'RE A REAL ACTUAL STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE THE APPOINTMENT OF POLICE.
BRIAN MANLEY SHOULD BE CALLED INTO QUESTION ALSO.
WHY DOES APD EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO TEAR GAS AT A BARE MINIMUM? THE CITY FUNDS TO MILITARIZE APD SHOULD BE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED AND REAPPROPRIATED FOR MORE CRUCIAL ITEMS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE LIVES AND SAFETY, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, OFTEN PUBLIC HEALTH TESTING, RENT FREEZES, ET CETERA.
A CONSIDERABLE CONSIDERABLE PERCENTAGE OF APD BUCKS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS IMPROVING THE CIVILIAN COMPLAINTS OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT POLICE MISCONDUCT OR PROTEST GETS INVESTIGATED SWIFTLY INDEPENDENTLY BY A THIRD PARTY.
NEXT SPEAKER, ALEXANDRA EVANS.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY DEMOCRATS AT UT AUSTIN AND MANY MEMBERS OF MY ORG WERE TEAR GAS IF GET THE PROTEST SO APL TO USE NONLETHAL BLITZ AND BRUTE FORCE SANKAR, UNARMED PROTESTERS, SENDING CHILDREN.
THEY'VE BEEN LIED ABOUT THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA UNTIL WE WERE FORCED TO RECANT AFTER COUNTLESS TESTIMONIES, IT COULD BE GREATLY ABUSED THEIR POWER THIS PAST WEEK.
HOW CAN AUSTIN PRIDE ITSELF ON BEING TEXAS AND PROVIDE THE CABLE? MORE POLICE FORCE WAS SO EAGER
[03:25:01]
TO STIFLE THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND RETALIATE ON PROTESTORS CAUSE THEY'RE CALLED.SO THE CHIEF OF POLICE AFTER EVERY ABUSE FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AT CITY COUNCIL, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO ENSURE THAT APD DOES NOT DO FURTHER HARM TO THIS COMMUNITY? THE MORE QUALIFIED DENIED, EXPRESSED OPTIONS FOR FUNDING COMMUNITY AND NOT COST.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I CAN PROVE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE GREATLY POLITICALLY ENGAGED.
THEY ARE PASSIONATE, AWARE, AND FURIOUS.
HOW DO I INSIDE THEM? CAN YOU CONTINUE TO THROW OUR TIME AND RESOURCES TO ELECT PEOPLE LIKE YOU? WHEN PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP DID NOT CUT FROM BRUTALIZING ON PROTEST, APD HAS SHOWN THAT THEY DO NOT PROTECT AND SERVE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSE IN THE PANTS.
YOU SAID YOUR CONSTITUENTS TALK IN CIRCLES AND AVOID ADDRESSING A REAL ISSUE AT ANY COST.
DO WE NEED TO ELECT PEOPLE LESS CONCERNED WITH TELLING LINES, GIVING DONORS OR FUTURE POLITICAL AMBITIONS AND FIND PEOPLE MORE CONCERNED WITH JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SERVICE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING AS A REMEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO REMIND FOLKS, I ABSOLUTELY RECOGNIZE THAT ONE MINUTE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME, BUT IT'S WHAT WE HAVE AND NO ONE PERSON'S EXPERIENCE OR COMMENTARY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHERS.
AND SO IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF US CUTTING YOU OFF.
IT'S A MATTER OF US TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF WHAT'S HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
AND FRANKLY, BY WAY OF MATHEMATICS, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO GIVE EVERYBODY MORE TIME.
SO I RECOGNIZE, AND I'M CERTAIN THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD ECHO MY, MY SENTIMENT AND SAYING, ONE MINUTE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR YOU TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S SO EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT, BUT WE CAN'T GIVE ANY ONE PERSON MORE TIME THAN WE GIVE ANOTHER PERSON TIME.
EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIALOGUE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN TO, UH, ADVOCATE FOR MY COLLEAGUE, UH, THE CHAIR MAY OR OTHER, UM, WHEN, AND IF HE CUTS YOU OFF, IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS NOT VALUED.
IT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE 280 SOME ODD PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE BEHIND YOU AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTION.
AND THEIR HONESTLY, IT'S JUST, WE COULD DO THIS DIALOGUE FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS AND STILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME.
DON'T FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HEAR YOU.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE, OUR EMAIL ADDRESSES ARE READILY AVAILABLE ON THE, ON THE, UM, AUSTIN, TEXAS.WEBSITE.
IF YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SAY EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY, THIS IS NOT YOUR SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO US.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO TALK TO US OUTSIDE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE PEOPLE GO OVER THE ONE MINUTE AND THAT THE DECISION AROUND IT BEING ONE MINUTE AS TO DO WITH LIKE THE FINITE NATURE OF TIME.
I JUST PERSONALLY WANT TO SAY MY APOLOGIES.
I'M SO SORRY THAT YOU'RE, YOU GUYS ARE FEELING LIKE YOU'RE GETTING CUT OFF.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING TO SAY EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY.
I WANT TO HEAR IT ALL, BUT HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, WE COULD BE HERE FOR WEEKS HEARING IT ALL.
SO, UM, IF EVERYBODY COULD BE REALLY MINDFUL ABOUT RESPECTING THE ONE MINUTE IT'S BECAUSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR ALLIES, OUR ANTITRUST IS OUR ANTI-RACIST ALLIES.
LIKE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.
SO THE ONE MINUTE IS A HARD FIRM CUTOFF FOR A REASON.
AND NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE DIALOGUE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER FOR A MINUTE.
SORRY, SAY THE NAME AGAIN, PLEASE.
UM, WELL, UH, MY NAME IS SPENCER GARLAND.
I SAW ALL THE SAME TYPES OF THINGS AS EVERYBODY BEFORE ME AND SPEAKING AS DESCRIBED PREGNANT WOMAN, A 16 YEAR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT OVER 50 OR AT THE PROTESTERS, BUT ZERO ARREST STILL IN THE MURDER OF MY GRANDMA'S MORRIS TO SILVA, CRISPR TAYLOR WHO KILLED BOTH.
LET HIS ASSISTANT CHIEF WALK WITH $130,000 IN SICK PAY AFTER A DECADE OF RACIST REMARKS AND NO PUNISHMENT.
MANLEY HAS DONE NOTHING BUT LIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND.
[03:30:01]
NEW HERE IS A WHOLE COUNTRY WAKING UP AND HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR KNOWLEDGE YOU'VE HELD FOR YEARS.AND THEN NOTHING WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CURFEW.
YOU'RE JUST LIKE NEW AUSTIN, PROGRESSIVE ON THE SURFACE AND DRIVING TO DALLAS TO ENDORSE JOE BIDEN ON THE WEEKENDS, FIRE CHIEF MANLEY.
HE IS A HUMAN LIKE HUNDRED PERCENT.
GALBREATH BE SURE TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE PLEASE.
AND HOW DO THEY UNMUTE? AND THEY'RE PROBABLY JUST NEEDED THEMSELVES ON THEIR TELEPHONE.
I'M JUST UNMUTE EVE GALBRAITH.
ROBERT SEGOVIA MAY, IF YOU CAN GIVE US A MINUTE, I BELIEVE, UM, SOMETHING WENT WRONG.
MAYOR, IF I COULD TAKE A MOMENT, UM, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF COLLEAGUES AND I WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION OVER THE COURSE OF THE BREAK, UM, ABOUT SELF CARE AND UH, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK ARE RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT.
AND SO WHILE WE WAIT, I WONDER IF THERE'S ANYBODY OTHER THAN ME, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP MORE SPACE THAN NECESSARY.
I WONDER IF THERE'S ANYBODY OTHER THAN ME, YOU TAKE UP A MINUTE OR TWO TO TALK ABOUT, UM, TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES DURING THIS EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TIME.
I'M DRINKING WAY TOO MANY DIET COKES.
I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU HAD IN MIND.
AND UM, I WATCHED A LITTLE TV WITH MY LITTLE ONE.
I TRIED TO FOLLOW YOUR ORDERS, BUT I LOOKED AT MY BICYCLE, BUT I DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET ON IT.
SO, AND THANK YOU FOR CARING FOR US, ALLISON.
I WENT FOR A WALK AND GOT SOME AIR AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO REGULARLY THROUGH THIS WHOLE COVID AND PROTESTS AND EVERYTHING.
AND UM, I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND FOR EVERYONE TO PAUSE AND APPRECIATE YOU THINKING OF US NOW, WE'RE BACK.
ALRIGHT, WELL THE NEXT PERSON, ROBERT SEGOVIA, THIS IS ROBERT SEGOVIA.
THE, I AM A LATINO MAN IN THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE FEMINISTS OF OTHER FOLKS THAT SAY, WE NEED TO DEFUND THE POLICE.
AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, WE NEED TO ABOLISH THE POLICE FIRING SHE'S MADLY.
IT SHOULD'VE ALREADY BEEN HAPPENED, BUT HE IS JUST THE HEAD OF A ROTTEN TREE AND WE NEED TO REBUILD THE POLICE FROM THE GROUND UP.
THEY HAVE SHOWN UP THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE.
WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO SAY WE VALUE HUMAN LIVES OVER PROPERTY AND
[03:35:01]
JOBS.WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO SAY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BLACK BOY OR A BROWN BOY DIE AND GIVE THE POLICE ANY MORE MONEY.
UM, I HAD, UH, I HAD A RECORDING THAT WAS GOING TO BE PLAYED.
UM, BUT UH, THE RECORDING SOUNDS TO PLAY.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND READ IT REAL QUICKLY.
UH, I'M HERE TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT TELLING THIS STORY.
BEFORE I HAD A MEETING WITH A SENIOR OFFICER WITH AP IN THE MEETING, I TOLD HIM THAT OUR BUSINESS WILL NOT CALL APD.
IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A PERSON OF COLOR, CAUSE I'M AFRAID OF THE POLICE, BRUTALIZING SOMEONE, ONE IS UNNECESSARY AND WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.
IF I KNEW I WAS A PART OF THAT, HE TOLD ME THAT WE WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT CALL APD IN THE INSTANCES WHERE SOMEONE IS A PERSON OF COLOR FOR THE SAFETY OF THAT PERSON.
IT WASN'T EVEN SHOCKED THAT HE TOLD ME THAT YOU'RE SCARING MY FRIENDS FROM GOING TO PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION BLACK LIVES MATTER IS HELPING TO TEACH WHITE PEOPLE HOW WE CAN PARTICIPATE WITHOUT PEOPLE PUTTING PEOPLE OF COLOR UP FOR THE RISKS.
SO THESE HAVE BEEN AN HDU IS IMPORTANT FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS TO BE THERE, TO LISTEN, KEEP FAMILIES LASHED OUT THAT SERVICE NEEDS TO BE, TO TELL US ALL THAT EVERYONE WILL BE SAFE AND PROTECTED FROM OFFICERS.
DEMONSTRATORS ARE LEARNING TO IDENTIFY THE BAD ACTORS AND EXPOSE THEM AND GET THEM OUT OF THE DEMONSTRATION.
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GET RID OF THOSE BAD ACTORS AND WE WOULD, UH, WE ALSO NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE THE OFFICERS THAT ARE NOT.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEPPER MADISON.
I JUST LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE SPEAKER.
UM, THIS IS SOMEBODY IN MY DISTRICT, UM, WHO IS, UH, A STRONG WRONG ANTI-RACIST ADVOCATE.
AND DURING THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC, UM, THEY OPENED UP THEIR BUSINESS TO OFFER PEOPLE FREE WIFI AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS.
UH, THIS IS PROBABLY YOUR FIRST TIME SHOWING UP TO COUNCIL, UM, TO, TO SPEAK YOUR TRUTH AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NOT JUST FOR SHOWING UP TODAY, NOT JUST FOR SHOWING UP, UH, DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROTEST, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW PROPRIETORS, UH, DID TO SHOW FOR THE COMMUNITY DURING THE COURSE OF THIS CRISIS.
UH, JUST, UM, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE YOU ON THE LINE.
BE SHARING ON YOUR PHONE PLEASE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
SO JUST ECHOING OTHER PEOPLE, I'M GOING TO BE ARREST OF THE OFFICERS WHO KILLED MY GREEN NOSE AND THE DEFUNDING OF THE OFFICE.
I GUESS ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD WAS THAT LIKE REFORMISM IS A NOTCH AND COMMUNITY POLICING ISN'T ENOUGH.
AND SO I'M HOPING THAT AS WE SEE FROM THE POLICE AND REDIRECT THOSE FUNDS INTO THE COMMUNITY, INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IT'S HEALTH, UM, WE ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IN, IN OTHER WAYS.
NEXT SPEAKER, BETH CLASSER, BETH CLASSER.
BE SURE TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE PLEASE.
UM, MY NAME IS GEORGIE AND I ATTENDED, UH, SOME OF THESE PROTESTS AS A PEACEFUL PROTESTER, BUT LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT, UM, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MY POTENTIAL DEATH SENTENCE.
UM, AND IF THIS ISN'T CLEAR, IT NEEDS TO BE MADE CLEAR.
THE ESCALATED FORCE MODEL DOES NOT WORK.
[03:40:01]
A DOMINANT SHOW OF FORCE BY THE POLICE WILL CONVINCE PROTESTORS TO COMPLY DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE ALL IT DOES IS ACTUALLY INCITE VIOLENCE AND IN JUNE.SO ANY DOING SO YOU'RE TEACHING POLICE TO EQUATE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE WITH ANARCHY, AND IT'S ONLY EMBOLDENS RACIST APD COPS TO KILL.
SO THE SUGGESTIONS THAT I HAVE ARE TO BAN OURS ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL, UM, POLICE OFFICERS, AND ACTUALLY CHARGE THEM.
UM, SO THIS MEANS NOT ALLOWING CHOPS TO JUST, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE, BUT THEN ALSO BE ABLE TO REAPPLY TO BECOME A STATE TROOPER ONE DAY AS WELL.
I THINK THAT ALSO WE SHOULD MORE CONTROL, UM, DR.
POSTMORTEM AGGRAVATED INCIDENCES, AND ALSO TO DATE ON THE POLICE RIGHT NOW I'M 40% OF AUSTIN CITY BUDGET GOES TOWARDS THE POLICE, BUT THAT CAN ALSO BE REAL.
THEY REALLOCATED TOWARDS HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH AREAS.
UM, AND ALSO FOR, EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU.
I'M, I'M A BLACK PRESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIDES AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, I WANT TO GO DOWNTOWN AND GO FIND COMMUNITY AGAINST BLACK LIVES MATTER, BUT I AM AFRAID.
HE JUST, HE IS LIKE THE EARLIER SPEAKERS AND SAID, THE VIDEOS LOOK EXACTLY LIKE MARGIE'S ON THE 1960S.
AND I DO NOT WANT TO FACE THE POLICE AND RIGHT NEAR WE'RE SHOOTING MEDICS.
AND BY DAY, HE, IN FACT IS YOUR GUESTS SHOULD NOT BE USED ON PEACEFUL CITIZENS IN ANY CONTEXT.
AND SHE FAMILIES RESPOND TO, THEY WILL, THEY WILL NOT BE USING CROWDS WAS SO DISRESPECTFUL TO BRETT.
I OWN WAS STANDING ON HIS OWN.
I'M DEMANDING THAT WE BE FUNDED THE POLICE AND ADOPT EIGHT.
CAN'T WAIT BECAUSE IT IS A SYSTEMATIC ISSUE AND WE DO NOT NEED MORE COPS OR STUDIES OR COMMITTEES OR TRAINING BECAUSE EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT, OFFICERS ARE STOPPING AND ARRESTING AND BRUTALIZING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ON CAMERA WITHOUT ME.
AND SO WE LOVE TO FUN BECAUSE IF I START CRYING BY A BLACK MAN TODAY, I WOULD THINK THIS COULD BE THE REASON THAT A MAN DIES TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, UM, TO THE LAST SPEAKER.
UM, I WANT TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL HIM RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO I DON'T WANT TO ASK YOU TO ELABORATE IF YOU'RE DOING WHAT A LOT OF US HAD BEEN DOING AND JUST TAKING A MINUTE, LIKE SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND CRY OR SCREAM OR BE MAD, OR, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT.
UM, SO SHE SAID SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE SAYING, UM, IN THAT THERE'S PEOPLE JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN ELABORATE ON THEIR FEELINGS AND ELABORATE ON HOW WE ARE JUST NOT SHOWING UP FOR THEM.
AND SO IF SHE'S STILL ON THE LINE, I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO ASK BRIEFLY.
UM, HOW CAN WE AS A COUNCIL, DO A BETTER JOB TO SHOW UP FOR PEOPLE WHEN Y'ALL WERE FEELING THE SAME THING WE FEEL, YOU KNOW, NONE OF US ARE IMMORTAL, RIGHT? WE'RE ALL MORTAL HUMANS AT.
HOW CAN WE SHOW UP BETTER FOR YOU IN THAT SPACE WHERE YOU'RE JUST FEELING LIKE WE DON'T SEE YOU.
LIKE, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO OFFER IN TERMS OF, IN ADDITION TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, SHE'S NO LONGER ON THE LINE.
IF YOU'RE ON MUTE, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY WITH THE CURRENT GRANT THAT'S COMING IN ON THE MONEY, PLEASE TAKE ACTION FOR CREATING SOME SORT OF COP WATCH.
WE REQUIRE POLICE TO TAKE PSYCHOLOGY AND SEE PSYCHOLOGIST AS A CONTINUING EDUCATION EVALUATION, SINCE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING CHALLENGED PSYCHOLOGICALLY, BUT THEY LACK THE EMPATHY TO ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR AUDIENCE.
[03:45:01]
WE REQUIRE POLICE TO TEACH A REQUIRED COURSE IN HIGH SCHOOL, OUR LAW LANGUAGE OF POLICE.SO WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE LANGUAGE THAT THE LAW USES AGAINST US CONSTANTLY ON SUPPORT THE PREVIOUS CALLERS.
AND I STAND WITH ANY POLICE AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS AGAINST THESE LOOTERS.
WE'VE TRIED TO HIJACK THIS MOVEMENT.
PLEASE REDIRECT THESE FUNDS TO AN EXTERNAL ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO ENFORCE LAWFUL ARREST IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, PREDOMINANTLY OF AFRICAN AND LATINO DISTRICT.
THEY MUST BE VOLUNTEER FOR HOOD WATTS, BUT THEY WILL ALL BE TRAINED IN SELF DEFENSE, WEAPONS, MARTIAL ARTS, AND TO NEUTRALIZE ANY UNLAWFUL BRUTALITY, ARREST OR MURDERS ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AT LEAST HALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET SHOULD GO TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION WITH US TONIGHT.
I'LL KEEP IT A SHORT, UH, FIREMEN.
WE DEFINED APD PUT THAT MONEY TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, GIVING PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED WHEN THEY ARE IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
PROBABLY BRIGHT PEOPLE OUT HERE, BUT WE SEEN HIM BEFORE WE KNOW HIS POLICIES AND HOW THEY AFFECT BLACK AND BROWN BODIES.
NEXT SPEAKER, STEPHANIE CARSON.
THIS IS BETHANY CARSON SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF, OF GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP AND UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY.
AUSTIN I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANTED TO CHALLENGE THE IDEA THAT REFORM WITHOUT DIVESTMENT WILL END POLICE BRUTALITY.
UM, AS ALEX BATALI WRITES, THIS ASSUMES THAT THE INTENDED ROLE OF THE POLICE IS TO NEUTRALLY ENFORCE A SET OF LAWS THAT ARE AUTOMATICALLY BENEFICIAL TO EVERYONE.
IT'S NOT AN IT'S NEVER HAPPENED.
POLICING IN THE U S EMERGED FROM SLAVE PATROLS AND APD SPECIFICALLY EMERGED FROM AN 1865 CITY COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT FREE BLACK PEOPLE WERE CONGREGATING IN AND AROUND.
AUSTIN REFERENCING THE FRIEDMAN TIMES WHERE NEWLY FREED BLACK PEOPLE WERE FINALLY BUILDING A SEMBLANCE OF SAFETY AND AUTONOMY.
IT'S UP TO CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE AMENDS FOR THAT HISTORY BY DEFUNDING THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE 40% OF THE BUDGET THAT IS CURRENTLY ATTACKING OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD INSTEAD KEEP ALL OF US SAFE.
WE CAN MEET THESE BASIC NEEDS OF FAMILIES MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMICS THROUGH THE RISE FUND FUND EMS, MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADDICTION, TREATMENT, BLACK AND DARK OPEN INVEST IN GREEN SPACES ON THE EAST SIDE.
I'M ON THE BOARD OF ECHO AND A RESIDENT IN EAST AUSTIN DISTRICT ONE ON SUNDAY, I JOINED A PEACEFUL GATHERING OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL TO SUPPORT BLACK LIVES MATTER AND CALLING ATTENTION TO THE MURDER OF MIKE RAMOS AFTER 15 MINUTES.
POLICE CREATED A BARRIER ON THEIR TRAVIS BIKES, THE TIME AND GUN WITHOUT WARNING, POLICE BEGAN FIRING ON MYSELF AND OTHER DEMONSTRATORS.
MANY OF WHOM HAVE THEIR HANDS UP.
THEY SHOT US AT CLOSE RANGE WITH BEING BACK BULLETS INTO A CROWD WITH PARENTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, INCLUDING A FATHER WHO HAD A TWO YEAR OLD SON ON HIS SHOULDERS RIGHT NEXT TO ME, THESE VIOLENT AND UNPROVOKED SHOOTINGS AND USE THE CHEER GRAPHS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON.
RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE TWO YOUNG MEN OF COLOR, JUSTIN HOWE AND BRAD IOLA SITTING IN THE HOSPITAL WITH CRITICAL INJURIES BECAUSE OF APDS APPETITE.
THE BIO, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY NOT ONE SINGLE POLICE OFFICER, SOMEONE IN CITY MANAGEMENT HAS NOT LOST THEIR JOB OVER THIS.
YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
WE NEED JUSTICE FOR MIKE RAMOS.
WE NEED JUSTICE FOR BRIANA TAYLOR AND GEORGE FLOYD BECAUSE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
HI, MY NAME IS TUCKER AND I LIVE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON FOR BEGINNING.
THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO ACTUALLY CREATE ADJUSTMENT, EQUITABLE SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM IN AUSTIN WITH ALL THE MONEY WE SPENT ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHAT WE GET IN RETURN IS AN ONGOING, VIOLENT DISRUPTION OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
[03:50:01]
AND THE MURDERS AND PEOPLE LIKE MIKE RAMOS.WE DON'T, WE ALSO GET PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WHO UTILIZE WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND SO CALLED LESS THAN LETHAL MUNITION, WHICH SENT JUSTIN HOWE AND GRETTA OUT TO THE HOSPITAL AND CRITICAL, CRITICAL CONDITION.
LEAVING THEM WITH LIFE ALTERING INJURIES, EXCUSE ME, THE PEOPLE WHO RESPOND TO CRISES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT SHOULD BE THE PEOPLE BEST EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THOSE CRISES.
AND IN ALL CASES, THE BEST EQUIPPED PEOPLE ARE NOT MEMBERS OF A MILITARY POLICE FORCE.
IF WE WERE TO REALLOCATE RESOURCES TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER THAT BE HOUSING SOLUTIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, JOBS, SCHOOLS.
IF WE DID THAT, WE WOULD SEE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR POLICE FORCE.
THIS IS A RADICAL AND SUSTAINABLE STEP TOWARD AN ACTUAL COMMUNITY BASED MODEL OF SAFETY THAT WOULD ENSURE BLACK PEOPLE THRIVE IN THE CITY RATHER THAN BE TERRORIZED BY AN INCREASINGLY AGGRESSIVE AND RACIST POLICE FORCE REMOVED MANUALLY FROM THE POLICE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
I WAS A COAST GUARD OFFICER FOR SIX YEARS.
I CARRIED THE WEAPONS OF THE POLICE.
WE WERE TOLD THAT IF WE USE EXCESSIVE FORCE, WE'D BE THROWN UNDER THE BUS.
THAT IS NOT THE CULTURE OF APV IN 2014 WITH THE SIXTH STREET AS SUCH YOU BY COPS COME UP AN ALLEY WAY TOO FAST.
THE ALMOST RAN INTO A SOBER PEDESTRIAN.
ONE OF THE BIKE COPS GOT MAD THAT THIS GUY WAS IN HIS WAY.
SO HE GOT OFF HIS BIKE AND CRUSHED THE MAN.
AND THE WAY THAT YOU MIGHT SEE A DRUNK FRAT BOYS START A FIGHT.
BUT THIS FRAT BOY WAS WEARING AN AUSTIN PD UNIFORM.
THE MAN TOLD THE COP TO SLOW DOWN THE TOP, GRABBED HIS WRIST AND BROUGHT OUT HANDCUFFS.
AND THE MAN GENTLY PULLED AWAY INSTANTLY.
THE OFFICER PUNCHED HIM IN THE HEAD.
I'M NEED TO TAKE DOWN MANEUVERS, FLEMING HIS FACE INTO A BRICK WALL.
I SAW HIS FACE COVERED IN BLOOD AS IT DRAGS HIM AWAY, WHICH KILLS HAPPENED TO ANYONE LISTENING TO MY WORDS RIGHT NOW, THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO BECOME A WITNESS, BUT I FAILED.
IF THAT MAN IS WITH ME, I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T HELP YOU WHEN HE NEEDED IT MOST.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS ERIC
AND THEREFORE THIS WORK MUST INCLUDE PUTTING AN END TO THE UNACCEPTABLE AND RACIST POLICE BRUTALITY THAT RAVAGES WATCH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U S WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO ASSERT, TO ACTIVELY AFFIRM THAT FREEDOM FROM POLICE VIOLENCE AND RACIAL JUSTICE OR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ISSUES.
AND TODAY WE'RE ALSO AFFIRMING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
AND THE LAST WEEK WE HAVE SEEN APD RESPOND TO A PROTEST ABOUT ENDING POLICE BRUTALITY BY BRUTALIZING PROTESTORS, LIKE BRETTA YALA, JUSTIN HOWL, AND MANY OTHERS, INCLUDING MIMO MARTIN, WHO WAS THE PREGNANT BLACK WOMAN WITH DISPROPORTIONALLY HIGH RATES OF BLACK WOMEN'S MATERNAL MORTALITY WAS HOLIDAY.
AND THE ONGOING NORMALIZATION OF PREGNANT PEOPLE ARE OUTCOMES OF RACIST SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION.
THESE ARE THE SAME SYSTEMS THAT APD UPHOLD WHEN THEY SHOOT PREGNANT BLACK WOMAN.
WE'RE IN DEEP SOLIDARITY WITH THE ORGANIZERS ON THE GROUND WHO ARE DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM APD IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE STAND WITH THEM AND THEN I'M THE OPPOSITE OF RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MOTHER.
I'M GONNA STUDY BY BATHROOM, APB AND INVESTING REAL SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU ALL MUST BE REALLY TIRED AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PATIENT AND LISTENING TO ALL OF US.
UM, MY NAME IS
I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF KIPP, TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BRADLEY BY EYE ALLIES.
ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, YOU HEARD HIS BROTHERS ARE CRUNCHING TESTIMONY.
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS WHY IS THE OFFICER WHO SHOT THIS INNOCENT CHILD BELONG DUTY? WHY HASN'T HE BEEN CHARGED? AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS SAME OFFICER HAS BEEN ON HER LIST FOR PROMOTION TO BECOME A CORPORAL.
HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT HE WON'T BE PROMOTED? WE CAN'T BE SURE BECAUSE WE HAD AN APD LEADERSHIP PROBLEM.
SO THE CITY MANAGER, YOU MUST ENSURE WE HAVE THE POLICE CHIEF, WHO WE CAN ALL TRUST.
ALL OF US WHO WILL IMMEDIATELY APPLIED TO EIGHT PRACTICES FROM CAMPAIGN ZERO SO THAT YOU CAN REDUCE VIOLENCE BY 72%
[03:55:01]
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION AND REDUCE THE APD BUDGET.
WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU TO MAKE REAL CHANGE.
WE WE'LL SUPPORT YOU ALL THE WAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL YOUR WORK.
OR TIME MANAGEMENT, UH, COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE, UH, 220 PEOPLE NOW IN QUEUE TO SPEAK JUST UNDER FOUR HOURS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE APPROACHING MIDNIGHT.
MY NAME IS MEGAN'S CORNEA AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT AND AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE AND MY BLACK AND BROWN FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
LAST NIGHT, I WALKED UP TO APD HEADQUARTERS AND LOOKED AT THE OFFICERS WHO WERE SEEN ON VIDEO COMMITTING ATTEMPTED MURDER AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR USING 40 MILLIMETER BULLETS.
I SAW OFF OF A SERVER FROM THE IMAGE WE'VE ALL SEEN.
ACCORDING THE RIFLE IN THE PHOTOGRAPHY SPACE, HE WAS LAUGHING, JOKING, POINTING, AND BEING PAID.
MEANWHILE, A BLACK TEXAS STATE STUDENT IS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH BRAIN DAMAGE.
A YOUNG LATINO MAN IS IN THE HOSPITAL.
A BLACK PREGNANT WOMAN IS DEALING WITH THE TRAUMA OF BEING SHOT.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF BLACK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I'M ALSO DEEPLY IMPLANTED AND DISAPPOINTED IN THE LONG SILENCE AND TOOTHLESS STATEMENT FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE THAT ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION.
WE HAVE MISSED YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THE CUPBOARD CRISIS.
AND YOU MISSED THE MARK HERE AGAIN.
I'M ASKING YOU IMMEDIATELY TO REMOVE SHE'S MANLY, CHARGED CHRIS TAYLOR FOR THE MURDER OF MICROMOLAR AND FIRE AND CHARGE OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THIS WEEKEND INJURY SHOOTING.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REQUEST THAT YOU TERMINATE THE GRANT REQUEST IN ITEM SEVEN.
I CO-ORGANIZED THE COLLECTIVE THAT INCLUDES MANY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY LEADER WHOSE VOICES I HAVE VOWED TO AMPLIFY.
I'M ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AT MEASURED.
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF NONWHITE PEOPLE KILLED BY POLICE WAS 1.3 PER YEAR, PER MILLION UNDER MANLY.
THIS IS INCREASED TO 4.1 THAT'S 10, TWO AND A HALF TIMES.
THE NUMBER OF WHITE AUSTINITES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED BY POLICE.
IF ALSO INCREASE TATUM LAW REPORT SHOWS NON-TRANSPARENCY TOLERANCE OF RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA, BAD RECORD KEEPING OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND CULTURE OF RETALIATION.
BAD USE OF FORCE POLICING POLICIES HAVE LED TO HARM HARMING PROTESTORS AND THE KILLING OF MIKE RAMOS.
UNARMED HANDS UP GROUPS WHO INITIALLY TRIED TO WORK WITH APD TO SUPPORT POLICE REFORM HAVE EXPERIENCED BEING FORWARDED AND UNDERMINED.
AUSTIN IS 14TH IN THE NATION FOR POLICE VIOLENCE.
CONTROLLING PEOPLE IS NOT ATD JOB.
PROTECTING THE PEOPLE IS THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF TRYING TO CONTROL THE PEOPLE IS A MILITARISTIC STATE.
WE NEED NOTHING LESS THAN A FORM OF LEADERSHIP FIRE, MAN DE ARIANO DEFORM THE APD.
I WANT MY CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN A WORLD WHERE THEY CAN TRUST PUBLIC SERVANTS.
WHICH WITNESS MORGAN, RIGHT? OKAY, MORGAN.
I ATTENDED THE PROTEST ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
UM, MY ONE EXPERIENCE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE PROTESTERS MODE, MOTIVES AND ATTITUDE DURING THESE PROTESTS NEVER VARIED.
AND WHAT WE WERE APPROACHED WITH, FROM THE POLICE ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WAS VIOLENT.
AND WHAT WE WERE APPROACHED WITH ON MONDAY WAS PEACEFUL.
SO IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME AND WHAT I EXPERIENCE AND TO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THOSE DIFFERENT DAYS, THAT IT WAS THE MOTIVE OF THE POLICE THAT WERE DIFFERENT.
THOSE TWO DAYS, THOSE THREE DAYS.
AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE PROTESTERS INTENTIONS WERE ALWAYS PEACEFUL.
AM I CHEVALIER? HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE.
SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ECHO AND AMPLIFY THE VOICES AND LIVES OF BLACK PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
[04:00:01]
MANAGER, CLOT, MAYOR ADLER, AND ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO YOUR BLACK CONTINGENCY.NOW I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR YOU.
AND IF YOU AREN'T LISTENING, WE'LL VOTE YOU OUT.
I'M CALLING FOR THE DIVESTMENT AND THE POLICE FORCE AND THE REINVESTMENT OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY AND FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, PUBLIC PARKS, AND THE LIKE DO NOT APPROVE THIS GRANT FUNDING DIVEST.
NOW IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT IT IS A GRANT DO NOT PUMP MONEY INTO THIS DEPARTMENT ANYMORE.
NOW I'M ALSO HERE TO DEMAND THE JUSTICE FOR THE RANDOS HOWL, EILA AND MARTIN, AND ALL OTHER FAMILIES AFFECTED BY POLICE BRUTALITY, IMPLEMENT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, JUSTICE.
NOW PROTESTS PREPARED TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE, PREPARED TO ANTAGONIZE AND HARM THE COMMUNITY.
AMANDA MESSINA BE SHARED ON YOUR PHONE.
MUSSINO I'M CHAIR OF NATURAL SCIENCES AT HOUSTON TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY AND ED OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY DATA COALITION THREE QUICK THINGS, UM, REITERATING THE CALL.
YOU'VE HAD MANY TIMES TO, UH, GET RID OF CHIEF MANLEY, ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO FIRE HIM.
IT'S ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS AND CHIEF MANLEY HAS FAILED TO TRANSFORM APD, UH, CASE IN POINT NUMBER TWO, OFTEN LACKS FIVE OF THE EIGHT USE OF FORCE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN NATIONALLY TO REDUCE POLICE KILLINGS.
YOU'VE HEARD THIS MANY TIMES ALREADY.
WE NEED THE REMAINING FIVE IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND NUMBER THREE, PLEASE USE THIS AS A LESSON AND PLEASE START, START TAKING EQUITY SERIOUSLY ACROSS THE BOARD AND MOVED BEYOND WORDS TO ACTION.
I USUALLY REACH OUT ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE OR HEALTH OR HOUSING.
YOU NEED TO ADDRESS RACISM IN THESE AREAS.
IN SO MANY MORE COMMUNITY GROUPS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING AND ASKING FOR ANTI RACIST POLICIES AND EQUITABLE FUNDING FOR YEARS.
AND YET IT NEVER SEEMS TO GET BEYOND PILOT PROJECTS WITH Y'ALL.
UM, PLEASE LISTEN TO US BEFORE WE LOSE MORE OF OUR CITIZENS.
THANK YOU A SPEAKER AND MAYOR, BUT BECAUSE IT GETS, UH, BEEN BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES AND I THINK I MENTIONED IT, WE'VE MENTIONED IT EARLIER IN THE CALL.
UM, WE WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND ON THOSE EIGHTS POLICIES THAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, UH, I THINK DEFICIENT IN FIVE OF THEM, UH, I'M ASKING, I THINK OUR COLLEAGUES ARE ON BOARD WITH BRINGING FORWARD THOSE ACTIONS FOR A VOTE NEXT WEEK SO THAT WE CAN SHOW WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO BE TALKING, BUT WE'LL BE TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THAT IN MANY OTHER THINGS.
AND FOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE HEARD AT THE PROTEST, WE'LL ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS IN THE MORNING.
AND SO PLEASE TUNE BACK IN BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE'RE SCHEDULED TO DO THAT.
AND I KNOW MANY OF US WILL BE ASKING THOSE HARD QUESTIONS.
I'M A WHITE PERSON HERE AS A PART OF UNDOING, WHITE SUPREMACY, SUPPORTING AND AMPLIFYING THE DEMANDS FROM BLACK AND BROWN ORGANIZERS AND AUSTIN TO FIRE CHIEF MANLEY AND DEFUND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SINCE I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN, I'VE WATCHED YOU MAYOR ADLER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WITNESS AS AUSTIN KNIGHTS OF COLOR DEMAND JUSTICE FROM THE ONGOING LEGACY OF WHITE SUPREMACIST VIOLENCE.
AND AS WELL AS ASKING FOR A TINY SLICE OF THE FUNDING THAT GOES TOWARDS THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS PROGRAMS THAT MAKE ALL AUSTINITES SAFE AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
DAVID, JOSEPH MARKESA SILVA AND MIKE RAMOS WOULD BE ALIVE AND BROUGHT A LIE THAT AND JOSEPH AND JUSTIN HOWELL WOULD BE HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
RIGHT NOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE SAFEST COMMUNITIES HAVE THE MOST RESOURCES AND NOT THE MOST POLICE DOUBLING DOWN ON POLICING.
IT'S DOUBLING DOWN ON WHITE SUPREMACY.
WE MUST DO BETTER, COMPLETELY DEFEND THE APD AND INVEST IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SAID, THANK YOU.
THANK SPEAKER, JOSHUA GONZALES.
UH, JOSHUA BEEN RIVERSIDE DISTRICT THREE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, TOM SHARPER MADISON FOR CALLING OUT CHIEF FAMILY.
UH, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS JUST OFTEN DEALING WITH IT, FRANKLY, VERY LATE THIS PAST,
[04:05:01]
UH, PUSHING BACK THE INSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS, WE CALL IT THE TPN, RIGHT TO BE ASSAULTED PROTESTERS, UH, WHERE THEY WERE DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO.UM, I'M CALLING TO DEFEND THE POLICE, THE FAMILIES.
AT THE VERY LEAST YOU CAN FIRE TWO FAMILY OFFICERS, MITCHELL PARKER, AND DISTRICT TAYLOR.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HIM, JEFFREY CARLYLE.
HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY DURING THIS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIME.
MY NAME IS JEFFREY CARLISLE AND I RESIDE IN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS DISTRICT.
I'VE TAUGHT EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS AT KIPP AUSTIN COLLEGE PREP, WHICH IS IN COUNCIL MEMBER KOSSAR'S DISTRICT.
BUT I DO NOT SPEAK FOR KIPP IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY PAST SUNDAY, MAY 31ST KID, BOSTON STUDENT BRAD, UH, LEVI YALA WAS EXERCISING HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BY PEACEFULLY PROTESTING SYSTEMIC RACISM AT AUSTIN POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
MY CURRENT AND FORMER STUDENTS HAVE STARTED TO ASK ME IF IT'S SAFE TO PROTEST THIS INJUSTICE AFTER SEEING VIDEOS OF BRAD BEING SHOT AND THEY SHOOTING OF KIPP AUSTIN, BRAD, I ALLAH.
AND HE VERY STRONG MESSAGE TO MY STUDENTS.
EVEN IF YOU'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG, THE POLICE CAN STILL SHOOT YOU.
AND SO FAR, NONE OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN SHOOTING BRAD, DUSTIN, OR A PREGNANT BLACK WOMAN SHOT IN THE STOMACH HAD BEEN SUSPENDED, INVESTIGATED OR FIRED ON BEHALF OF ALL TEACHERS OF BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS IN AUSTIN.
I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU AS A COUNCIL WILL GUARANTEE THAT OUR STUDENTS WILL NOT BE SHOT BY PEOPLE ON YOUR PAYROLL.
WHEN I GO BACK TO TEACHING IN THE FALL, MY STUDENTS SAY THAT THEY'RE SCARED OF POLICE.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEM SOMETHING MORE THAN THEIR FEARS ARE VALID.
UH, MY NAME IS CHRISTINA LAKEWOOD ON AN AUSTIN RESIDENT AROUND SHE, HER AND I LIVE IN COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTER RIAS DISTRICT.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL.
UH, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID.
UH, THE FACT THAT WE KNOW COPS WERE FIRING DIRECTLY AT PEOPLE SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION, SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE ON THE FORCE, UH, ON CALLING CITY COUNCIL TO DEFUND APD, AND TO PUT THAT MONEY DIRECTLY INTO COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE CALLING ON YOU TO FIRE POLICE, CHIEF MANLEY, AS WELL AS THE PROSECUTOR, CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR, UH, THE POLICE OFFICER THAT KILLED MICHAEL RAMA.
AND I'M CALLING ON YOU TO CUT ALL TIES WITH APD AT PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY SCHOOLS, UH, BLACK LIVES THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY AT RISK.
AND THE FACT THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE QUOTE UNQUOTE, BEING PROTECTED BY A VIOLENT AND RACIST POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
UH, IF WE SHOULD HAVE MADE THE STEPS DIRECTLY AFTER MICHAEL RAMOS'S DEATH AND WE DID NOT.
AND SO IF WE DO NOT, AGAIN, IT SAYS A LOT.
I AM A CONSTITUENT IN DISTRICT FIVE.
I ALSO AM AN ATTORNEY WORKING FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SPEAK OUT TO CHIEF MANLEY AND SAY, IN THE WORDS, LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE TO USE BULLSHIT CHIEF, IF YOU WANT TO DO THE OFFICER'S FIRED, HE'S FIRED MISTAKES.
WEREN'T MADE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
I AM ASHAMED OF THE LACK OF RESPONSE YOU'RE GIVING THE COMMUNITY FIREARMS AND CHARGE HIM.
AND THEN WE RESIDENT DISTRICT SEVEN I'M TESTIFYING TODAY TO DEMAND THAT CITY COUNCIL BE FUND APB AND REALLOCATE A LARGE PORTION OF FUNDING.
THE COMMUNITY RELEASE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY FUNDS.
OFTEN POLICE HAVE DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
THEY DO NOT VALUE HUMAN LIFE AND THE MURDER OF MIKE RAMOS AT THE HANDS OF CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR TO THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF JUSTIN HOWE AND THE YOUNG BOY BROUGHT A YELLOW OVER THE WEEKEND.
HE'D SEEN THE POLICE AS AN INSTITUTION IS MORALLY BANKRUPT IN A DANGER TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S CLEAR THAT APD OFFICERS MISUSED EQUIPMENT, WHEN THEY CAN BE SEEN FIRING QUOTES, LESS PEOPLE AROUND AT RANGES MAY KNOW WILL CAUSE GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM AND EVEN DEATH.
THE CITY MUST HAVE FUND ATD IMMEDIATELY PREVENT OTHERS FROM BEING FARMS OVER THE WEEKEND.
APD OFFICERS, CAN YOU SEE ESCALATING VIOLENCE DURING PROTESTS AT EVERY
[04:10:01]
SINGLE OPPORTUNITY? THE CITY MUST ALSO PRESSURE APV TO NAME, CHARGE, AND FIRE.THE OFFICERS WHO SHOT A YELLOW AND HOW, WHY DON'T WE KNOW THEIR NAMES COULD BE FIRED, WAS A GREAT THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE.
SPEAKING AS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION TODAY, I'M HERE SPEAKING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, SLAVERY AND JIM CROW ARE NOT GROUT GONE.
WE NEED ACTION AND JUSTICE, WHITE PEOPLE.
IT'S TIME TO GET UNCOMFORTABLE TODAY.
I COME TO YOU WITH SOLUTIONS AND A CALL TO ACTION.
FIRST REVISED THE RTR IN RESPONSE TO MASS GATHERING ALL OF THESE SECOND REDESIGN, ALL TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO PROMOTE DEMOCRATIC FORMS OF POLICING.
THIRD REALLOCATE FUNDING OR MILITARISTIC STYLE TEAMS AND TACTICS TO REORIENT THE ENTIRE AGENCY TO A TRUE COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL.
TO DO THIS, WE NEED THREE THINGS.
WE NEED A CHIEF'S ADVISORY BOARD COMPRISED OF CITIZENS FROM EACH DISTRICT PLUS REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO ARE UNDERREPRESENTED OR NOT REPRESENTED AND POLICE DECISION-MAKING.
WE NEED A COMMANDER ADVISORY BOARD FOR EACH COMMANDER TO BETTER ENGAGE WITH AND RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.
FINALLY, REALLOCATE FUNDING FROM BROKEN WINDOWS AND ZERO TOLERANCE STYLE INITIATIVE JUMPS OUT SQUADS, MILITARISTIC APPROACHES THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING HIRING SOCIAL WORKERS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS OR THERAPISTS WITH MASTER'S DEGREES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, REVEREND KATIE, RIGHT.
UM, I'M KATIE WRIGHT, A PRIEST AT ST.
DAVID'S A FISCAL CHURCH DOWNTOWN.
I'M ONE OF THREE SPEAKERS FROM CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFACE.
YOU'LL ALSO HEAR FROM CORONA AND JANET I'LL START WITH SOME THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION.
ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE SCHOLAR, WALTER BERGER, MEN, I SAID ARE THE HISTORY MAKERS OR RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS TEACH US THAT THE REAL HISTORY MAKERS ARE NOT KING PRESIDENTS.
THOSE WITH MEANS OF VIOLENCE THAT SEEK TO CONTROL AND HARM OR TO SILENCE, QUESTIONS OF POWER.
THE HISTORY STOPPERS HISTORY MAKERS ARE THE OUTSIDERS.
THE MARGINALIZED THAT'S CARRIED ON THE PROPHETIC TRADITION WITH A BOLD CONVICTION ABOUT AN ALTERNATIVE POSSIBILITY THAT GOES UNDER THE NAME OF HOPE IN SCRIPTURE, GOD ALLIES HIMSELF WITH MARGINALIZED PEOPLES TO CREATE HISTORY.
WE ARE CALLED TO DO BETTER AS A SOCIETY THAN THE TYPE OF RESPONSES WE ARE HEARING ABOUT AND SEEING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE PISKEL CHURCH, MICHAEL CURRY, PUT IT.
IF I MAKE ROOM FOR YOU AND YOU MAKE ROOM FOR MORE AND THIS, WE WILL WORK TOGETHER, WE WILL CREATE A SYSTEM SATURDAY WHERE THERE'S ROOM FOR ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN.
DON'T GIVE UP LOVE CAN SAVE US OFF GARCIA.
MY NAME IS CARLOS GARCIA HERE WITH OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC, THE SECOND OF THREE SPEAKERS OF CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFACE.
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS EXPOSES AGAIN, THE TWIN EVILS OF RACISM AND VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY.
THE PRESIDENT HOLDING UP THE BIBLE AFTER VIOLENTLY DISPERSING, PEACEFUL PROTESTORS WITH CALCULATED AND REPREHENSIBLE, THAT AWESOME POLICE DEPLOYED TEAR GAS AND WEAPONS AGAINST UNARMED DEMONSTRATORS IS EQUALLY REPREHENSIBLE AND SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.
OUR DIVERSE FAITH TRADITIONS COMPEL CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFACE TO STAND WITH PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND OFTEN, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WITH
AND HIS CALLING FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE STORMS WITH A CAPITALIST ARCHBISHOP AND THE EPISCOPAL BISHOP IN DC.
WHO'D BEEN ANNOUNCED THE PRESIDENT'S PHOTO OP IN FRONT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SHRINE CHURCH.
AND WITH THE COALITION OF AUSTIN, JUSTIN GROUPS WHO ARE CALLING FOR LONG OVERDUE CHANGE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JANET FONTANELLE.
HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH, WHO WILL OUTLINE WAYS WE PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.
JANET FONTANELLE, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.
I'M JANET FONTENOT OF HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH, CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFAITH.
WE SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT
[04:15:01]
TO PROVIDE AND PARCEL.ACCOUNTABILITY OF ATD WILL CONTINUE OUT COMMUNITY POLICING AND THE INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY WITH APD, THE BAIL RELATIONSHIP, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL PREVENT ESCALATION OF ROUTINE ENCOUNTERS.
WE'LL ENGAGE COUNCIL AND OTHERS ON CONCRETE WAYS TO UNDO RACISM AND ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION OFTEN HAS A DV HISTORY OF THE STOMACH AND INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM TOWARDS AFRICAN AMERICAN.
THERE'S SOME TEXAS INTERFACE WE'LL LISTEN TO ALL SIDES, BUT IN THE HAND, WE STAND WITH THE MARGINALIZED WHO ARE BOLDLY LEADING THIS MOMENT.
AFRICAN-AMERICANS THEOLOGIAN HOWARD THURMAN, WHO ENDS WITH DR.
KING AND THE NONVIOLENCE PHILOSOPHY CALL FOR THE VERY COURAGE WE ARE WITNESSING.
DON'T ASK WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS ASK WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVE AND GO DO IT FOR THE WORLD.
HE'S NOW WITH THE WELLIES, I WILL HAVE SOME, A LOT.
WE WILL STAND WITH THE HISTORY OF MAN AND THOSE WHO HAVE COME ALIVE.
I'M WITH UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN AND 18 YEAR RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE MANS FROM LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY BASED BLACK INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR GROUPS.
I'M DOING WHITES FROM SEATTLE 10 PRESENTS OUR DEMANDS AND THE LAST 30 HOURS, 1000 MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED OR WRITTEN SUPPORT AND SIGNATURES TOWARDS THE PETITION, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING FIRE POLICE CHIEF MANLEY WITH A VOTE BY THIS MONDAY, JUNE 8TH, HE'S FAILED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF OFFICE CREATING ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR POLICE SHOOTINGS AND IMMEDIATELY REMOVE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN SHOOTINGS.
CANCEL OFTEN CADET ACADEMY AND CS TRAINING ARE HIRING NEW OFFICERS AND PROHIBITED THE USE OF ALL MILITARY WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT.
WE'RE ASKING FOR A DEFUNDING OF APD, STARTING WITH REDUCING THE APD BUDGET BY AT LEAST 20% IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO USE OUR COLLECTIVE IMAGINATION TOWARDS A VISION OF PUBLIC SERVICE THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, ALL THE PEOPLE AND DOES NOT CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF WHITE SUPREMACY THAT THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT UPON OFTEN CAN BE A LEADER IN THIS, THE VISIONING WE START THE FUNDING.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR LEADERSHIP IS NOW.
EVERYBODY'S STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THIS NEW SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.
IT TURNS OUT THAT 118 PEOPLE ARE ON THE LINE, BUT THEY HAVE ALL SPOKEN AND THEY'RE ON THE LINE CONTINUING TO LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION OR OUR BEST ESTIMATE AT THIS POINT IS THERE ARE 84 PEOPLE ON THE LINE WHO HAVE YET TO SPEAK THAT HAVE INDICATED INTENTIONS.
SO BACK TO AN HOUR AND A HALF, IF THAT CHANGES, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND OUR WIFE, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT REPEATEDLY KILLS AND BRUTALIZES BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR IN AUSTIN.
THE CITY MANAGER APDT AND APD OFFICERS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
NOW, APD OFFICERS SHOT AND SERIOUSLY INJURED.
JUSTIN HAL, A 20 YEAR OLD BLACK MAN, BRAD, I YALA A 16 YEAR OLD, HISPANIC TEENAGER AND SARAH NICA MARTIN, A PREGNANT BLACK WOMAN WHILE THEY WERE PEACEFULLY PROTESTING ABDS RESPONSE WORKS.
DON'T CUT OUR BUDGET IN 2015, APD OFFICERS BRUTALIZED BRIANA KING APD SAID WE'LL DO BETTER.
DON'T CUT OUR BUDGET IN 2016, AN APD OFFICER KILLED DAVID JOSEPH APC ABD SAID WE'LL DO BETTER.
DON'T CUT OUR BUDGET IN APRIL.
THIS YEAR, AN APD OFFICER OFFICER KILLED MIKE RAMOS.
ONLY WHEN YOU DO BOND APDS, CHIEF MAMMALS.
THE OFFICER'S BEEN KILLED MY FRAME UP THE PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.
MY NAME IS ALANNA WOODY THAT I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AS A VICTIM OF CORRUPT POLICING, INCLUDING THE ASSAULT, UNWARRANTED SUSPICION AND SCRUTINY AND THE LEGAL SEARCHES SEARCHES.
I SEARCHED THE REFORMS ATTEMPTED DURING MY LIFETIME HAVE BEEN PATHETICALLY INADEQUATE.
[04:20:02]
WE THEREFORE DEMAND THAT APB ATD BE DRASTICALLY DEFUNDED.APD HAS FAILED MISERABLY, EITHER PROTECT OR SERVE DEMAND FOR THE ALLOCATION OF THESE FUNDS FROM OUR TAX BASE TO SOCIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING HOUSING SUPPORT, DENTAL RELIEF, FOOD ASSISTANCE, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
WE DEMAND THAT APD BEGIN MILITARIZED AND USE LESS LEGAL MEANS OF CROWDS TO BE DISCONTINUED IMMEDIATELY.
OR A DEGREE OF LETHALITY IS AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE USE OF STILL SURPLUS MILITARY ASSETS BY POLICE ATTEMPT ENOUGH THAT THE OPEN DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW AGAINST THE PEOPLE WHO DEMAND THAT SHE'S MARRIED, TURNED INTO HIS BADGE, WHICH IS THE ONLY HONORABLE ACT HE CAN PERFORM.
NOW, IF ANY, ONE OF YOU TAKE ISSUE WITH ANY OF THESE DEMANDS OR HAS ACCEPTED FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION OR OTHER PASTORS LEARNING IS A SPECIAL INTEREST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO FAILED TO REPRESENT OUR BEST INTERESTS AND SERVE.
WE'LL FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE, HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURE THAT YOU DO NOT CONTINUE TO REPRESENT THAT DISINGENUOUS AND TAKE THE ACTION WE DEMAND YOU FAIL TO YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN OUR CONTINUED OPPRESSION, ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
SO TESTERS, NO PETE, THANK YOU.
IF YOU'RE ON MUTE, PLEASE UNMUTE.
UM, I'M A, UH, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND AN AUSTIN RESIDENT FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
AND I ATTENDED THE PROTEST ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND ON MONDAY, UH, AS ANOTHER CALLER ON THE CHAT, UH, SAID EARLIER SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WERE MARKED BY POLICE VIOLENCE AND POLICE RIOTING AND OVERWHELMING OVERREACTION TO A LARGELY PEACEFUL CROWD.
UM, AND MONDAY WAS MARKED BY A TOTAL LACK OF VIOLENCE BECAUSE POLICE DID NOT ENGAGE IN IT.
AND ADDITIONALLY, WHAT FELT LIKE WE'RE SAVING MEASURES BY WAY OF AN APOLOGY THAT FELT LIKE ALLIGATORS, TEARS.
UM, ADDITIONALLY ON CHIEF MANLEY BRIEFING, UH, THERE WAS THE PEOPLE'S REFERENCES TO PROTESTERS THROWING ROCKS AND BOTTLES.
UM, THE ONLY BOTTLES I SAW THE ENTIRE WEEKEND, INCLUDING WHAT WOULD BE EVIDENCE OF HIS CLAIM, UH, WERE PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES, USUALLY UNCAPPED, UH, YEAH, OVERWHELMING FORCE IN THE FORM OF A LESS LETHAL ROUNDS, SAY GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY.
ALL OF WHICH I EXPERIENCED TO MY PERSON AND TO MY WIFE'S PERSON.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I LIVE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR.
I ASKED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECOMMEND AND THE CITY MANAGER TAKE ACTION TO FIRE POLICE, CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY, CHIEF OF STAFF, TROY GAY AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, RAY ARIANO AS WELL AS THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF MIKE RAMOS AND ATTACKS ON PROTESTERS THIS WEEKEND, PAUSE NEW CADET CLASSES AND THE HIRING OF NEW OFFICERS UNTIL DECISIVE ACTION IS TAKEN TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND TRAINING PRACTICES OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT'S FUNDING FROM POLICING AND REALLOCATE.
THOSE FUNDS INTO HEALTHCARE, MENTAL HEALTH, CRISIS RESPONSE, EDUCATION, AND PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE.
A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT AND IT SHOULD REFLECT OUR PRIORITIES AS A COMMUNITY.
LISTEN TO THOSE MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED RECOGNIZE THE LIMITS OF REFORM AND TAKE BOLD AND RADICAL ACTION TO REIMAGINE A DIFFERENT WAY AND CREATE THE WORLD.
SARAH, IF YOU'RE ON MUTE PLEASE ON YOU.
I'M A NATIVE TEXAN AND THE 15 YEAR AUSTIN RESIDENT LAST WEEK AFTER PROTESTERS, MINNEAPOLIS HAD BURNED DOWN A POLICE
[04:25:01]
PRECINCT BUILDING AMONG MANY OTHER LIVING IN DECEPTIVE ACTS.IT SHOULD SURPRISE NO ONE THAT APD WAS READY FOR AND EXPECTING THE WORST.
NOT ALL OF AUSTIN PROTESTERS ACTED IN A PEACEFUL MANNER.
IF THEY'RE IN DANGEROUS OBJECTS THAT OFFICER HOLDING WALTER BANKS AND YELLING AC A B, AND F THE POLICE HAD THE OFFICERS BLOCKING, I THINK FIVE, MULTIPLE TIMES DESTROYING AND STEALING PROPERTY AND TAGGING BUILDINGS, MAKING IT NECESSARY FOR APD TO BE USED TO USE THE TYPES OF FORCE THEY HAD TO USE LAST WEEKEND.
THE VIOLENT PROTESTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND THE VIOLENT PROTESTERS ARE THE ONES THAT CAUSED THE POLICE HAVE TO USE THESE MEASURES.
I ADAMANTLY OPPOSED THE FUNDING, THE APD APD NEEDS FUNDING AND SUPPORT FROM OUR CITY GOVERNMENT TO ATTRACT QUALITY PERSONNEL, TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT TRAINING AND THE MOST UP TO DATE EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO SERVE AND PROTECT ONLY 1 MILLION AND GROWING AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
I AM, I AM ADVOCATING FOR CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY AND THE CONDITIONER CONTINUATION OF HIS LEADERSHIP AT APD.
THANK YOU, CHIEF MANLEY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE AND ATTENDING YOUR VERY OWN STRUGGLE SESSION TODAY.
AND I GOT GRANT YOU ALL AND ALL OF ATV APD WITH THEM STAMINA.
CURRENTLY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 170 OFFICES.
SHORT-STAFFED THEY NEED MORE POLICE, JULY APD CLASSES TO GET TO THAT SHOULD BE APPROVED.
HI, I'M SARAH JAYEZ, UH, SEVEN EIGHT SEVEN TWO TWO NATIVE AND RESIDENT, AND I'M JUST CALLING AND SUPPORTIVE AJC, UM, TO DE FUND ATD AND ALSO TO FIRE POLICE, CHIEF MANLEY.
UM, I ASK THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT THIS IS, UH, WHEN YOU, AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A LONG BATTLE AND NOT TO FORGET THAT THAT WE HAVE PRIVILEGE AND SILENCE AND FEARS BUILT UP THAT AMOUNT OF FUNDING.
UM, AND THEN TO LOOK AT APD, UM, LOOK AT THE POLICIES, THE PROCEDURES, THE PEOPLE, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT RACISM IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THAT SYSTEM AND THAT, UM, IT'S A LONG SIGHT.
I'M WITH TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE COALITION.
I'M A NON-BOX WOMEN OF COLOR, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE, AND ONE OF THE MANY PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WHO WAS HERE, GAS THAT YOU COULD BE ON SUNDAY AGAINST ITEM SEVEN, COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTER RIO, WHILE MUCH EVIDENCE SHOWS MINOR REFORMS, DON'T FIX AN INHERENTLY RACIST INSTITUTION.
I DO APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AT THOSE PROPOSALS.
THERE'S A SOLUTION TO THE OVERARCHING PROBLEM WITH POLICE BRUTALITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'M HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING HOW YOU'RE HOLDING THESE TWO DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSING TRUTHS AT THE SAME TIME, AS IN THIS VERY THING, MEETING THAT YOU PLAN TO SUPPORT PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
YOU ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM SEVEN, WHICH WOULD PERPETUATE HARM OF THE VERY SYSTEM THAT YOUR CITY IS BEGGING YOU TO CHANGE.
WE MUST HAVE US FROM A STEADY INSTITUTION AND COMMIT TO CRITICALLY THINKING ABOUT THE SOLUTION AND COMMIT TO INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS TO SAFETY.
SOME OF THE WAYS WE COULD CAN MAKE CUT THESE THINGS IMMEDIATELY IS TO, UM, CUT WEAPONS USED AGAINST PROTESTORS CUT THE FUSION CENTER, WHICH IS AN OPERATION OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
UH, WE COULD CUT SURVEILLANCE.
WE CAN CUT DRIVER'S LICENSE READERS, AND WE CAN CUT THE EIGHT ISD POLICE FORCE.
UM, I COULD SPEAK FURTHER ON THE EVIDENCE OF THE HISTORIC PATTERN OF ALL THIS, BUT I THINK THAT YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED REPORTS THAT HE'S EJC I'M AUSTIN, JUSTICE, COALITION, GRASS, ROOTS LEADERSHIP, AND MANY OTHER OFTEN ORGANIZATIONS HAVE WORKED ON, UM, AND DELIVERED OVER THE MANY YEARS TO SUPPORT, UM, THE, UM, CLAIMS OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND APD.
I ENTERED THIS SPACE AS A VICTIM OF AUSTIN POLICE BRUTALITY.
WE NEED EVERYONE ON THE VIRTUAL DIET TO UNDERSTAND THAT APD DECIDED AGAINST CONTROLLING THE SITUATION BY REDIRECTING TRAFFIC ON
INSTEAD, THEIR RESPONSE TO PROTESTS OVER POLICE BRUTALITY WAS MORE POLICE BRUTALITY TO ESCALATE THE SITUATION.
A TACTIC BLACK PEOPLE IN OUR CITY KNOW IS FAR TOO COMMON.
BLACK PEOPLE IN OUR CITY ARE TIRED OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTING IN OUR OPPRESSION.
WE'VE CALLED FOR CHIEF MANLEY'S RESIGNATION AFTER HIS BLATANT UNWILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND YOUR OFFICE IS AT CITY COUNCIL.
AND NOW FOR HOW HE'S HANDLED THESE PROTESTS, YOU CONTINUE TO FAIL US.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THEM.
[04:30:09]
HI, THIS IS TAYLOR ADAMS FROM DISTRICT THREE.UM, I WAS JUST THINKING, HOW CAN THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN RELY ON THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT US, TO GUARANTEE OUR SAFETY WHEN THEY PUT CARE AND INTERFERE VIOLATE DURING PEACEFUL PROTEST SPECIFICALLY ON
AND LATER ON, THEY'RE MORE CONCERNED WITH HIS WISHES.
HE SAID WITH ME TO THE PROTESTORS, BUT WILL THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO TO FIX THE SYSTEMATIC RACISM AND POLICE BRUTALITY ONCE AND FOR ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT SPEAKER, JARED BRECKINRIDGE.
I'M CALLING FOR THE FIRING OF CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY BECAUSE HE HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWED THAT, THAT HE CAN NOT HANDLE, UH, MANAGING SUCH A DEPARTMENT.
I'VE ATTENDED THE APD GALA AND I'VE SEEN FIRST HANDEDLY THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH BLACK OFFICERS.
ALSO AFTER THE PEDAL REPORT HAS THE, HAS SHOWN THAT HE HAS NOT TAKING THE NECESSARY ACTION AGAINST THE OFFICERS THAT HAVE COMMITTED RACIAL HOMOPHOBIC AND ALL OF THAT TYPE OF VIOLENCE.
HE HAS NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION TO HANDLE THAT.
HE HAS ALLOWED THEM TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
HE ALLOWED THAT OFFICER TO STAY ON THE FORCE AND RETIRE ACTUALLY BEFORE, AND HE WAS ABLE TO DELETE ALL THE EVIDENCE.
MANLEY IS NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING.
UM, IF YOU ARE WANTING TO CONFRONT RACISM, YOU WILL ALLOW MORE BLACK PEOPLE TO BE ON YOUR, ON YOUR, UM, YOUR DIETS.
SO I HEARD A LOT OF YOU SAYING YOU DON'T LIKE RACISM, THAT'S RACIST.
UH, WHAT ELSE? UH, THE OFFICERS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN, IN RAMOS, UH, CASE THEY NEED TO BE FIRED AND THEY NEED TO BE, YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY ON MTV.
UH, ALSO CENTRIFICATION IS A VERY BIG ISSUE.
SO I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.
NEXT SPEAKER, LINDSEY, LAGRANGE.
HI, MY NAME IS LINDSAY LAGRANGE.
I AM NOT SPEAKING FOR MYSELF TODAY, BUT FOR THE 24,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION ON CHANGE.ORG, DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF BRIAN MANLY, MANLY USING A CHEMICAL AGENT THAT CAUSES EXCESSIVE COSTING ON LARGE GROUPS OF CONGREGATED CIVILIANS DURING A RESPIRATORY PANDEMIC IS A COOLNESS THAT I CANNOT BEGIN TO COMPREHEND WHEN NEW ORLEANS PROTESTORS OVERTOOK THEIR INTERSTATE ON TUESDAY, NOPD OFFICERS AND DEALT WITH THEM AND LET THEM TAKE THEIR TIME.
REMEMBER THAT THREE OFFICERS IN MINNEAPOLIS WHO STOOD BY AND DID NOTHING WERE ALSO CHARGED BECAUSE DOING NOTHING IN POSITIONS OF POWER, YOU CAN PAUSE IT.
AND FINALLY, TO ANYONE WHO OPPOSES THESE FUNDING, APD, I'D LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
IF A SOCIAL WORKER HAD SHOWN UP TO THAT CALL IN JULY, INSTEAD OF CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR BAR TO SILVA, THE OTHER PERSON THAT CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR KILLED WOULD STILL BE ALIVE.
THANKS NEXT SPEAKER, KATHERINE GONZALEZ.
MY NAME IS CATHERINE GONZALES AND I SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE LGBTQ PLUS QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION.
SO I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN AND NOT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION.
I ASK THAT YOU IMMEDIATELY FIRE CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY AND PLACED HIS ENTIRE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ON UNPAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, ENDING AN EXHAUSTIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTORS.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, SHE FAMILY WAS HIRED TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT ON THE PROMISE THAT HE WOULD ENACT PROGRESSIVE AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED POLICING PRACTICES.
INSTEAD, HIS FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP HAS LED TO A FURTHER EROSION OF TRUST IN THE DEPARTMENT, A PROFOUND LACK OF MORALE AMONG APD OFFICERS AS EVIDENCED BY A RECENT SURVEY BY THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND THE DISGUSTING ABUSE OF POWER DEMONSTRATED BY APD, NOT ONLY THIS PAST WEEKEND, BUT FOR DECADES, CHIEF MANLEY HAS NOT KEPT HIS PROMISE TO US THAT I ASKED EACH OF YOU AS OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.
YOU FULFILL YOUR PROMISE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF EVERY PERSON IN AUSTIN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, HENRY, OUR JET.
[04:35:01]
HI, THANK YOU.MY NAME IS HENRY RJ AND I'VE LIVED IN DISTRICT THREE FOR 19 YEARS.
I SPOKE TO MANY OFFICERS IN THE PAST THREE DAYS.
ALTON SAID THEY HAD TO SHOOT BECAUSE THEY HAD NO OTHER WAY OF PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BOTTLES AND ROCKS.
IF THE OFFICERS AREN'T SAFE WITHOUT USING FORCE, DON'T SEND THEM OUT.
FIND ANOTHER WAY OR PROTECT YOUR OFFICERS BETTER.
I'D LIKE TO REFER BACK TO WHAT, UH, TO SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED EARLIER TODAY, WHEN CHIEF MANUALLY WAS ASKED WHAT HE WOULD DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, HE ONLY SPOKE ABOUT BANNING BEANBAGS FOR CROWD CONTROL.
HE DIDN'T SPEAK ABOUT CHANGING ANY OF THE RIGHT CONTROL POLICIES THAT CAUSED THIS OFFICER TO SHOOT AND PIECE THESE OFFICERS TO SHOOT MULTIPLE PEACEFUL PROTESTERS IN THE HEAD AND SHOOTING COMPLYING MEDICS.
IT SHOWS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP, WHICH WAS ONE SOLUTION FIREMAN.
LASTLY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ECHO MY ABSOLUTE DISGUST WITH APD THESE PAST FEW DAYS.
I'D LIKE TO THINK COUNCILWOMAN, HARPER, MADISON, AND COUNCILMAN KISA FOR ECHOING THE PAIN AND THE ANGER.
YOU'RE DISGRACING THE EPITOME OF EVERYTHING.
THAT'S WRONG WITH THE POLICE FORCES ACROSS THESE COUNTRIES.
FIRST OFF USING TEAR GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY DURING A PANDEMIC, IT TARGETS THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM IS CRUEL AND INHUMANE.
AND CHIEF MANLEY SAID IN REGARDS TO THE YOUNG MAN THAT WAS HIT IN THE HEAD WITH A BEANBAG, THE OFFICERS WERE AIMING FOR SOMEONE NEXT TO HIM WHO THREW A WATER BOTTLE.
EVEN IF THIS IS TRUE, THIS IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.
OFFICERS ARE OUTFITTED WITH MILITARY GRADE, RIGHT? YOU'RE AND YOU BELIEVE THAT THE ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE TO A PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE BEING THROWN IT SHOOTING A SUPPOSEDLY NON-LETHAL BEANBAG OF SOMEONE'S HEAD WAS JUST CAPABLE OF FRACTURING THEIR SCHOOL.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THAT THE APD SHOULD TAKE UP NEARLY 40% OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET.
THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING FOR THE DEFUNDING AND THE DISMANTLING OF THE APD.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION, INVEST IN AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION.
SO WE CAN HAVE LESS POLICING ON OUR ROADS, INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
SO THE POLICE DON'T HAVE TO RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS, INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR UNDERPRIVILEGED CITIZENS, INVEST IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE FOR CRIMES CALLING FOR THE ASSIGNMENT SHEET, MANLY BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THEY ALWAYS WILL WELL NOT STOP ASKING FOR CHANGE UNTIL YOU START TO ACT CLOSET.
UM, NEXT WITNESS, I SUPPOSE, PERSON CORINA BROWNIE.
I AM AN ANGRY WHITE WOMAN CALLING TO CONDEMN APDS RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTERS AND DEMAND YOU FIRE CHIEF MANLEY, DEFUND THE APD AND INVEST IN COMMUNITY RESOURCE TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE OF COLOR SAFE.
INACTION IS COMPLICITY SHITTY, AVOIDING ANSWERS LIKE CHIEF MANLEY GATES, GRIEVING BROTHER, OUR COMPLICITY.
WE ARE WATCHING BLACK LIVES MATTER.
I SEE THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME TO PEOPLE OF COLOR.
IS THAT, ARE YOU RAISING YOUR HAND OR? NOPE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE NEXT WITNESS.
I'M A BROWN MUSLIM IMMIGRANT FROM IRAN.
WHEN I'M A GRADED HERE TO GO TO COLLEGE, I WAS ALREADY CARRYING A BIG LOAD OF ANTI-BLACKNESS.
IT'S ONE OF THE USS BIGGEST EXPORTS, AND I KNEW CLOSE TO NOTHING ABOUT RACISM.
IT'S TAKEN ME YEARS TO WISE ENOUGH TO WHAT I HAD UNKNOWINGLY STEPPED INTO AND BECOME COMPLICIT IN.
I CAME TO THE U S MOSTLY TO ESCAPE IRANIAN STATE VIOLENCE.
I KNOW, I REALIZE STATE TERROR IS TERROR, WHETHER IT'S APPLIED BY REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS IN IRAN OR IN MILITARY EQUIPPED POLICE FORCE IN THE U S KILLING FOLKS FOR EXISTING.
SO PROTESTING THAT CHILLING 19 STANDARD BYSTANDERS, AIMING FOR THEIR HEADS.
IT'S BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN MY OLD HOME AND MY NEW HOME BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PRECIOUS.
[04:40:05]
HI, UM, CITY BUDGETS ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS.THEY REFLECT WHAT COMMUNITY LEADERS VALUE.
AND RIGHT NOW THE FACT THAT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING TO A HIGHLY MILITARY POLICE FORCES IS REPREHENSIBLE.
IT'S MORALLY BANKRUPT DEFUND APD INVEST KPD INVEST THAT MONEY INTO PUBLIC HEALTH.
THAT'S THAT MONEY INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
APD HAS SHOWN THAT IT DOESN'T DESERVE MONEY.
PUT IT WHERE IT SHOULD ACTUALLY GO IN OUR COMMUNITY, HAVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BACKBONE, FIRE MANLY BLACK LIVES MATTER.
NEXT PERSON ADAMS. HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE.
I'M CALLING BECAUSE IF YOU USE NEEDS TO BE FUNDED, MALLEY NEEDS TO BE FIRED.
APD PICKED 40% OF THE CITY BUDGET AND THEY STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THEIR VEHICLES.
THAT WAS LIKE A PERSONAL PROBLEM.
THEY HAVE ALREADY FAILED AT THE MONEY THAT THEY'VE BEEN ALLOCATED THAT ONLY SHOULD THEY NOT PASS? NOT ONLY SHOULD THIS ITEM NOT PASS, BUT THEIR PORTION OF THE BUDGET SHOULD BE CUT ENTIRELY.
IT WAS SHOWN THAT THEY ARE COMPLETELY VIOLENT AND THEY HAVE MISMANAGED THEIR FUNDS UP UNTIL THIS POINT BY TARGETING PEOPLE AT PEOPLE, PROTESTS, ALL COPS SHOULD BE FIRED.
THEY DON'T DESERVE FUNDING EVER AGAIN, JUST ON THE POLICE ENVIRONMENTALLY, GET THE MONEY BACK TO BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES AND PAY REPARATION FOR ALL THE REDLINING TO AUSTIN HAS DONE OVER THE PAST DECADE.
IT'S ON THE POLICE AND FIRE MENTALLY.
I WANT TO JUST KEEP IT PRETTY SHORT.
IF WE ARE A PROGRESSIVE CITY AND WE ARE FAILING OUR BUDGET SHOWS OUR PRIORITIES.
THE BUDGET OF THE POLICE HAS DOUBLED THE COMBINED BUDGET AT THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HAVING TOO LARGE, BUT IT SHOWS THAT WE SUPPORT HOW APD ACTS WE HAD TO SLASH THIS BUDGET.
DEFUND, APD, REALLOCATE THOSE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BETTER HEALTH CARE, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE RESPONSIVE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
YOU DON'T NEED FLOWERY WORDS AND THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, AND WE NEED ACTION.
I'M NOT SURE IF SOT VIC IS STILL ON THE LINE, BUT I WANTED I NOW HIM AND I WANTED TO THANK, THANK HIM FOR HIS ACTIVISM AND FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE MEMORIAL FOR THE COVID VICTIMS. I, YOU SHOUTED THAT OUT IN ONE OF YOUR GOD MINUTE, UH, MOMENTS.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT AND THANK HIM FOR HIS ACTIVISM.
UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY EARLIER TODAY, IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR IN THE PERSON PRESENCE OF EDMOND SANCHEZ, SHE'S MADLY SAID THE USE OF BEANBAG AMMUNITION WILL NOT BE USED IN A GOWN SITUATION.
IT IS STILL AN APPROPRIATE TOOL IN MANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND SO IT IS STILL APPROVED FOR USE.
HOWEVER, WE'RE NOT IN DROUGHT SITUATION.
THIS CHANGE IN POLICY WOULD NOT HAVE SAVED BAGLEY IOWA FROM BEING PHYSICALLY INJURED.
I ASKED YOU, DID THESE POLICIES SERVE THE PEOPLE AND THEIR SAFETY OR DO OUR BLACK AND BROWN BODIES SERVE THE NEEDS OF THESE VIOLENT POLICIES AND THEIR PERPETRATORS.
AT THIS TIME, I ASKED THAT ALL STEPS BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT PROTESTERS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP.
WE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEATHS OF MICROMOLS AND OTHERS, ALONG WITH THE RESPONSE TO THE PROTEST AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE DEFUNDED WAS FUNDS BEING USED TO CONGRESS, SYSTEMIC INEQUITY AND SERVE COMMUNITY NEEDS SUCH AS HEALTH, HOUSING, AND EMERGENCY AND THE DIAMOND.
NEXT SPEAKER, J EYES ON BRONTO AIR BEFORE MR. LIMATO SPEAKS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. IZOD FOR HIS TESTIMONY AND, UM, MANAGER AND CHIEF.
I THINK YOU'VE HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE TESTIFY.
NOW, HAVING THE ANSWERS OF YOU.
UM, MANAGER AND CHIEF, YOU'VE HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE TESTIFY ABOUT
[04:45:01]
THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WITH MR. L ON THE PHONE.I'LL BE ASKING THE QUESTION AGAIN TOMORROW, AND I HOPE WE HAVE A MUCH BETTER ANSWER ABOUT HOW WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYBODY IN OUR CITY EVER AGAIN.
AND SO I'LL ASK AGAIN TOMORROW AND I HOPE WE HAVE A BETTER ANSWER THAN THE ONE WE HAD NEXT SPEAKER.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
YOU ASKED HOW YOU COULD SHOW US THAT YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO US AND THAT YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR US.
WHEN SO MANY OF US ARE HERE TODAY SAYING THAT THERE'S A FAILURE IN THE LEADERSHIP, A FAILURE IN THE POLICE FORCE.
WE NEED TO SEE ACTION TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AND TODAY, NOT, NOT A WEEK FROM NOW.
I KNOW THINGS TAKE TIME, BUT WE NEED TO SEE SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY.
HOW MANY MORE MINUTES DO WE HAVE? HOW MANY MORE LIVES WILL BE SPENT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN HOW MUCH MORE INJURY WILL THERE BE? HOW MUCH MORE SUFFERING WILL WE BE FORCED TO ENDURE BEFORE THINGS CHANGE.
IT HAS TAKEN THIS MUCH BLOOD, THIS MUCH EXPENDITURE OF LIVES TO GET TO THIS POINT, TO THE POINT WHERE WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE FINALLY MAYBE BEING HEARD, PLEASE SHOW US THAT YOU ARE LISTENING AND ACT.
I YIELD THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME.
MY SUGGESTION IS FOR WHITE FOLKS TO HANG UP AND CALL BACK SO THEY CAN BE LAST IN THE QUEUE.
WE NEED TO HEAR FROM MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
ALSO, I AM DEMANDING APB, HIRING NO NEW OFFICERS AND ARE STRIPPED OF THEIR WEAPONS DUE TO INCOMPETENT, KATHY, TO GO, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED, ASHAMED OF YOURSELF FOR GUIDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THUS FAR, EACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE POLICE IN THE PAST IS ALSO COMPLICIT IN THE DEATHS AND INJURIES OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE DISCUSSING HERE TODAY.
IF MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT THE IDEA THAT POLICE ARE A NECESSARY FORCE OR BELIEVE IN REFORM AS POLICIES LIKE BIAS TRAINING, YOU WILL BE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT A RACIST ORGANIZATION OF UNQUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS RATHER THAN ADDRESSING THE REAL ROOTS OF CRIME CRIMES IN THEMSELVES.
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY, UNEQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND HOUSING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEFUND THE POLICE PERIOD.
YOU NEED TO TAKE AWAY THEIR GUNS.
THE IDEA OF THERE NOT BEING ENOUGH OFFICERS, THEY BASE WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT COMES THROUGH THE POLICE THEMSELVES INTO BLACK AND BROWN BODIES AT RISK.
THE REAL QUESTION HERE IS IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO FUND NEW SYSTEMS THAT MORNING AND ARRESTS AND YOU'LL MAKE TIME, RIGHT? THANK YOU.
HELLO? ARE YOU CALLING FOR JOSEPH ALADA? YES.
MY NAME IS JOSEPH A AND I LIKE MANY OTHER AUSTIN'S CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS AND DEMANDING CHIEF MANLEY'S REMOVAL AND A DEFUNDING OF THE APB.
WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE LOST ALL FAITH IN YOU.
I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN I SEE A MEMBER OF THE APD.
IF MANAGER CRONK WON'T REMOVE MANLY, REPLACE HIM WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL BELIEVE THE ONE FROM A PROTEST OR BEING KILLED MONDAY TO THE POLICE.
CHIEF BEING FIRED IN LESS THAN A DAY.
IF WE WANT IT TO BE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF HER TIME AND TIME AGAIN, RETURNED TO ORDER, THEN WE'LL TALK, BEING SUMMARILY DISMISSED.
WHEN ORDER RETURNS, WE LOST FAITH IN ANY SOLUTION THAT ISN'T HERE AND NOW ANY LESS THAN THERE ARE FIVE CITY COUNCIL SEATS DISTRICTS, TWO, FOUR, SIX, SEVEN, AND 10 UPPER ELECTIONS THIS NOVEMBER.
AND WE WILL REPLACE YOU WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN.
I'LL LEAVE YOU THE QUOTE FROM THE GREAT JAMES BALDWIN.
YOU'VE ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.
MY MOTHER'S TIME, MY UNCLES TIME, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS TIME, MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS TIME.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR PROGRESS? THANK YOU.
THOMAS NEWTON AND I HAVE BEEN AT THE PROTEST EVERY DAY SINCE SUNDAY AND APD MUST PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES.
I WON'T NAME THEM AS OUR TOWN HAD BEEN CUT AS A BLACK WOMAN.
I HAD LOST ALL COMPETENCE IN APD.
YOU SEE NO AMOUNT OF COOKIES AND SUPERFICIAL CONVERSATIONS WILL MAKE US FORGET YOUR ACTIONS.
WE DO NOT WORK OR RESPECT YOUR BS KUMBAYA MOMENT.
NOR WHEN I HAVE TRIED TO FIND ANY SYMPATHY FOR BRIAN NANNY, HE MUST BE TIRED BY MONDAY, JUNE 8TH, AND REMOVED FROM HIS POSITION BY JUNE 30TH.
ANY LATER THAN THAT, YOU CAN GO TO CHRISTOPHER, TELL HIM TO BE IMMEDIATELY FIRED IN CHARGE OR OPPOSITE.
PROTEST MUST BE NAMED FIRED AND CHARGE
[04:50:02]
OFFICERS AND ALLOWED THAT TO CONTINUE ON CITIZENS.THEY TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT AND SERVE, BE AWFUL POLICE DEPARTMENT, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.
ANYTHING ELSE? THE CAN SEND YOU TO CRY OUT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M A 32 YEAR OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN WITH DISTRICT SIX.
A LOT OF THE OTHER COLORS BEFORE ME HAVE CONVEYED EVERYTHING I'VE PREPARED TO SAY FOR ALL WOULD BE TODAY.
SO I'LL CHANGE MY STATE STATEMENT TO SAY THIS.
DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF TO BELIEVE FOR A SPLIT SECOND.
THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE 300 OF US IN QUEUE THAT AREN'T COUNTLESS OTHERS IN PAIN, ANGRY, HATEFUL, AND DEEPLY SADDENED AND CALLED THE CITY AND THE STATE, OUR HOME.
AND WE EXPECT EVERY, AND WE REALIZE THAT WE'RE LIVING IN A NIGHTMARE EXISTENCE, EXCITE SOCIETY.
WE'RE PAINFUL CRIES TO BE HEARD AND LISTENED TO ARE MET WITH BEING SHOT BY BEANBAGS AND TEARGASSED IN THIS CITY AND ACROSS ALL 50 STATES WITH THE AMERICAN CITIZENS.
TRUST AND BELIEF IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SHATTERED BECAUSE IT'S FELT AND NOT MORE FREQUENTLY CAPTURED ON VIDEO OF OFFICERS ACTING WITH IMPUNITY.
ECHO THE WORDS IN MY EMAIL TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 2ND, OUR CITY'S POLICE FORCE MUST NO LONGER CONTINUE TO BEHAVE IN THE MANNER THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED MOVING FORWARD.
MY WORDS AND THE OTHER PLEASE OF THE PEOPLE MUST NO LONGER BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
YOU'RE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CITY MUST CHANGE FOR THE BETTER ENGLISH CHANGED NOW, BLACK LIVES MATTER.
I HAVE SERVED ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION FOR FIVE YEARS.
FOR DISTRICT FOUR, YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC RACISM HERE AT HOME IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE COP CARS REGULARLY SPEED BY.
I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORS ENCOUNTERING POLICE.
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD WAS A TRAGIC REMINDER OF THE CRUEL WAYS IN WHICH BLACK LIVES HAVE BEEN DEVALUED FOR CENTURIES.
MIKE RAMOS SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY AND HIS FAMILY DESERVES JUSTICE.
WE NEED A FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
I URGE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO DIVEST FROM POLICE AND INVEST IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS FOR PROTESTERS MUST BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED.
VICTIMS NEED JUSTICE AND OFFICERS WHO HURT PEOPLE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FUNDING, AGGRESSIVE POLICE TACTICS THAT HARM THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE REJECTED.
CITY COUNCIL MUST QUESTION WHETHER OUR PROBLEMATIC POLICE DEPARTMENT DESERVES EVEN MORE MONEY.
WHEN THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE BECAUSE OF COVID.
WE SHOULD BE ALLOCATING OUR FUNDS TOWARDS SERVICES THAT IMPROVE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELLBEING, PRETTY COUNSELED WITH QUESTIONS THAT ARE AP LEADERSHIP TRUSTED TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.
GIVEN THE SERIES OF FAILURES OVER THE YEARS, I URGE YOU TO DO YOUR PART TO BREAK FROM THE DEADLY STATUS QUO FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, BY DIVESTING FROM POLICE AND INVESTING IN THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR FAMILIES.
YEAH, MYTH BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE BLACK WOMAN.
UH, I'M USUALLY MORE ELOQUENT WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU ALL IN PUBLIC OR IN PRIVATE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT I'M EXHAUSTED AND HEARTBROKEN.
SO THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET TONIGHT.
I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY COMMUNITY AND SAYING, AND DEMANDING THE FIRING OF THOSE THAT KILLED BY RAMOS, THE FIRING OF CHIEF MANLEY, WHO ALLOWED THAT BEHAVIOR IN THAT CULTURE TO PERMEATE IN A WAY THAT THAT BEHAVIOR WAS ACCESSIBLE.
AND THE BEHAVIOR THAT WAS ADMINISTERED DURING THESE PROTESTS WERE ACCEPTABLE.
I FURTHER SAY THAT WE NEED TO DIVEST FROM APC, PUT THAT INTO SOME THINGS THAT ACTUALLY HELP US AS A COMMUNITY.
AND FURTHER PERSONALLY, I WOULD SUGGEST AND SAY THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT ABIDED BY A CENTRAL FUNCTION OF OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM.
THEY HAVE REACHED OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM AND THEREFORE OUR CONTRACTS SHOULD BE RENEGOTIATED.
AND FURTHERMORE, I WOULD ARGUE THAT, UH, AN URGE THOSE WITH A BADGE THAT YOUR DUTY TO PROTECT AND SERVE ALSO ENTAILED YOUR DUTY TO PROTECT US WHEN THE THREAT IS FROM A FELLOW OFFICER AS CITY COUNCIL, YOU NEED TO GO AHEAD AND PUT ON A, PUT RESTRICTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE THAT DON'T
[04:55:01]
STEP UP FOR ME, FOR US, FOR AUSTIN.I'M A WHITE BODY PERSON WHO USES THE MILLENNIUMS HERE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE.
YOU OFTEN POLICE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS A LEGACY OF TERRORISM AGAINST BLACK AND BROWN BODIES THAT TRACES BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF THE TEXAS RANGERS REALITY TODAY IS THAT AUSTIN IS ONLY SAFE.
IT WAS ALREADY A FLUENT WHITE BODY RESONANCE.
THIS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT IS INTENTIONAL WORDS, MAINTAIN WHITE SUPREMACY.
THESE ARE OUR DEMANDS, WHITE SUPREMACY.
I'M DOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN AND SOLIDARITY WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL GROUPS.
NOW HE HAS FAILED EVERY SINGLE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY CITY MANAGER CLOCK.
HE LIES TO YOU TO THE PUBLIC AND TO OFFICIAL PUBLIC INSTITUTION.
HE IS RESPONSIBLE TO NO ONE IN THIS NOW, BUT THE POLICE UNION CAST THIS BUILT BY MONDAY, JUNE 8TH GRADE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR POLICE SHOOTINGS POLICE.
THEY WERE KILLED PEOPLE IN AUSTIN WITH IMMEDIATELY BE FIRED WITHOUT PAY BENEFITS FOR PENSIONS AND CHARGED TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
WE'RE GOOD AT THE VERY PRESENCE OF ALL MILITARY WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT, ALL POLITICAL DEFINE THE APB, REPRODUCED REDUCED THEIR BUDGET BY AT LEAST 20% EVERY FISCAL YEAR, UNTIL WE ARE COMPLETELY REPLACED BY A DIVERSE SET OF DEPARTMENTS, COMMITTED TO EQUITABLE AND LIBERATED SAFETY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND I HAD ASKED MY CITY COUNCIL DEFUND THE POLLUTION HEALTHCARE PUBLIC HOUSING.
I'M ASKING YOU ALSO REQUIRE DEESCALATION BEFORE SHOOTING CHARGED THE OFFICER WHO SHOT MY GRANDMA AND SHOW THAT POLICE ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW.
ALSO, YOU NEED TO PROTECT ALL OF OUR RIGHTS WHO ASSEMBLE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, BOBBY MAC.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF OH TWO, TWO ONE TWO THREE FIVE FOUR AND FIVE EIGHT.
I AM SPEAKING TODAY ON ITEM SEVEN.
I VOTE NO TO AWARDING APB AND AN GRANT OF $430,000 IS PROGRAM INCENTIVE.
HOWEVER, I PERSONALLY KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL NOT BE BENEFICIAL AS THEY MINORITY BLACK AND BROWN MOTHER OF TWO CHILD RAISED IN AUSTIN.
THAT'S ORPHANED AT THE AGE OF 15, ATTEMPTING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE CITY TO FIND WORK.
I WAS A PARKING WHO BORROWED A CAR WAS NOT LISTED ON THE INSURANCE, RECEIVED A TICKET, WHICH SAID TO SURCHARGES THAT I HAD LIMITED ABILITY TO PAY, WHICH THEN LED TO LICENSE EXTENSION.
THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT PEOPLE IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES WITH ALREADY STRAINED RESOURCES ARE AT A GREATER RISK OF BEING STOPPED IN THE DRIVEWAY DUE TO RACIAL PROFILING AND ISSUE TO TICKETS THAN THOSE IN WHITE COMMUNITIES FOR THE SAME OFFENSE.
THIS WILL CREATE THE MORE DEVASTATING IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM WORK TACTICS, I'M ASKING THAT IS GRANT MONEY, BE DIVERTED TO THE BRIDE FUND AND TO A CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN ON THE TABLE SINCE JANUARY.
AND IT'S NOT BEEN SPOKEN OF SINCE AS A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE CRIME VICTIMS DEPARTMENT, THE CRIMES COMMITTED BY POLICE AGAINST MEMBERS OF SOCIETY SHOULD ALSO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND PUNISH TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.
THE LOTS OF BLINDS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA IMPACTS THE VICTIMS OF POLICE ABUSE IN THEIR FAMILIES.
WE CAN NOT CHANGE THE HAYDEN OFFICERS' HEARTS, BUT WE CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE.
THEY NEED TO BE ARRESTED STILL THE MESSAGE THAT THEY ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW EIGHT FEET.
I EPSTEIN, I LIVE IN DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE.
I'M SPEAKING IN COMMUNITY WITH THE DEMANDS OF GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP.
THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, I'M DOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN AND OTHER ORGANIZATION, FIRE POLICE, CHIEF MANLEY DEFUND THE APD START WITH THE IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH AISC CUT THE BUDGET BY 20% NEXT YEAR, ELIMINATE AND DISMANTLE
[05:00:01]
THE APD WITHIN FIVE YEARS, BUILD A NEW SYSTEM OF COMMUNITY SAFETY.ONE THAT PROVIDES THE RESOURCES, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, AND LOVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THERE.
AREN'T GOOD COPS AND BAD COPS.
POLICING IS BASED ON A VIOLENT AND FLAWED THEORY OF HUMANITY THAT PERPETUATES THE OPPRESSION OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND RATIFIED WHITE SUPREMACY.
WE MUST IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT POLICE SO THAT WE CAN BUILD A WORLD WITHOUT POLICE.
ANGELA DAVIS, RUTH WILSON, BETTINA LOVE HAVE TAUGHT US THAT WE MUST DISMANTLE OPPRESSIVE SYSTEM EVERYWHERE TO WIN LIBERATION FOR US ALL.
TODAY IS NOT THE TIME FOR CHANGE TODAY.
WELL PAST THE TIME FOR CHANGE LIVES ARE AT STAKE.
SAPD THE LICENSE, MY GRANDMA'S AND ARE STILL TRYING TO TAKE MORE LIFE JUSTICE FOR MY GRANDMA'S JUSTICE FOR JUSTIN HALLOW JUSTICE FOR BRAD I ALLAH BLACK LIVES MATTER.
LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY ASSEMBLED HERE.
CITY MANAGER CRAMPS MUST ACT THE CITY COUNCIL MUST ACT.
NEXT SPEAKER, JEFFREY CLEMENS.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL PEOPLE FOR HAVING THIS IMPORTANT MEETING TONIGHT.
UM, AND WHAT I WANT TO SAY SINCE OUR TIME IS SHORT AND IT IS LATE IS THAT IF YOU THINK THAT IT'S A RADICAL IDEA THAT WE SHOULD DEFUND AND DEMILITARIZE THE POLICE.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S MORE OF A RADICAL IDEA THAT POLICE CAN GO OUT AND ABUSE AND ATTACK THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS FOR THE SOLE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A SHINY BADGE ON, THAT'S NOT FAIR.
WE NEED JUSTICE, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED BY THE SYSTEM, WE NEED TO ACT NOW, MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID IT HIMSELF, THAT IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW, WE WILL SURELY BE DRAGGED DOWN THE LONG DARK AND SORROWFUL CORRIDORS OF HISTORY THAT ARE RESERVED FOR PEOPLE WHO USE THEIR POWER WITHOUT COMPASSION.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IS COMPASSION.
I'M LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND LIVED HERE FOR OVER 18 YEARS.
I AM DEEPLY MOVED BY THE TESTIMONY OF MY FELLOW WITNESSES.
UM, I'M ACTUALLY LIKE HUMBLED AND INCREDIBLY TRAVELED.
A LOT OF THE DETAILS FROM THE DETAILS THAT HAVE BEEN DIVULGED TODAY ARE NEW TO ME.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M AN ACTIVIST HERE.
THE POLICY CHANGE IS THE MOST LIKELY THE THING THAT'S MOST SIGNIFICANT AND NECESSARY TOWARDS ACTUAL LIBERTY.
YOU TOWARDS LIBERATION OF, OF CHANGE AND SOME DEMANDING POLICY CHANGE.
UM, I MEAN THE WORLD WAS FACING SEVERAL INCREDIBLY CRITICAL ISSUES RIGHT NOW.
EACH OF THEM REQUIRE DRAMATIC CHANGE.
I MEAN, IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY, POLICY CHANGE AND CHIEF MANLY, I MUST SAY YOU MUST STEP ASIDE WITH TAKE, LET THOSE THAT ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS CHANGE IN DEFENSE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LET THAT MAKE THE CHANGE THAT YOU'RE NOT CAPABLE OF MAKING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO ALLOW FOR CHANGE.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS IN OUR BRAINS THAT, THAT WORK AGAINST IT.
BUT THIS IS, THIS IS LIKE, NAH, THIS ISN'T, THIS IS ALL WE HAVE PREFER WAS AFTER, BEFORE WHAT WE NEED FROM THE WOMAN WHO WAS OUT OUT OF HER MIND AND WE NEED HOPE WE NEED ACTUAL POLICY CHANGE.
OFFICERS SWEAR AN OATH TO PROTECT AND SERVE POLICE THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE.
IN FACT, 434 POINT $38 MILLION IN THE CITY BUDGET ALLOCATED TO ADP.
ALMOST HALF OF THE CITY BUDGET GOES TO ADP TO INSTALL SAFETY MEASURES AND SHEIK MANLEY ADP FAILED LAST WEEK.
AND POLICE OFFICERS USE WHETHER BULLETS BEING BACKGROUNDS, TEAR GAS FROM A HIGHWAY, A HIGHWAY THAT WAS PART OF THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY AND PRIVILEGED.
OFTEN, OFTEN CIVILIANS WERE SHOT IN THE FACE AND BODY LEADING SOMEONE HEAD TRAUMA, BRUISING AND TEMPORARY BLIND ONLY 14.8 MILLION IS A LOT OF CAN NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING DEVELOPED ABOUT 30 TIMES BACK GO TO WEBINAR, SIZING OPPOSITES TO FACE AND SHOOT AT PEOPLE FROM I THOUGHT YOU WOULD TURN TO RAPIDLY GENTRIFYING BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES OF COLOR, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE MADE EVERY ONE EVERY DAY OF OUR HOUSING INSECURITY AND IS NOW COMPOUNDED BY OUR WORD LOCALLY.
THERE'LL BEING PUSHED OFF TO BY BROOKLYN ECONOMIC FORUM.
YOU COMMUNITIES OF COLOR MATTER TO YOU.
[05:05:01]
IT'S SOLD AND WE NEED TO MATTER 30 TIMES FOR JUSTIN HOUSE THING NEEDS TO MATTER.30 TIMES MORE BRETT ILO, MICHAEL RAMOS, THEIR FAMILIES NEEDS TO MATTER 30 TIMES MORE UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN CITIZENS AND THEIR WOUNDS, THEIR PAIN, THEIR ANXIETY IS NOW YOUR CROSS TO BEAR.
I AM CALLING FOR THE DEFUNDING OF ADP AND REALLOCATION OF THOSE WANTS TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE DO NOT NEED $434 MILLION OF LIP SERVICE IN BRUTALITY.
WE NEED DOCUMENTATION OF INCIDENT, COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS EVERY TIME.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING BLACK LIVES MATTER AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CHOOSES TO PRESENT ITSELF AND CHOOSES THIS APP ALSO MATTERS.
AND APD IS NOT JUST WELL LATELY.
THE PICTURES I SAW OF APD OFFICERS THIS WEEKEND LOOK LIKE YOU WERE FROM A WAR ZONE OR A COUNTRY.
WE PITY FOR THE BRUTALITY OF ITS PERMIT, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH HIS FIVE MILES WHERE I LIVE IN CENTRAL AUSTIN.
THESE OFFICERS EVEN FIRED OFF STREET, MEDICS WHO WERE CLEARLY RENDERING AID TO INJURED PEOPLE AND PRESENTED NO THREAT AT ALL TO POLICE, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING ON A NUMBER OF LEVELS.
WITH THIS, I ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL REDIRECTS BUZZ FROM APD TO PUBLIC HEALTH LIBRARIES, PARK, PALESTINIAN ANIMAL WELFARE, AND IMMEDIATELY JUST CONTINUE ALL APD USES.
SO CALLED LES GO ROUND SUCH AS RUBBER BATON ROUNDS FIT AND BEING THAT I'VE AS WELL AS CHEMICAL AGENTS ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.
ADDITIONALLY, I ECHO CALLS TO FOLLOW THAT.
WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT? LASTLY, I THINK JESSE W A BUNCH OF APD AND UPGRADE YOUR TECHNOLOGY FOR COLLIN COMMENT AS THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS TRASH.
I'M CALLING TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO DEFEND THE POLICE.
AND I WANT TO SAY THIS DISAPPOINTING AND FRANKLY, A BIT SHOCKING THAT MANY OF YOU, INCLUDING MAYOR ADLER AND MY COUNCIL MEMBER
AS A MATTER OF COURSE, RIGHT BEFORE A MEETING WHERE EVERYONE IS TRYING TO SAY THAT YOU NEED TO BE FUNDED.
WE TRIED MANY REFORMS TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND SADLY, THOSE REFORMS HAVE NOT WORKED.
THERE'S A DEMONSTRATED THAT IMPLICIT BIAS, IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING AND REFORMS LIKE BODY CAMERAS AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM OFFICERS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE.
DEESCALATE, DEESCALATION, TRAINING AND COMMUNITY POLICING.
IT PROVING TO BE A FAILURE AS LEAVING TYLER OUT TO ITALIA RECENTLY SAID PART OF OUR MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE NATURE OF POLICING IS WE KEEP IMAGINING THAT WE CAN TURN POLICE INTO SOCIAL WORKERS.
THE POLICE HAVE VIOLENCE WORKERS, EVEN THE CRISES SEEN WE'VE SEEN IN AUSTIN AND AROUND THE COUNTRY NOW IS THE TIME FOR OUR CITY TO LEAD THE WAY, TAKE AN EVIDENCE BASED APPROACH TO MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A SAFE AND EQUITABLE PLACE FOR ALL TO LIVE.
ASHLEY HAMILTON ON MUTE PLEASE.
I AM CALLING A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I GREW UP IN EAST AUSTIN AND ONE, I WANT TO SPEAK TO ITEM SEVEN AS TO WHY WE SHOULD.
ABSOLUTELY MATTER OF FACT, I DEMAND THAT WE DEEPENED APD IN REGARDS TO HOW IN FACT, BLACK PEOPLE ARE TREATED NOT ONLY IN THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL PRESENTED IN THE RACIAL PROFILE AND REPORT IN JANUARY, 2020, THE DATA IS CLEAR WHY PEOPLE ARE 15% OF THE STAFF AND 25% OF THE RISK.
NOT ONLY THAT, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE IMPERATIVE THAT WE NOT ONLY TAKE MONEY FROM APD, BUT UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES IN OTHER PLACES LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH IS ALREADY BEEN PROVEN THAT WOMEN ARE DYING AT AN EXPONENTIAL ALARMING RATE, MORE THAN OTHER RACES THEMSELVES.
I ASK THAT YOU TAKE THIS TIME TO NOT ONLY REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS AND BETTER USES FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND BROWN PEOPLE, BUT ALSO PUNISH THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN KILLING US, ALARMING RATES.
IT HAS BEEN PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN, OVER THIS INFORMATION, HASN'T CHANGED.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING NEW YOU'RE TELLING US THE DATA YOU'RE LETTING US KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE VERY RELEVANT OR THE MURDERS THAT YOU HAVE COMMITTED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
WHEN IS THE TIME GOING TO BE THE CHANGE? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ACTUALLY MATTER
[05:10:01]
TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT HAVE BEEN PAID TO PROTECT US? YOU ALL ARE CONSTANTLY STATING AND SHOWING MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW BLACK LIVES DON'T MATTER.I'M DEMANDING THAT WE NO LONGER ON THE POLICE, BUT INSTEAD IF WE, IF IN FACT WE TRULY CARE ABOUT EQUITY AND ON THE MOUTH THAT BLACK LIVES DO, IN FACT MATTER, I WOULD ASK THAT AGAIN.
YOU TAKE THE TIME TO REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO PUBLIC HEALTH INSTEAD OF FUNDING, NATALIE, NATALIE MULLIN.
MY NAME IS NATALIE MULLEN AND I THOUGHT A TRAGIC ATTACK TO JUSTIN HOWELL.
UM, I WANT TO SPEAK TODAY BECAUSE THERE IS A YOUNG BLACK MAN WHO CANNOT BECAUSE HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL, FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE FROM INJURIES, INFLICTED ON HIM BY ATP.
AND FRANKLY I'M DISGUSTED IN THE SHAMES IN OUR CITY.
I WAS THERE WHEN HE WAS SHOT AND CRITICALLY INJURED.
THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION WAS CLEAR AND GRAPHIC.
HIS BLOOD WAS ON THE STREET AND I HEARD EVERYONE'S SCREAMING, TELLING THE POLICE THAT HE WAS DYING.
AND I SAW THEM RESPONDING BY SHOOTING MORE BULLETS INTO THE DEFENSIVE CROWD.
THEY WERE SHOOTING AT US FROM BOTH SIDES.
I REMEMBER BEGGING THEM TO STOP AND ASKING WHO THEY MEANT TO BE PROTECTING.
AND I SAW THEM RESPONSE BY SHOOTING AND GASSING THE SENSELESS MEDICS ONLY THING IN THEIR HANDS OF DYING PEOPLE PROTESTER.
AND THEY KNEW THAT I TRULY NEVER FELT SO EXPOSED, TERRIFIED IN MY LIFE AND AT THE HANDS OF MY OWN POLICE FORCE.
I WATCHED AS AFTER THIS HAPPENED A COP ON I 35, EMPTY TO WATER BOTTLE ONTO THE CROWD AND THREW IT AT US.
INCITED YOUR VIOLENCE POLICE ISN'T PREPARED BESIDES THEIR FIRST MINUTE, RIGHT? THEY NEED TO BE FIRED AND STRIPPED OF THEIR BADGES IMMEDIATELY.
CHRIS MANLEY, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR ROLE WAS ONE OF LEADERSHIP.
AND I'M SORRY TO SAY, I HAVEN'T BEEN THAT HASN'T BEEN REFLECTED FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN OF YOU.
LET ME FIRST SAY A MISTAKE IS FORGETTING TO ANSWER AN EMAIL JUST AS MUCH DEEPER THAN A SIMPLE MISTAKE.
MISTAKES DO NOT RESULT IN CRITICAL INJURIES AND DEATHS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SCOTT REGAL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE REASON THAT PROTEST IS SPREAD ACROSS THE GLOBE, ISN'T JUST THE TRAGIC DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, THE VIOLENT RESPONSE, AND BASICALLY EVERY CITY FROM LA TO AUSTIN TO NEW YORK HAS SHOWN THAT WE NEED TO ACT NOW TO REIGN IN THESE POLICE, THESE OCCUPYING ARMIES IN EVERY CITY THAT ACT WITH IMPUNITY, THE POLICE REPRESSION OF SPURRED ON BY THE RHETORIC OF THE POLICE UNION TO ENCOURAGE AN ATMOSPHERE ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISPARAGE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT SUPPOSEDLY HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THEM.
THE APA USED THEIR PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY TO SHIFT THE BLAME ONTO THE CITIZENS THAT THEY THEMSELVES BRUTALIZED AND ACT AS IF THEY ARE THE REAL VICTIMS BECAUSE OF SOME RAISED MIDDLE FINGERS AND TOSSED PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES AS IF THEY ARE NOT AS IF THEY DID NOT NEEDLESSLY ESCALATE THE SITUATION THIS WEEKEND, WE NEED TO DEEP ON THE POLICE AND REINVEST IN HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND HOUSING FOR OUR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO FIRE AND PROSECUTE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS, INCLUDING THE KILLERS OF MIKE RAMOS AND THOSE WHO INJURED.
BRAD LEVI, ALLAH, AND JUSTIN HOWL.
IF MANLY, THE BEHAVIOR OF YOUR DEPARTMENT MAKES PLAYING YOUR FAILURE AS A LEADER, YOU SHOULD RESIGN BLACK LIVES MATTER.
UH, YES, DEAR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL.
UH, MY NAME IS KEVIN WELCH AND I'M A NATIVE AND LIFELONG CITIZEN OF AUSTIN, TEXAS CURRENT HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AT EFS AUSTIN, A LOCAL DIGITAL CIVIL LIBERTIES, NONPROFIT.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY AS A RESIDENT OF THIS CITY TO EXPRESS MY SHOCK, DISMAY AND HORROR AT THE ACTIONS THAT WITNESSED APD TAKE IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT UPRISINGS IN THIS CITY, OVER THE DEATHS OF GEORGE FLOYD, BRIANNA TAYLOR, ALMOND, AUBREY AND OTHERS, INCLUDING THE RECENT DEATH OF AUSTIN'S MIKE RAMOS.
I'M CALLING ON COUNCIL TO TAKE STEPS, TO BRING ABOUT REAL SYSTEMIC CHANGE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. I CALL ON CITY MANAGER, CRUMP THE FIRE POLICE, CHIEF MANLEY THAT SEEM CRUNK.
I CALL THEM THE COUNCIL TO FIRE CRUNK AT THE COUNCIL WILL NOT DO THAT.
I CALL ON THE VOTERS TO REPLACE EVERY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WHO REFUSES TO DO SO.
FURTHERMORE, I CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE MASSIVE REDUCTION.
MAYBE THESE BUDGETS CHANGING THE RULES FOR APD POLICE BRUTALITY, SETTLEMENTS, SUCH AS THEY ARE PAID OUT OF THE POLICE RETIREMENT FUND AND NOT THE GENERAL FUND AND IMPLEMENTING A NEW POLICE UNION CONTRACT TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF CAMPAIGN ZERO SOARING RHETORIC ABOUT THE EVILS OF SYSTEMIC RACISM MEANS NOTHING.
IF THE COUNCIL DOES NOT ACT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[05:15:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.MY NAME IS
NEXT I CALL FOR DEEPENING THE APP AND THE REALLOCATION OF THOSE FUNDS TO THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE RISE FUND.
THE APD CONTAINS NEARLY 40% OF OUR CITY'S RESOURCES.
THE APD IS INEXTRICABLY INTERTWINED WITH ICE AND THE PRISON SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU FIND THE ATD, YOU FUND THE EXPANSION OF THE CARCERAL STATE IN VIOLENCE AGAINST CLIMAX AND BLACK PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FOLLOWING HIS ACTION, THE URGENCY OF BOSTON, THE BEGINNING OF THE SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES, INSTITUTIONAL POLICING FROM REALLY DESCEND THE ATP AND TO BRING ABOUT COMMUNITY BASED MODELS OF HARM, REDUCTION AND PREVENTION, PLEASE, THE INEQUITIES, MORE THE DANGERS, THE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLES OF AUSTIN SAFE RATHER PERPETUATES THEM.
THAT'S ATP HAS NO FUTURE POST IN THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU MAYOR ADLER AND CHIEF MANLEY ARE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, I STOOD IN THE STREETS OF BOSTON AND I DIDN'T SEE OUTSIDE.
I SAW AUSTINITES STANDING UP FOR BLACK LIVES AND AGAINST POLICE OPPRESSION, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
BEAUTIFUL TO SEE AUSTINITES COMING TOGETHER UNITED BECAUSE WE ARE FED UP WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING HERE IN OUR OWN CITY, BUT DESPITE THIS UNITY, YES, THERE WERE AGITATORS.
THEY WERE THE ONES IN UNIFORM ATD, OR THE VIOLENT AGITATORS, THEIR ACTIONS DEMAND, ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE NEED REAL CHANGE AND NO APD SON PR CAMPAIGN IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT.
OUR SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS REQUIRE SYSTEMIC CHANGE, NOT ONLY WITHIN APD, BUT IN AUSTIN AT LARGE, THE REALITY IS CRIME ISN'T RANDOM CRIMINALITY IS CREATED BY THE SOCIAL ILLS.
WE LACK THE COURAGE TO ADDRESS FUNDING.
THE POLICE IS NOT AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY DEFUND, AND THIS PAN APD, WE NEED A CITY BUDGET FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE POLICE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
HEY, UM, I ASSUME YOU CAN HEAR ME, UH, UH, BEING IN A, BEING IN A, IN A PLACE, SEEING THINGS FROM YOUR OWN EYES GIVES YOU A SPECIAL KIND OF INSIGHT.
AND THE INSIGHT THAT I GOT FROM BEING AT THE PROTEST OVER THE WEEKEND WAS THAT THERE WAS A CERTAIN MALICE IN OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND JOY AND AN ABILITY TO HURT THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
UM, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT NO ONE'S BROUGHT UP YET.
UM, I SAW THE POLICE FEEL A BICYCLE AND A BACKPACK, SOME PROTESTERS.
UM, I ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE, GOT TO, I HAD TO SEE, UH, WE BY YALA, UH, GET SHOT IN THE HEAD AND AFTER HE WAS MOVED BY SOME PROTESTERS TOWARDS THE POLICE, UM, ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ASSISTING LEVI WERE MACED.
UM, UH, THERE WERE POLICE OFFICERS FIRING IN RESPONSE TO INSULT, UM, DIRECTLY IN RESPONSE TO THE UNFOLD.
SO I'M SURE SOMETIMES THEY RECEIVED THE FLYING OBJECTS, BUT SOMETIMES IT WAS THE MIDDLE FINGER AND THEY SHOT BACK.
UM, AND YOU COULD EASILY SEE THAT THE POLICE WERE DISCUSSING WHO THEY WOULD SHOOT THE NEXT TIMES THAT THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAXIMIZE PAIN OR GET BACK AT PEOPLE THAT THEY HAD DECIDED THEY DIDN'T LIKE.
THE POLICE ARE SEEING THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN AS THEIR ENEMIES AND I, 35 IS THE THING THAT NEEDS TO PROTECT THEM.
I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.
SO CALLED POLICE CHIEF MANLEY HERE CLAIMED THAT THIS IS NOT, WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO IS A BLATANT LIE.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN AFTER BEEN AWARE OF THE DAMAGE THAT BATON RAINS CAN TELL US AND TEAR GAS AND BASIC FOR THIS WEEK.
SO IF HE TRULY DID NOT INTEND FOR BRAD AYALA, JUSTIN HOWE AND COUNTLESS OTHERS TO BE HOSPITAL ON IT, YOU HAVE NOT, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED THAT GEAR AGAINST THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, THE RECKLESS AND INDUSTRY THAT YOU SAID, THESE WEAPONS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN SIMPLE BRUTALITY TACTICS BY VIOLENT GANG, IN ORDER TO INTIMIDATE THEIR OPPOSITION.
THE OFFICERS THAT COMMITTED THESE ASSAULT ON INNOCENT, INNOCENT CIVILIANS MUST BE CHARGED AND PROSECUTED.
EVERY OFFICER AT ONE OF THOSE SCENES WHO REFUSE TO INTERVENE OR RENDER AID SHOULD BE CHARGED IN THE ACCOMPLISH
[05:20:01]
AND THE OFFICERS THAT REFUSE TO ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING THOSE SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION.I AGREE WITH THE CALLS FOR DEFUNDING, IF NOT COMPLETE DISMANTLING AND REPLACEMENT OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH LARGE PORTIONS OF ITS BUDGET, DIVERTED TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC HOUSING INITIATIVES, PUBLIC HEALTH, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY CAUSES CAUSES TO ACTUALLY DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN AUSTIN AND JUST IN THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, THE TASK AND THE DEFENSE OF ALL THE, THAT OCCURRED PAST WEEK.
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, DONNA SIRE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AS A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, I'M APPALLED, I'VE HEARD SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER DESCRIBED SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA AND PTSD AS A RESULT OF INTERACTIONS WITH APD EXPERIENCING COMPLEX TRAUMA PUTS INDIVIDUALS AT HIGHER RISK FOR A VARIETY OF HEALTH COMPLICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN AND CONTRIBUTES TO INCREASED INCIDENCE OF COVID-19 AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR RACISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
AND THE MURDER OF BLACK CITIZENS BY THE POLICE STATE IS JAMESON GENOCIDE.
DID HE COUNSEL LISTENING ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH.
IT IS NOT FOLLOWED BY CLEAR AND DECISIVE ACTION.
THE ACTIONS OF APD ARE ABUSIVE AND AVOIDING ACCOUNTABILITY IS DEATH.
THE VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES EPD HAS UNDERMINED THE ENTIRE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY OF AUSTIN AND THE WORK OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
WHO'VE BEEN TIRELESSLY RESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BUT ONLY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD INTERACT WITH PROTESTORS OR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN CRISIS INTERVENTION AND DEESCALATION.
ANY APD OFFICERS WHOSE ACTIONS HAVE HARMED OR INJURED, THE CIVILIAN NEEDS TO NOT ONLY BE FIRED, BUT FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.
APD OFFICERS SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO JIRA BEING BY GROUND OR RUBBER BULLETS, WHICH HAVE BEEN WEAPONIZED IN WASTEFUL WAYS.
AND AUSTIN, THE CITY OF AUSTIN NEEDS TO CORE FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN USED TO MILITARIZE THE APD INSTITUTE ENTITIES OF COLOR IN AUSTIN AND SAID, I HEALED MY TIME.
NEXT SPEAKER, JOSEPH ROBICHAUD.
I'M A BLACK MAN AND A FIELD MEDIC WITH AUSTIN EMS. SEVERAL TIMES I'VE BEEN CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE CARE TO INJURED OFFICERS.
AND I ANSWERED THAT, CALL IT BEAUTIFULLY AND PROUDLY.
HOWEVER, I NO LONGER FEEL LIKE I CAN CALL APD FOR PROTECTION WITHOUT PUTTING THOSE.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO SERVE AT RISK OF VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE FAILED ONCE WE ARRIVED TO FIND AS THE SEVEN OFFICERS FOR TRAINING A YOUNG MAN PRESSING THEIR WEIGHT IN THE TORSO.
AND SO HIS FACE IS ALMOST PRESSED INTO HIS KNEES.
I WATCHED THIS MOVEMENT LO AND HIS CRY THAT IF I CAN'T BREATHE, IT'S WEAKER AND WEAKER.
THANKFULLY WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO THEM IN TIME.
ANOTHER TIME I HAD TO STOP AN OFFICER WHO WAS PRESSING HIS RATE ON TO A DEFENSIVE DEFENSELESS MAN NECK, I OFTEN HAVE TO PHYSICALLY PLACE MYSELF IN BETWEEN SOMEONE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND MILITIA OFFICERS.
LASTLY, I WANTED TO SHARE ONE NEAR MISS.
THAT WAS THE RESULT OF THE MILITARIZATION OF AP.
THEY BOTHERED WAS WITH THE SON AND MISSED THE CALL FROM THE CHILD'S MOM WHO THEN CALLED NINE 11 CONCERNED FOR HIS SON.
THIS MAN, I'M NOT GOING TO THE DOOR.
THE APD SHOWED UP WITH TWO BEAR CAT, DOZENS OF OFFICERS IN TACTICAL GEAR, LONG RIFLES AND CREPT INTO THEIR BACKYARD.
THE FAMILY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS COMING.
THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY HURT, BUT EVERYONE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WAS PUT IN DANGER BECAUSE OF POOR DECISION MAKING AND MILITARIZATION OF THE POLICE FORCE.
AND AFTER YOU DIVEST FROM APD AND FIX THEIR LEADERSHIP CULTURE AND USE THE FORCE PROBLEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, UH, CHAIR, IF I MAY, UM, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS LIKE ANY OTHER BRIEFING WE GET FROM A PROFESSIONAL, UM, FROM ONE OF OUR CIVIL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS.
UM, I I'D LIKE FOR THE CURRENT SPEAKER TO, TO CONTINUE.
YOU HAVE THAT, RIGHT? THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, THEN NEXT SPEAKER, RICHARD BOLAND.
APD NEEDS A GOOD HOUSE CLEANING FROM TOP DOWN.
WE NEED A CITIZEN REVIEW PANEL WITH THE POWER TO DIRECTLY FIRE OFFICERS FOR MISCONDUCT WITHOUT TIME LIMITS OR HAVING AN ARBITRATOR REINSTATEMENT TO DO THIS.
I ASK THAT THE COUNCIL TAKE ACTION TO END SEVERAL SERVICE FOR APD AND AMEND THE CITY CHARTER.
IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES, IT MAY TAKE A PETITION OR REFERENDUM THAT APD HAS MADE SEVERAL THOUSAND NEW ENEMIES THIS WEEKEND.
SO NOW'S A GOOD TIME TO TAKE THIS ACTION.
IT SEEMS THE COPS NOW WANT TO PASS OUT COOKIES TO THE PROTESTORS AND THING KUMBAYA.
MAYBE THEY SHOULD'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE THEY DECIDED TO SHOWER BEANBAGS AND PEPPER SPRAY ON CHILDREN, PREGNANT
[05:25:01]
WOMEN STREET, MEDICS, AND THE REST OF US PROTESTORS.COUNSEL, I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING THIS BLEEDING, BUT I WISH Y'ALL HAD SPOKEN OUT BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
I WISH MR. CRONKITE MARIANO HAD TAKEN ACTION ON SATURDAY ONE SINGLE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER WAS THE ONLY CITY OFFICIAL TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS.
BLACK LIVES MATTER, BLOCKING THE FREEWAY, NOT VIOLENT.
ARE YOU? CAN I GO MY BLACK, THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER, MICHAEL FRAZIER AND MAYOR BEFORE MR. FRAZIER SPEAKS.
UH, I JUST WANT TO ASSURE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US ON THIS DIOCESE, UM, AS MANY OF US, IF I WERE LEAVING SOMEWHERE, HAVE LEGAL LIMITS ON TALKING TO EACH OTHER, UH, MANY OF US WERE CONTACTING THE MANAGER, CONTACTING CHIEF, CONTACTING THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS ABOUT WHAT WE WERE HEARING, SEVERAL OF US PUT OUT PUBLIC STATEMENTS OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING.
UM, AND CLEARLY IT WAS NOT ENOUGH EXPERIENCES WE'RE HEARING AND TESTIMONY TODAY.
UM, BUT I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT THOSE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE, EVEN IF MANY OF THEM WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT SAY SOMETHING, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TRIED TO, WE TRY TO GET INFORMATION, WHICH WE TRY TO TALK WITH PEOPLE IN A NUMBER OF US.
UH, WE ALL COMMUNICATED IN WHATEVER WAYS WE COULD, UM, INCLUDING MYSELF AND OTHERS.
AND I PUT OUT INFORMATION AS DID OTHERS.
SO, UH, FOR THE PERSON WHO IS SPEAKING, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE WHAT WE SENT OUT.
UM, AND I INVITE YOU TO CONTACT MY OFFICE.
I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU DIRECTLY.
UM, MY GOVERNMENT NAME IS, OH, HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? SO MY NAME IS MICHAEL FRASER, UM, AND MY CHOSEN NAME IS RAINEY.
I'M A 10 YEAR RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, AND I'VE BEEN A SOCIAL WORKER HERE FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.
I'VE WORKED WITH CHILDREN'S FOSSIL FOSTER CHAIR, HELPLESS PERSON, PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
I'M EXTENSIVELY TRAINED IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND I'VE WORKED IN INTERVENE TO DEESCALATE VIOLENCE SITUATIONS.
THERE IS NOTES FOR THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS BEEN PERPETRATED BY THE POLICE.
I HAVE WORKED WITH A MAN WHO IS ALMOST TWICE MY WEIGHT, TRYING TO SMASH A SOLID WOULDN'T SHARE OVER MY HEAD, AND I NEVER NEEDED A WEAPON TO PROTECT MYSELF IN THAT SITUATION.
AND I WORKED WITH OTHER STAFF DID NOT NEED WEAPONS.
SO THE POLICE ARE ABSOLUTELY INSANE FOR THINKING THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED THAT.
I WANT TO THANK RICK
AND, UM, IF PEOPLE STAND WITH YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU STAND WITH US, UM, I'VE BEEN AN INJUSTICE FOR MIKE RAMOS DUFFY HOUSE.
UM, THE, THE MAN WHO APPEARED TO BE HOMELESSNESS, WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR STANDING ON A CLOSED HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN FLIP FLOPS.
I DEMAND JUSTICE FOR HIM, THE, UH, THE DISABLED MAN WHO APV MURDERED THIS YEAR.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD A POINT THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD MADE YET.
IT IS COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS THAT APD IS HERE, GAS, UH, WEEKEND, UM, ESPECIALLY, UH, NEAR THE CAMP ONCE OF A HOMELESS, ESPECIALLY IN A CROWD WHERE THERE WERE CHILDREN AND ESPECIALLY WHERE WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC THAT, UH, WHERE THE DISEASE HARGET'S PEOPLE'S RESPIRATORY SYSTEM.
IF YOUR HOUSE HAS LONG LASTING HEALTH, UH, THE PERCUSSION BEFORE MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED
[05:30:01]
IT.AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I WAS, I WAS WALKING TOWARD THE POLICE STATION WHEN THEY DEPLOYED IT.
I WAS AT LIKE METRO SIX AND EVERYBODY AROUND ME AND MYSELF INCLUDED.
SO COUGHING AND CHOKING AND CRYING.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF EGREGIOUSNESS, UH,
MY NAME IS
OUR POLICE FORCE HAVE MADE AN, A JOB WHERE THERE CANNOT BE A MARGIN OF ERROR.
I ATTENDED THE PROTEST ON SUNDAY AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED YOUR OFFICE APPALLED THAT THE TREATMENT OF PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, MAYOR ADLER AND MY COUNCIL WOMAN, LESLIE POOL, WHO KNOW ABOUT THIS MEETING SHOULD HAVE BEEN LAST WEEK.
THE DELAY HAS RESULTED IN SO MANY ADDITIONAL HORRIFIC STORIES.
MY RECOMMENDATION, AS FAR AS LEADERS TO TAKE A HEART AND LOOK TO SEE IF WE TRULY BELIEVE I 16% YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE AND POLICE BUDGET WILL DRIVE IMPACTFUL, CHANGE IT.
WON'T MAYOR ADLER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE OPTION.
ONE IS TO CONTINUE TO USE PHILLY AS A CATCHALL, CONTINUE TO HAVE THEM SET UP FOR FAILURE.
WITH ANOTHER INCREASE IN POLICE BUDGET, CONTINUE TO HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER STOPS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.
CONTINUE TO HAVE FATAL AND CRITICAL MISTAKES BY OFFICERS OR INVEST THOSE FUNDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
INVEST IN SOCIAL SERVICES THAT REQUIRE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS ON ISSUES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH.
WE ALL REMEMBER THE DIRECTION YOU ALL GO, AND WE WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR ADDITIONAL MISTAKES THAT RESULT IN LOSS OF LIFE.
I HAVE DO ALL THREE AND STUDY BACK.
I ASKED YOU GUYS TO MAKE CHANGE.
WE'VE SEEN THE PEACEFUL PROTEST TODAY WITH OFFICERS NOT HAVING RIGHT HERE.
THIS CAN HAPPEN IN A MOMENT WHEN YOU, YOUR, YOUR JOBS ARE ON THE LINE, YOU CAN MAKE A CHANGE, DO IT ALL NIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING NEXT SPEAKER.
MY NAME IS STEPHANIE CROCKER, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO POLICE BRUTALITY AND RACIAL INJUSTICE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COUNTRY.
WE CAN NO LONGER REMAIN QUIET BECAUSE SILENCE IS COMPLICITY.
I SPEAK OUT TODAY AS A WHITE MOTHER AND AN EDUCATOR FOR AUSTIN ISD.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO TEACH ADORABLE THIRD GRADERS OF ALL RACES, BUT AT WHAT POINT DO PEOPLE START TO PERCEIVE MY STUDENTS OF COLOR AS A THREAT INSTEAD OF THE ADORABLE CHILDREN THAT THEY ARE.
POLICE BRUTALITY CONTINUES TO HAPPEN HERE IN AUSTIN AND ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
IT IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AS AMERICANS TO ASSEMBLE AND PETITION.
YES, THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS BEING VIOLATED AND PEOPLE CAN NO LONGER PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE AND PETITION WITHOUT THE POTENTIAL THREAT OF BEING INJURED OR EVEN WORSE KILLED BY POLICE.
LET'S NOT FORGET HOW THE CATALYST OF THIS MOST RECENT WAR BEGAN.
GEORGE FLOYD KILLED MURDERED UNDER THE KNEE OF A POLICE OFFICER.
AND THEN THE BRUTALITY CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE PEACEFUL PROTEST.
YOU CANNOT BLAME THE POT FOR BOILING OVER.
IF YOU NEVER ADDRESS THE FLAME AS A MOTHER, I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY SON GETTING SHOT BY THE POLICE.
BUT AS A TEACHER, I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE REMARKABLE CHILDREN OF COLOR SITTING IN MY CLASSROOM.
I AM AWARE THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE WHO ARE POLICE OFFICERS AND PROSECUTORS, BUT THEY ARE WORKING INSIDE OF AN INCREDIBLY BROKEN SYSTEM.
NOW IS THE TIME MORE THAN EVER THAT WE SPEAK WITH A MAN CHANGE.
I IMPLORE YOU THE CITY COUNCIL TO LEAD THIS CHANGE.
ALL FIVE CANNOT MATTER UNTIL BLACK LIVES DO MATTER.
THAT WAS A MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
UH, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME.
I MEAN, I COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE VOICES WE'RE HEARING.
I CAN DO THIS ALL NIGHT Y'ALL BUT IT TURNS OUT THERE'S A LOT OF US ON THE LINE, INCLUDING THAT LAST SPEAKER WHO RECOGNIZED THAT SHE'S A MOM.
UM, I, I SAW TWO LITTLE CUTIES POP UP ON THE SCREEN.
I SAW DELI AS CUDI POP UP ON THE SCREEN AND I SAW KATHY'S CUTIE POP UP ON THE SCREEN.
WE GOT TO PUT THESE KIDS TO BED.
[05:35:01]
TO ASK FOR A MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE.CAN WE TAKE 10 MINUTES TO PUT OUR KIDS TO BED? AND THEN COME BACK? IS THAT, IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO MY COLLEAGUES? THAT'S FINE.
WE ALSO HAVE A REALLY CLOSE TO THE LAST 25 SPEAKERS.
SO DURING THIS 10 MINUTE BREAK, SOME OF THESE SPEAKERS HAVE LEFT AND THEN COME BACK ON AND OUR SYSTEM DOESN'T TIE THEIR PHONE NUMBERS TO THEIR NAMES.
SO IF IT'S POSSIBLE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE DURING THIS 10 MINUTES WITHOUT LOSING THE PHONE LINE.
IF YOU COULD MYRNA, IF YOU'RE THERE, WOULD IT HELP IF THEY TEXT IN THEIR NAME TO A NUMBER? I DON'T KNOW HOW WE IDENTIFY THESE PEOPLE.
WE COULD CALL THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THEIR PHONE NUMBERS WHEN THEY COME BACK AND THEN THEY COULD COME ON.
I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS JUST DOING THAT THOUGH.
THAT WAS WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED.
I'M REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HESITANT TO ASK ANYBODY TO GO ANYWHERE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SAYING Y'ALL.
IF, IF, ESPECIALLY I KNOW THERE ARE PARENTS ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW, SO Y'ALL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
AND SO SOME OF THEM NEED THAT 10 MINUTES TO JUST, IF I COULD TAKE 10 MINUTES TO MAKE SURE THAT MY GOOD, NO, NO, NO.
BUT IN THIS 10 MINUTES, I WANT TO TRY AND SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO FOR THOSE OTHER PEOPLE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO RECESS FOR 10 MINUTES.
AND SO IF YOU NEED TO GO DO THAT, PLEASE GO DO THAT.
NOW, MYRNA, WHILE WE HAVE YOU ON THE PHONE, IS THERE ANY DIRECTION WE SHOULD BE GIVING TO THESE FOLKS TO HELP US WITH THE PHONE NUMBERS WE CAN IDENTIFY? UM, I CAN, I WILL BE CALLING THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THEIR PHONE NUMBER.
UM, I WILL ADMIT THEM TO THE CALL AND IF THEY CAN JUST PLEASE STATE THEIR NAME, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WHY DON'T WE DID THE LAST TWO DIGITS OF THEIR PHONE NUMBER? WE CAN, WE CAN TRY.
AND IF TWO PEOPLE CALL IN AND, AND THEN YOU CAN JUST ASK FOR IT AGAIN, I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT IF YOU DO FOUR DIGITS WHERE WE'RE EFFECTIVELY IDENTIFYING WHO THEY ARE, AND THERE AREN'T THAT MANY PHONE NUMBERS THAT START WITH THE FIRST THREE.
SO LET'S TRY IT WITH THE FIRST TWO AND LET'S SEE HOW CLOSE WE GET TO GETTING EVERYBODY ON.
EVEN IF IT MEANS, YOU KNOW, WE ENDED UP AT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ORDER ON THE LAST 25.
IT IS, IT IS A NINE 40 WE'LL COME BACK HERE IN 10 MINUTES AT NINE 50, AND THEN WE'LL START THAT PROCESS.
WE ARE RECONVENING HERE ON JUNE 4TH, A CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING HAS CURRENTLY RUN A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ALSO FOR YOUR FOURTH.
WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH THE LAST 27 SPEAKERS, AMANDA, A CC.
I'M AN ANSWER TO CC CHAIR, THE HISPANIC, LATINO COMMISSION, UM, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, AND DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT TONIGHT AND SPEAK AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE OF AN EXCERPT FROM A CENTER CROSS MEMBER TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL DATED SIX, EIGHT 18 REGARDING OFFICE POLICE CHIEF.
UM, THERE'S THERE ARE CONCERNS RAISED REQUESTING WHETHER OR NOT MANLY IS ABLE TO BRING ABOUT A CULTURAL CHANGE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND AROUND AREAS OF COMMUNITY POLICING, OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS CONCERN WAS PRIMARILY DUE TO HIS INTERNAL CANDIDACY STATUS AND THE INFINITY OF WHETHER OR NOT AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE CHANGE AGENT.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, MAN ACTIONS SHOW US HE HAS, IS NOT, AND WILL NEVER BE AN EFFECTIVE CHANGE AGENT IN NOVEMBER 28TH, THE HISPANIC LATINO COMMISSION HELD THE SPECIAL SESSION WITH APD.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PODUNK GARCIA FOR MAKING A STATEMENT AT THE MEETING.
WHEN WE WERE THERE, WE ASKED ABOUT FINDING NUMBERS OF EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE.
AND THEY SAID THAT, WELL, PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS THAT EVEN A SHOVE AND THEY HAVE TO RECORD IT.
SO WE ASKED THEM TO BREAK THAT DOWN INTO CATEGORIES AND I HAVE YET TO SEE IT.
UM, PEOPLE AT THAT TIME DID NOT TALK TO MANLY TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THINGS HAVE JUST GOTTEN WORSE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, JUST CON FIRE, MANLY ASSISTANT SHE'S GAY, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
I DON'T KNOW JUSTICE FOR MY GRANDMA'S.
UM, YOU KNOW, HE WAS SHOT WITH THE BEAN BAG BEFORE AND YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO STAY EVE.
IS AMANDA STILL ON THE PHONE? AMANDA CC.
[05:40:04]
HELLO? HELLO.UM, I WANT TO SAY FIRST THAT WHILE WE WERE IN RECESS AND THE LECTURING WAS OFF, I HEARD MAYOR ADLER CONGRATULATE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR STICKING THE DAY OUT AND THAT, ALTHOUGH WE ARE WITHIN THE LAST 27 COLORS, YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING RELIEF.
YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING YET.
AND THEN PARODY OF AUSTIN IS WATCHING WITH LITTLE TO NO PATIENTS.
MANY PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN AND SPEAKING ABOUT COSTS IN RELATION TO THE PROTESTS.
I WANT TO SPEAK TO COST IN RELATION TO THE DAILY LIVES OF PEOPLE IN COLOR, THE NORMALIZATION, THE NORMALIZED CONCEPT OF COPS AMONG WHITE PEOPLE IS THAT COPS A ROLE THAT PROVIDE A LAST RESORT.
VANTAGE, A TEMPORARY SAFETY NET ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL COULD BE CALLED UPON BY AN INDIVIDUAL TO ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AND TO DEAL WITH INDIVIDUALS AND ISOLATED INCIDENTS.
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A SECRET THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR ARE MORE HEAVILY POLICED AS A COMMUNITIES THAN WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.
MY GRANDMA'S WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
THE COPS DID NOT SEEK THEM OUT SPECIFICALLY, BUT RATHER THEY WERE ALREADY PATROLLING AND TALKING THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHY IS THAT? WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS HAS ALL THE OTHER COMMUNITY STRUCTURES IN PLACE TO RUN EFFECTIVELY WITHIN THE LAW.
LOOKING@THEDEMOGRAPHICMAPSPROVIDEDBYAUSTINCENSUS.GOV.
THERE'S A DIRECTLY INVERSE CORRELATION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR AND NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A HIGH MEDIAN INCOME.
THIS MEANS THAT WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS HAD A LIVABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BETTER THAN THE WAY SHOTS OF HER BY FINANCIAL STABILITY IN A WAY TO MOVE UP THE TOTEM.
AND PAUL, WELCOME TO SCHOOL, THE HIGHER TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
THE PLACE THE WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS HAD ROOM HAD TO RUN NEIGHBORHOODS, WALK COMMITTEES, AND CAN DO THEIR OWN LAW REGULATING ON A COMMUNITY LEVEL.
THE POLICE ONLY NEEDS TO OPERATE ON AN OCCASIONAL INFREQUENT AND INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY RATHER THAN POLICING A WHOLE SOCIETY.
SO BY FUNDING A DEMILITARIZING, THE APG, HAVING A WIDESPREAD AND PUBLIC FIRING OF OFFICERS WHO HAVE CHATTING WITH YOU BREAK WHEN, WHEN I JUST WANT TO CORRECT HER AND I WASN'T GRADUALLY IN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ANYTHING THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB, BUT I DID THANK, AND I WANT TO THANK AGAIN NOW THAT WE'RE IN THE MEETING, UH, THE STAFF PUT TOGETHER THIS PHONE SYSTEM WITHIN 24 HOURS.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER SO QUICKLY.
UM, UH, IT'S WORKED PRETTY WELL FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN SUCH A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THE ARGUMENTS WITH POLICE IS THAT THEY PROTECT THE COMMUNITY, WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION, WHICH COMMUNITY CROWDFUNDING, WHICH IS COVERING THE MEDICAL EXPENSES OF FOLKS LIKE SARAH NIKA, MARTIN, JUSTIN
AND THEY'RE SHOOTING WITH STREET MEDICS WITH HOMEMADE SUPPLIES TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A SUFFOCATING IRONY AND CELEBRATING MEDICAL WORKERS WITH A FLYOVER AND THEN GUNNING DOWN MEDICAL WORKERS.
WEEKS LATER, I SAW POLICE PULL DOWN PEOPLE'S MAPS AND THEN BASE THEM DEEPLY TO YOUR GUESTS BY HELICOPTER ON EVERYONE, DEMANDING JUSTICE AS A MONUMENT TO RACISM THAT IS
APD HAS ZERO MONEY IN THEIR BUDGET IS ANOTHER DROP OF BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS.
YOU CANNOT FIX THE INSTITUTION WITH MORE TRAINING OR MORE HIRES.
IF THE INSTITUTION IS BUILT ON DEBT, BRIAN MANLEY NEEDS TO GO FIRE HIM.
RAY ARIANO, WHO WAS SUPPOSEDLY IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS TO GO FIRE HIM.
DO YOU FIND APD AND FOR EVERY BLACK PERSON AND PROTEST OR HARMED, REDIRECT THAT MONEY TO PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY HELP US LIKE THE RISE FUND, PUBLIC HEALTH PARKS, AND REC THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, HOMELESS AND DISPLACEMENT SERVICES AND LOW INCOME HOUSING.
IF YOU DON'T PLEASE EXPECT TO SEE PROTESTS AT 35 AND ACROSS THE CITY UNTIL APD PUTS ALL OF US IN THE HOSPITAL OR IN THE GROUND.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER RAY MARTINEZ.
MY NAME IS VERY MUCH HANDS ON TEXAS RISING DIRECTOR FOR THE TEXAS REGION NETWORK.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT NINE, AND THAT THE CITY THERE THAT'S SOME POLICE, UH, SOME POLICE AND USE THE FUNDS FROM THE APD TO INVEST IN HEALTH, HOUSING, AND DIRECT PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, I'M ASKING THAT THE POLICE FIRE, CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO KILLED MY GRANDMA AND, UM, UH, NOW, UH, CURRENTLY 40% OF THE ALLOCATED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS WILD THAT WE CONTINUE TO FUND THE FORCE OF ABUSERS AND MURDERS, BLACK FOLKS, AND OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN, AS LOW AS LAUNCHES AN ASSAULT ON PROTESTORS WHEN THEY PROTEST THAT SAME POLICE BRUTALITY, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION NOW TO DIVEST FROM THE APD.
THE FACT THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS SHOT MY GRANDMAS IN APRIL ARE STILL A PART OF THE APP IS SHAMEFUL POLICE, CHIEF BRIAN
ANY COUNCIL, THE OTHER COMMUNITY, PLEASE ACCOUNTABLE BY FUNDING HIM AND THE POLICE OFFICERS HAD KILLED MY GRANDMA AND THAT'S FROM THE POLICE, BUT THE FUNDS
[05:45:01]
THAT HAD BEEN DIVESTED INTO AREAS THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP AUSTIN THRIVE BLACK LIVES MATTER.CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO VOICE STRONG OPPOSITION TO ITEM SEVEN, THE AUTOMOBILE BURGLARY AND THEFT PREVENTION AUTHORITY ADVOCATE FOR TACTICS THAT I DO NOT THINK BENEFIT COMMUNITY SAFETY.
FOR INSTANCE, THESE OF BAIT CARS, HEIGHTENED SURVEILLANCE AND PREDICTIVE POLICING THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGET MINORITY COMMUNITIES IS ALSO STATE OUTRIGHT IN THEIR OPERATION PLAN.
THAT TASKFORCE ARE ROUTINELY CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND USE OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT TO NARCOTICS ROBBERY INVITES DIVISION.
THIS GRANT MONEY WOULD NOT EVEN BE NECESSARILY RESTRICTED TO THE AUSTIN AUTODESK INTERDICTIONS PROJECT, NOR IS THIS MONEY THREE, AS THE TERM GRANT MIGHT APPLY AS STATED EARLIER, A PERCENTAGE OF IT IS MATCHED BY THE CITY.
I THINK IT WAS CLEAR FROM APD BEHAVIOR THAT MORE MONEY AND MORE OFFICERS IN ANY CAPACITY ARE NOT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FRANKLY, I'M APPALLED THAT THIS COUNCIL ALMOST VOTED ON SEVEN WITHOUT COMMUNITY INPUT OR ANY DEBATE.
EVERY DOLLAR GIVEN TO THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE CERTIFIED OR NEEDS TO BE SCRUTINIZED AND VETTED THOROUGHLY.
I INFORMED THE COUNCIL DID NOT APPROVE THIS GRANT AND STUFF ARE REALLY THE PRIORITY FOR THE AGB.
I'M SURE THEY COULD FIND THE MONEY ELSEWHERE AND THEY'RE EXORBITANTLY LARGE BUDGETS.
AND THANK YOU FOR HOSTING ALL OF US HERE TO SPEAK TODAY.
CROPSEY HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE.
I'M A LIFELONG TEXAN, A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT EIGHT FOR 10 YEARS.
UM, I DON'T ENVY YOUR JOB TONIGHT.
MMM IT'S APPARENT THAT MAYBE 100 OR 200 ACTIVISTS THAT ACTIVATED TONIGHT, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF REGULAR AUSTIN TAXPAYERS MOVE IN STAYING HOME BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE SUPPOSEDLY STILL A PANDEMIC.
AND NUMBER TWO IS IN SEEING VIDEOS FROM HERE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY OF VIOLENCE, DESTRUCTION, FIRES, AND LOOTING.
YET WE HAVE OUR MAYOR ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GO OUT TO QUOTE UNQUOTE, DISRUPT BLOCKING FREEWAYS IS NOT PEACEFUL.
MULTIPLE BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE RUINED.
WE STAYED WITH CHIEF MATT MANLEY AND DEFUNDING.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT MAGICALLY MAKE KHAN DISAPPEAR.
WHY WERE YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT OUT THERE EVERY NIGHT, HELPING KEEP THE PEACE IF NO TACTICS ARE EVER NEEDED.
WHY WEREN'T YOU OUT THERE INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING MASS PROTEST, YOU COULD BE HOLDING SMALLER GATHERINGS IN EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS SO WE CAN ALL BE HEARD BY OUR COUNCILMAN.
UM, I'M A DISTRICT WINE BURNER AND A MEMBER OF STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF AUSTIN.
I SIGNED YESTERDAY AND TODAY CAREFULLY CRAFTING MY STATEMENT, TEARING IT DOWN TO TIME.
AND THIS IS POINT IN THE NIGHT WHEN I HAVE TO SAY IT'S BEEN SAID BY OTHERS.
SO I JUST WANT TO ASK THIS MADLY WHY ONLY TWO WOMEN CALLED IN TO SPEAK IN DEFENSE OF APDS ACTIONS.
IF YOU ALL COULD COLLECTIVELY WITH COMMUNITIES, WHY IS NO ONE APPLAUDING YOU? WHY DOES ANYONE FEEL SAFER SOMEONE'S SEX FOR APDS AND STEPPED DOWN INTO THE COUNCIL? SO YES, THERE ARE NAMING POLICE REFORMS THAT ARE PART OF THE EIGHT CAN'T WAIT REFORMS. AND THEN FOR BETTER PLANS, DEFUND THE APD, STARTING WITH THE GRANT AND QUESTION.
NO ONE HERE IS JUSTIFYING THE APDS ACTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE COMPLETELY UNJUSTIFIABLE.
NEXT SPEAKER, KATIE TRUESDALE.
UM, THE PAIN OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN MET WITH VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.
SILENT LEADERSHIP UP UNTIL NOW HAS BEEN DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
COULD YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THE PEOPLE'S PLEASE AT GOOGLE OR FACEBOOK? WE'RE EMAILING YOU.
THE AUSTIN'S LEADERSHIP OPERATES UNDER THE GUISE OF BEING PROGRESSIVE WHILE LINING THEIR POCKETS, BECAUSE WHAT THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON WANT TO SEE IMMEDIATELY, NO EXCESSIVE FORCE YOU THAT ANY FUTURE PROTESTS, ANY OFFICER
[05:50:01]
USING FORCE FORCE WILL BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY AND CHARGED FOR THEIR ACTIONS.YOU SEND THE POLICE AND USE THAT MONEY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CARE EDUCATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ARE WILLING IN HISTORY TODAY, AND I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS ALREADY SAID WHAT I'VE ALREADY SAID, BUT MY GRANDFATHER WAS A PASTOR 10 MILES AWAY FROM SELMA WHEN MLK MARK CHICAGO, EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE.
AND WHEN I HAD ASKED HIM AS A YOUNG CHILD, WHAT HE DID TO STAND WITH MLK, HE SAID NOTHING BECAUSE IT WASN'T HIS FIGHT.
YOU WILL BE ASKED WHAT YOU DID IN THIS MOMENT OF HISTORY.
AND I PRAY THAT YOU DO NOT LIVE TO REGRET IT BECAUSE I KNOW I WILL NOT FIRE CHIEF MANLEY AND JUSTICE FOR MY PROMISE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
UM, IS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER OUT ON THE LINE STILL OR NO, HE IS NOT.
I MEAN, MY, MY TASK AND ASSIGNMENT, I THINK GIVEN THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL IS TO TRY TO, UH, HERE TO THAT, THAT STRUCTURE AS BEST I CAN.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, BUT I THINK SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SHARING WITH US AND THANKS TO US ARE UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
THEY WOULD BE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND WE COULD ASK THEM TO COME BACK UP BECAUSE I'D LOVE FOR THAT PREVIOUS FIGURE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH, YOU KNOW, HAVING HAD THAT AS THEIR FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY HOW THEY AS AN ADULT MOVE THROUGH IT.
BUT THAT'S EITHER HERE OR THEY'RE THERE.
HI, I'M A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SPECIALIZING IN CRISIS WORK.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO CHIEF MANLEY.
YOU SAID EARLIER TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY THERE WILL BE MISTAKES IN THE REFERENCE TO THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.
HOW DARE YOU CALL THIS VIOLENCE? A MISTAKE WITH VIOLENCE IS INTENTIONAL TARGETED RACIST IT'S TERRORISM.
THE AUSTIN POLICE FORCE IS AN INSTITUTION THAT WAS CREATED IN 1865 TO KEEP BLACK PEOPLE AT PRESS WORN OUT OF SLAVE PATROLS.
PRIOR TO THE CIVIL WAR, AN INSTITUTION THAT IS EVIL FROM ITS INCEPTION CAN NEVER BE REFORMED.
HOW DARE YOU CHOOSE MANLY IN FRONT OF HIS OWN GRIEVING BROTHER CALLED 16 YEAR OLD BRAD, I ALL BEING SHOT IN THE HEAD, STANDING IN THE GRASS DURING A PEACEFUL MOVEMENT ERA, TERRIBLY DAMAGING WITH BOY'S BRAIN.
HOW DARE YOU TEASE ME AND THEY RECOGNIZE YOUR ILLNESS VIOLENCE.
YOU CAN STILL JOIN IN THIS MOVEMENT BY RESIGNING IMMEDIATELY.
CITY COUNCIL TAKE ACTION NOW TO DIVEST IN THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY INVEST THIS MONEY INTO HOUSING, PUBLIC HEALTH AND EDUCATION BLACK LIVES MATTER.
COLLEAGUES, UH, THERE ARE ABOUT 20 SPEAKERS LEFT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS MEETING PAST 10? THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SAR MAKES THE MOTION.
COUNSELOR HOPPER, MADISON SECONDS.
AS A FAVOR EXTENSION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED IT'S UNANIMOUS ON THE DICE TO EXTEND PAST 10.
MY NAME IS BROOKE STYLES AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.
I'M A WHITE PERSON WHO SUPPORTS ALL DEMANDS OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY AND AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.
THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN TODAY, MY HUSBAND AND I DID ATTEND THE PROTEST TO SEEK AND DISPLACE THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE BLACK LIVES MATTERS US.
I SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, ALL OF THE DISTURBING ACCOUNTS YOU HEARD TODAY, NOTHING HAS BEEN EXAGGERATED.
I REITERATE THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS LOOK TRIGGER HAPPY AND AGITATED.
I DID SEE THEM POINT AND SINGLE OUT MY HUSBAND ON ONE OCCASION AS A POSSIBLE TARGET.
WHAT I HAVEN'T HEARD ASTRA MENTIONED WASN'T IF ANY OF YOU AS COMMUNITY LEADERS WERE THERE BASED ON THE WAY THAT YOU OPEN THE CALL, SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE UPSET BY WHAT HAPPENED, BUT DID ANY OF YOU COME AND TRY AND STOP IT ON DAY TWO OR THREE? THE PROTESTS ESCALATED OVER DAYS.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ONE DAY OR A COUPLE HOURS.
IT WAS DAYS WE THOUGHT ESCALATE.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA TOO.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT ATD WOULD OPEN FIRE ON MAYOR OR CHIEF
[05:55:01]
FAMILY, AND I CAN'T HELP, BUT WONDER IF THOSE BOYS TWO YOUNG BOYS, WHAT DID MADE IT OUT SAFELY? MY FAMILY WILL BE THERE ON SATURDAY TO LISTEN, LEARN AND AMPLIFY ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE THAT CALLED IN TONIGHT SHOULD BE THERE TOO.I'M LAURA CLARK PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
I HOLD A MASTERS OF PUBLIC HEALTH FROM UT AND I'VE WORKED HERE IN THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST DECADE.
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE CONCLUDED.
POLICE BRUTALITY IS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH BASED ON FIVE MECHANISMS THAT LEAD HIGHER MORBIDITY IN BLACK COMMUNITIES, FATAL INJURIES THAT INCREASE MORTALITY RATES, PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES THAT INCREASED MORBIDITY, RACIST, PUBLIC REACTIONS THAT CAUSED STRESS, LEGAL MEDICAL, AND FUNERAL BILLS THAT CAUSED FINANCIAL STRAIN AND OPPRESSIVE STRUCTURES THAT CAUSED SYSTEMIC DISEMPOWERMENT POLICE BRUTALITY.
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
TAKE THE FOLLOWING FOUR ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE CRISES ALLOCATE AT LEAST $70 MILLION TO THE RICE FUND.
PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS ARE A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO YOUR ABILITY TO DIRECT INVEST PLEA IN COMMUNITIES MADE VULNERABLE ADOPT A MODEL USE OF FORCE POLICY DEFUNDED, DISMANTLE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE MANLY, AND THE OFFICERS THAT KILLED MIKE RAMOS POLICY ACTIONS ARE EMPTY UNLESS THEY ARE COMBINED WITH RADICAL TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO CREATE REAL AND LASTING CHANGE IN AUSTIN.
I URGE YOU BLACK LIVES MATTER.
SO I'M CALLING TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH BLACK ORGANIZERS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND OXYGEN TO DEMAND REAL CHANGES THAT KEEP ALL ON TONIGHT'S DATE.
THAT INCLUDES FIRING CHIEF MANLEY, BUT NEW LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING AT APD IS NOT ENOUGH.
COUNCIL MUST ACT NOW TO BE FUND APD.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE GRAND HALL VOTE ON LATER SPEAKERS BEFORE ME HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED THE HUGE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN FUNDING THAT WE ALLOCATE IN FUNDING THAT WE ALLOCATE TO CRITICAL CITY SERVICES AND HOW HARMFUL THAT IS TO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT YOU ALL KNOW THIS ALREADY.
YOU'RE THE ONES WHO APPROVED THE BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, THE MONEY IS THERE AND YOU KNOW THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT TO SAFETY AS A VALUE THAT GOES TOWARD HARMING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN AUSTIN, INSTEAD OF GOING TO HOUSING, PUBLIC HEALTH OR OTHER SERVICES THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY KEEP COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAFE, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, YOU STARTED THIS MEETING WITH A COMMITMENT TO QUOTE RISKIER CAREER TO MAKE THIS RIGHT AND INVITING YOUR COLLEAGUES DO WITH SEVERAL OF YOU MADE SIMILAR COMMENTS.
STATEMENTS ARE ONE THING, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT YOU FOLLOW THROUGH BLACK LIVES MATTER.
WELL, I LOVE RESIDENT DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'D LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE CURRENTLY SEEN CONTRACT, WHICH WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL IN 2018 LIMITS POLICE OVERSIGHT, UNION CONTRACTS CURRENTLY RESTRICTS VERSUS RESTRICTS PRODUCING POLICE FUNDING.
THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT THAT IS CREATED IS PURELY ADVISORY.
IT DOES NOT HAVE SUBPOENA OR INVESTIGATE BRAIN POWER DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO FIRE OFFICERS.
180 DAYS, STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
WHEN THE POLICE INVESTIGATIONS AND DISCIPLINE OFFICERS CAN APPEAL TO AN ARBITRARY AND BE REINSTATED BY BEING INVESTED IN PENCILING FIRE.
THIS MAY TWO OFFICERS FOR FIRE, FOR VIOLENCE AND WHO COST THE CITY, $75,000 IN A LAWSUIT OR REINSTATE WITH BACKPACK AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WORK TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE RECENT APPALLING POLICE CONDUCT.
IF YOU REMEMBER HOW THE UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR CURRENT POLICE CONTACT IS TIED TO AN DRESSING, PLEASE MISCONDUCT.
THEY SHOULD LOOK AT ALL LEGAL MEANS TO END AND REPLACE THE CURRENT UNION CONTRACT.
THE COUNCIL MUST CORRECTIVELY REWRITE THE CONTRACTS IN THE FUTURE TO SERVE PEOPLE'S BLACKS, SERVE BLACK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO SUFFER MOST FROM LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING NEXT SPEAKER.
MY NAME IS MIKA ON IT AND I JUST WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW.
IN THIS NIGHT THEY RELEASED EVERYTHING THAT WE SAID Y'ALL NOW THAT IT IS TIME TO HEAL AS A COMMUNITY, AS A BLACK COMMUNITY.
IT'S WAY OVERDUE SAYING WITH THE BLACK PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHITE PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE SACRIFICING FOR YOUNG KIDS.
[06:00:03]
THE UNIVERSAL LAW WILL PLAY OUT.DON'T GO AGAINST THIS RELEASE.
ALL THAT DOESN'T SERVE YOU IS BEEN WITH US.
I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND A WHITE WOMAN AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS.
AS WE SAW THIS WEEKEND AND HEARD FROM MY FELLOW OFF NIGHTS.
APD IS ESSENTIALLY FUNDING FOR LOCAL TERRORISM.
THE TIME FOR REPARATIONS IS RIGHT NOW, STARTING WITH THIS BUDGET.
ACCORDING TO RESEARCH FROM THE POLICE UNION CONTRACT, APD HAS ALL OF THE MAJOR BARRIERS TO POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY WRITTEN TO THEIR CONTRACT.
WE HEARD ABOUT 10 LIGHTS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN NO JUSTICE FOR THE FAMILIES OF THOSE FIRMED.
BY APD, CHIEF MANLEY THREAT OF CURFEWS ARE A STEP BACKWARDS.
WE JUST GOT OUR YOUTH CURFEW OFF THE BOOKS.
CURFEWS MUST NOT CREEP BACK IN, IN ANY WAY AS A TOOL TO CRIMINALIZE OUR BLACK AND BROWN AUSTINITE.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO DEFUND APD ADOPT CAMPAIGN ZERO AND REALLOCATE FUNDS TO ALTERNATIVES THAT UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY THAT WE OFTEN HAVE AND CONTINUE TO OPPRESS AND HARM WITH RACIST SYSTEMS. I FEEL ANGER AND SHAME AND SADNESS.
AND I ECHO THAT LETTER WRITER FROM EARLIER TODAY, WHO SAID, PLEASE PUT YOUR CAREER ON THE LINE FOR CHANGE.
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
AND MY PARTNER PUT MY CHILD TO BED HOURS AGO SO I COULD STAY HERE AND TALK TO Y'ALL.
BUT THAT SACRIFICE IS MINUSCULE.
I CAN NEVER ATONE FOR MY ROLE IN THIS STORY.
SILENCE IS VIOLENCE AND BUSINESS AS USUAL IS DEATH.
MY NAME IS KATIE MAXWELL, A PROUD AUSTINITE OF OVER 11 YEARS.
THIS WEEKEND, MY HEART WAS SHATTERED.
AS I WATCHED LIVE AS OUR OFFICERS THAT ARE SWORN TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY BEGAN REPEATEDLY SHOOTING INTO AND CHEER GUYS AND CROWDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE.
I WAS ESPECIALLY ENGRAVED BY SEVERAL GIRL INCIDENTS SPOKEN ABOUT TODAY THAT TRANSPIRED THIS WEEKEND THAT ARE VIOLENT, UNACCEPTABLE.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL AGREE TO GO AGAINST OUR VALUES AS A COMMUNITY BRUTALIZING PUPIL AT A POLICE BRUTALITY PROTEST IS ADDING FUEL TO AN ALREADY RAGING FIRE THAT IS PLAGUING EVERY CORNER OF OUR COUNTRY THAT WE SEEK THE UNNECESSARY EXCESSIVE FORCE THAT WE'VE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED ON THE END OF APD.
DURING THIS TIME IT'S SPANNING THE PLANES INSTEAD OF SUFFOCATING THEM WITH PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING OUR OFFICERS ARE VISUALLY TERRIFYING RIGHT NOW, THEIR ACTIONS OVER THE WEEKEND WERE TERRIFYING.
THE DIRECTION THESE PEACEFUL PROTEST ARE GOING THAT HAVE BEEN AGITATED BY EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS TERRIFYING, MASSIVE SHIELDS, FULL RIOT GEAR, NUMEROUS WEAPONS SURROUNDING THEIR BODIES.
LOOKING MORE LIKE THEY'RE READY FOR WAR AGAINST OUR OWN CITIZENS THAN TO LAY DOWN ARMS AND HEAR THE, THE DEAFENING SOUND AND PLEADING NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY.
I WOULD EMPLOY TO SPEAK WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZERS AND LEADERS, PDA AFD, AUSTIN, EMS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AVAILABLE TO MEET AND GREET WITH OUR PEOPLE, HOLD THE TOWN SQUARE, GIVE THEM A MICROPHONE, ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE HEARD ON THE LARGE SCALE.
ANYTHING JUST LISTEN, HEAR THEM HOLD SPACE FOR THEM.
IT IS IN YOUR POWER TO REFORM AND ENACT REAL CHANGE TO BEGIN REPAIRING THE DAMAGE THIS WEEK, AN INCIDENT LIKE THE MIKE RAMOS CASE OF CARVED OUR COMMUNITY TO HEAL THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR CIVIL SERVANTS AND OUR PEOPLE.
WE ARE NOT ANY OF THE OTHER PLACES THAT ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.
WE'RE AUSTIN, TEXAS, A CITY OF LOVE AND GOOD VIBES.
WE DON'T NEED YOUR RIGHT HERE.
HELP US BRIDGE THE GAP, CORRECT THE WRONGS AND FLIP IT ON OUR PEOPLE AND GET BACK TO THE CITY.
I HAVE FAITH THAT WE CAN AND WILL BE BETTER THAN WE WERE BEFORE.
I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND I DID SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIDEOS.
AND I SAW A LOT OF EVEN OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING TO KEEP THEIR GUNS.
I SAW FOUR AFRICAN AMERICAN OFFICERS SPINNING IN CIRCLES TRYING TO KEEP HIS GUN IN HIS DUTY BAG.
AND THAT WAS POSTED BY AN AFRICAN AMERICAN STATE REP.
SO WHAT I LEARNED WAS THERE WAS A LOT OF STRESS GOING ON IN THE SCENES AND MISTAKES HAPPENED UNDER STRESS.
AND IF YOUR CHILD IS DOING, DO YOU TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING OR DO YOU PUT THEM IN SCHOOLS
[06:05:01]
AND TEACH THEM HOW TO DO RIGHT? WHAT I SAW? I TRY AND LEO, I'M NOT GONNA LIE.I'VE NEVER TRAINED A ATD, BUT WE'VE DONE DEMOS FOR THEM.
AND WE'VE TESTED THEM UNDER STRESS.
I'VE DONE THINGS LIKE THAT TO TEST THEIR REACTION.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER, YOU FIND OUT WHICH ONE OF THOSE WE'RE FIGHTERS, WHICH ONE OF THOSE WERE IN THE WAR ZONE.
YOU TEST YOUR STRESS AND YOU FIND OUT WHO EXACTLY YOU'RE DEALING WITH.
THAT'S THE ONLY REVEAL OF A PERSONALITY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THIS EXTRA TIME FOR US.
THERE PRO TEM, UH, AMANDA, UH, FIFI IS BACK ON THE LINE.
IF YOU WANTED TO ASK HER A QUESTION.
UM, I ONLY WANTED TO SEE IF SHE HAD, SHE'S THE CHAIR OF THE, LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, QUALITY OF LIFE AND, AND A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT, AND WE DON'T GET MANY CALLERS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO OFFER IT SOUND LIKE SHE WAS CLOSING HER THOUGHTS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO OFFER HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, WHAT IF SHE HAD ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, UM, WE ARE TRAINED IN CRISIS INTERVENTION, DEESCALATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES AND COUNSELING, AND IT JUST REALLY PAINS ME TO HEAR, UM, HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, IT AFFECTED, UM, OUR YOUNG CITIZENS.
I MEAN, WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS, KIDS ASKED ME ABOUT OF RACISM.
THEY, THEY SEE IT, THEY KNOW IT'S THERE.
UM, AND IT'S ALREADY HARD FOR US TO RESPOND TO.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO LIKE, LIKE THESE LITTLE TINY FACES ASKING US THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT NOW, YOU KNOW, WITH APD ARMING A 16 YEAR OLD, WE, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE TO HELP SCHOOL.
PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE HERE TO HELP REACH OUT TO US, REACH OUT TO THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION AND REACH OUT TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL.
PSYCHOLOGISTS, WE SUPPORT SOCIAL JUSTICE.
WE ARE TRYING TO REFORM, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT DISCIPLINE IS IN SCHOOLS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ALSO IS, IS JUST DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING OUR, UM, HISPANIC, LATINO AND AFRICAN AMERICAN KIDDOS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT STARTS THERE.
AND SO REALLY WE NEED FUNDING.
WE NEED MORE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS RIGHT NOW.
THE RATIOS ARE AWFUL FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, UM, ESPECIALLY FOR BILINGUAL, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN SPANISH, TO KIDDOS AND FAMILIES.
UM, MAYOR PRO TEM GREISA FOR, FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, ASKING, UH, FOR ME AND, AND REALLY THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
I THINK WE WERE WITH, UH, UH, EMILY GARRISON.
MY NAME IS I'M LIKE ERIC, I'M AN ATTORNEY AT THE TEXTBOOKS FOR OUR DEFENSE PROJECT, WHICH FIGHTS THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF POVERTY IN TEXAS THROUGH OUR WORK.
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM TARGETS AND BRUTALIZED WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PEOPLE EXPRESSING POVERTY AND A DANGEROUS BLACK LIVES THAT ALL BEGINS WITH POLICE.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, NOW IN AUSTIN, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE WORST AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO MANY RESOURCES THAT THEY ARE USING TO HURT PEOPLE OF COLOR.
YOU CAN NOT CONTINUE LIKE THIS, AND IT'S UP TO YOU TO CHANGE IT.
I'VE BEEN SO INCREDIBLY MOVED BY THE TESTIMONY TODAY.
AND AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, UH, WE HAVE TO DEFUND THE POLICE.
WE HAVE TO SPECIFICALLY TAKE AWAY THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ACTIVELY BEING USED TO HURT OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, AND THAT INCLUDES AT A MINIMUM, NO NEW OFFICERS AND NO NEW CADET CLASS THIS YEAR, NO WEAPONS AGAINST PROTESTERS, NO FUSION CENTER, NO MONEY FOR SURVEILLANCE OF OUR RESIDENTS, NO CONTRACTS WITH LICENSE PLATE READERS AND NO OFFICERS SIT IN OUR SCHOOL AND WE DESPERATELY NEED REAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
NOW WE BEGIN WITH, UM, THE COLORS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A NAME FOR.
SO I WILL CALL OUT THE LAST TWO NUMBERS, UM, OF THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE FIRST ONE IS EIGHT THREE.
AND IF YOU ARE ON THE LINE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
THE LAST TWO NUMBERS OF YOUR NUMBER ARE EIGHT THREE.
[06:10:02]
OKAY.SO LIKE THIS IS SPREAD AND LOSS OF DISTRICT ONE, UH, TWO YEARS AGO, I'VE MOVED HERE FROM THE MIDWEST.
UH, I WATCHED IN HORROR TALKING TO MY FRIENDS IN MINNEAPOLIS ABOUT THE ABSOLUTE HORROR OF GEORGE FORD'S MURDER, UH, THE POLICE RESPONSE, AND ALSO THE POLICE RESPONSE TO ALL PROTESTERS WAS ON BULLETS, TEAR GAS, ET CETERA.
AND I HOPE THAT AUSTIN WOULD BE BETTER.
UH, AFTER SATURDAY I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED.
I URGED THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE ZERO GOALS, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE ACHIEVABLE AND PROMOTE REAL CHANGE AND HELP PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE CITY.
I THINK THE RESEARCH BASED APPROACH, WHAT'S THE WAY OF THE SOUL TO THE AUSTIN PEOPLE AT LARGE AND ALL VOTERS, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE ON THIS CALL.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR ACTIVISM AND THEIR PASSION TODAY.
AND I TURN IT TO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN.
DO A CAMPAIGN, LOSING EVERY SINGLE POLICE UNION VOTE.
CAUSE THAT MIGHT BE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
I WAS DEEPLY DESERVED OF WATCHING REPORTS OF OFTEN OFFICERS SMILING OR EXPRESSING JOY.
WHEN THEY SUCCESSFULLY HIT PROTESTS, AT LEAST FOUR PROTESTORS WERE GREATLY ENTERED AND THE PEOPLE WE SUPPORT, OH, NOT A THREAT.
AFTER WATCHING THE OFFICERS THAT SHOT BRAD ALA AND MORE VIDEOS COME OUT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.
THERE ARE FOUR OFFICERS HOLDING, BEING GET BEANBAG SHOTGUNS WHO CRAWL OVER THE BARRICADE OF
ONE OFFICER CLEARLY RAISES HIS RIFLE IN THE VIDEO FROM SEAN KING AND BRAD GOES DOWN AFTER THAT MOMENT, THERE ARE NO PICTURES OF THOSE FOUR OFFICERS WALKING OVER THAT BARRICADE IN CLOSE SUCCESSION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT LOOKING AT THOSE PICTURES, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE AUTHORITIES CAN PUT THOSE OFFICERS TO DESK DUTY INTERVIEW, WHO IS THE FINAL SHOOTER AND ALSO CALL FOR THE OFFICER WHO FIRED THE SHOT AND CRAFT RED SKULL TO BE TAKEN AT A MINIMUM FIRE FROM THE ADP OR TO TOP POSSIBLY TRIED IN THE COURT OF LAW, DANG UP AND LISTENING TO OUR CALL.
APOLOGIES FOR THE TECHNICAL ISSUES.
I WAS DISCONNECTED HALFWAY THROUGH THE BREAK AND COULDN'T DIAL BACK IN, BUT MY NAME IS JESSICA KHAN.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD TONIGHT, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION BEYOND THE SYSTEMIC RACISM AND EXCESSIVE FORCE IS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.
APD EMPLOYS A LARGE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WHO DON'T LIVE IN AUSTIN.
DON'T SHARE OUR MORALS AND VALUES.
AND HONESTLY DON'T SEEM TO LIKE OPTIMIZE MUCH ON TOP OF THE EIGHT.
WE NEED TO INSTITUTE A POLICY THAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL OFFICERS TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.
AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO REBUILD TRUST.
WE OFTEN NEED TO CONTRACT WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
WE CAN NO LONGER ALLOW THIS BEING THE STRONG ARM CITY COUNCIL AND PREVENT APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT OF OUR OFFICERS LAST WEEK, PLEASE DEFUND APD, TAKE AWAY THE MILITARY THERE, BUT YOU DON'T NEED IT, BUT THEY NEEDED TO BE TRAINED.
IF YOU OPTIMIZE AS HUMANS AND NEIGHBORS AND THEIR STARBUCKS AND THEIR SKIN COLOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING UP SO LATE.
THEIR SPEAKER K COLOR WITH THE LAST TWO DIGITS OF THREE NINE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
UH, AFTER NINE YEARS OF SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, I CHOSE TO HANG UP MY UNIFORM IN 2018.
NOT BECAUSE I WAS DONE SERVING, BUT BECAUSE I BELIEVED MY MORALS NO LONGER ALIGNED WITH THE PATH I SAW OUR COUNTRY TAKING.
THIS IS INCLUDING THE LACK OF RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE.
THAT IS MIRRORED IN OUR LOCAL APDS ACTION.
AS A LAW STUDENT, I AM NOW CHARGING MYSELF WITH ASSISTING AND CHANGING THE LEGISLATION THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO WEAR THAT UNIFORM.
SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, I HAVE VOLUNTEERED MADE SIGN PROTESTED IN OUR STREETS AND LIKE MANY OTHERS.
THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10TH, YOU WILL EACH RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM ME CAUSE IT'S CONSISTING OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF HOW MOTIVATED CITIZENS LIKE MYSELF CAN WORK TOWARDS MAKING MANY OF THE CHANGES YOU'VE HEARD ON TODAY'S CALL.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
K THE SPEAKER WITH THE LAST DIGITS OF SIX, TWO SIX TWO SIX TWO.
[06:15:01]
WE HEARD YOU PLEASE.WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE? YEAH, SO I APOLOGIZE.
I'M A NATIVE, UH, DISTRICT ONE AUSTINITE THAT ORGANIZES WITH THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD.
AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO JAMES, WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME WITH JAMES JAMES? WHAT'S YOUR LAST DAY.
THANK YOU WITH A BORING FRUSTRATION AS THIS COUNCIL HAS LIVELY, DISMISSED OR BLATANTLY IGNORED THE DESPERATE CRIES OF ITS CONSTITUENCY AGAINST VIOLENT ACTS OF FASCISM.
MIKE RAMOS WAS MURDERED NEXT DOOR TO ME, BRAD IOLA IS AN AMBITIOUS STUDENT AND MY PRIOR HIGH SCHOOL GROWING UP IN AUSTIN, I'VE WATCHED FOR DECADES AS COUNTLESS PEOPLE OF COLOR IN MY COMMUNITY ARE MURDERED MAIMED CRYING OUT FOR THEIR MOMS, THEIR DADS, ANY MERCY WE AREN'T IDEALLY WATCHING ANYMORE.
AND NO SOLUTIONS THAT YOU PROPOSE OVERNIGHT.
WE'LL FIX MILLENNIA UPON MILLENNIA OF SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION.
WE NEED A UNITED UNILATERAL APPROACH AGAINST THE SOCIOECONOMIC SYSTEMIC BARRIER THAT PLAYED HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED CLASSES.
WE WON'T BE SILENT AFTER THIS MEETING.
WE WON'T BE SILENT UNTIL WE SEE INTERSECTIONAL CHANGE.
NEW MISSIONS WIRED ON PROTESTERS.
CAN'T WAIT AND BLACK LIVES MATTER.
UM, YOUR LACK OF LEADERSHIP, IT SHOWS YOUR COMMITTEE IS A SHIT SHOW AND YOU DID NOTHING TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.
AND IT'S EVIDENT THAT YOUR LINE OF COMMUNICATION TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT EXISTED.
Y'ALL NOT KNOW WHERE THE APD HEADQUARTER IS.
WELL, IT'S OFF SEVENTH AND
RIGHT AFTER THESE PAST DAYS OF PROTEST, YOU'RE ALL COMPLICIT TO THE PEOPLE BEING TEAR GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY TO THE FACE.
AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE Y'ALL, DON'T THINK CONCERNED BY THE LACK OF FACIAL EXPRESSION, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MS MADISON, INSTEAD OF FUNDING THIS NOW MILITARIZED ORGANIZATION.
HOW ABOUT Y'ALL GET YOUR FUCKING HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSETS.
YOU FUND AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU FUND THESE CLOWNS AND PUT FUNDING TOWARDS EDUCATION.
YOU HAVE SCHOOLS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES CLOSING DOWN, PERHAPS THAT THESE SCHOOLS HAVE FUNDING.
THEY CAN TEACH TO RECOGNIZE THE RACISM THAT IS PRESENT WITHIN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE RACISM WITHIN YOUR DECISION MAKING IN THE CITY COUNCIL.
YOU'RE NOT EVEN HALF OF WHAT THE NAME SUGGESTS.
YOU'RE A TERRORIST EAST AUSTIN AND RIVERSIDE BASED ON YOUR GENDER AND YOUR PROMOTION TOWARDS, UH, TOWARDS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS ORACLE, RIVERSIDE, AND THE DOMAIN.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING THIS EVENING.
IS THAT THE LAST SPEAKER? WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SPEAKER.
THE LAST DIGITS ARE SEVEN, EIGHT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
MY NAME IS MELINDA TAYLOR, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 SHE'S MANUALLY.
I AM HISPANIC AND ON BEHALF OF MANY, MANY AUSTINITES WE WANT TO THANK YOU.
AND ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING FOR US, WE CAN NEVER REPAY YOU.
ALL OFFICERS SHOULD STAGE A WALKOUT AND LET THESE IDIOTS FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY WILL SEE THE RESULTS OF STUPIDITY THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING TONIGHT.
THANK YOU AGAIN, CHIEF, ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON THE STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
HI, MY NAME IS LISA KNAPP AND I FOUNDED A LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC MINOR SEX TRAFFICKING.
FIRING CHIEF MANLEY IS NOT A SOLUTION TO FUNDING AND THUS CRIPPLING.
APD HAS A RIDICULOUS INGESTION.
NATALIE IS A COMPETENT, KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED LINGER.
LET'S DISCUSS WITH HIM ABOUT THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF THE POLICE UNION AND SPECIFIC LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES IMMUNITY TO BAD COPS AS POSSIBILITIES FOR CHANGE.
I HEARD A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE ALLEGED VIOLENCE COMMITTED BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DURING THIS PAST WEEK, I WAS ALSO PRESENT DURING THE PROTEST.
I SAW THUGS READILY FROZEN WATER
[06:20:01]
BOTTLES, WALKS AND BREXIT POLICE BURNING THE BELONGINGS OF A HOMELESS MAN AND SHOUTING DISGUSTING NAMES AT OFFICERS.IN MY EXPERIENCE WITH TRAFFIC CHILDREN, CHIEF MANLEY AND HIS TEAM HAVE SAVED COUNTLESS CHILDREN FROM VIOLENT CRIMINALS.
WHO DO YOU EXPECT TO INVESTIGATE AND WRECK THESE HEAVILY ARMED VIOLENT OFFENSE AND TRAFFICKERS.
IF YOU GET FUN, DEFUND AND DISARM, OUR OFFICER'S CHILDREN, WON'T BE SAFE JUST BECAUSE CRIMINALS HAVE HEALTHCARE, COVANCE RELIEF, INITIATIVES, HOUSING, AND BETTER LIGHTING ON THE GREENBELT.
THERE ARE VIOLENT CRIMINALS IN THIS CITY.
THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO WORK WITH CHIEF MANLY AND SUPPORT HIM AND HIS TEAM.
INSTEAD OF THROWING HIM UNDER THE BUS, HELP HIM TO MAKE REAL CHANGE.
THIS IS A GOOD MAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND I AM DISGRACED AND ASHAMED BY SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HEARD ON THESE CALLS TODAY.
UM, LET ME TURN OFF MY OTHER PHONE.
REALLY WANTED TO GET MY CALLING.
LIKE YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR, FOR DOING THIS.
MY NAME IS VERONICA GONZALES AND I'M A BUSINESS OWNER, COMMUNITY LEADER, PUERTO RICAN, A WOMAN OF COLOR FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, I WANT TO OFFER A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
I COME FROM PUERTO RICO AND I SEE WHAT CORRUPTION DOES.
INSTITUTIONAL INEPTITUDE DOES INTERNAL FORCES IN THE GOVERNMENT THAT PRESENT CHANGES.
I KNOW THAT YOU MAY FEEL THAT YOUR HANDS ARE TIED IN MANY WAYS, BUT I'M HERE TO SAY IT'S NOT.
I CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU TO NOT LET AUSTIN DECAY OR THE USDA I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL.
AND WHAT I'VE BEEN SEEING IS VERY SCARY.
THE CONSTITUTION IS BEING VIOLATED LIKE NEVER BEFORE AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
FIRE HIRE ENACT OF ME, THE CITY AND EXAMPLE, LOOK IN STUDY OF SPIRIT IN YOUR HEART ON ARE YOUR INNER CHILD OF THE SENIOR FACES TODAY.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF HURTS EVEN IN MANLY.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED, BUT I KNOW WE'RE ALL HUMANS AND WE'RE ALL HURTING TOGETHER.
AND I WANT HIM TO SAY, I LOVE YOU ALL, ALL OF YOU AND THAT'S, I WOULD LOVE THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THIS COUNTRY WITH LOVE AND CHANGING OUR SPIRIT.
AND IT'S AN INNER, WELL, WE HAVE A SPIRITUAL CRISIS.
THE LAST SPEAKER, UM, WITH HAS THE DIGIT EIGHT, EIGHT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
I AM A PHD IN ENGINEERING AND I JUST WANTED TO, UH, QUESTION SOME OF THE EMOTIONS THAT ARE FLYING AROUND.
I MEAN, PHONE CALLS, UH, WHEN THIS HOT TIME PASSES, I WOULD, UH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, UH, Y'ALL, WE'VE ELECTED THE POWER TO TAKE THE TIME AND LOOK AT DATA, NOT, UH, ANECDOTE, NOT EMOTIONS, NOT GROUP THINK A CIVILIZED SOCIETY DOES NOT OCCUR WITHOUT ENFORCEMENT OF LAW.
THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO MAKE MISTAKES.
AND I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD ALLOW FOR THOSE EXCEPTIONS TO GO ON INVESTIGATED OR HAD NOT HAVE CONSEQUENCES, BUT BY AND LARGE, NOT HAVING A POLICE FORCE IS SOPHOMORE SUGGESTING THAT BEST USE DATA USE ALL THE CRIME DATA.
YOU HAVE MAKE A LOGICAL AND RATIONAL DISCUSSION WHEN YOU'RE NOT EXHAUSTED.
AND WHEN YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH HOT PROTESTS RIGHT NOW, WHEN EMOTIONS ARE HIGH GROUP THINKING, MOM MENTALITY ARE DANGEROUS TO PLEASE USE DATA TO SUPPORT A CIVILIZED AND STRUCTURED SOCIETY, HOPEFULLY.
RIGHT? ANY OTHER SPEAKERS THAT WAS REMEMBER HARPER, MADISON, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF THAT LAST SPEAKER, UM, AND SAYING I, 100% APPRECIATE THE BENEFIT THAT WE HAVE BY WAY OF THE DATA.
UM, THE DATA SHOWS THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM, UM, AND MULTIPLE SPEAKERS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE EVENING HAVE GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT CAN BE BOTH.
WE CAN BOTH HAVE A PROBLEM AND HAVE THIN TESTIC HONORABLE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP AND DO A GREAT JOB IN A WAY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE, BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
SO I JUST DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO WALK AWAY THINKING IT HAS TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER.
[06:25:01]
BE BOTH.UM, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE DATA SHOWS US THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
OKAY? COLLEAGUES, I HAVE PEOPLE MESSAGING ME THAT THEY'RE STILL WAITING TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THERE'S NOBODY LEFT.
WE HAVE THREE CALLERS THAT HAVE JUST CALLED BACK IN.
UM, SO WE CAN CALL THEIR NAMES OR THEIR, THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBERS.
WE DON'T KNOW THEIR NAMES LAST DIGIT ZERO ZERO.
SO IF YOUR PHONE NUMBER ENDS IN ZERO, ZERO, WOULD YOU PLEASE MUTE AND SAY YOUR NAME? HI THERE.
AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THREE UNARMED MEN OF COLOR HAVE BEEN KILLED UNDER MANLEY'S LEADERSHIP BY APD AND NO OFFICERS I'VE BEEN CHARGED ARRESTED, OR IN ANY WAY DISCIPLINED.
ADDITIONALLY, NO USE OF FORCE DEATH DATA BY POLICE HAS BEEN RELEASED SINCE MANLEY HAS BEEN CHIEF.
THESE REASONS ALONG WITH THE PLETHORA OF OTHER REASONS LISTED TODAY IS WHY IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR POC COMMUNITY.
CHIEF MADE ME BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY NO LATER THAN JUNE 8TH.
WHEN YOU WERE ASKED BY A REPORTER ON MONDAY, OKAY, THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS, YOUR OFFICERS HAVE TELLED HER ENTERED.
YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE PRAYERS AND CONVERSATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT ANY MORE CLEAR TO YOU THAT THE POC COMMUNITY IS AND WHAT YOUR DAMN PRAYERS AND IT'S DONE WITH YOUR DAMN CONVERSATION.
THEY WANT ACTION AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE POC COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN.
I DEMANDED UNANIMOUS VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FOR CHIEF MANLEY AND IMMEDIATE FIRING OF CHIEF FAMILY.
BY JUNE 8TH, ALONG WITH THE OTHER OFFICERS WITH KILLED UNARMED AUSSIE CITIZENS, REALLOCATION OF APD BUDGET TO COMMUNITY BELTS, PUBLIC HEALTH, ET CETERA, MAYOR OUT THERE, WOMEN 34 CITIZENS WHO SPOKE AFTER HARM ARE SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR YOU TO DEFUND THE POLICE.
AND THAT MEANS VOTING NO FOR ID SEVEN.
IF YOU'RE ACTUALLY LISTENING TO US TODAY, YOU WILL FIRE CHIEF MANLEY.
THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF MURDERS OF UNARMED PEOPLE, BUT NO ONE ITEM SEVEN AND START DEFUNDING THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY AND ALSO, AND THE POLICE UNION CONTRACT.
I JUST HAD ONE OTHER THING TO SAY.
UM, MORTARING WAS IMPLEMENTED WHEN THE SLAVES WERE FREED AND HAD NOWHERE TO GO.
AND THE FIRST CALLS FOR GUN CONTROL WERE TO DISARM THE BLACK PANTHERS.
UH, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS BUILT ON RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY.
UH, THE POLICE FORCE CURRENTLY GETS 40% OF THE BUDGET.
THEY ARE MORE THAN SUPPORTED AND THEY'VE STILL MADE THESE DECISIONS.
UH, SOME FOUNDED DEFUND, APD, UH, FIRE POLICE, SHEIK MANLEY TALKED ABOUT US MATTERS.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE SOMEONE TEXTED ME ON THE PHONE FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
SHE SAYS IN HER LAST TWO DIGITS ARE NINE, SIX.
I THINK THAT'S ELLIE WINKELMAN.
WHOSE NAME IS ON THE LIST? OH, GO AHEAD.
HI, MY NAME IS BRIAN BERTH ON AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND THE ONE THING THAT I'VE HEARD UNANIMOUSLY IS A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING FOR THE POLICE CHIEF TO BE FIRED.
AND AS A, AS A DISABLED VETERAN, MYSELF WHO HAS FOUGHT IN ACTUAL WAR AND HAD TO ABSOLUTELY FIGHT AGAINST ENEMY THAT YOU COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS YOUR ENEMY, YOU COULDN'T TELL IF THEY WERE A CHILD OR IF THEY WERE A SHORT PERSON, BECAUSE THEY ALL DRESSED IN DIFFERENT STUFF.
YOU COULDN'T TELL UNTIL THE ENEMY IS ENGAGED IN GAMES.
AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A SINGLE PERSON ON HERE, STAND UP AND TRY AND PUT THEMSELVES IN THE UNIT OF THE POLICE FORCE.
WHEN THERE'S A HANDFUL OF OFFICERS TRYING TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
NOW, YOU, IT IS INSANE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO BE TALKING ABOUT DISMANTLING AND DEFUNDING.
MY QUESTION TO EVERY SINGLE CALLER OUT HERE WOULD BE, WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO DEFUND THE POLICE FORCE, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE NO POLICE OFFICERS TO DO THE POLICING, WHO'S GOING TO COME AND PROTECT YOU WHEN YOU NEED HELP.
AND THERE'S NO ONE THERE TO HELP YOU.
I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S SAYING ATD HAS ISSUES, PROBABLY.
SO EVERY POLICE FORCE IN THE COUNTRY IS HAVING ISSUES RIGHT NOW.
LOOK AT THE CONTRACTS WITH THE POLICE, LOOK AT THE CONTRACTS THAT THEY HAVE
[06:30:01]
WITH THE LABOR UNIONS AND TRY AND GET IT STRAIGHTENED OUT, BUT DEFUNDING AND DISMANTLING A POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A CITY THAT HAS OVER ALMOST OVER A MILLION PEOPLE IN IT IS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY.AND I HATE ASKING THAT TO JUST SET IT ALL NIGHT ANYWAY.
UM, I AM CALLING TO SUPPORT THE MAINTAINING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET AND MOVING FORWARD TO JULY CADET CLASS.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE FUNDING, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND I THINK RIGHT NOW, I DON'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.
UM, SO THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
UM, THERE EVER, WE HAVE AN EAST SECURITY PATROL.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO LET GO OF THAT YOURSELF? AND WHERE IS THE FUNDING GOING TO COME FROM? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE'S MANLY GOD ABOVE YOU.
THERE ARE 1,793 OF YOUR COLLEAGUES RIGHT NOW ON DAY SEVEN OF TRYING TO NAVIGATE.
AND MY 29 YEARS OF LIVING HERE THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
AND I WAS SO MOVED BY WHAT HOUNSELL MEMBER HARPER SAID EARLIER AND MAKING WAVES FOR EVERYONE'S VOICE TO BE HEARD RIGHT NOW IN THIS TIME THAT WE'RE ALL FEELING THE, AND WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.
I FEEL THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP IS SUPPORTING YOUR COWORKERS, YOUR COLLEAGUES, THE 1,793 THAT STAND OUTSIDE TONIGHT WITH A HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE SOME OF COURSE ARE ABSOLUTELY PEACEFUL AND MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE PEACEFUL WANT TO BE OUT THERE, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE INCITING VIOLENCE OR PEOPLE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO BURN DOWN THE POLICE STATION.
WE DO NOT NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE FUNDING AND FOLLOWING THIS NATIONAL MOVEMENT.
WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE IN PAIN, OUT ON OUR STREETS THAT DON'T EVEN FEEL SAFE, PROTESTING PEACEFULLY.
AND THAT INCLUDES SUPPORTING OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MEET WITH THEM, MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THAT KID TO WORK.
THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO END.
SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW? PLEASE USE YOUR ALL YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW TONIGHT.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE ALL TIRED AND THE PERSON WHO'S THAT YOU'RE YAWNING BECAUSE YOU'RE BORED.
YOU ARE IN THE MOST, EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ON PRECEDENT TIME OF OUR LIFE THIS FAR.
AND I PLEASE, I KNOW YOU'RE TIRED AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU PUT THIS TOGETHER.
UH, MAYOR ADLER, WHEN YOU SAID THAT EARLIER, IT IS TRUE.
IT WAS A GREAT EFFORT TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE TODAY.
AND THERE'S SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE OUT ON OUR STREET RIGHT NOW, TRYING TO BE HEARD.
AND OUR OFFICERS THAT HAVE DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE BIG PICTURE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND STEP BACK FROM THIS DEFUNDING AND MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER RIGHT NOW.
AND AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER.
WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER IS POWERFUL.
WHAT, LET EVERYONE BE HEARD AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT, WHO ARE INCITING HATE AND WHO ARE INCITING TO HURT OTHER PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.
HAVE WE NOW COVERED EVERYONE IN THE QUEUE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE THAT HAVE CALLED IN, BUT THEY ARE NOT REGISTERED.
IT APPEARS SOMEONE SHARED THE NUMBER TO RECONNECT WITH FOLKS WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED.
THEY SHOULD ONLY BE CALLING THOSE FOLKS THAT HAD SIGNED UP.
SO IF YOU'VE CALLED ALL THE FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF, OKAY.
UH, THEN, UM, UH, THEN LET'S PROCEED.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH, UH, WITH THE COLLINS COLLEAGUES
[Item 7 (Part 2 of 2)]
THAT GETS US TO, UM, UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE WITH RESPECT TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
YOU WANT TO HEAR STAFF? DO YOU WANT TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF WITH RESPECT TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? IS THAT ADAM NUMBER SEVEN TIME SENSITIVE?
[06:35:01]
YEAH, THE GRANT HAS TO BE DONE BY THE 12TH, I BELIEVE.AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE RESUME AND IT HAS TO BE DONE THEM.
DID WE MAKE THE MOTION IN SECOND IT EARLIER? YES.
DO YOU REMEMBER, DID YOU MAKE THEM AND MADE THE MOTION? I SECOND AND MADE THE MOTION? YES.
I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO CALL FORTH AGAIN, JUST, JUST FOR THE RECORD, JUST SO THAT IT'S CLEAR.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? NUMBER SEVEN? I MOVE COUNCIL MEMBER TO IT MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
LET ME MAKE SURE I GET MY SPEAKER.
THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS MONEY IS IF WE DON'T USE IT, IT'S GOING TO GO BACK.
THERE'S NO USING IT ANYWHERE ELSE.
AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT IF WE DON'T PASS THIS, I JUST WANT TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT GET THEIR CAR STOLEN OUT THERE THAT ARE GETTING ROBBED.
AND, AND, AND, AND THEY'LL NEVER SEE THEIR VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OF PEAK OFFICERS OUT THERE DOING THAT FOR THEIR VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY IN DAY THREE, EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, WE'RE GETTING REPORTS THAT HER CAR HAD BEEN STOLEN.
I HAD A TEACHER THAT HAD THE CAR STOLEN RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FOR ME.
I KNOW WHAT THEY, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I TAKE IT UP THERE BY THE BOAT RAMP, BEHIND FIESTA GARDEN.
THEY LEAVE IT THERE AND THEY COME IN AND STRIP IT AND THEN IT PUTS IT INTO TOWN LEG, YOU KNOW? AND THE LAST TIME, WHEN DID LATER AFTER THE TEACHER GOT HER CAR, THEY FOUND THREE CARS DOWN IN TOWN LAKE.
AND DON'T TELL HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON DOWN THERE.
IF THEIR CAR WERE FULL OF GASOLINE OIL, IT BEEN LEAKING, NO TELLING HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN DOWN THERE.
SO, I MEAN, IF, IF WE WANT TO GO OUT HERE AND START DOING THESE CRAZY THINGS OF DEFUNDING EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD FOR AUSTIN, THEN Y'ALL CAN GO AHEAD.
I'LL JUST TELL PEOPLE, HEY, I TRIED, OKAY.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FURTHER ON THIS ISSUE OVER ALICE.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OTHER HANDS TOO, SO I DON'T WANT TO CUT IN LINE, BUT I DO WANT TO BACKUP WHAT PO IS SAYING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD MY CAR BROKEN INTO LAST NOVEMBER.
THERE HAS BEEN AN AUTO THEFT RING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND WHILE I COMPLETELY KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE FUNDING OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF, OF POLICE FINANCING.
I DON'T KNOW THAT VEHICLE THEFT IS EXACTLY WHERE I WOULD BEGIN, SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT, BUT I WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW IT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT HITS CLOSE, CLOSE HOME TO ME THAT MY OWN CAR WAS BROKEN INTO AND I NEEDED TO HAVE IT FINGERPRINTED.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS IN MY COMMUNITY, FOR SURE.
UM, I WANTED TO SUPPORT ALSO WHAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA SAID.
THIS IS A GRANT FROM A GRANT PROGRAM FOR SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON, ON BURGLARIES OF AUTOS.
I THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT, UM, FUNCTION THAT WE NEED TO, UH, PURSUE.
I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE I REMAIN COMMITTED AND I HAVE IN THE PAST, UH, I HAVE, I HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT IN THE PAST WITH REGARD TO THE POLICE BUDGET.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
THIS ITEM IS NOT THE ONE TO DO THAT ON.
COUNCILMEN ARE FLAT AGAIN, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, IT'S, IT'S INCREDIBLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE, THIS IS A DECISION THAT HAS TO BE MADE TONIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A LARGE CONVERSATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE.
AND ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US HAVE TRIED TO HAVE, UM, I'VE HAD THIS, GOSH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BUDGETS WE'VE ASKED.
UM, I, IT WAS BEFORE THE, THE CURRENT CHIEF, IT WAS UNDER OUR PREVIOUS, NOT A POLICE CHIEF FIRE CHIEF.
AND I REMEMBER I ASKED EVERY EMS, I ASKED EMS, I ASKED POLICE AND I ASKED FIRE TO CUT.
I THINK IT WAS 1% OF THEIR BUDGET.
CAN YOU FIND ME 1% OF YOUR BUDGET? SO WE COULD GIVE THAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND EACH DEPARTMENT
[06:40:01]
ALL DUE RESPECT KIND OF OFFERED A SACRED COW.ONE WAS ONE OPTION WAS CLOSED STATION NINE, WHICH WE KNOW THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, OR ONE OF THE STATIONS THAT ALWAYS OFFERED TO GET CLOSED AND IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND IT'S THE ONE IN HYDE PARK THAT HYDE PARK WILL NEVER LET THAT STATION CLOSE.
AND THEN EVERY DEPARTMENT OFFERED, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT THEY KNEW THERE, THERE WAS TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR, AND, AND, AND IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
UM, AND SO I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR EVERY COLLEAGUE WHO HAS SPOKEN OUT AND SAID THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT, BUT THAT'S WHY I JUST WISH WE WEREN'T HAVING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
WE WEREN'T HAVING TO HAVE THIS BROADER DISCUSSION, BUT IT IS.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE BUDGET? IF THIS IS A HUGE PRIORITY, WHY DO WE, WHY ARE WE, UM, DEPENDENT ON GRANT FUNDING? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S WAY, UH, UM, A MATCH OF ABOUT A HUNDRED.
AND I, AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG STAFF.
I, I, MY NOTES SAID THERE WAS A, UH, A MATCH OF 173,000 OF CITY, DOG PLAYERS.
SO IT'S, SO IT IS, IT IS GRANT MONEY, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES A MATCH OF $173,000 OF CITY.
AND WE ARE JUST AT THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT WE ARE, HAVE TO START MAKING INCREDIBLY TOUGH DECISIONS.
AND WHETHER THIS IS SYMBOLIC IN WAYS, YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW SYMBOLISM IS IMPORTANT IN OUR JOBS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I, I, IT'S A BROADER DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE TO HAVE WHERE WE START CUTTING WHERE THE PRIORITIES ARE.
I MEAN, THIS COUNCIL ADDED TO APDS BUDGET FOR, TO, TO REDUCE THE RAPE KIT BACKLOG.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT, BUT TONIGHT I CAN'T SUPPORT PASSING THIS AFTER HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND, AND, AND WITH THE INABILITY TO LOOK AT A BROADER, HAVE A BROADER DISCUSSION OF WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE.
AND, AND, AND JUST TONIGHT, I CAN'T, I CAN'T SUPPORT $173,000 MATCH.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT HOSPITAL BILLS.
IF PEOPLE WHO WERE HURT AT THE PROTEST, WE'VE HEARD OF, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLOCATION OF WAYS.
AND, AND ANYWAY, I, I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE SIGN.
UM, I THINK JUST FOR CONTEXT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 0.1% OF THE POLICE BUDGET 0.1%.
AND WHILE IT IS A TOPIC THAT, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT, IT IS NOT THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
AND, UM, I CAN'T, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF STAFF SAID THIS HAD TO BE ADOPTED DAYS OR NOT, IF IT HAD, IF IT COULD BE ADOPTED IN THE NEXT EIGHT DAYS, AND IT COULD STILL BE BROUGHT BACK AS AN EMERGENCY ITEM, BUT FOR THAT, NOT WITHSTANDING WITHOUT MORE TIME TO DIG INTO THE DETAILS ABOUT EXACTLY HOW, AND TO WHICH ELEMENTS OF APD THIS MONEY CAN GO.
HOW'S HER, COSAR WHERE I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM EITHER.
UM, I THINK THAT IF IT'S A CRITICAL FUNCTION, YOU CAN FIND A WAY TO DO IT WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
UM, AND I THINK THE SENDS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT WE SHOULD BE FINDING WITHIN OUR BUDGET, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO MAKE IT UP TO PEOPLE WHO WERE INJURED THIS LAST WEEKEND AND WHAT IT IS WE'RE GOING TO DO TO MAKE UP TO PEOPLE, WHAT IT IS THAT THE COMMUNITY BROUGHT UP SYSTEMICALLY TODAY.
AND SO I'LL BE VOTING, NO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING YES.
CAUSE WE HAVE TO, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF WHAT WE NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO.
IT'S THAT ONE OF THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED OR DEBATED HERE TONIGHT COME FROM A SUBSTANTIVE AREA.
HAVING MONEY FROM A GRANT PROGRAM MEANS WE HAVE MORE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO SPEND ON SOCIAL SERVICES OR WHATEVER ELSE PEOPLE WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON BECAUSE THIS IS GRANT FUNDING.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOME, SOME TOUGH VOTES NEXT WEEK, UH, SOME FAR REACHING VOTES NEXT WEEK.
UH, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE TAKE THOSE VOTES NEXT WEEK, THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT WERE REASONED DECISIONS THAT WE TOOK AND WERE TAKEN, UH, IN THE CONTEXT OF, OF ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY IN, IN THE BEST, BEST, POSSIBLE
[06:45:01]
WAY IN AN AUSTIN WAY.AND I THINK THAT BEING ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT LEVEL OF SERIOUSNESS AND DELIBERATENESS MEANS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND SAY THAT THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO BOTH DO SOMETHING THAT IS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION WITH RESPECT TO THEFT OF AUTOMOBILES, BUT DOING IT IN A WAY THAT MAXIMIZES THE FUNDING AND WE CAN SPEND IN SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION AS A MEMBER OF ALTAR.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY WITH STAFF BECAUSE WHEN I WAS JUST READING IT, UM, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE MATCH IS NOT LIKE A MATCH THAT GETS LIKE, IF WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AUTO THEFT, THIS IS JUST MONEY.
THAT'S ALREADY BEEN, UM, ALLOCATED TO AUTO THEFT THAT COUNTS AS OUR MATCH.
IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE COMING UP WITH OTHER MONEY THAT COULD REALLY, IF WE BELIEVE THAT AUTO THEFT IS AN AREA WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO, THAT WOULD BE REALLOCATED.
IF WE DIDN'T ACCEPT THE GRANT MONEY, WE WOULD BE LOSING AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE MIGHT SAY, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER $430,000 AND PUT IT INTO AUTO THEFT.
AM I CORRECT IN JUST COMING FROM, YES, MA'AM THE, THE MATCHES, UM, $173,000 OF EXISTING CITY FUNDED SALARIES.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, I THINK I'D ONLY FORWARDED IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S OFFICE.
BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, THERE'S A CASH MATCH CATEGORY AND THEN AN IN KIND, AND BOTH OF THOSE CATEGORIES INCLUDE EXISTING CITY FUNDED POSITIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS AUTO THEFT AS IT IS.
SO THESE POSITIONS ARE IN ADDITION TO, AND I SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE THREE DETECTIVE POSITIONS.
I THINK I'VE MENTIONED IT EARLIER.
AND IT FUNDS 80% OF DETECTIVE POSITIONS THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE UP IF NOT FUNDED BY AUTO THEFT, BY THE GRANT.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION AMERICA.
I MEAN, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME INCREDIBLY TOUGH VOTES COMING, COMING UP, BUT, AND MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT YOUR REASONING WAS AND I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S REASONING, BUT TO SAY THAT THIS MONEY THEN WOULD MAYBE COME OUT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
I MEAN, THAT'S, I GUESS THAT'S THE WHOLE PROBLEM IS THAT, I'M SORRY IF I MISUNDERSTOOD, BUT YOU KNOW, IN SOCIALS, WHEN, WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH CAN'T FIND MONEY, THEY DON'T GET TO GO INTO POLICE TO LOOK FOR IT.
IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S JUST BEEN A CONTINUAL DISCUSSION ABOUT A BUDGET, A PART OF OUR BUDGET THAT GROWS AND GROWS AND GROWS.
AND, AND I AGREE THAT WHERE WE CAN LEVERAGE DOLLARS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEVERAGE THOSE DOLLARS, BUT MMM, THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE, WELL FOR ONLY THIS MUCH MORE IN, IN THIS, IN THIS BUDGET, WE CAN GET THIS.
AND I JUST, ANYWAY, MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
UH, THE, THE SALARY SIDE, UH, BUT GOT TO CATCH MY FLIGHT AGAIN.
CAN I JUST MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT STAFF SAID? THEY SAY THAT IF WE REJECT THE GRANT, THAT THERE'S A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED WITH SIMILAR DOLLARS, WE WOULD HAVE TO FUND ELSEWHERE.
IS THAT WHAT WAS SAID? SO RIGHT NOW, WITH THE AUTO THEFT GRANT, WE HAVE THREE DETECTIVE POSITIONS THAT ARE FUNDED, UH, THE BASE SALARIES OF WHICH ARE FUNDED AT 80% BY THE MOTOR VEHICLE AUTHORITY AND 20% BY THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND BUDGET, THE CITY ALSO ALREADY PAYS FOR THOSE THREE OFFICER POSITIONS BENEFITS.
SO IT'S YOUR IT'S THREE DETECTIVES.
DO YOU KNOW, JUST OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, HOW MANY VACANCIES THERE ARE FOR DETECTIVES IN THAT SAME CLASS? I DON'T, THIS IS A FAMILY.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY VACANCIES.
UM, BECAUSE WE PROMOTE, WHENEVER THOSE VACANCIES ALL TIME THAT THERE COULD BE A VACANCY IS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A CURRENT PROMOTIONAL LIST.
SO ANY VACANCY THAT WOULD BE, THERE WOULD BE ONE THAT WAS MAYBE IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS OR THREE WEEKS AND WITH THAT PERSON, BUT GENERALLY THE
[06:50:01]
APARTMENT THERE'S OVER A HUNDRED VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.IS THAT CORRECT? THE, UH, MORE THAN THAT, YES, SIR.
AND THERE AT THE OFFICER, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE THESE OFFICERS BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY BUDGETED MORE THAN A HUNDRED OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T HIRED, THAT THE RECRUITING TEAM HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO RECRUIT FOR, REGARDLESS OF THE CADET CLASSES, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING MULTI-YEAR PROBLEM.
EVEN WHEN THE COUNCIL HAS AUTHORIZED OFFICERS, THE TRAINING RECRUITING SYSTEM HAS FAILED AT THIS.
AGAIN, IS 0.1% OF THE BUDGET ON THIS DAY.
IN THIS MOMENT, I CANNOT GO FOR IT.
UM, I, I WANT, I WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS, CAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF I WAS CLEAR ON WHY I'M SUPPORTING IT.
UM, AND I RESPECT EVERYONE'S OPINION AND APPROACH, BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THESE, THIS, THESE ARE EXISTING THREE DETECTIVES FOR A, A MUCH NEEDED SERVICE.
AS IN COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTER HAS SAID THAT MUCH BETTER THAN I, AND THIS IS GRANT MONEY THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER.
SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT STRETCHES OUR DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AND EXPECT TO TAKE TOUGH VOTES NEXT WEEK.
UM, AND I HAVE IN THE PAST, UH, LOOKED FOR CHANGES IN THE POLICE BUDGET AND I'VE BEEN VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
WE NEED TO ACCELERATE IT AND DO MORE.
BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS NOT TURNING DOWN THIS LEVEL OF GRANT FUNDING FOR THREE DETECTIVE POSITIONS IN A POSITION, IN A FUNCTION THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING.
AND THAT WAS JUST THE POINT THAT I WAS MAYBE TRYING TO MAKE EARLIER.
I HAD TO TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION.
UH, IT IS, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO COUNCIL MEMBER, POOL, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALICE AND MYSELF.
I COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE RHEA, SORRY.
THAT'S SEVEN FOR VOTING AGAINST A COUNCIL MEMBER GARZA FLAT AGAIN, AND KASAR AS OVER HELPER.
MADISON, ARE YOU VOTING NO SEVEN FOR THIS ITEM PASSES WITH THAT COUNCIL? IT IS A 1109.
WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND WE ARE GOING TO RECESS THE SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
AND WE WILL RECONVENE TOMORROW AT NINE O'CLOCK WHEN PEOPLE RECONVENE TOMORROW NINE O'CLOCK DO THEY USE THE SAME LOGIN THAT THEY USE THE SPORT THROUGH ANOTHER LOG IN THE CIRCULATE? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A NEW LOGIN FOR TOMORROW MORNING.
UM, ALRIGHT, SO I THINK THAT'S IT WE'LL SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW.
MAY I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER UPPER MADISON HAD HER HAND RAISED.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD SEE HER, BUT ACTUALLY NOW I'M NOT SEEING HER.
SO SHE LOGS BACK IN WAVE GOODBYE.
UM, I WAS, I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF SHE WANTED TO SAY SOME MAKES IT LOOK LIKE SHE WAS RAISING HER HAND.
UM, BUT GIVEN THAT, UM, GIVEN THE CONVERSATION TODAY, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE PROTESTS HAPPENING, UH, NOW AND TONIGHT AND HAVE BEEN HAPPENING THROUGH THE MEETING, A MANAGER AND CHIEF, I THINK, UM, I, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HEARD AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HEARD WHAT PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
AND I HOPE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY ARE WORKING FOR THE CITY OR, OR OUT IN THE STREET.
UM, AND, AND I APPRECIATE PEOPLE TESTIFYING, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL RIGHT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL ARE, ARE, HAVE HEARD.
SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW, TAKE CARE.
[06:55:01]
BUT ANYWAY, EVERYBODY IS WITH US.
NOW I'M GOING TO RECONVENE A CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, AND YESTERDAY RAN LATE.
SO WE ORDERED IT OVER TO, UH, TODAY AND ON JUNE 4TH, 2020 TODAY IS ON NINE 10, UH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, UM, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, UH, OR OF OUR NEIGHBORS TESTIFIED BEFORE THE COUNCIL, UH, INCLUDING, UH, UH, AND THEN YOU'RE CALLING IN TO BEAR WITNESS TO, UH, WHAT HAPPENED, UH, LAST WEEKEND, UH, AND TO HOW WE HANDLED, UM, THE CROWD CONTROL AND THE DEMONSTRATIONS.
SOME OF THEM WERE SHOCKED BY THE IMAGES AND ACCOUNTS OF THE LEAST RESPONSE.
UH, OTHERS HAD THAT CONFIRM AND VALIDATE PAST TRAUMATIC VARIANCES YESTERDAY, WHO DID SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CITIZEN TESTIMONY, UH, THAT, UH, I'VE HEARD, UH, SITTING ON THIS, UH, ASS AND I'LL BE HEARING, UH, EDWIN SOBS, UH, FOR A LONG TIME WHEN I CLOSED MY EYES AS MAYOR AND AS A COUNCIL, I THINK WE HEARD THE PAIN, UH, THAT, UH, HEARD, UH, AND THE STORIES OF INJURIES TO BODIES INTO SOULS.
SO I THINK THAT WE ARE ALL BACK HERE TODAY.
HE COULD JUST SEE THIS MOMENT TO, TO LEARN AND TO MAKE CHANGE.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARISE TO THIS, UH, PATIENT, UH, REAL CHANGES, HEARTS UNCOMFORTABLE.
IT'S NOT WITHOUT RISKS, BUT I THINK THAT'S OKAY.
I CALLED THIS A SPECIAL MEETING THIS WEEK BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO GET TOGETHER, UH, BEFORE WE WENT INTO THE NEXT WEEKEND, THIS COMING WEEKEND OF ANTICIPATED, UH, UH, POTENTIAL FURTHER, UH, DEMONSTRATIONS.
UH, SEVERAL OF YOU CONTACTED ME, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND OR GETTING THE WEEK TO EXPRESS A SIMILAR, UH, SIMILAR DESIRE.
THERE ARE LOTS OF ISSUES, UH, THAT WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT, UH, WITH RESPECT TO, UH, POLICING, UM, THIS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME, UH, HAS BEEN NARROWLY DRAWN ON THE POSTING.
AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE EVERYBODY BACK TO THAT.
[Item 1 (Part 2 of 2)]
IS TO TALK ABOUT THE PROTESTS, UH, THE PROTOCOLS AND THE PRACTICES THAT WERE EMPLOYED.UH, SO, UH, THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS.
WE'VE ASKED THE, UH, A MANAGER TO PULL TOGETHER UP A BRIEFING FOR ON THAT.
UM, THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT BUDGETS AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS THAT, UH, LOOK LIKE THEY'RE BEING TEED UP FOR DISCUSSION, UM, UH, ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION NEXT WEEK, PERHAPS, UH, AND CERTAINLY THEREAFTER AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET SEASON, BUT FOR NOW AND FOR TODAY, UH, THIS WAS A, AN IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY, WITH RESPECT TO PROTOCOL AND PRACTICES EMPLOYED AND ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROTESTS.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA ASK THE MANAGER TO LAY OUT FOR US WHAT THE PRESENTATION IS.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND GET THROUGH THE PRESENTATION SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
SO PLEASE MAKE NOTES AS WE GO THROUGH IT.
UH, SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, UH, AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION FROM THAT, UH, MANAGER AND THE POLICE CHIEF AND FROM STAFF, UH, I'M GOING TO GIVE 'EM, UH, KEN CASSADY WITH THE POLICE ASSOCIATION, ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS US AS A COUNCIL, UH, AND HE IS ON THE CALL, UH, THIS MORNING, UH, AS WELL.
UH, SO AFTER THOSE, THEN WE'LL, WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE IS TO TAKE THE CONVERSATION WHEREVER YOU GUYS WANT TO WANT TO TAKE IT.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND, AND, AND BEGIN THIS WORK,
[07:00:01]
UH, MANAGER.DO YOU WANT TO LAY OUT, UH, THE, HOW YOU INTEND TO PRESENT TO US THIS MORNING? YES.
MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN, UH, LOOKING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION TODAY AND TEED UP A NUMBER OF OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO NOT ONLY TALK ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION WE HAVE AT THIS POINT, BUT, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT LAST WEEKEND'S EVENTS.
UH, THE ORDER THAT WE PROPOSE IS TO HAVE MYSELF GIVE SOME OPENING REMARKS ALONG WITH ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, RAY ARIANO, UH, THEN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS, UH, CHIEF RODRIGUEZ FROM OUR AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS DEPARTMENT, UH, TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT THEY MADE LAST WEEKEND AND SOME OF THE HOSPITALIZATION, UH, RECORDS THAT THEY HAVE AT THIS POINT, I'VE ALSO ASKED OUR DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT OR A MUSKET IN TO TALK ABOUT WHAT, UH, COMPLAINTS AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE PROCESS THAT SHE USES TO PROCESS THOSE.
UH, AND THEN, UH, I WILL SAY SOME CLOSING REMARKS I'LL BEFORE PASSING IT BACK TO THE MAYOR WHO JUST INDICATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO HAVE, UH, THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, KEN SAY A FEW REMARKS BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, MAYOR YOU REALLY TEED THAT UP WELL ON SAYING THAT THIS WAS A INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
AND I'VE SAID THIS PUBLICLY, I'VE SAID THIS TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY, TO EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO A THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION INTO THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEKEND.
UH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR EACH OF THE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN AND THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO EACH OF THOSE COMPLAINTS THAT WE WILL RECEIVE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT JUSTICE DOES PREVAIL AND THAT WE CAN TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, WHERE WE SEE THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC THAT ARE NOT IN LINE WITH OUR VALUES.
I KNOW THAT CHIEF MANLEY HAS DEDICATED HIS ENTIRE CAREER TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND HE IS COMMITTED TO THIS WORK.
AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE REFORM OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES ON TALKING ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF THE INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, THROUGHOUT OUR ENTERPRISE, AS YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL WAS THE LEADING CHAMPION OF CREATING A NEW OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, UH, WHICH I AM PLEASED TO HAVE LED BY FARAH MUSKEGON.
UH, WE HAVE REALLY OVERHAULED THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THAT OFFICE, AND WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED AND INTO WHAT, WHAT THEY CAN PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE NEED, UH, FROM A CITIZENS PERSPECTIVE ON OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE ALSO ABOUT TO INSTITUTE A COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION, UH, WHERE WE ARE INTERVIEWING APPLICANTS.
NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, UH, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO REVISITING THAT AND ENSURING THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT THAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND ALSO SAY THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO RELEASE A REPORT, CREATING OUR CIVIL RIGHTS ENTITY WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THAT WOULD FOCUS ON PROACTIVE EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
AND I KNOW THAT STAFF HAS BEEN EXPLORING THIS OPTION, BUT THE EVENTS OF THIS PAST WEEK I HAD IN MY MIND, THE NEED TO CREATE SPACE FOR ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THE HIGHER CITY ENTERPRISE, I'VE ASKED STAFF TO IMMEDIATELY MOVE FORWARD ON FULLY DEVELOPING A DIVISION OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
MY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, ALONG WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON DOING AND PROVIDING A RECOMMENDATION BASED ON BEST PRACTICES AND A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
AND I'M CONVINCED NOW MORE THAN EVER THAT ACCELERATING THAT WORK FOR THIS FOR THIS CITY IS CRITICAL.
WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF AUDITS INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING THE REPORT, WHICH YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, BUT COULD THAT TRAINING AUDITS.
AND THEN I WILL ALSO NOTE THE LEADERSHIP THAT THIS COUNCIL PROVIDED IN DECEMBER IN ENSURING THAT WE DID A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I WAS REFLECTING ON THE FACT THAT IN MINNEAPOLIS, UH, WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW BEING INVESTIGATED AND AUDITED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, UH, WE HAVE ALREADY INITIATED THAT WORK THAT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT, BUT IT IS ON OUR OWN.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR A THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATOR.
UH, WE ARE ACTIVELY ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR THAT, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO A FULL AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS WITHIN THAT AND TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS THE MAYOR SAID TODAY IS ABOUT THE REFLECTION OF LAST WEEKEND AND EXAMINING THE POLICIES AND PROTOCOL, UH, THAT WERE, THAT WERE EMPLOYED, UH, DURING THE PROTEST LAST WEEKEND.
UH, AND I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO ACMR YANO FOR SOME OPENING REMARKS.
[07:05:01]
THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER AND GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, RIGHT? ELIANA, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER THE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE GROUP OF DEPARTMENTS.UH, AND AT TIMES LIKE THIS, I CAN ONLY BE SPOKEN YESTERDAY, WAS PERSONALLY IMPACTFUL, UH, AND VERY DIFFICULT TO LISTEN TO.
AND I BALANCED THAT WITH THE WORK THE CHALLENGING WORE UP DURING THE LAST WEEKEND THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD TO, TO WORK UNDER IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE THAT WANTED TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION AND THEIR PERSPECTIVE, UH, AND STILL MAIN ORDER.
AND SO YES, THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE, AND I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE CHIEF IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT HOW BEST WE MIGHT IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES THAT WE KNOW ARE REQUIRED.
IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, UH, BUT I AM HERE TO COMMIT TO YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER AND TO THIS COMMUNITY, UH, THAT WE ARE HERE TO WORK TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, AND, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, LET ME MAKE SURE IT'S, UH, THEY GAVE ME A HEADSET SO Y'ALL COULD HEAR ME BETTER TODAY.
UM, I TOO, UH, WAS PRESENT AND LISTENING ALL LAST NIGHT, ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS AND, AND SHARE WITH YOU THE DIFFICULTY THAT IT IS TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY.
AND I'VE BEEN HEARING AS WELL, UH, FROM THE OFFICERS OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WERE FACED AND HOW, YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF US AND WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WAS TO GIVE THAT SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND TO DO SO IN A SAFE AND POSITIVE MANNER.
I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZED THE, UH, THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW AND WHAT LED UP TO THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE MOST RECENT EVENT BEING THE KILLING OF MR. FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS, UH, AT THE HANDS OF POLICE.
AND IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE TO WATCH THAT HAPPEN, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE SWORN YOUR LIFE TO THE PROFESSION, TAKING AN OATH SIMILAR TO THE, THE MEN THAT THOUGH WERE INVOLVED IN THAT INCIDENT AND SEE HOW WOEFULLY SHORT THEY CAME UP.
SO THIS ON THE HEELS OF MANY OTHER INJUSTICES THAT HAVE OCCURRED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WITHIN A MERE MONTH OF A OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING HERE THAT HAS GOTTEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SCRUTINY AND CONCERN WITH OUR OWN COMMUNITY AS WE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THAT.
SO I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THIS MOMENT, AND I WANT TO PAINT FOR YOU AND, UH, UH, A PICTURE OF WHERE WE WERE AT, FIRST OF ALL, WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, UM, WE WERE SEEING SIGNIFICANT PROTEST EVENTS THAT WERE OCCURRING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I THINK MOST NOTABLY OBVIOUSLY WAS MINNEAPOLIS.
AND MANY OF YOU ALL ARE WATCHING THAT AS WELL.
AND WE WERE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THINGS THAT WE HAD SEEN HAPPEN IN THOSE LOCATIONS AS WE PLANNED FOR THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT WERE BEING SET FOR HERE IN AUSTIN.
UH, I THINK OF, OF GREAT NOTE WAS THE FACT THAT, UH, THE PROTESTERS ACTUALLY TOOK OVER POLICE HEADQUARTER AND POLICE SUBSTATION FACILITIES, I GUESS, IN MINNEAPOLIS AND BURNED THEM TO THE GROUND.
SO WE LOOKED AT WHAT WAS OCCURRING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FOLLOWED NOT ONLY WITH THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE, BUT THEN THE VANDALISM AND DILUTING AND ALL OF THAT.
AND IN AN EFFORT TO NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S HOW WE SET ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER THE OPERATIONAL PLANS.
THIS WAS LIKE NOTHING I THINK WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE AS A COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT HAPPENED HERE LAST WEEKEND, NOTHING THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, LIKE WHAT WE SAW AS WE PREPLANNED, AS WE PREPARE FOR THESE EVENTS, WE HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM.
THAT'S A GROUP OF OFFICERS THAT ARE TRAINED AND A CRAB MANAGEMENT TACTICS, AND THAT WE USE FOR THESE LARGE SCALE GATHERINGS AND DEMONSTRATIONS.
I THINK YOU ALL KNOW, AUSTIN HAS A, A LONG HISTORY OF PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS AND ACTIVISM.
AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WITH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THOSE.
WE FREQUENTLY MARCH IN THOSE EVENTS, OR WE HAVE RIDE ALONGSIDE THEM WITH OUR BIKES TO GIVE THEM THE SAFETY, TO, TO NAVIGATE THE STREETS AND CLOSED STREETS FOR THEM, AS THEY, AS THEY MOVE ALONG, WE PUT TOGETHER OPERATIONAL PLANS FOR THESE EVENTS.
AND IN THESE PLANS, WE IDENTIFY SPECIFIC THINGS.
UM, AND THAT WAY WE UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH IT.
THE OPERATIONAL PERIOD, WE HAVE THE OUTLINES OF THE BRIEFINGS.
WE INCLUDE THE EVENT INFORMATION, WHAT WE KNOW AT THAT POINT.
SO THAT AGAIN, WE'VE GOT PLANTS BUILT AROUND THE INFORMATION THAT WE KNOW.
WE LOOK FOR WHAT OUR OBJECTIVES ARE AS WE WORK THROUGH THE OPERATION.
[07:10:01]
AS WHATEVER TACTICAL PLAN MIGHT BE NECESSARY AGAIN, TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL INVOLVED, WE IDENTIFY THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, AND THEN WE IDENTIFY THE CHAIN COMMAND THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE, UH, ON-GROUND EFFORTS.AND FOR OVERSEEING THAT OPERATION, THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IS POINTED OUT AS WELL.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE INTENT FOR THE OPERATION, AND THEN THERE'S SOME OTHER DOCUMENTS LIKE THE LOGISTICS, THE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS, ALL OF THAT.
SO WE GO INTO THESE EVENTS WITH A PLAN THAT'S LAID OUT, AND WE DID IN FACT, HAVE A PLAN FOR EACH DAY.
THAT BEING SATURDAY, WHICH WAS THE, FROM AUSTIN TO MINNEAPOLIS, WAS WHAT THAT EVENT WAS.
AND THEN ON SUNDAY IT WAS JUSTICE FOR THEM ALL MARCH FOR BLACK LIVES AND FREEDOM.
SO WE HAD OPERATIONAL PLANS FOR THOSE EVENTS AND THAT CALLED FOR BRINGING IN THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.
WHAT WE ALSO DID LEADING UP TO THIS WAS WE PUT OUR DEPARTMENT ON AN ALPHA BRAVO SCHEDULE.
WE UNDERSTOOD WITH WHAT WE WERE SEEING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WHAT OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE EXPERIENCING AND HOW IT WAS OVERWHELMING THEM AT TIMES THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE AN APPROACH THAT WAS ALL HANDS AVAILABLE.
SO WE WENT TO OUR ALPHA BRAVO SCHEDULE, AND WE BROUGHT IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM OTHER AGENCIES TO ASSIST IN THIS MOST NOTABLY, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROVIDED US WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
WHAT WE SAW PLAY OUT OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL DAYS.
I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF JUST A HANDFUL, BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING.
AND WE'RE STILL REALLY AT THE EARLY STAGES OF OUR, OF OUR OVERALL REVIEW OF THIS INCIDENT.
ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OBVIOUSLY WAS PROTECTING THE POLICE STATION BECAUSE WE HAD SEEN THAT THAT WAS TARGETED IN OTHER LOCATIONS.
AND IN FACT, SUCCESSFULLY BURNED DOWN IN MINNEAPOLIS THAT WE SAW.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THE DEPLOYMENT OF OFFICERS HERE AT HEADQUARTERS.
THIS WAS THE FOCAL POINT FOR THE PROTESTS.
IT WAS ACTUALLY THE SHOW UP LOCATION FOR, UH, AT LEAST THE ONE ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A MARCH THAT BEGAN AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
SO OUR OFFICERS WERE DEPLOYED OUT TO THE FRONT OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF SATURDAY AND SUNDAY EXPERIENCED MANY DIFFICULTIES, AS WE TRY TO ALLOW THOSE TO EXPRESS THEIR FREE SPEECH RIGHTS, TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT A NATIONAL LEVEL WITH POLICE COMMUNITY, RACE RELATIONS, UH, WITH QUESTIONABLE POLICE INCIDENTS, WITH THE MURDER OF MR. FLOYD, WITH THE MOST RECENT OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING HERE IN AUSTIN, THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS THAT WERE, UM, BEING DISCUSSED AND DEMONSTRATED ABOUT THAT.
WE, UH, WE WERE TRYING TO GIVE FREE SPACE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
WE HAD PLANS IN PLACE TO CLOSE DOWN THE FRONTAGE ROAD BY AGE 35.
SO THAT THOSE THAT WERE HERE TO DEMONSTRATE COULD HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE OUT ALONG THE FRONTAGE ROAD.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, UH, H STREET OUTSIDE OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS WAS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THOSE THAT WERE HERE TO PROTEST TO HAVE SPACE.
WHAT WE SAW BEGAN TO HAPPEN THOUGH, WAS THE PROTESTERS MADE AN EFFORT TO TAKE OVER AGE 35.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT ALLOW.
I AGE 35 CANNOT BE CLOSED UNNECESSARILY BECAUSE THAT IS THE MAIN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THROUGH OUR CITY.
AND THAT JEOPARDIZES THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF EVERYONE.
IF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR FIRE EMS OR POLICE RESOURCES ARE DELAYED GETTING TO THOSE EMERGENCY CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT PUTS OTHER PEOPLE'S LIFE AND SAFETY IN DANGER.
ADDITIONALLY, ON A HIGH SPEED ROADWAY, HAVING TO COME TO AN IMMEDIATE ABRUPT STOP, ALTHOUGH THAT HAPPENS AT TIMES WHEN THERE'S BAD CRASHES, WHEN IT'S UNNECESSARY, IT JUST, AGAIN, ADDS TO THAT DANGER.
SO WE HAD AN INTENT AT THE BEGINNING, AND THIS WAS A PLAN AS WELL, BUT WE WERE NOT GOING TO HAVE
WE DID SEE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PROTESTORS AND DRIVE 35 ON SATURDAY AND SHUT DOWN BOTH SIDES OF
WE HAD TO PUT RESOURCES ON THE HIGHWAYS TO SHUT THEM DOWN.
WHILE WE THEN PUT A MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT UP ON THE HIGHWAY IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THEM OFF THE ROADWAY.
SO WE COULD REESTABLISH TRAVEL.
THOSE OFFICERS SOON FOUND THEMSELVES BEING, UM, PELTED WITH ROCKS AND BOTTLES.
FROM ON THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE, THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE THAT WOULD STEP OUT AND HURL A ROCK OR A BOTTLE UP AT THE OFFICERS, AND THEN TUCKED BACK IN UNDER THE BRIDGE OR ON THE EAST SIDE, THE, UH, INCLINED, UH, SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT LEADS UP TO THE CONDOMINIUMS OVER THERE.
THEY WERE HAVING ROCKS THROWN AT THEM FROM THAT SIDE.
SO THE OFFICERS WERE, UM, HAVING OBJECTS THROWN AT THEM WHILE THEY WERE TRYING TO CLEAR THE HIGHWAY.
AND THAT OPERATION TOOK QUITE SOME TIME.
UH, THE PROTESTORS WERE NOT FOLLOWING
[07:15:01]
THE DIRECTION TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY.SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES THAT WE HAD HAPPENED.
ONE OF THE OTHERS WAS THAT THE OFFICERS THAT WERE AT, UH, THE FRONT STEPS OF THE POLICE STATION WERE ALSO HAVING OBJECTS THROWN AT THEM.
THEY WERE HAVING BOTTLES, ROCKS, AND VARIOUS TYPES OF INCENDIARY DEVICES, FIREWORKS, OR OTHERS THAT WERE BEING THROWN AT THEM.
AND I KNOW THAT THE WATER BOTTLES HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED A LOT, BUT WE KNOW FROM PROTESTS ACTIVITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, THAT THAT WATER BOTTLE MAY HAVE BEEN FROZEN OVERNIGHT AND MAY INSTEAD BE A SOLID CHUNK OF ICE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY DON'T ALWAYS CONTAIN WATER.
THEY CONTAIN OTHER COSTS THAT CHEMICALS OR FLAMMABLES.
AND THEN AGAIN, THE ROCKS AND THE OTHER INCENDIARY OR EXPLOSIVE DEVICES THAT WERE BEING FIRED BOTH IN THE CROWD.
BUT ALSO I KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE THAT WAS THROWN INTO THE OFFICERS BECAUSE IT DID STRIKE AN OFFICER IN HIS FACE SHIELD AND EXPLODE, BUT THANKFULLY THAT FACE SHIELD, UH, PROTECTED HIM.
AND THEN THE OFFICER NEXT TO HIM RECEIVED A MINOR INJURY.
UH, WE DID HAVE ANOTHER OFFICER WHO, UH, WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE SHIELD WITH A BOTTLE AND IT ACTUALLY CRACKED THE FACE SHIELD.
AND THEN THE FACE SHIELD AND THE BOTTLE ENDED UP GOING INTO THE OFFICER'S FACE AT WHICH POINT HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR, UH, FOR STITCHES.
SO WE HAD SEVERAL CHALLENGES THAT WERE OCCURRING.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THE, THE, THE, THE PROTEST MOVE BEING INFILTRATED BY THOSE THAT CAME HERE REALLY FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND ACTS OF VANDALISM AND VIOLENCE, INSTEAD OF TO SPEAK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT ON TOP OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE DOING HERE ON THE STEPS WITH THE OFFICERS, WE SAW THEM GO OUT UNDERNEATH
AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE VIDEOS THAT AS THAT CAR WAS BURNING PEOPLE IN THE CROWD TOOK ON A HOMELESS MAN'S PROPERTY MATTRESS AND ALL OF THAT, AND THREW IT INTO THE FIRE AS WELL.
SO I'M TRYING TO, JUST TO PAINT A PICTURE AS THE BEST I CAN, OF THE ATMOSPHERE THAT THE OFFICERS WERE WORKING WITHIN AS THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP PEACE, UH, FOR THOSE THAT WERE THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
SO THESE WERE THE ISSUES THAT THEY WERE FACING.
THE, UM, THE, UH, GROUP WOULD ALSO AT TIMES, UH, DURING THE DAY MORE SO THAN THE EVENINGS WOULD LEAVE AND TAKE MARCHES THROUGH THE CITY.
AT WHICH POINT WE WOULD JUST HAVE OFFICERS KEEP AN EYE ON THAT GROUP.
AGAIN, TRYING TO MAINTAIN SAFETY, ENSURE THAT THEY DIDN'T COMMIT ANY ACTS OF VANDALISM OR VIOLENCE ALONG THE WAY.
AND, UH, AND WE WERE KEEPING AN EYE ON THEM.
UM, MANY OF YOU HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INCIDENT AT CITY HALL ON SUNDAY MORNING AND WHAT, UH, YOU, UH, SUNDAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A, A MARCH THAT WE IN FACT WERE GOING TO MARCH IN OURSELVES, ALONG WITH OUR BIKE OFFICERS, HAVING THEM, UH, SCORE THE GROUP, BUT AS WAS, UH, TOOK PLACE ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THE MARCH, MANY OF OUR LOCAL SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS THAT WE REGULARLY WORK WITH, AND THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH ALL OF YOU AS WELL, THEY DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THEY FEARED THE VIOLENCE THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE.
AND SO WE TOO DID NOT MARCH, BUT INSTEAD WE DID, LIKE WE REGULARLY DO HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THAT IS, WE LET THAT MARCH PROGRESS DOWN CONGRESS AVENUE AND OUR OFFICERS ON BIKE, PARALLEL THEM ON THE SIDE STREETS, JUST IN CASE WE NEEDED TO GO IN, IF THERE WAS ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE, OR IF WE HAD TO DO ANYTHING TO SECURE TRAFFIC IN THE EVENT THAT THEY TOOK OVER AN INTERSECTION ALONG THE WAY, THE GROUP GOT DOWN TO CITY HALL AND VERY QUICKLY EXPANDED BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF THE PLAZA OUT INTO THE STREET, AND ULTIMATELY CROSSED GUADALUPE, BLOCKING ALL LANES OF SOUTHBOUND GUADALUPE.
WE HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES THAT GOT STUCK IN THAT ONE BLOCK RANGE.
THERE WERE TWO CAPITAL METRO BUSES THAT I REMEMBER, AND THEN SEVERAL CIVILIAN VEHICLES, THE PROTESTERS WERE NOT WILLING TO STEP BACK A LANE AND LET THE TRAFFIC MOVE.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU SAW US MOVE OUR BIKE PATROL IN TO ALLOW THE CLEARING OF THAT ONE LANE SO THAT WE COULD GET EVERYONE THAT WAS TRAPPED IN THAT BLOCK IN THEIR VEHICLES, GET THEM OUT AND SAFELY OUT.
AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO GIVE ALL OF THAT SPACE BACK TO THE PROTESTORS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THEIR SPEAK EVENTS SPEAKING EVENT.
AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THE VEHICLES OUT, THE CROWD DID NOT INITIALLY MOVE BACK.
SO THE OFFICERS HAD TO UTILIZE THE TACTICS TO TRY AND USE BIKES, TO PUSH THE CROWD BACK A BIT.
AND THEN I DO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PEPPER SPRAY DISPERSED AS WELL, BASED ON THE RESISTANCE THOSE
[07:20:01]
OFFICERS WERE RECEIVING, WE WERE ABLE TO FINALLY MOVE THOSE VEHICLES OUT.AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THE CROWD THERE OBVIOUSLY HAD BECOME A, UH, AN ENGAGEMENT THERE.
SO WE BROUGHT IN OUR SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM AND THE PLAN WAS TO LEAVE THE AREA, BUT AS THE OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO BACK AWAY THE GROUP ADVANCED ON THE OFFICERS.
AND I KNOW, UM, I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU WERE WATCHING THAT.
AND MAYOR, I KNOW THAT YOU HAD SEEN SOME OF THAT AS WELL AS WE TRY TO GET OUT AND GIVE THAT SPACE BACK.
THE CROWD KEPT MOVING FORWARD AND, UH, AND ADVANCING ON OFFICERS.
WE ENDED UP AT A POINT TO WHERE WE HAD MEMBERS OF THE CROWD BASICALLY SURROUNDING US.
AND WE HAD ABOUT A 25 MINUTE TIME I'M ESTIMATING TO WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO DETERMINE THE BEST WAY FOR US TO RETREAT AND ALLOW THE PROTESTERS TO HAVE THE SPACE.
WE WERE TRYING TO GIVE THEM IN THE, IN THE FIRST PLACE, THANKFULLY THROUGH SOME REALLY GOOD WORK BY SOME OF THE OFFICERS ALONG THE FRONT LINE, THEY BUILT SOME RAPPORT WITH SOME OF THE PROTESTERS ALONG THE FRONT LINE AND GOT THEM TO TURN AROUND FACE THAT LARGE GROUP OF PROTESTERS, ARM, AND ARM, AND HAVE THEM HOLD OFF TO ALLOW US TO RETREAT SAFELY AND GET OUT OF THE AREA AND GIVE THEM THEIR SPACE.
WE SAW SIMILAR THINGS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF SUNDAY.
UM, AS THE PROTESTERS, AGAIN, WE'RE ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES HERE AT HEADQUARTERS.
UH, SOME OF WHICH, AGAIN, INVOLVED THE USE OF THROWING OBJECTS AT THE OFFICERS AS DESCRIBED BEFORE.
AND AGAIN, THERE WAS A TAKEOVER OF
UH, ON THE SECOND DAY WHEN I AGE 35, UH, WAS COMPROMISED AND TAKEN OVER AND CLOSED.
GIVEN THE DIFFICULTY WE HAD THE FIRST DAY, UH, REGARDING THE, UH, CLEARING OF
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INJURY IS NOTABLY LESS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CONTACT REALLY BETWEEN THE OFFICERS AND THE, AND THOSE, THE GROUP.
AND THAT WAS AFTER GIVING REPEATED COMMANDS FOR THE GROUP TO LEAVE THE HIGHWAY AND THEIR REFUSAL TO DO SO.
THE OFFICER'S FIRST DEPLOYED FIRST DEPLOYED CANISTERS OF SMOKE, AND THEN QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY CANISTERS OF CS GAS, UM, WHICH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS TEAR GAS, WHICH WAS EFFECTIVE IN REMOVING THE CROWD FROM THE FREEWAY.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT FREEWAY CLEARED OF PROTESTERS.
WE KNOW LATER ON THAT NIGHT, A GROUP, MUCH LARGER THAN THE FIRST GROUP ACTUALLY GOT BACK ON
AND WE HAD TO GET BACK OUT THERE IN AN ATTEMPT AGAIN, DECLARE
UH, AND AGAIN THAT THE SAFETY FOR THE PROTESTERS THEMSELVES ON AN INTERSTATE IS IN JEOPARDY AS WELL.
UH, ON THIS INSTANCE, AS SOON AS THE OFFICERS BEGAN DAWNING, THERE, THERE A GAS MASK FACE SHIELDS, AGAIN, THE CROWD THIS TIME IMMEDIATELY EXIT 35.
SO THERE WAS NO NECESSITY TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER AT THAT POINT, THE EXPERIENCE ON THE STEPS AND WHAT HAS DRAWN A LOT OF ATTENTION AS WELL IS THE USE OF THE LESS LETHAL IMPACT MUNITIONS.
AND THESE WERE DEPLOYED, UH, WITH OUR OFFICERS OVER THE WEEKEND.
AND THAT IS A TOOL THAT IS TO BE USED TO DEFEND OFFICERS FROM ATTACKS, UH, OR ASSAULTS.
AND IT IS SPECIFICALLY SPELLED OUT IN OUR POLICY AS FAR AS THE, UH, THE APPROPRIATE USE OF, OF THOSE DEVICES.
ONE OF THE, UH, ONE OF THE ALLOWABLE REASONS IS FOR, UH, INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS ENGAGED IN RIOTOUS BEHAVIOR OR THROWING ROCKS BOTTLES, OR OTHER DANGEROUS PROJECTILES AT PEOPLE AND OR OFFICERS CREATING RISK FOR INJURY.
SO THE, THE WEAPON IS AN APPROVED TOOL FOR THAT, THAT A CIRCUMSTANCE.
HOWEVER, WE SAW SOME HORRIFIC OUTCOMES OUTCOMES THAT NO ONE EXPECTED.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY THAT ON MY TEAM, I KNOW ALONE HAVE SEEN THE INJURIES THAT WERE CAUSED BY THAT.
AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THE LEVEL OF INJURY THAT OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF THAT TOOL.
AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT LAST NIGHT ALREADY.
UM, BUT THAT TOOL I HAVE CHANGED POLICY ALREADY, AND THAT TOOL IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE FIRED INTO CROWDS.
UH, AGAIN, IT WAS, IT IS A TOOL THAT IS MEANT FOR, UH, NOT, NOT A, A, A, AN INDISCRIMINATE USE, BUT INSTEAD A USE DIRECTED AT AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND WE WERE NOT AWARE UNTIL AFTER THE EVENT, THE NUMBER OF, UH, PEOPLE THAT WERE HIT WITH PROJECTILES THAT ARE REPORTEDLY, WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE, UM, UH, I GUESS, AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS.
AND THAT'S PART OF THIS ONGOING REVIEW.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF VIDEO THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH A LOT.
[07:25:01]
TO UNDERSTAND AS FAR AS, UH, WHAT HAPPENED, UH, DURING THOSE MOMENTS, WHEN, WHEN THAT TOOK PLACE, WHAT WE SAW MONDAY THROUGH LAST NIGHT WAS VERY DIFFERENT.WE HAD PROTEST GROUPS AND DEMONSTRATION GROUPS COME OUT THAT AUSTIN IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
THEY WERE STILL VERY ANGRY, EMOTIONAL UPSET ABOUT THINGS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL, AS WELL AS THINGS HERE LOCALLY, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE AGITATORS IN THE CROWD.
THEY WEREN'T THROWING OBJECTS AT OFFICERS.
THEY WEREN'T SHUTTING DOWN FREEWAYS.
THEY INSTEAD WERE ENGAGING IN THE PEACEFUL PROTESTS THAT WE STAND READY TO PROTECT AND PARTICIPATE IN.
IF YOU SAW THE IMAGES FROM THOSE NIGHTS, YOU SAW IMAGES OF AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS, WALKING ARM AND ARM WITH PROTESTERS AROUND CITY HALL OFFICERS, ESCORTING GROUPS TO THE CAPITOL TO PROTEST AND DEMONSTRATE THERE.
AND BACK, THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE WANTING TO HAVE HAPPEN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD GROUPS THAT HAD INFILTRATED THAT MOVEMENT.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE DOING THOSE ACTS OF AGGRESSION TOWARDS OFFICERS, WHICH THREATENED OFFICERS AS WELL AS, AS THE CROWD, THIS INCIDENT, UH, WERE, AS THE REPORTS ARE NOW COMING IN.
AGAIN, WE DID NOT, WE WERE NOT GETTING THESE REPORTS OVER THE WEEKEND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE THEM.
NOW, WE REALIZED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL HOSPITALIZATIONS AS A RESULT OF THESE INCIDENTS AND TO DATE WHAT WE'RE TRACKING.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, THE POLICE, UH, POLICE MONITOR WILL GIVE OVERSIGHTS ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, BUT I AM GETTING REGULAR BRIEFINGS ON 10 SPECIFIC CASES INVOLVING THE USE OF THAT IMPACT, MUNITION THAT LESS LETHAL MUNITION, WHERE WE HAD, UH, EIGHT INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE STRUCK IN THE HEAD OR FACE AREA, ONE IN THE HAND AND ONE IN THE FOOT.
AND SO THESE ARE CASES THAT, UM, I AM BEING BRIEFED ON REGULARLY, AND THESE CASES ARE ALL UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE DEPARTMENT, SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS ALSO REACHED OUT AND WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE REVIEW AS WELL.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE CASES BEYOND THAT, THAT WILL LIKELY COME IN, THAT WE JUST SIMPLY ARE NOT AWARE OF.
WE'RE NOT AWARE OF OVER THE WEEKEND, THAT THAT, THAT, THAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
SO, UM, THAT IS WHY WE CHANGED THE APPROACH TO THE PROTESTS THAT MAY TAKE PLACE OVER THIS WEEKEND.
AGAIN, WE KNOW WE HAVE ONE TOMORROW WHERE WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE GROUPS COMING OUT AGAIN, THAT ADVOCATE NOT FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING AGAINST THE ATROCITIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH POLICING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND ALL OF THE INCIDENTS, BUT, UH, ARE HERE INSTEAD TO LOOK AGAIN, TO VANDALIZE AND COMMIT ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
SO WE STILL HAVE CHANGED OUR RESPONSE PROTOCOLS TO THAT, THAT, UH, 12 GAUGE, UH, LESS LETHAL WILL NOT BE, UH, FIRED INTO CROWDS.
AND INSTEAD WE WILL HAVE OTHER OPTIONS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE THAT ARE MORE PRECISE THAT WILL BE HANDLED BY OFFICERS.
AND, UH, THAT AGAIN WILL BE USED ONLY IN THE MOST AGRA AGGRAVATED CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THE OFFICERS HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES WHEN THEY'RE HAVING OBJECTS HURLED AT THEM.
AND SO THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THESE TOOLS OUT THERE.
UM, CAN WE, UH, UH, ASSISTANT MANAGER ARNO, CAN YOU PULL THAT MAP, RIGHT? SOMEBODY HAS THAT MAP.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE SAW IN THE WAY OF, OF ARRESTS OVER THE WEEKEND.
LET'S SAY, CAN CTM STAFF PULL UP THAT SUMMARY? ALRIGHT, SO I WILL GET A COPY OF THIS TO EACH OF YOU.
THIS WAS COMPLETED, UH, I GUESS, UH, LATE YESTERDAY, UH, LAST NIGHT, WHAT THIS SHOWS IS THAT, UM, SINCE FRIDAY AFTERNOON THERE WERE 77 CRIME RELATED INCIDENTS RELATED TO THIS CIVIL UNREST.
THERE WERE CONCENTRATED AREAS, AS YOU SEE, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT POLICE HEADQUARTERS ALREADY, BUT THERE WAS THE DOMAIN SIXTH STREET, CAPITAL PLAZA, AND OTHER LARGE SHOPPING AREAS ALONG ONE 83.
AND
THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY, UM, TARGETED.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A LIST OF THE OTHER BUSINESSES.
AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE MIDDLE, AT THE BOTTOM THERE, WE MADE 56 ARRESTS DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME AS WELL.
AND THOSE CHARGES WERE, UH, TO INCLUDE NON RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES, INCITING A RIOT,
[07:30:01]
ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIME, UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF A WEAPON, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF DAMAGE TO CITY, PROPERTY, GRAFFITI, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE MAP TO THE LEFT IS WHERE THOSE PROTESTS, THE PROTEST RELATED OFFENSES OCCURRED.
AGAIN, YOU SEE THOSE AREAS OF CONCENTRATION, BUT YOU ALSO SEE THAT THEY DID OCCUR, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO THIS WAS JUST INFORMATION WE FELT WAS IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHERE IT WAS HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY.
UM, AND, UH, WHENEVER EVERYONE'S DONE, FEEL FREE TO TAKE THAT DOWN.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND KEEP SPEAKING THOUGH.
THE, UH, THE OTHER CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE HERE AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS IS THAT WE NOW PUT UP WATER BARRICADES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS THAT LEAD UP TO THE PLAZA.
THAT WAY THERE'S NOT THAT CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH WITH OFFICERS THAT ARE TRYING TO, AGAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, STAFF THAT FRONTLINE, UH, TO SAY IT IN THAT WAY.
UM, WE THINK THAT THAT GIVES A LITTLE BIT OF AN OFFSET TO WHERE, UH, IF NECESSARY PEOPLE CAN STAND BEHIND THAT AND SAY WHATEVER THEY WOULD LIKE TO SAY, BUT IT PULLS OUR OFFICERS BACK A LITTLE FURTHER BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING INSTANCES WHERE THEY WERE HAVING BULLHORNS PUT DIRECTLY IN THEIR FACE.
AND AGAIN, THAT CAN CAUSE, YOU KNOW, INJURY HEARING LOSS AND THE LIKES.
SO WE'RE, AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LEARN FROM WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND, BUT ALSO TO HANDLE WHAT COULD HAPPEN THIS WEEK SO THAT WE ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE THAT CAME HERE TO PARTICIPATE AND THAT WE PROTECT THE REST OF THE CITY AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT, THAT IS, UH, THAT IS THE BRIEFING THAT I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
AND I'M, I WILL, UH, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER, UH, TO WHOMEVER IS NEXT.
I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CHIEF RODRIGUEZ TO GIVE US A BRIEFING FROM THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS PERSPECTIVE.
I'M A NATIONAL RODRIGUEZ AND I'M THE CHIEF OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
SO I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE RANGE OF INJURIES THAT EMS TREATED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITALS.
AND SO I'VE GOT SOME DATA THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU, AND ALSO SOME QUALITATIVE INFORMATION.
THAT'S MORE DESCRIPTIVE ABOUT THE TYPES OF THE INJURIES THAT WE SAW.
SO YOU CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS REALIZED FROM THE USE OF THE LESSON, LETHAL WEAPONS.
SO OVERALL, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 53 INCIDENTS THAT INVOLVED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, UM, OF THOSE 53 CASES.
UH, THERE WERE 10 CASES IN WHICH THE PATIENT REFUSED, UH, ANY SORT OF CARE OR TREATMENT.
AND THEN WE HAD 19 CASES, UM, WHERE THERE WAS NO PATIENT FOUND AT ALL, UH, THAT WE COULD CARE FOR OF THAT.
WE HAD, UH, 29 CASES THAT WE ACTUALLY TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
UM, AND 11 OF THOSE 29, WE KNOW HAD INJURIES THAT WERE CAUSED FROM THE LESS THAN LETHAL WEAPONS.
SOME OF THOSE, UH, CHIEF COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVED.
SO WHEN SOMEONE CALLS NINE 11, UH, THEY GIVE US A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEM.
AND WE RECORD THAT AS A CHIEF COMPLAINT.
AND THAT'S TO GIVE THE MEDICS WHO ARE RESPONDING A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO SEE, AND THEY CAN PREPARE FOR IT.
SO IN THIS CASE, WE HAD THINGS LIKE ABDOMINAL INJURIES FALLS SEVERAL REPORTED AS, AS GUNSHOT WOUNDS.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME DETAILS ON THOSE, UH, BLEEDING INJURIES, RESPIRATORY SEIZURES.
WE HAVE A WHOLE ASSORTMENT OF CASES THAT THE HIGHEST NUMBERS, UH, WERE FROM THE INJURIES AND THE GUNSHOT WOUND INJURIES.
SO OF THE GUNSHOT WOUND INJURIES WE WENT IN AND WE LOOKED AT EACH OF THOSE CASES AND WE FOUND THAT ONLY TWO OF THEM ACTUALLY INVOLVE LESS THAN LETHAL WEAPONS.
UH, ONE WAS INVOLVING ANOTHER CONDITION THAT WAS NOT A GUNSHOT WOUND AND ONE REFUSED CARE SO, OR ASSESSMENT.
SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL.
AND THEN IN FIVE OF THOSE CASES, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO LOCATE A PATIENT.
WHAT WE DID FIND IS THAT SOME OF THOSE INJURIES THAT RESULTED FROM THE LESS THAN LETHAL WE'LL RECORD IT AS INJURIES.
UM, AND THAT IS THE WHY I THINK THAT GROUP OF, OF, UH, CHIEF COMPLAINTS IS SO LARGE.
WE HAD 10 OF THOSE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE FOUND MOST OF THE, UH, LESS THAN LETHAL ONES.
UH, SO WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE GENDER AND AGE GROUPS TO SEE HOW THAT, HOW THAT WORKS.
SO WHAT WE FOUND IS THE MAJORITY OF THE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY MALES.
UH, WE HAD 28 MALES THAT WERE INJURED AND, UH, 13 FEMALES, WE HAD, UH, ABOUT A DOZEN CASES, UH, WHERE WE DIDN'T RECORD THAT.
SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW EITHER IT WAS OUT AVAILABLE OR THE MEDIC DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO RECORD IT, BUT WE DIDN'T CAPTURE THE GENDER FOR SOME REASON.
UM, AND THAT SOMETIMES HAPPENS, UH, IN EMERGENCIES.
THE AGE GROUP THAT SAW THE MOST NUMBER OF INJURIES
[07:35:01]
WAS 30 TO 39.WE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN OF THOSE.
AND THEN THE NEXT GROUP WAS THE 20 TO 29 AGE GROUP.
SO A FAIRLY YOUNG AGE GROUP WAS INVOLVED IN, IN THIS WHOLE PROTEST AND RECEIVED INJURIES.
SO NOW I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPES OF INJURIES THAT EMS, UH, ACTUALLY TREATED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD STORIES YESTERDAY ABOUT SOME OF THE INJURIES AND THEY WERE PRETTY SEVERE.
SO WE SAW SIGNIFICANT INJURIES DURING THE PROTEST THAT WERE CAUSED BY THE LESS THAN LETHAL WEAPONS.
AND THESE ARE, LIKE I SAID, IN ADDITION TO THE CASES THAT YOU'VE HEARD OF BEFORE WE HAD, UM, ONE PATIENT, UH, THAT SUFFERED AN OPEN SKULL FRACTURE, UH, WITH THEIR RELATED SOFT TISSUE INJURY, THAT'S A DANGEROUS INJURY BECAUSE IT EXPOSES THE INSIDE OF THE SKULL, UH, TO THE POTENTIAL OF INFECTION.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR BRAIN INJURY AND THAT TYPE OF A SITUATION FROM BONE FRAGMENTS AND, AND ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES AND MOVES THE SKULL THAT CAUSED FURTHER INJURY.
UH, WE HAD, UH, ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVED A FRACTURE TO THEIR LOWER JAW, UH, WITH A PENETRATING SOFT TISSUE INJURY THAT WENT THROUGH THE CHEEK.
UM, AND WE FOUND THAT INDIVIDUAL WITH THE BEANBAG EMBEDDED IN THE ORAL CAVITY, UH, THAT'S A DANGEROUS INJURY FROM THE BLEEDING, FROM THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THEIR AIRWAY, UH, AND FROM THE POTENTIAL OF A BLOCKAGE OF THE AIRWAY, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT AND TRANSPORT THAT INDIVIDUAL, UH, QUICKLY TO THE HOSPITAL.
UM, WE HAD, UH, ANOTHER PERSON WHO TOOK AN IMPACT, UM, FROM A LESSON LETHAL, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TEMPLE AND THAT CAUSED A SEVERE HEMATOMA THAT OCCURS UNDERNEATH THE SKULL, UH, BETWEEN THE BRAIN AND THE SCULPT.
UH, THOSE ARE VERY DANGEROUS AS WELL BECAUSE THEY CAN BUILD UP PRESSURE THAT SQUEEZES THE BRAIN AND CAUSES DAMAGE.
WE, UH, ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T SEE THAT INJURY, UH, THE, UH, THE VICTIM OF THAT KID SHOW SIGNS OF INCREASING PRESSURE IN THE SKULL.
AND SO WE, UH, WE, UH, UH, FEEL THAT THAT'S PROBABLY A HEMATOMA THAT'S DEVELOPING.
WE TOOK THAT PATIENT VERY QUICKLY TO THE HOSPITAL AS WELL.
UH, WE HAD ANOTHER INJURY THAT RESULTED IN AN OPEN CHEST INJURY WITH WHAT WE CALL A SUCKING CHEST WOUND.
UH, THAT'S A VERY TRAUMATIC INJURY THAT PERSON HAS BROKEN RIBS AND A HOLE IN THEIR CHEST.
UM, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS WHEN THEY ATTEMPT TO BREATHE, THE AIR ENTERS THE BODY THROUGH THAT CHEST WOUND INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE MOUTH AND NOSES AS USUAL, WHICH MEANS THE AIR NEVER REACHES THE INSIDE OF THE LUNGS WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.
UM, SO THAT CAN BE A VERY SEVERE AND RAPIDLY PROGRESSIVE INJURY.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO TREAT THAT VERY QUICKLY AND MANAGE THAT PATIENT'S INJURY AND TRANSPORT THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.
ALL OF THESE INJURIES, UH, ARE POTENTIALLY LETHAL INJURIES.
UH, RECOVERY FROM THESE INJURIES COULD INVOLVE SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL CARE, INCLUDING SURGICAL INTERVENTIONS, UH, PHYSICAL RECOVERY FROM THESE, UH, COULD TAKE YEARS, UH, PSYCHOLOGICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL RECOVERY EVEN LONGER.
UM, AND SO THESE ARE, THESE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT, UH, EMS ALSO TRANSPORTED TO DPS TROOPERS WHO WERE ASSAULTED.
UH, THEY WERE ASSAULTED BY APPROXIMATELY 10 OR 12 PROTESTERS, UH, AND ALSO ONE PD OFFICER WHO WAS EXPERIENCING HIDDEN STRESS, UH, RELATED CONDITIONS.
AND, UH, WE PICKED HIM UP AT APD MAINE AND TRANSPORTED HIM QUICKLY TO THE HOSPITAL AS WELL.
MANY MORE APD OFFICERS WERE ALSO INJURED AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED BY CHIEF MANLEY.
UH, MOST OF THEM RECEIVED A TREATMENT, BUT WERE NOT TRANSPORTED BY EMS, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY HAVE GONE TO THE HOSPITAL ON THEIR OWN OR BY DIFFERENT MEANS, UH, LATER.
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH A SUMMARY TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE QUANTITY AND TYPE OF INJURIES THAT WE SAW.
OF COURSE, EMS DID NOT SEE ALL OF THE INJURIES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE EVENT.
UM, MANY PEOPLE, UH, WHO MAY HAVE BEEN BEEN HIT OR WHO FELL OR WHO HAD OTHER TYPES OF INJURIES, DID NOT USE EMS. UH, SO WE DON'T KNOW THE TOTAL QUANTITY OF INJURIES, UH, THAT COULD HAVE INVOLVED.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED THE RESULT OF THIS, UH, PROTEST EVENT.
UH, BUT THIS IS TO GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE DID SEE AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPES OF INJURIES THAT WE SAW, AND TO GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SEVERITY OF SOME OF THOSE INJURIES, INJURIES RANGE FROM VERY MINOR SCRAPES AND BRUISES, ALL THE WAY TO THOSE THAT THAT I'VE DESCRIBED.
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MY REPORT.
THANK YOU, CHIEF RODRIGUEZ, THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MUSKET IN, UH, OPPOSITE POLICE OVERSIGHT.
[07:40:01]
CONSOLE.UH, MY NAME IS FARAH MUSCADET.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.
UM, OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY MUCH ENGAGED, UM, WITH, UH, MONITORING THE PROTEST.
I MYSELF MONITORED THE PROTEST BEGINNING FRIDAY NIGHT.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN PRETTY MUCH MONITORING EVERY DAY THAT WEEKEND AND EVERY EVENING, UM, JUST, I THINK IT'S MY JOB TO DO SO.
SO I'VE BEEN VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN, IN, UM, PERSONALLY OBSERVING THE PROTEST.
UM, OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY WITH COMPLAINTS.
OUR FOUR DAY TOTAL FROM MONDAY TO THURSDAY IS 159.
UM, DURING THE 15, 16 YEARS OF THE POLICE MONITORS OFFICE, THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF, UH, FORMAL COMPLAINTS WERE AROUND 50 A YEAR AND ALREADY IN FOUR DAYS.
UM, WE'RE AT 159 WITH MORE, MUCH MORE CALMING.
UM, WE HAVE LITERALLY 250 COMPLAINTS JUST FOR JUSTIN HOWL, UM, THAT WE ARE PROCESSING 30 VOICEMAILS, UM, RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO JUSTIN HOWE.
UM, AND JUST, I JUST ALSO WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF SUMMARY OF GENERALLY WHAT THEY ARE WITH THE COMPLAINTS ARE RELATED TO MMM.
THEY'RE MAINLY RELATED TO WITNESSES.
UM, UM, FROM THAT SAW THE INCIDENT WITH BRETT IOLA, UH, SARAH NIKA, MARTIN, UM, WHO WAS THE YOUNG WOMAN THAT WAS PREGNANT AND JUST IN HOW, UM, MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS INVOLVE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE AND, UM, CALLING FOR OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, THE TERMINATION OF OFFICERS WHO SHOT DIRECTLY INTO THE CROWDS, UM, AND YOU KNOW, PEPPER SPRAY DIRECTLY INTO THE CROWDS.
UM, MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED HAD VIDEO, UM, AND INCLUDED OFFICER, UM, NAMES AND BADGE NUMBERS.
AND SO WE ARE, UM, WE ARE REVIEWING THEM AS THEY COME.
UM, MY WHOLE TEAM, ALL SIX OF US, THIS IS ALL, ALL WE'RE DOING.
UM, AND SO WHEN WE RECEIVED THE COMPLAINTS AND MAJORITY OF THEM ARE COMING THROUGH OUR, THROUGH OUR ONLINE COMPLAINT FORM FROM THE WEBSITE, UM, THAT WE ARE GETTING EMAILS AND CALLS AS WELL.
UM, WE REVIEW THEM, OBVIOUSLY MANY OF THEM HAVE COME WITH VIDEO.
UM, MY COMPLAINT STAFF IS, UM, THEN DRAFTING, UM, THE NOTICE A FORM OF COMPLAINTS.
UM, THEY SEND THEM TO ME, I REVIEW THEM AND THEN I SEND THEM TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR INVESTIGATION.
AND SO, SO FAR AS A CLOSE OF BUSINESS, THURSDAY, WE HAVE SENT 159 NOTICES OF FORMAL COMPLAINT.
UM, WE STILL HAVE WELL OVER 200 EMAILS AND COMPLAINTS TO REVIEW, BUT I DO IMAGINE THAT WE WILL ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS COMING FORWARD.
AND I KNOW THAT THE CHIEF OF SYNTHES BEFORE, BUT IF THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE VIDEO OR HAVE EVIDENCE OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND THAT IN.
CAN YOU REMIND THOSE IN THE PUBLIC DIRECTOR MUSTARD OF JUST HOW BEST TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR OFFICE? ABSOLUTELY.
OUR WEBSITE ADDRESS IS ATX POLICE OVERSIGHT.ORG.
SO HAVE A DESERT DEDICATED LIE, FIVE +1 297-226-7651 TWO.
DO YOU MIND TRYING TO SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? THE PHONE NUMBER DR.
THE PHONE NUMBER IS (512) 972-2676.
AND OUR EMAIL IS POLICE OVERSIGHT AT AUSTIN, TEXAS DACA, ALL WRITTEN OUT POLICE OVERSIGHT AT AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV.
AND I'LL JUST CONCLUDE MAYOR WITH JUST THE, WHERE WE STARTED, THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY PAINFUL TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND TO BE ABLE TO FACE THESE REALITIES HEAD ON, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO EVERY SINGLE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS FULL TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE ACTIONS.
UM, I KNOW THAT I STAND COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
[07:45:01]
OUR DIRECTOR OF POLICE OVERSIGHT DOES OUR ENTIRE CITY ENTERPRISE DOES.AND WE ARE HERE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN, UH, PROVIDING PUBLIX, PUBLIX SAFETY AND ENSURING EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT, UH, UH, RIGHTS.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO YOU.
I KNOW THERE'S MANY, MANY QUESTIONS, UH, BUT I KNOW MAYOR THAT YOU WERE ALSO HOPING TO HAVE, UH, SOME TESTIMONY FROM OUR, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
UH, UH, KEN CASSIDY, ARE YOU WITH US MORNING, GO TO TURN ON YOUR CAMERA.
IF YOU'RE JUST ON A PHONE, ON A PHONE, DID THAT DO IT AGILE? NOW YOU FROZE.
IF YOUR BANDWIDTH IS SUCH THAT YOU CAN'T DO THE CAMERA AND TALK TO US AND THEN JUST TALK TO US.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, UM, MAYBE HAVING MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CAMERA.
I KNOW THAT, UH, UH, NATASHA HAS ALSO BEEN TRYING TO GET, UH, UH, VIDEO BACK ON AND IS UNABLE TO DO THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF CAN REACH OUT TO HER AND WORK WITH HER.
AND CASSIDY, AS YOU SAW FROM JOINED LOG BACK ON, I'VE BEEN IN THAT LOOP BEFORE, IS THERE A PHONE NUMBER TO BE ABLE TO JOIN IN THIS CALL? THERE IS MAYOR AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT TO HAVE HIM CALL IN THAT, THAT WAY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT NATASHA IS ABLE TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
SO HE'LL BE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR HIM.
THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE ALSO TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE DEMONSTRATIONS AND THE PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS AS WELL.
UM, AND I WAS SPENT THE LAST SIX DAYS WITH OFFICERS DOWNTOWN AND THE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO LEAD OFF WITH IS THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WAS HORRIFIED, UH, WATCHING WHAT HAPPENED UP IN MINNESOTA AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN SUPPORTIVE GEORGE FLOYD AND HIS FAMILY.
AND, UH, WE HOPE FOR A QUICK RESOLUTION TO THAT, THAT INCIDENT UP THERE.
[07:50:01]
UH, AS FAR AS THE PROTESTS GO, UM, THE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE WITH THE DEPARTMENT, TRYING TO KEEP THE OFFICERS HYDRATED, MAKING SURE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD, UH, TWO CASUALTIES LAST NIGHT THAT OVERHEATED AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP THEM HYDRATED, UM, ON SATURDAY.
UM, I'LL JUST EXPLAIN WHAT, WHAT I DID, BUT, UH, WE'RE WORKING OVERTIME THAT DAY TO PUT UP BARRICADES FOR THE EVENT.
AND, UM, UH, IT STARTED OFF WITH A, UH, OFFICER NEEDS IS A CITYWIDE OFFICER NEEDS ASSISTANCE CALL, UH, WHICH, UH, I'VE ONLY EVER HEARD ONE OTHER TIME IN MY ENTIRE
UM, AND WE HAD OFFICERS THAT WERE CORNERED ON THE INTERSTATE AND THAT HAD BEEN ASSAULTED.
AND, UM, IT WAS, UM, ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC MOMENTS OF MY CAREER.
HAVING PEOPLE SHAKE OUR CAR, GOING UP THE ON RAMP AND HAVING TO HAVE THE HORSES COME UP TO, UH, CLARITY, UH, ON RAMP.
SO WE COULD GET UP TO THE DISTURBANCE, UM, BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ALLOWED THROUGH, UM, THAT WAS SATURDAY THE SAME THING ON SUNDAY WITH THE, UH, THE ROCK THROWING AND, AND, UH, VERY SADLY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THERE WERE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS THAT DID GET HIT BY BEAN BAGS, FROM WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS.
UM, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY SAD AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO MAKE THAT RIDE.
I THINK CHIEF MANLEY HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB IN TRYING TO MANAGE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS HERE IN AUSTIN AND OUR SRT TEAM.
OTHER MOTTO IS DEFEND THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WE, EVERY WEEKEND WE HAVE ABORTION RIGHTS MARCHES.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'VE LIVED HERE A LONG TIME, WE HAVE MARCHES EVERY WEEKEND AND INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, THE KKK AND THE OTHER, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT COME IN TO MARCH HERE AND CAUSE PROBLEMS IN OUR CITY.
AND OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, THEY HAVE A FANTASTIC HISTORY OF KEEPING THE PEACE, BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
AND EVEN A LOT OF THE RETIREES DON'T EVER REMEMBER ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE TURN OF EVENTS IS VERY UNFORTUNATE AND YOU HAVE MY PROMISE TO WORK WITH THE CITY.
I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NELSON LENDER, CHAZ MOORE, PEOPLE FROM LULAC PEOPLE FROM, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS, TRYING TO COMMUNICATE AND, AND, UH, EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED AND TO LISTEN TO THEM, LISTEN TO THEIR ANGER.
UM, AND, UH, I SPENT THE LAST THREE DAYS OUT IN THE CROWD TALKING TO INDIVIDUALS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S EXTREME ANGER AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE NATION, EXTREME ANGER DIRECTED TOWARDS US, BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF OTHER UNDERLYING ISSUES, UM, WHICH THEY ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, GENTRIFICATION, LACK OF EDUCATION, LACK OF, UH, THE ABILITY TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, WE'RE REALLY NOT EQUIPPED AS POLICE OFFICERS TO DISCUSS.
AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT POLICE ISSUES.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT POLICE TACTICS.
ONCE YOU START GETTING INTO THE ISSUES OF EDUCATION, UM, UH, GENTRIFICATION, THAT'S REALLY KIND OF OUT OF OUR LEAGUE.
UM, BUT, UH, YOU HAVE MY PROMISE THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA SPEAK TO CHAZ AND PEOPLE FROM IT, UH, AJC JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY ON NELSON LINDER.
WE'RE STARTING TO WORK ON A COMMUNITY EVENT FOR THE DAY AFTER JUNE 18TH.
SO THE ASSOCIATION IS VERY ACTIVE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UM, ALSO WE ALSO HAVE A CHARITY, UH, AUSTIN COWS FOR CHARITIES THAT, UH, AS A WORK WITH THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS, AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION, I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON, UH, GROUPS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, TO TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, UH, IN OUR MINORITY COMMUNITIES.
AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MY BIGGEST ADVOCATE AS NELSON LENDER BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK I'VE DONE WITH HIM OVER THE YEARS.
AND THEN, UH, YOU JUST HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT TENFOLD.
AND WE'LL TRY TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS ON, ON POLICY CHANGES AND THINGS THAT WE SEE, UH, THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED GOING FORWARD.
MARRIOTT, I THINK MANAGER, YOUR PRESENTATION IS DONE.
UH, UH, CASSIDY DAY FOR PARTICIPATING.
I'M NOT GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO THE, UH, TO THE DIETS, UH, FOR, UH, FOR QUESTIONS.
UH, I WILL TELL YOU JUST REAL QUICKLY THAT WHAT I WAS MOST STRUCK BY
[07:55:01]
FOR ME IN WATCHING WAS, UH, CHIEF WAS THE USE OF, OF THE BEANBAGS, UH, THE FIRING INTO THE CROWDS.I, THERE JUST SEEMED TO BE SO MUCH OF THAT HAPPENING, UH, AND, UH, WHAT FELT LIKE AN INDISCRIMINATE WAY.
UM, SO I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THAT HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM THAT HAVING SEEN THE IMPACT THAT THAT HAS.
UM, I'M SURE YOU'LL GET A CHANCE LATER TO, TO BETTER DESCRIBE WHAT IT IS THAT YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE MOVING TO.
UM, BECAUSE THE, THE USE OF THAT JUST SEEM TO BE SOMETHING THAT IT DIDN'T LOOK OR FEEL LIKE OUR, OUR, OUR CITY, UH, BUT LET ME OPEN UP THE DANCE FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS OR TALK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON YOU'RE MUTED STILL, BUT YOU CAN'T ON MUTE.
ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO SAY MY QUESTIONS TO LAST.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I JUST WANTED TO SEE, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES.
UH, JIMMY, I, I, I HAVE A LOT TO SAY AND A LOT THAT'S IN MY HEAD AND VERY LITTLE SLEEP.
AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO ASK ONE QUESTION FOR NOW.
UM, THE CHIEF, THE MAP THAT YOU SHOWED WITH ARRESTS RELATED TO THE PROTESTS, I THINK IS HOW YOU DESCRIBED IT.
IT HAD KIND OF DOTS COME ALL OVER THE, THE MACY'S AT LAKELINE MALL IS SOMETHING THAT I REACHED OUT TO MY DR ABOUT, AND HE DIDN'T SHARE THAT THERE WAS ANY EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THE PROTESTS.
CAN, CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW YOU'RE DETERMINING WHAT ON THAT MAP IS BEING NOTED AS RELATED OR NOT RELATED? I MAY HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU.
THIS WAS PUT TOGETHER BY OUR CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT, AND I'M LOOKING ON HERE TO SEE IF IT HAS THE CRITERIA.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC, WHAT CRIMES ARE, WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING AS CRIMES RELATED AND WHAT MIGHT BE ACTIONS TAKEN AS, AS, AS OPPORTUNITIES WERE IDENTIFIED.
I THINK THERE'S A, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE AND AN IMPORTANT NUANCE THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WAS ALSO, UM, A TWEET BY THE POLICE ASSOCIATION.
UH, I THINK IT WAS THE 31ST, A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THAT IMPLIED THAT THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH OFFICERS TO COVER THE WHOLE CITY.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED SOME ISSUES WITH FOLKS WHO WERE UNRELATED TO THE PROTESTS.
SO I, I'M JUST INTERESTED IN THAT ANSWER COMING AT SOME POINT.
I DON'T HAVE VERY MANY QUESTIONS.
I, UM, I WANT TO THANK THE CHIEF WHO DID TAKE TIME SATURDAY TO RESPOND TO SOME QUESTIONS THAT I HAD THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT, UM, WHAT I WITNESSED AT CITY HALL, UM, ON SATURDAY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK LIKE MANY OF YOU, I HAD KNOTS IN MY STOMACH I'LL ALL DAY.
FOR MANY REASONS, BUT STARTING WITH WHETHER I SHOULD ATTEND OR NOT, BECAUSE WITH THE BACKDROP OF THE PANDEMIC, THAT WAS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
HOW, HOW, HOW WERE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE? AND THEN IS THAT, AND THEN WAYNE, IS THAT IMPORTANT AT THE END OF THE DAY? AND THEN WEIGHING WON'T, IT PROBABLY, IT IS IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL IN A PANDEMIC AND GOING BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH ALL MORNING.
IF I SHOULD ATTEND, BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR, FOR OUR CITY'S LEADERS TO BE THERE.
AND THEN FINALLY HAD MADE THE DECISION TO ATTEND AND WAS ABOUT TO WALK OUT THE DOOR AND HEARD THAT IT HAD BEEN CANCELED.
SO I DIDN'T, BUT I WATCHED MUCH OF IT ON CAVE.
I BELIEVE IT WAS CAVE YOU THAT LIVE STREAM THE ENTIRE, UM, EVENTS AND HAD KNOTS IN MY STOMACH WATCHING SATURDAY AS IT STARTED AT THE, UH, CAPITOL.
AND THEN THEY STARTED WALKING DOWN CONGRESS AND I, AND I GOT TO A POINT WHERE I WAS LIKE, IT LOOKED JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PROTEST HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND I STARTED TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
LIKE, THIS IS IT'S, IT'S GONNA,
[08:00:01]
IT'S, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN MANY OF YOU.UM, WE WALKED DOWN THAT STREET SO MANY TIMES EITHER FROM CITY HALL TO THE CAPITOL OR FROM THE CAPITOL, THE CITY.
AND IT LOOKED JUST LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE KINDS OF PEACEFUL MOMENTS WHERE WE JOINED TOGETHER AS A CITY AND HAVE OUR VOICE HEARD AND WOULD APPROACH CITY HALL.
AND THEN IN FACT, THE COMMENTATORS WERE COMMENTING.
THERE WAS NOT A POLICE PRESENCE.
AND I THOUGHT IT'S PROBABLY GOOD THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S GOING OKAY.
AND THEN AS IT GOT TO CITY HALL, YOU SEE THE OFFICERS ON GUADALUPE AND THE BIKES, AND I HAVE NEVER FELT SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, A HUGE MIX OF EMOTIONS.
UM, AND SEEING THESE, YOU KNOW, OFFICERS DOING WHAT THEY WERE TOLD TO DO AND, AND SEEING YOUR CITY, ESSENTIALLY AT WAR WITH ITSELF, IT FELT LIKE I HAVE NEVER FELT SO SAD, FRANKLY, AND SCARED.
UM, I TALKED TO THE CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION YOU GAVE.
AND IT WAS THAT BECAUSE THOSE CARS HAD TO BE MOVED, BUT I JUST, THERE WERE CARS EVERYWHERE.
SO THERE WERE CARS STUCK ON LAVACA GOING NORTH.
THERE WERE JUST AS MANY CARS IN, IN ALMOST EVERY INTERSECTION AT THAT POINT RIGHT THERE.
AND I, I KNOW, I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD OR MAY HAVE HAPPENED.
HAD WE NOT HAD OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT? I GUESS MY BIGGEST CONCERN HERE IS I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE IS AGENDA AND GENUINE FEELING OF WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT THAT WAY, OR WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THINGS DIFFERENTLY OR WE'RE GOING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
AND I GUESS WHEN I HEAR, WE WENT INTO THIS THINKING OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN TO OTHER CITIES WHERE BUILDINGS WERE BEING BURNED DOWN.
SO WHEN WE GO, WHEN WE SEND OUR STAFF INTO A SITUATION, THAT'S YOU READY FOR BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO BURN DOWN AND BE READY FOR THIS.
IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE WE DON'T KNOW OUR AUSTINITES.
WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT EVERY PROTEST GETS THE TRACTORS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE INBOARDS JACK AS PARDON ME, YOU KNOW, LIKE EVERY, EVERY PROTEST GETS THESE CERTAIN PEOPLE AND TO GO IN TO SEND OUR, OUR OFFICERS IN WITH THE MINDSET, BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO BURN DOWN, BE READY.
THAT'S I GUESS THAT'S WHERE I'M SO CONCERNED, BECAUSE IT SEEMS SO PEACEFUL IN THE BEGINNING, AND IT DIDN'T ESCALATE UNTIL I GOT TO CITY HALL, AND I'M STILL NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REASON.
UM, I JUST THINK THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT FOR, IN THAT INSTANCE.
I KNOW THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT, BUT FOR THAT PARTICULAR, UM, INSTANT I, THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED DIFFERENTLY.
UM, I'LL JUST ALSO SAY, UM, THE, UH, YESTERDAY I MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THE, THE, UM, BUDGET.
ONE THING WHEN I HAD ASKED FOR THAT 1% FROM PUBLIC SAFETY EMS ACTUALLY WAS THE ONE DEPARTMENT THAT OFFERED, UM, SOME MONEY SO THAT WE COULD GET TO PUBLIC HEALTH AT CAL HEALTH.
I DIDN'T WANT THE RECORD TO SHOW THAT, BUT I'M JUST, I DON'T HAVE VERY MANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE EVERY, I FEEL LIKE WE ASK A QUESTION THERE'S, UM, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, LIKE MILIT MILITARY RESPONSE.
AND THAT I THINK IS THE PROBLEM WITH WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IS THAT, IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT THAT WAS OUR RESPONSE TO, TO A VARIETY OF VERY DYNAMIC MOVING PARTS.
AND I JUST NEED US TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT.
LASTLY, I DON'T IS MR. CASSIDY'S STILL ON THE PHONE.
CAN I APPRECIATE THE CALL THAT YOU WILL WORK WITH US? I REALLY HOPE IT'S GENUINE.
YOU HAVE REACHED OUT AND THANKED ME SOMETIMES FOR THINGS.
UM, BUT IN THAT VEIN OF WORKING WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIME IS TO INVITE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PRESS AND TELL THE PRESS WE'VE INVITED COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THIS THING AT A TIME WHERE YOU, YOU KNEW THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING WHERE WE HAD TOLD THE PUBLIC, WE WANT TO LISTEN TO YOU.
AND WE WERE GOING TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING.
I JUST ASKED THAT YOU MAKE GENUINE INVITATIONS TO US TO GET INVOLVED AND TO BE PART
[08:05:01]
OF THE CONVERSATION AND NOT DO WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY TO GET CALLS FROM THE MEDIA ASKING, ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW UP TO THIS EVENT? I BELIEVE IT WAS AT FIVE O'CLOCK, UM, TO HEAR THAT THE POLICE ASSOCIATION HAS INVITED YOU TO THIS EVENT, KNOWING THAT WE WERE GONNA, WE WERE EXPECTED TO BE HERE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY VIRTUALLY LISTENING TO LISTENING TO AUSTINITES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.I JUST ASK THAT YOU GIVE US A, GIVE US A FAIR SHOT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ABSOLUTELY DEL YET.
AND OUR, YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAVE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WITH A BUNCH OF MARCHES SCHEDULED, AND I WOULD INVITE YOU DOWN THERE AND WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO DO, AND WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON SETTING THAT UP.
AND A LOT OF YOU'VE ALREADY DONE IT, BUT JUST PLEASE COME SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE OFFICERS.
AND ALSO SOMETIME IN THE NEXT MONTH.
CAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE VERY BUSY, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, COME OUT ON A RIDE OUT.
UM, BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THERMOSTAT WHEN SHE COMES OUT AND RIDES A LOT.
UM, AND SHE SPENDS TIME WITH THE OFFICERS.
UH, WE HAD, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBERS COME LAST NIGHT, WAS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL JUST RE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME DOWN SATURDAY OR EVEN TO MARCH WITH US BECAUSE I'M SCHEDULED THE MARCH ON SATURDAY.
BUT, UM, BUT I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND THAT MAYBE IT WASN'T WORDED.
BUT WE MEANT THAT TO BE FOR LAST NIGHT, SATURDAY, FRIDAY, HE WAS WHENEVER, HAVE TIME TO COME DOWN.
MA'AM I HAVE, UM, A LIST OF QUESTIONS HERE THAT IS, UH, THAT IS LONGER AND I HOPE THAT, UH, UH, I CAN HAVE TIME TO GET, TO GET THROUGH THEM.
UH, BUT CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I UNDERSTAND WE'RE ALL STILL REELING FROM EVENTS THIS PAST WEEK ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN OUR CITY.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT.
UM, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, SMALL MINORITY OF PROTESTERS ENGAGED WITH OFFICERS THAT LED TO SOME OF THEIR INJURIES AND MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH THEM, UH, THROUGH THIS CAUSE THAT'S NOT OK.
UH, BUT TODAY I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN ASKING FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS BASED ON YESTERDAY'S TESTIMONY ABOUT WHERE WE SUCCEEDED AND WHERE I BELIEVE WE CLEARLY FAILED ON PROTECTING PEOPLE'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO, TO ENGAGE IN THIS ACTIVITY WITHOUT FEAR OF HARM TO THEMSELVES.
WE HEARD THE STORIES FROM HUNDREDS OF AUSTINITES, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH FIRST AND, UH, FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.
SO I HAVE SOME, SOME QUESTIONS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO ASK YESTERDAY.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, UM, WELL, AS WE HEARD THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DEESCALATED THAT WE MADE SURE THAT DEESCALATION WAS A TOP PRIORITY.
UH, I, AND I KNOW OTHERS HERE ON THE DIAS CONTACTED EITHER YOU OR THE CITY MANAGER.
I DECIDED TO HAVE MY CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER DIRECTLY.
SO IT WOULD BE I TOP PRIORITY AND AT COMING FROM THE VERY TOP.
UM, AND SO I WANT TO KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, GIVEN THOSE, UM, GIVEN WHAT AUSTIN IS ABOUT AND GIVEN WHAT THAT, HOW THAT MESSAGE WAS DELIVERED BOTH TO YOU AND TO THE CITY MANAGER, WHAT ACTIONS DID YOU TAKE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT DEESCALATION WAS A PRIORITY GIVEN, UH, GIVEN ALL OF THAT? WELL, I THINK THE, PROBABLY THE INITIAL ACTION THAT I TOOK WAS MY MESSAGE TO THIS DEPARTMENT AFTER THE MURDER, MR. FLOYD, UP IN MINNEAPOLIS.
AND WITHIN THAT MESSAGE, I TOLD THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, BOTH CIVILIAN AND COMMISSIONED THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR COMMUNITY IS RIGHT NOW, AND WE NEED TO MEET THEM THERE.
WE NEED TO GIVE THAT EXTRA OUNCE OF PATIENCE AND DEFERENCE.
AND SO I'VE BEEN EMPHASIZING THAT SINCE BEFORE EVEN THE PROTESTS BEGAN, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE HURT THAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT I DID LEADING UP TO IT.
AND THEN IN THE, UH, DAILY BRIEFINGS THAT THE OFFICERS WERE GIVEN, I KNOW ON, ON, ON ONE OF THOSE IN PARTICULAR, I WAS REMINDING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF IF THERE WAS THE AGITATOR IN THE CROWD, UM, WHAT THEY NEEDED TO ENGAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS DONE IN A WAY WHERE THEY WERE ENGAGING WITH THAT AGITATOR AND NOT OTHERS.
BUT AS WE OBVIOUSLY SEE NOW THAT, UH, WE HAD, UH, WHAT IS BEING DESCRIBED TO US BY MANY AS PEOPLE THAT WERE IMPACTED THAT WERE NOT IN FACT, THE AGITATOR.
SO COMING UP INTO THE WEEKEND, GIVEN THAT WE SAW WHAT WAS COMING,
[08:10:01]
UM, WE COULDN'T SEE EVERYTHING, BUT WHAT ARE THERE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE SPECIFIC TRAINING ON HOW TO INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC AND SPECIFICALLY A STRATEGY ON KEEPING A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS SAFE? WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC TRAININGS.AGAIN, THIS IS OUR PRIMARILY OUR SRT TEAM THAT WE USE FOR THIS.
AND THE MOTTO OF OUR SRT TEAM IS DEFENDED THE FIRST THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE REGULARLY AND SUCCESSFULLY DONE THROUGHOUT THE CITY IS WHETHER THE PROTEST IS AGAINST US OR AGAINST A SOCIAL ISSUE OR AGAINST THE WARS.
BACK WHEN WE WERE ENGAGED IN THE MIDDLE EAST ACTIVELY, OUR TEAM HAS ALWAYS PERFORMED UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE FACE OF PROVOCATION, WHETHER THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE ITEMS BEING DISCUSSED.
AND SO THAT IS THE CORE OF WHAT THAT TEAM IS FOR GIVEN THAT THAT IS THE TEAM'S MOTTO.
WHY THEN IN YOUR MIND, DO WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TESTIFYING THAT THEY FELT TERRORIZED AND WHY DO WE HAVE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL? WELL, I CAN'T SPEAK, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE SPECIFIC FEELINGS OF OTHERS, I GUESS, BUT AS WE'VE DESCRIBED, THE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND IS OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WE'RE SEEING A MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW WHERE EITHER ANTIFA GROUPS OR ALL GROUPS ARE INTERMIXING IN WITH WHAT OUR PLANNED PEACEFUL PROTESTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF VIOLENT OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OR VANDALISM.
SO THE ACTIONS THE OFFICERS WERE TAKING WERE GEARED TOWARDS THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
HOWEVER, WE REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED.
WERE THERE SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS GIVEN TO OFFICERS AND ADVANCE OF THE PROTESTS REGARDING PROTOCOLS AROUND IMPACT MUNITIONS, THE OFFICERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CARRY IMPACT MUNITIONS UNLESS THEY'RE TRAINED ON THEM.
SO THOSE OFFICERS UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE PROTOCOLS WERE.
IS IT YOUR SENSE THAT THAT TRAINING WAS FOLLOWED? UH, WE'RE STILL REVIEWING EVERYTHING AT THIS POINT.
THERE'S SO MUCH VIDEO, UH, THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
SO IT'D BE PREMATURE TO SPEAK TO THAT.
I'M SURE THAT, UH, IN TIME WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF THAT.
IS THERE TRAINING TO OFFICERS TO INTERVENE IF THEY SEE IMPROPER USE OF THESE MUNITIONS OR THE TRAINING NOT BEING FOLLOWED BY SOMEBODY THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH, NOT SPECIFIC TO THESE MUNITIONS, BUT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE A POLICY THAT REQUIRES YOU TO INTERCEDE.
IF YOU SEE ANOTHER OFFICER ENGAGING IN INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT, WE DO HAVE A POLICY THAT DICTATES THAT WE KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THOSE IMPACT MUNITIONS WERE USED.
ANY SENSE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF, OF TIMES THAT THOSE SHOTS WERE FIRED ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
ONE NUMBER THAT A DIRECTOR MUST GET AND SHARED WITH US EARLIER WAS, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONALLY WE GET ABOUT 50 COMPLAINTS A YEAR.
SHE JUST, I JUST LEARNED THAT THIS MORNING THAT THERE'S OVER 150 COMPLAINTS THIS WEEK ALONE WITH OVER 200 CALLS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO JUSTIN HOWL.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS RELATED TO THAT A REALLY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS COMPARED TO HOW MANY WE USUALLY GET? WELL, I THINK THAT REFLECTS OBVIOUSLY THE GREAT CONCERN THAT EXISTS WITH WHAT TRANSPIRED LAST WEEKEND.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO REVIEW THIS INCIDENT.
NOBODY CAN LOOK AT THE INCIDENT WITH MR. HOWELL AND, AND, AND NOT BE DEVASTATED.
AND THAT IS, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ONE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED OVER THE WEEKEND, IT'S BEING REVIEWED AMONGST MANY YOU'VE MENTIONED ELSEWHERE THAT THE IMPACT MUNITIONS WE WERE USING WERE THESE SO-CALLED BEAN BAG OR MORE ACCURATELY.
I THINK THAT THESE LED PELLETS ROUNDS, IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? OR HAVE WE LOOKED INTO IT AND SEEN THAT RUBBER BULLETS WERE USED AS WELL? THAT QUESTION HAS COME UP SO MANY TIMES WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE INVENTORY.
WE WERE, WE THOUGHT AT ONE POINT, SINCE THE QUESTION KEPT COMING UP THAT MAYBE THE, UH, THE INVENTORY GOT COMPROMISED AND SOMETHING GOT PUT IN THERE THAT WE WERE, WE HAVE NO INDICATION THAT THERE WERE ANY, UH, RUBBER BULLETS USED, UH, AT ALL.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE TEXAS TRIBUNE SHOWING A BEANBAG SHELL, A CANISTER AND A RUBBER BULLET FOUND ON, ON THE GROUND AT THE, AT THE EVENT? I HAVE NOT.
I THINK MR. ELLIS, COREY ELLIS, WOULD YOU PUT THAT, PUT THAT UP? YES.
[08:15:03]
I'VE GOT A, I'VE GOT A OTHER QUESTION.
SO NOBODY HEARD FROM, UH, NO SMALL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STRUCK BY THESE, UH, IMPACT MUNITIONS.
UM, ARE WE AWARE, DO WE HAVE A SENSE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF ALL OF THE INCIDENTS USING THESE, UM, MUNITIONS AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THEM? I'M SORRY, WAS YOUR QUESTION, DO WE KNOW OF EVERY INCIDENT? YEAH.
DO WE KNOW OF, UH, OF THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AND CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT WE'RE DOING TO FOLLOW UP ON IT? SO WHAT THE OFFICERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO SPECIFICALLY, UM, IN, IN, IN A ROUTINE DAY ON DAY PATROL THE OFFICER AFTER A USE OF FORCE RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE INCIDENT WOULD WRITE AN OFFENSE REPORT AND WOULD WRITE DETAILS PAGES AND DO ALL OF THAT.
THERE WAS DIRECTION GIVEN SINCE THIS WAS A LARGE SCALE OPERATION THAT OFFICERS COULDN'T IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE LINE AND GO SIT POOR, THAT THEY HAD TO STAY OUT THERE AND CONTINUE TO CONDUCT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIVITIES.
SO THEY WERE INSTRUCTED AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, THEY WOULD WRITE A, A REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE DAY AND THE USES THAT THEY HAD OF ANY RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT IS WHAT SHOULD BE REPORTED IN THE OFFENSE REPORTS IN THE, IN THE, UH, INCIDENT REPORTS FROM THESE, UH, FROM BOTH DAYS.
AND THEN SINCE YOU'VE GOT THESE, UH, THESE PICTURES UP HERE, WHAT I SEE IS THE, UH, 12 GAUGE, LESS LETHAL MUNITION IS THE ONE ON THE DIRECT LEFT THAT IS A FOAM BATON ROUND.
AND SO THAT, UH, RUBBER BULLETS ARE, UH, AND I GUESS MAYBE IT'S A MISNOMER, RUBBER BULLETS ARE ALSO FROM A 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN.
SOMETHING THAT YOU DO AS A SKIPPER BROWN GOALS ARE SOMETHING THAT IS A FOAM BATON ROUND THAT WE ALSO HAVE, UH, ACCESS AND USE OF THAT'S WHAT THAT LARGER ONE IS THAT'S BEING HELD THERE.
AND THEN OF COURSE THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE IS A GAS CANNON.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT IS SMOKE OR WHETHER THAT WAS THE CS CAN, OKAY.
THAT IS, THAT IS HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND.
UM, WE DON'T NEED THE PHOTOGRAPH ANY ANYMORE.
I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT QUESTION SINCE IT HAD BEEN ASKED.
SO, UH, YOU HAVE MENTIONED TO THE PRESS AND TO US, UH, THAT, UH, USE OF IMPACT MUNITIONS WERE WITHIN POLICY.
UM, CAN YOU GIVE US AN OUTLINE OF WHAT THAT POLICY IS? CERTAINLY.
AND I THINK THAT, THAT, UH, ANYONE THAT WATCHED KNOWS THAT THAT WAS AN EMOTIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE, AND I DON'T THINK I SPOKE CLEARLY.
MY COMMENT MEANT THAT IT WAS WITHIN POLICY BECAUSE YOU ARE ALLOWED TO USE THAT WEAPON, WHETHER IT BE THE 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN OR THE CS, OR THE CHEMICAL AGENTS UNDER THE SITUATIONS IN WHICH OFFICERS WERE ENGAGED, NOT THAT EACH AND EVERY USE OF THEM WAS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE AS I'VE SAID, SEVERAL TIMES, MANY OF THEM ARE STILL UNDER REVIEW.
SO, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE USE OF IMPACT MUNITIONS, WHICH IN OUR POLICY ARE CALLED KINETIC ENERGY PROJECTILES, THE USAGE OF THOSE INCLUDES ENGAGED IN RIOTOUS BEHAVIOR OR THROWING ROCKS BOTTLES, OR OTHER DANGEROUS PROJECTILES AT PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICERS CREATING RISK FOR INJURY.
SO THE POLICY ALLOWS FOR THE USE OF THAT IMPACT MUNITION UNDER THOSE RIOTOUS CONDITIONS, WHERE WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THROWING ROCKS AND BOTTLES, IT'S SPECIFICALLY NAMED OUT IN POLICY.
AND THEN ALSO WHEN THE UNDER OUR CHEMICAL AGENT GUIDELINE, IT STATES THAT A CHEMICAL AGENT IS AUTHORIZED FOR USE, UH, THERE'S SEVERAL CATEGORIES, BUT ONE IS TO ADDRESS SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT IT WILL BE UNSAFE FOR EMPLOYEES TO APPROACH WITHIN CONTACT RANGE OF THE SUBJECT.
AND THEN IN ANOTHER ONE IS TO DISPERSE VIOLENT CROWDS OR RIOTS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT MY COMMENTS WERE AROUND IS THE FACT THAT OUR POLICY COVERS SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THAT OFFICERS WERE ENCOUNTERING, BUT NOT THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SITUATION HAD ALREADY BEEN REVIEWED AND DETERMINED TO BE WITH THEM.
[08:20:01]
UNDERSTOOD IS THAT A POLICY REQUIRE RIOTOUS CONDITIONS OR RIOTOUS PERSON I'M SORRY.MY MICROPHONE BROKE UP AT THE VERY END.
DOES IT? IT DOES IT DESCRIBE THE USE OF IMPACT MUNITIONS AGAINST RIOTOUS CONDITIONS WHERE A RIOTOUS PERSON, THE IMPACT MUNITION HAS ALWAYS TO BE DIRECTED AT A PERSON NOT TO BE FIRED INDISCRIMINATELY.
SO I DON'T HAVE THAT SECTION OF THE POLICY MANUAL IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WHAT WAS ONE THING THAT WAS SENT TO ME WAS, UH, A PART OF THE GENERAL ORDERS, UH, RELATED TO THOSE MUNITIONS SAYING THAT APPROVED MUNITIONS ARE JUSTIFIED IN ORDER TO COMPEL INDIVIDUALS TO CEASE THEIR ACTIONS.
OFFICERS ARE NOT REQUIRED OR COMPELLED TO USE THOSE MUNITIONS IN LIEU OF REASONABLE TACTICS.
IF THEY DETERMINE THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE MUNITIONS CANNOT BE DEPLOYED SAFELY.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IN SOME CASES, THOSE MUNITIONS WERE NOT DEPLOYED IN A SAFE MANNER.
HAVE YOU COME TO THAT CONCLUSION AS WELL? WELL NOT.
I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE HAD OUTCOMES THAT WERE NOT INTENDED OR EXPECTED.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE REVIEW IS RIGHT NOW.
MR. ELLIS, WILL YOU PLAY NOW THE VIDEO, BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED YESTERDAY, I DID WANT TO ASK THE QUESTIONS AS IT RELATES TO AUSTRALIA.
SO YOU CAN SEE HIM ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, STANDING IN THE PICTURE, MR. ELLIS, IN CASE PEOPLE MISSED IT.
WILL YOU PLAY IT ONE MORE TIME? I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE CHOPPY CHIEF.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ENOUGH NOW, CHIEF.
I, I DON'T SEE RIOTOUS BEHAVIOR IN THAT VIDEO.
I ALSO DON'T SEE HIM IN A CROWD.
DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS? THAT IS ONE OF THE ONES, AS I MENTIONED, THAT IS UNDER IMMEDIATE REVIEW RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT THE OFFICER SAW PERCEIVED AND WHAT THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS WAS AT THAT TIME.
AND WE WERE BRINGING IN VIDEO, UH, OBVIOUSLY WHAT PRECEDED THAT, SO THAT WE CAN PUT ANY OF THAT INTO CONTEXT, BUT I CANNOT, UH, ANSWER FOR YOU TODAY.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THAT, I DON'T SEE HIM THROWING ANY OBJECTS.
UM, IT DOES NOT SEEM WITHIN POLICY TO ME.
UM, SO I WANT TO ASK AGAIN, AS I ASKED YESTERDAY, WHAT STEPS ARE WE TAKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN? WELL, YEAH, I THINK THE ONLY THE, THERE YOU'RE POINTING OUT THE, THAT INSTANCE IN PARTICULAR, THE STEPS THAT WE WOULD TAKE AGAIN IS JUST TO MAKE SURE OUR OFFICERS UNDERSTAND THE USE OF FORCE REQUIREMENTS.
WHAT THRESHOLDS HAVE TO BE MET BEFORE UTILIZING ANY LEVEL OF FORCE, WHETHER IT BE THAT LESS LETHAL MUNITION OR ANYTHING ELSE.
AND I'VE MADE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE POLICY ON KINETIC ENERGY PROJECTILES AS WELL.
ALTHOUGH AS YOU POINTED OUT CORRECTLY, THAT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY APPLY SPECIFICALLY TO THIS SITUATION.
WE WILL LOOK AT OUR POLICY AS WELL TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULD INCLUDE ABOUT, UH, INCLINED, UH, UH, IN, UH, INCLINED POSITIONS, UH, THAT COULD, OH, OKAY.
IMPACTED THE TRAJECTORY OF THE ROUNDS AS WELL.
NOT ONLY THE DECISION INTO FIRING THE, UH, THE ROUND, EVEN IF THERE WERE A CHANGE ON INCLINES POSITIONS.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HE WAS NOT IN A CROWD MORE.
WAS THERE, WAS HE THROWING ANYTHING, UM, ON A SEPARATE TRACK OF QUESTIONS? DO WE KNOW WHAT TIME THERE WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE WERE INJURIES OF OUR OFFICERS TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY AND ON SUNDAY? I DO NOT.
UM, DO WE KNOW WHAT THE TIME, MORE OR LESS ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, THOSE IMPACTING THE STARTED FIRST BEING USED? I DO NOT KNOW RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE WE'LL BE ABLE TO GATHER THAT, UM, I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT FROM THE INFORMATION, UM, ONCE YOU PUT IT TOGETHER TO KNOW, BECAUSE MY SENSE IS THE MAJORITY OF INJURIES SUSTAINED BY BOTH OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC OCCURRED AFTER THE USE OF THOSE MUNITIONS.
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, DO YOU HAVE A THOUGHT NOW, LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEKEND THAT THE USE OF THOSE MUNITIONS, IF THEY HAD ANY INFLUENCE WHATSOEVER ON THE ESCALATION
[08:25:01]
OF INJURIES, BOTH ON OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND ON THE DEMONSTRATORS, I'M SORRY.DID THEY HAVE ANY IMPACT ON, ON THE ESCALATION THAT RESULTED IN INJURIES OF BOTH OUR OFFICERS AND DEMONSTRATORS? IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT LED TO ANY OF THE ESCALATION.
OBVIOUSLY, IF THE OFFICERS ARE GETTING ROCKS AND BOTTLES THROWN AT THEM, THAT IS AN ESCALATION.
IF THEY RESPOND WITH THE LESS LETHAL, DOES THAT THEN FURTHER ESCALATE THE CROWD? I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN TELL YOU.
I, I I'VE JUST HAD, UH, INFORMATION SENT TO ME ABOUT OUR FIRST INJURY THAT WE KNOW OF WAS FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN AN OFFICER WAS STRUCK IN HIS FACE SHIELD WITH SOME PROJECTILE, SOME OBJECT THAT WAS THROWN AT HIM FROM THE CROWD AND IT CRACKED HIS FACE, SHIELD, INSTRUCTED HIM IN THE FACE.
I'VE HAD THAT INFORMATION SENT TO ME.
UH, ON SATURDAY I COPIED THE, UH, CITY MANAGER, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND MAYOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND DIRECTOR MUSCADET AND INCLUDED SOME FIRSTHAND TESTIMONY OF, OF PEOPLE THAT WERE CONTACTING US.
UH, THERE WERE SENDING PHOTOGRAPHS TO US, OF PEOPLE GETTING HURT THAT AS FAR AS ANYBODY COULD TELL, THERE WAS NO BUSINESS AND THEM GETTING HURT.
UM, WHAT DID THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DO? AND IN RESPONSE, BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS NOT JUST ME, BUT OTHERS SENDING THAT INFORMATION.
I KNOW THERE ARE A FEW MESSAGES I GOT AND PEOPLE THAT I WILL BE CALLING BACK.
I'M NOT SURE IN PARTICULAR, IN THAT MOMENT, WHAT WE DID WITH THAT INFORMATION, UH, ON SUNDAY, I KNOW THAT, UM, OTHERS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND I, AND THE MAYOR SENT INFORMATION, TALKING ABOUT THE ESCALATION THAT WAS OCCURRING WHEN YOU RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION, WAS THERE A DISCUSSION ABOUT A CHANGE IN ESCALATION, OR I HAD ALREADY BRIEFED THE OFFICER'S SUNDAY MORNING AT THE SHOW UP BRIEFING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE, UH, THE USE, IF THERE WAS TO BE USE OF THE IMPACT MUNITIONS AGAIN AND ABOUT TARGET DISCRETION AND THE LIKES.
SO I HAD ALREADY HAD THAT CONVERSATION SUNDAY MORNING.
UM, I DID NOT HAVE A CONVERSATION, UH, SUBSEQUENT, UH, OR UPON RECEIVING, UH, THE MESSAGE THAT YOU SENT ME.
ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW THOSE DEVICES ARE BEING USED IN OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES AND HOW THAT IS GOING? I DO KNOW, I DO KNOW THAT OTHER MAJOR CITIES HAVE HAD SIMILAR NEGATIVE OUTCOMES WITH THE USE OF THESE.
I KNOW IN DALLAS, I BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LOST AN EYE AFTER BEING STRUCK WITH IMPACT MUNITIONS.
I KNOW IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS INDIANA.
UH, THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS, UH, STRUCK WITH A TEAR GAS CANISTER AND SUFFERED A SEVERE INJURY BECAUSE I GUESS THEY, I GUESS THEY THROW THEM OR LAUNCH THEM IN, IN, IN THAT CITY.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I AM AWARE THAT AGAIN, POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY ARE STRUGGLING WITH PROTESTS.
LIKE WE'VE JUST NOT SEEN BEFORE.
DEFINITELY NOT HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT ALSO NOT MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND OFFICERS ARE DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN WITH THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE.
AND WE ARE LEARNING SOME VERY DIFFICULT LESSONS THAT WE ARE SEEING SOME VERY SERIOUS INJURIES THAT I'M NOT SURE ANYONE ANTICIPATED.
WHAT ABOUT INGESTING, UH, HOUSTON, I'M AWARE OF AN INCIDENT WHERE THEY INTERACTED WITH A HORSE.
I BELIEVE A CHILD AND A HORSE, UH, SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED.
UM, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING ELSE.
UH, I'VE, I'VE HEARD REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NOT THE USE OF TEAR GAS OR IMPACT MUNITIONS IN HOUSTON, WHERE THEY HAD MUCH LARGER DEMONSTRATIONS.
DO YOU KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE? UH, I DO NOT KNOW THAT IT IS THE CASE AND I'M NOT DISPUTING IT.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING, UNLESS THE MEDIA REPORTING IS, IS, IS OFF, IS THAT THAT IS, HAS BEEN THE CASE IN HOUSTON, UM, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL AND CHIEF WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR LETTING ME GIVING ME THAT TIME TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS AND CHIEF I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE FOR OUR QUESTIONS TODAY.
UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING CLOSING CHIEF I'VE, I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR FIVE YEARS FROM, FOR FIVE YEARS PLUS NOW I HAVE, AND A HALF YEARS, AND ALL OF THAT WHOLE TIME, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES.
PERSONALLY, I'VE FOUND YOU TO BE A REALLY KIND AND A THOUGHTFUL PERSON, A DEVOTED FATHER.
WHO'S MADE SACRIFICES FOR THIS COMMUNITY OVER A LONG CAREER.
UH, AFTER BUILDING THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU OVER FIVE YEARS, IT FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS, UH, DIRECTLY TO YOU AND IN PUBLIC.
UM, IN MANY OF OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POLICING, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE WE'VE AGREED
[08:30:01]
AND DISAGREED.UH, I VOTED FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TIMES WHERE WE AGREED AND DISAGREE.
UH, THERE'VE BEEN TIMES WHERE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR CHANGE ON SEVERAL OF THE REFORMS WE'VE WORKED ON LIKE THE JUVENILE CURFEW, UH, YOU AND I AT FIRST DISAGREED, THEY WERE TRANSPARENT AND HONEST ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS, BUT AFTER COMMUNITY DISCUSSION, UM, WHICH YOU ENDED APARTMENT WERE INVOLVED WITH, YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND.
UH, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH THAT YOU COULD BE COURAGEOUS IN PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGE.
YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND, UH, ON MANY OTHER NOTES AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, I HAVE FOUND YOU ENDED APARTMENTS TO BE UNRESPONSIVE TO MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED.
UH, MANY OF THE DIRECTIVES THAT COUNCIL HAS PUSHED TO TRY TO MAKE CHANGE THAT PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING, HAVE FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE OR FACE SERIOUS INTERNAL OBSTACLES.
UH, I AM IN PARTICULAR STILL CANNOT UNDERSTAND YOUR REASONING FOR, UH, AND YOUR EXPLANATION FOR THE TIME LAG WHEN YOU UNPACK ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF INFORMATION AROUND CHIEF NEWSOME AND, AND HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR THERE TO BE A RESPONSE THERE.
UM, I'M, I'M DISTRAUGHT BY MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT RAISED LAST NIGHT.
UM, AND LIKE SO MANY IN AUSTIN, I'M OVERWHELMED BY THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEKEND.
I FOUND THE ANSWERS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT PREPARING FOR THIS EVENT TO BE UNCONVINCING, UH, AND, AND DISAPPOINTING.
AND THIS MOMENT WE NEED OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR COMMUNITY, FOR FEELING WE HAVE TO REPAIR WHAT IS, IS TEARING AT THE SEAMS, UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, I BELIEVE AND HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO THE RIGHT THING TO PUT US ON A PATH TO HEALING.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE, IT'S HARD TO SAY GO, WE HAVE SO MANY CHANGES.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MEET REIMAGINE SAFETY AND ART.
BUT IF THAT TRUE CHANGE IS GOING TO HAPPEN, IF TRUE HEALING IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, WE NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW WE'RE LISTENING TO THEM.
AND THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE, SO CHIEF OR A CITY TO HEAL AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE PROGRESS, I BELIEVE THE HONORABLE THING WOULD BE FOR YOU TO RESIGN THE POSITION OF POLICE CHIEF.
AS YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT BY CITY LAW, TAKE A VOTE ON THAT BY CHARTER.
I CAN'T MAKE THAT AN ORDER AND IT'S SIMPLY WHAT'S ON MY HEART.
AND IT'S MY OPINION, MAYOR THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS THIS MORNING AND NEVER TURNED THE FLOOR.
UM, I HAVE, UH, WELL, I HAD A LOT OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY THAT I WANT TO USE THIS TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS, TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, AND LET ME JUST, LET ME START BY ASKING SOME QUESTIONS THAT I THINK, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND AND WANT TO UNDERSTAND, WELL, FIRST OFF, LET SAY IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN IN THE, AT THE LEVEL IT HAS, UM, HEARING FROM, UM, FROM OUR EMS CHIEF ABOUT THE NUMBER AND RANGE OF, AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE INJURIES IS, UM, IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HEAR, BUT THAT'S NOT, IT'S NOT REALLY THE POINT, WHETHER IT'S DIFFICULT TO HEAR THE POINT IS THAT IT'S, IT'S SIGNALS A HUGE, HUGE PROBLEM, AND REALLY GIVES ME THOUGHTS ON HOW WE ARE HANDLING THINGS AS A CITY.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FOCUSED TODAY ON TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, LET ME FOCUS ON THAT WITH A RANGE OF QUESTIONS.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS I WANT TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE STEPS ARE AND WHAT THE TIMELINE IS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED.
NOW, I KNOW THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INFORMATION ALONG THOSE LINES, AND OF COURSE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A PROCESS, BUT I, FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES, I WANT TO UNDER, I WANT THAT TO BE LAID OUT RIGHT NOW TO TELL US IN THE PUBLIC, WHAT IS THIS PROCESS FOR THESE INVESTIGATIONS? WHAT ARE THE STEPS ALONG THE WAY? AND I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE AVAILABLE IN WRITING.
I KNOW IT IS IN WRITING, BUT IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO FIND, SO IT NEEDS TO BE LAID OUT.
I ALSO NEED TO ALSO WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW SWIFTLY THIS CAN OCCUR HERE, A CITY MANAGER, YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED WHILE PART DEPARTMENTS MAKE SURE THAT THAT
[08:35:01]
INVESTIGATION HAPPENS QUICKLY.MY QUESTION TO YOU RIGHT NOW IS WHAT ARE, PLEASE, PLEASE.
I KNOW YOU'VE, YOU'VE TALKED, YOU'VE TALKED SOME ALREADY, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THEIR INVESTIGATIONS BE PROCEEDED IN, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATIONS, UM, AND ALSO THROUGH OUR POLICE OVERSIGHT, BUT I NEED SOMETHING THAT'S MORE SPECIFIC.
IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE STEPS ARE AND WHAT THE TIMELINE IS.
UM, AND THEN WHAT'S BEING DONE TO EXPEDITE.
SO WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE 10 INSTANCES THAT I SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED TO YOU EARLIER ARE ALL ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY OUR SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT.
THAT IS THE UNIT THAT INVESTIGATES OFFICER INVOLVED INCIDENTS LIKE SHOOTINGS, WHERE WE'VE GOT SERIOUS INJURIES, AND THEY INVESTIGATE THAT FROM A COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW PERSPECTIVE.
AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS REACHED OUT TO US AND WE'LL BE WANTS TO REVIEW THOSE INSTANCES AS WELL.
I JUST HEARD THIS MORNING THAT THERE'S 159 COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORWARDED.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, GIVEN THE SHORT TIMELINE THAT WE'RE GIVEN UNDER CIVIL SERVICE LAW OF 180 DAYS.
SO THE PROCESS IS WHEN A COMPLAINT GOES INTO THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, THEY VET IT, SEND IT OVER TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
AND AFTER THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THOSE TWO DIVISIONS, UH, IF IT'S MERITS BEING FILED AS A COMPLAINT, THEN IT IS OR OPENED UP FOR A FORMAL INVESTIGATION.
THEN THAT INVESTIGATION IS OPENED AND THE 180 DAY TIME WINDOW STARTED FROM THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, ON THESE CASES RIGHT HERE.
AND SO TO GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC TIMELINE, UM, IS, UM, IT IS HARD ON ANY INDIVIDUAL CASE JUST BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT SO MUCH, UM, UH, SO, SO MUCH GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND I'M BEING, UM, I'M SORRY, I'M READING SOMETHING RIGHT HERE.
AND, UH, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO, WHAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DO IS LOOK AT, UH, INDIVIDUALS IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND BRINGING THEM BACK TO ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT, BECAUSE WE DO REALIZE THAT THIS WILL OVERWHELM THE CAPACITY OF A UNIT THAT'S, UH, ALREADY, UH, OVERWHELMED WITH WORK.
AND CAN YOU SPEAK TO, CAN YOU SPEAK TO PROVIDING SOMETHING IN WRITING AND ACTUALLY SHE SAID THAT THAT YOUR ROLE IN THE INVESTIGATION IS ONE.
WE ALSO HAVE WHAT THE, UM, POLICE OVERSIGHT PROCESS, UM, AND, UM, PERHAPS AS CITY MANAGER, UM, HOW ARE WE HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE THERE TO PROCESS THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE THE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH? HOW ARE WE HELPING WITH THAT? THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, BOTH IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, I'M HAVING REGULAR DISCUSSIONS WITH ENSURING THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT HAVE COME INTO THEIR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IN REAL TIME.
AND SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE APPROPRIATE STAFFING, SO WE CAN QUICKLY AND THOROUGHLY LOOK AT EACH ONE OF THESE COMPLAINTS.
I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR THIS INFORMATION IN WRITING SO THAT THE STEPS ALONG THE WAY AND THE TIMELINE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING EXPEDITE.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE TO ME? WE CAN DO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR TRANSPARENCY.
SO EVERYONE HAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT TO EXPECT.
I'LL ASK JUST A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, AND THEN I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TOO.
SO, UM, I'LL JUST FOCUS IN ON ONE, ONE SET OF QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES.
SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND, UH, AN ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF DETAIL, HOW, UM, HOW THE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTS FOR THE USE OF THE LESS LETHAL, LESS LETHAL USE OF FORCE, UM, UH, COUNSELING BOOK ALREADY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER THAT WERE HIRED AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND CHIEF YOU SPOKE TO REPORTING.
SO LET ME MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING.
SO THE YOUTH USE OF FORCE IN THIS WAY, THE LESS LETHAL USE OF FORCE, UM, IS HIS SUPERVISOR PERMISSION REQUIRED FOR THAT, OR IS THAT, TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT? SO IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE,
[08:40:01]
IN WHICH THESE LESS LETHAL, UH, BEANBAG ROUNDS WERE USED, THESE WERE OFFICERS THAT WERE MAKING INDEPENDENT DECISIONS, THAT THEY NOTICED SOMEONE IN THE CROWD THAT HAD ENGAGED IN CONDUCT THAT WOULD HAVE MET THE REQUIRED THE POLICY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF THAT.AND, UM, THEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION, IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
THERE MAY ALSO BE A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT EITHER A SUPERVISOR OR SOMEONE ELSE BEHIND THE LINE SAW SOMEONE IN THE CROWD THAT WAS ENGAGED IN THE CONDUCT, AND THEN THEY KEEP AN EYE ON THAT PERSON.
CAUSE TYPICALLY IF SOMEONE'S GOING TO DO THIS, THEY'RE LIKELY GOING TO DO IT AGAIN IF YOU'RE THERE TO, TO INCITE OR TO INSTIGATE.
SO, UM, SO THE OFFICERS ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS AS THEY'RE ON THE LINE, UM, LOOKING AT THE CROWD, CAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE SEEING EVERYTHING.
AND THEN THERE WAS NO DIRECTION OR COMMAND NEEDED.
THESE ARE TOOLS THAT THE OFFICERS CARRY WITH THEM OUT ON PATROL.
UH, EVERY SINGLE DAY WE HAVE THESE AVAILABLE.
SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THIS INSTANCE.
THEY WERE JUST, THIS WAS JUST A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE, AS I'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES WHEN WE'VE NEVER REALLY FACED BEFORE HERE.
SO THESE ARE, SO EACH OFFICER, UM, MAKES THESE DECISIONS, UM, WITH THE PARAMETERS BEING THE POLICY AND WITH THEIR TRAINING.
AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THE REQUIREMENTS AROUND REPORTING.
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE, THE DATA THAT IS REPORTED ABOUT AN INCIDENT? SO THE DATA FROM LAST WEEKEND, UH, WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT, THE, UM, THE, UM, I'M SORRY, GIVEN, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE WERE FACING IN A TYPICAL SITUATION, AN OFFICER WILL, IF THEY'RE ON A CALL FOR SERVICE AND THEY'VE HAD A RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE, THEN THEY'LL FOLLOW OUR POLICY.
THEY'LL WRITE THE REPORT, THEY'LL DOCUMENT EVERYTHING IN THAT MOMENT, GIVEN THAT WE'RE IN A CROWD CONTROL SITUATION WHERE OFFICERS CAN'T STEP OFF THE LINE, COME INSIDE AND GO WRITE A REPORT, GIVEN THE DYNAMICS, WHAT THEY WERE IS AT THE END OF THEIR SHIFT, THEY WOULD WRITE A SUPPLEMENT WITH EVERYTHING THAT THEY REMEMBERED ABOUT EACH OF THOSE INSTANCES THAT LED UP TO EACH OF THOSE USE OF FORCE RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW DETAILED THAT WAS.
WE RECOGNIZE NOW THAT WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AGAIN, ALL OF THAT WAS UNEXPECTED, THAT THE LEVEL OF REPORTING IS LIKELY NOT GOING TO BE TO WHAT WE WOULD WANT IT TO BE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE REVIEWS THAT WE NEED TO DO.
SO THE DIRECTION HAS NOW BEEN GIVEN THAT IF AN OFFICER ENGAGES WITH ANY TYPE OF RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE DURING THESE INSTANCES, THEY ARE TO STEP BACK FOR A MINUTE AND INTO THEIR BODY WORN CAMERA THERE TO GIVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT JUST HAPPENED.
IN OTHER WORDS, DATE, TIME, LOCATION, WHAT THEY ENCOUNTERED AND WHO THEY WERE ENGAGED WITH.
SO AN AREA THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE SATISFACTORY TO SOME OR MANY ON OUR REPORTING FROM LAST WEEK, OR WAS YET TO BE DETERMINED, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND WE'VE MADE IMMEDIATE CHANGES AND THAT'S WHY FOR GOING FORWARD, OFFICERS WILL BE DICTATING INTO THEIR BODY WORN CAMERAS, ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
SO WHEN THEY GO BACK LATER ON AT THE END OF SHIFT TO WRITE THE REPORTS, THEY'LL HAVE A DETAILED ACCOUNT FROM IN THAT MOMENT.
I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS AND MAYOR, I KNOW I'M GONNA DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES NOW.
UM, I WILL HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS LATER, UH, RELATING TO, UM, IMPACTS ON INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN INJURED AS WELL AS, UH, BUSINESSES AND WHAT REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
AND, UM, AND THEN I WOULD JUST SAY, UM, AND I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS TOO, BUT I'M GOING TO DEFER RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND THEN I WOULD JUST SAY THAT TOO.
I WANT TO SAY TO YOU CHIEF, THAT, UM, YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE AC AND, UM,
UM, I WANT, I REALLY WANT TO SEE SOME LEADERSHIP, SEE SOME, UM, I WANT TO SEE SOME LEADERSHIP THAT PUTS OUR CITY IN THE FOREFRONT, UM, IN TERMS OF HOW, HOW WE INCORPORATE DEESCALATION AND COMMUNITY POLICING, UM, INTO, INTO OUR, UM, INTO HOW INTO OUR EVERYDAY APPROACH TO POLICING.
I THINK THAT THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS AND EFFORTS DIRECTION, UM, NOT QUICK ENOUGH, UH, NOT WITH THE LEVEL OF, UM, FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS WITH THE LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
[08:45:01]
AND I EXPECT THIS ALL FOR ALL OF US, WE NEED TO ACCELERATE AND MOVE MORE QUICKLY.AND THEN I WAS, UM, I I'D LIKE TO, TO ASK, UM, UH, I'D LIKE TO, UM, UM, I CAN'T SEE IT IS KEN CASSIDY STILL ON THE LINE, IF HE'S NOT I'LL, I'LL, I'LL S I'M HERE.
SO, UM, I WANT TO SAY TO YOU THAT I RESPECT THE WORK THAT OUR TEACHERS DO.
UM, AND I ALSO RESPECT THAT, THAT YOU, AND THEY EXPECT ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE A FIRST CLASS POLICING SYSTEM.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED ON MANY THINGS BEFORE, AND I HEAR YOU IN SAYING THAT YOUR PROMISE TO WORK WITH US, AND I WANT TO ASK YOU RIGHT NOW FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO, TO WORK ON DEESCALATION STRATEGIES AND APPROACHES IT.
AND THEN, I MEAN, IN A VERY SPECIFIC AND PROGRESSIVE SWIFT WAY.
SO CAN YOU COMMIT TO ME NOW THAT YOU, I CAN GIVE YOU A 100% COMMITMENT THAT I'LL WORK WITH YOU? UH, AND THE ONE THING THAT I'LL ALWAYS DO IS PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND THEN THE SAFETY OF MY OFFICERS.
AND, UH, JUST AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, NOW, WE'RE DOING THIS EVERY TWO TO FOUR YEARS AND BARGAINING OVER LABOR CONTRACT AND ISSUES.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE USUALLY DON'T GET INVOLVED IN, UM, POLICY AS MUCH.
THAT'S MORE OF THE CHIEF FAMILY AND HIS FOLKS, BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS AND WORK ON, UM, YOU KNOW, ON POLICY CHANGES, UH, THAT, UH, YOU GUYS SEE FIT.
UM, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW IS THAT, UM, I WILL NEVER AGREE TO ANYTHING THAT I THINK IN DANGEROUS, A POLICE OFFICER, BUT I PROMISE YOU THAT I'LL PARTICIPATE IN WHEN WORK TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES WITH YOU GUYS.
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN ENDANGERMENT POLICE OFFICER, EITHER OF US OR ANY OF US, NOR IS THIS COMMUNITY.
SO IT SAID I RESPECT THE WORK THAT POLICE OFFICERS DO, AND THAT INCLUDES, UM, PROTECTING THEM.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
I THINK THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN BE A CITY THAT EMPLOYS THE, THE BEST APPROACH TO DEESCALATION AND COMMUNITY POLICING.
AND THAT DOESN'T, THAT, THAT DOESN'T PUT OUR OFFICERS AT RISK.
SO MAYOR, IF THERE'S TIME, THEN I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS LATER, BUT I'LL DEFER NOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER VIA AND COUNCIL MEMBER POOL ACHIEVE.
I WANT TO KNOW, UM, WHEN WAS THE, UH, THE POLICY IMPLEMENTED TO USE, UH, AN IMPACT MUNITION? UH, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD LESLIE IMPACT MUNITIONS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 15 YEARS OR SO, I CAN FIND THAT OFF FOR YOU, BUT IN THIS MOMENT, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'VE HAD THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
YOU KNOW, I WAS VERY ALARMED WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT, UH, AT YOU WHEN THEY WAS, WHEN THEY WERE USING AN AD ON THE CROWD DOWN BELOW, YOU KNOW, AFTER, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU WERE SAYING THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT USE THE BEAN BAGS ARE, ARE THEY'RE SPECIALLY TRAINED TO SHOOT THOSE OR EVERYONE.
AND THE F AND THE FORCE IS TRAINED TO SHOOT ONE OF THOSE, EVERY OFFICER THAT UTILIZES THAT SYSTEM HAS TO BE TRAINED ON IT AND HAS TO QUALIFY ON IT ONCE A YEAR.
SO THAT Y'ALL COULD THAT, THAT, UH, WE'RE JUST OUT OF THE BASE, UH, BASIC TRAINING THERE THAT SHOT, UH, MICHAEL RAMOS, THERE ARE, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE TREY, RIGHT AT, RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONDUCT POLICY.
I MEAN, CADET CLASSES, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN CADET CLASS FOR THE USE OF THAT, UH, THAT WEAPON.
AND, YOU KNOW, AFTER I, I, I READ UP ON THAT BEANBAG.
I, I READ IT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU GET SHOT IN THE CHEST, IT COULD BREAK SOMEWHERE RIBS THERE.
WERE YOU AWARE THAT IT WAS THAT, THAT, THAT OF IMPACT THAT CAN HAVE ON, ON CIVILIANS, ON PECAN PROTESTERS OR WHOEVER YOU'RE USING IT ON? OKAY.
WE WERE, WE ARE AWARE THAT IT CAN CAUSE AN INJURY.
HOWEVER, THE INJURIES THAT WE SAW LAST WEEKEND, OR LIKE NONE WE'VE SEEN BEFORE, WE'VE BEEN USING THAT TOOL FOR QUITE SOME TIME,
[08:50:01]
BUT, AND YES, WE ARE AWARE THAT IT CAN CAUSE AN INJURY, CAUSE IT IS A IMPACT, BUT WE WERE NOT, AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED WHAT WE SAW THIS PAST WEEKEND AND DO Y'ALL GET TRAINED OR SHOOTING, SHOOTING DOWN, EVEN BACKS AT PEOPLE'S HEAD, NO, THE POLICY.AND THAT'S ANOTHER CHANGE THAT I MADE THE POLICY TALKED ABOUT THAT THE HEAD AND NECK SHOULD NOT BE TARGETED UNLESS THERE'S A NEED FOR AN IMMEDIATE INCAPACITATION.
I'VE CHANGED THAT LANGUAGE HAS POLICY.
YOU'LL BE GETTING SIGNED INTO EFFECT.
I'VE GOT THE TEAM WRITING IT UP RIGHT NOW THAT IT WILL STATE THAT YOU WILL NOT TARGET THE HEAD OR NECK, UNLESS IT IS A DEADLY FORCE SITUATION.
AND D WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT WHAT WAS HAPPENING SUNDAY WHEN THEY WERE, THERE WERE POLICE OFFICERS WERE OUT THERE ON TOP OF THE, OF THE PATIO OR THE POLICE STATION SHOOTING DOWN INTO THE CROWD.
AND I WAS VERY LIAR BECAUSE I SAW THEM RELOADING AND RELOADING AND SHOOTING, UH, IS THAT, UH, I MEAN, IF THEY HAVE A POLICY, IF YOU HAD A POLICY OF NOT SHOOTING PEOPLE IN THE BACK, UH, THAT WAS THE WAY THEY WERE SHOOTING.
THEY WERE SHOOTING DOWN IN THE CROWD.
I WAS VERY ALIGNED AND I SAID, OH, AND THAT'S, IT'S GONNA GO, AND IT'S GONNA COME OUT OF THIS ONE.
SO WHAT'S, THAT IS THAT, UH, I MEAN THAT THE OFFICER, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH BETTER COSTS, UH, INJURIES.
WELL, THAT'S PART OF THE REVIEW THAT WE'LL DO IS THE OFFICER'S DECISION MAKING ANY OFFICER THAT IS ISSUED OR USES THAT WEAPON GETS TRAINED ON IT AND UNDERSTANDS THE CAPABILITIES OF THAT AS WELL AS THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF THAT.
SO YES, THEY WOULD KNOW WHAT THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF USING THAT SYSTEM IS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I, I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I, I BELIEVED IN COMMUNITY POLICING.
YOU KNOW, I STARTED OUT, YOU KNOW, BRINGING A RESOLUTION TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY POLICING AT THE BEGINNING OF MY FIRST TERM.
AND EVERY TIME I SEEM LIKE I'M GETTING CLOSE TO NOW TO, TO GET SOME MONEY INTO THE BUDGET, TO CREATE COMMUNITY POLICING, AN OFFICER GOES OUT AND DO SOMETHING REALLY DUMB, EQUATES ME AND GOES OUT AND SHOOT SOMEONE, OR SERIOUSLY INJURED SOMEONE THAT'S AN ARM, YOU KNOW, AND IT JUST THROWS US RIGHT BACK, YOU KNOW, IT JUST, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SO HARD FOR ME TO BE ON THE COUNCIL AND I SEE THIS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
NOW, DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU HAVE A SOLUTION TO THAT? IS THAT JUST SOMETHING THAT WE JUST GOT SOME REALLY BAD POLICE OFFICERS DID YOUR FOREST, OR IS IT, IS IT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR POLICIES.
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT OF EIGHT POLICIES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW, DOING AWAY WITH THE STRANGLE HOLE AND THE SH THE SHOW CO AND, YOU KNOW, REQUIRED THIS ESCALATION REQUIRED WARNING BEFORE SHOOTING, YOU KNOW, EXHAUST ALL ALTERNATE BEFORE SHOOTING DUTY TO INTERVENE, VAST SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF POLICIES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I I'M, I'M STRUGGLING, YOU KNOW, I HEARD WHAT ARE MY COLLEAGUE GREG SAID ABOUT YOU SHOULD JUST, UH, HONORABLY, UH, RESIDE.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP HERE AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A HOMEBOY, YOU'RE A WINTER JOHNSON ALRIGHT.
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, IT JUST REALLY BOTHERS ME ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU KNOW, I SEEN THESE EPISODES, THESE THINGS, AND, AND I, I SEEN, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP HERE, I'VE GONE TO DEMONSTRATIONS AFTER DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY.
AND I KNOW THE FRUSTRATION, YOU KNOW, WE DATED IN THE EIGHTIES AND FOUND BOAT RACES AND THE WHAT IS LINCOLN.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE FIRE BOMBS, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE GOT HURT, YOU KNOW, AND D FOR MINORITY BUSINESSES THAT, THAT GOT HURT, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY SEEING THAT HAPPENING OVER AND OVER.
HOW, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO STOP THIS WELL, TO YOUR POINT, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT ALLOW CHOKE HOLDS THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN BANNED HERE FOR DECADES.
SO WE ALREADY DO NOT ALLOW THAT THE ESCALATION IS ALREADY HIGHLY IN OUR POLICY.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY THE FIRST THING
[08:55:01]
TO CONSIDER WHETHER FORCE WAS REASONABLE OR NOT WAS WHETHER THERE WAS AN OPTION TO DEESCALATE.SO ALTHOUGH NOT EVERY ONE OF THE EIGHT ARE INCLUDED, WE MEET ALMOST ALL OF THOSE.
UM, AS WE GO DOWN THE LIST, WE MEET MANY OF THOSE.
AND SO, UH, I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, AND THAT IS CONTINUALLY SEARCH OUT BEST PRACTICES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRULY ARE LEARNING FROM OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE TACTICS AND TRAINING, BUT THEN HERE AT HOME, WHEN IT COMES TO THE CORE OF TRUST AND RELATIONSHIP, WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY WORK TOGETHER, BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE INSTANCES LIKE WE'VE HAD HERE, THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS FRAY AT TIMES, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY INVEST IN COMMUNITY POLICING.
AND WE NEED OFFICERS TO HAVE THAT TIME AWAY FROM CALLS FOR SERVICE SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THOSE STOPS INTO BUSINESSES AND HOMES AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT WE HAVE AHEAD OF US OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD UPON AND TO JUST IMPROVE, UH, ON WHAT IS A GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALTHOUGH NOT PERFECT, BUT I DO AGREE THERE ARE AREAS WE CAN IMPROVE AND I'VE, AND I KNOW THAT MY TEAM AND MY DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE, UH, POLICY IS TO BAN SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES, WHICH I WAS VERY ALARMED TO SEE THAT VIDEO WERE HARD TO HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT MIKE
MUST HAVE REALLY GOT SCARED, BUT SHOOTING AT A MOVING VEHICLE.
I MEAN, I JUST CAN'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.
YOU'RE JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BAN.
I MEAN, THEY HAD A YOUNG LADY IN THAT, IN THAT VEHICLE WITH HIM AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST HAS TO STOP.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M REALLY LOSING CONFIDENCE IN YOU.
AND I HATE TO HAVE THAT FEELING.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT FEELING THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED THAT'S REALLY ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THESE KINDS OF POLICY.
THAT'S GOING TO KEEP POLICE OFFICERS WERE SHOOTING OUR CITIZENS HERE IN AUSTIN.
YOU KNOW, IT, NOTHING GOOD COMES OUT OF THIS.
I, YOU KNOW, I, I, A YOUNG MAN WITH RUNNING DOWN THE STREET NAKED WITH NOTHING ON HIM AND AN OFFICER SHOOTS HIM, YOU KNOW, AND I'M GOING, OH MY GOD, THIS IS CRAZY.
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN HIS HAND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE'RE GOING OVER.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THE KIND OF THINGS THAT JUST, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO, UH, I USED THE POLICE FORCE AND THEIR POLICIES, AND I'M NOT GETTING NOWHERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS JUST THE LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW, OR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
IT'S, IT'S JUST SO FRUSTRATED.
YOU KNOW, I WANT TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY CHIEF THAT HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO WITH YOUR POLICE FORCE.
AND IF YOU KATE, THEN I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE SAME POSITION.
AND I ASK THAT YOU NOT HONORABLY DESIGN.
I RESIGNED BECAUSE I NEED THAT COMMITMENT.
I NEED TO SEE THAT COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE THAT IN YOU, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF I MAY JUST FOLLOW UP ON TWO OF YOUR POINTS, THE INCIDENT YOU DESCRIBED, UH, WITH, UH, DAVID, UH, WITH DAVID JOSEPH, UH, THAT OFFICER, AS YOU KNOW, IS NO LONGER WITH US BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH OUR POLICIES.
AND THE POLICY ON SHOOTING AT VEHICLES IS EXTREMELY RESTRICTED, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE USING VEHICLES AS WEAPONS AROUND OUR COUNTRY AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT, I BELIEVE IT WAS CHARLOTTESVILLE, WHERE THEY DROVE A VEHICLE INTO A PEACEFUL PROTEST, WE LOOK AT NICE FRANCE, WHERE THEY DROVE A TRUCK INTO A GROUP AND KILLED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS THAT ARE WITHIN THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY OUR POLICY IS AS RESTRICTIVE AS IT IS.
IT DOESN'T ALLOW AN OFFICER TO LEAVE A POSITION OF COVER AND PLACE THEMSELVES IN THE TREE, IN THE PATH OF THAT VEHICLE, THEREBY CREATING THE SITUATION WHERE FORCE IS NECESSARY.
BUT IF THAT VEHICLE, WITHOUT THE OFFICER BEING THE ONE TO GET IN ITS PATH IS POSING THAT DEADLY THREAT TO SOMEBODY ELSE THAN IT IS ALLOWED.
BUT WE ARE VERY RESTRICTIVE IN THAT, BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPEN WITH THOSE THAT WANT TO DO HARM TO OTHERS, USING VEHICLES AS WEAPONS.
WELL, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY, LET SOMEONE ELSE GO AHEAD.
I HAVE A COUPLE THREE QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF AND THEN ONE FOR THE
[09:00:01]
CITY MANAGER AND ACM ARIANA AND THE CHIEF.SO CHIEF, UM, COULD YOU TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TRAINING, THAT'S CALLED A LITTLE FILLED FORCE AND, UH, TELL US WHERE THAT TRAINING OCCURS AND HOW OFTEN APD HOLDS TRAINING MOBILE FIELD FORCE.
SO MOBILE FIELD FORCE IS WHEN WE PULL TOGETHER OFFICERS FROM AROUND THE CITY AND FORM UP A MOBILE FIELD FORCE FOR CROWD CONTROL.
AND SO THAT TRAINING IS MORE ABOUT CROWD MOVEMENTS SUCH AS HOW DO YOU FORM A LINE AND THEN MOVE A CROWD.
WHEN YOU GET TO AN INTERSECTION, DO YOU FORM AN ECHELON AND DIVERT THAT CROWD ONE WAY OR THE OTHER? UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT'S A WAY FOR MOVING CROWDS AROUND.
AND I DON'T KNOW, THE LAST TIME WE TRAINED IT, I KNOW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE HAD EVERY OFFICER KIND OF COME IN AND GO THROUGH A RETRAINING ON MOBILE FIELD FORCE.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THAT UNIT IS PARTICULARLY FOR, IS HELPING WITH CROWD CONTROL MORE ABOUT EITHER MAINTAINING THE SAFETY AROUND A CROWD, OR IF IT'S A CAR THAT NEEDS TO BE MOVED, HOW DO YOU MOVE THEM? OKAY.
SO WE WOULD HAVE SEEN SOME OF THOSE, UH, SOME OF THAT TRAINING AND THOSE TACTICS, UM, OVER THE LAST A WEEK OR SO, IS THAT RIGHT? YOU SAW THE BEEP HOT TEAM, WHICH IS OUR BIKE PUBLIC ORDER TEAM.
AND SO THAT'S, IT'S KIND OF A DIFFERENT CONCEPT THAN MOBILE FIELD FORCE, BUT WHEN THEY WERE MOVING THAT GROUP THAT HAD, UM, ON SUNDAY MORNING THAT HAD EXPANDS TO BEYOND GUADALUPE AND WE WERE TRYING TO FREE THOSE VEHICLES, THAT'S A CROWD MOVEMENT TACTIC THAT THE FEED POT TEAM TEACHES.
UM, DO, UH, CADETS IN THE POLICE ACADEMY, I RECEIVED THE TRAINING ON THE MOBILE FIELD FORCE, I BELIEVE THEY STILL DO, BUT LET ME CHECK WITH THE MOST CURRENT CURRICULUM, MAKE SURE.
UM, BUT THE NEXT, THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD ABOUT THE MOBILE FIELD FORCE WAS IS THIS TRAINING, UM, THAT COULD BE EXPANDED TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT FOR A REFRESHER.
UM, WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHEN THE LAST TIME THAT TRAINING WAS THAT MAYBE, UM, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING, UM, HOW OFTEN AND HOW, WHETHER THAT TRAINING, UM, COULD BE EXPANDED TO THE ENTIRE OF COURSE.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT OFFICERS WERE USING SHIELDS? SO THE SHIELD IS, UH, IS, CAN BE SEEN AS BOTH THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE WHEN THE OFFICERS DEPLOY WITH SHIELDS.
SOMETIMES THE SHIELD BECOMES THE TARGET FOR PEOPLE TO THROW THINGS AT.
AND SO WE HAVE SHIELDS WE'VE USED THEM YEARS IN YEARS PAST, WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT THE SHIELDS OUT WITH A THOUGHT THAT WE MIGHT USE THEM THIS WEEKEND, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY WERE SO OLD THAT THEY HAD DEGRADED AND WHEN THEY TESTED ONE AND THEY THREW A ROCK AT THE SHIELD, IT, UH, IT, IT DISINTEGRATED.
SO WE UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT HAVE ANY SHIELDS THAT WERE SERVICEABLE OR USABLE AT THIS TIME.
IS THERE, UM, IF THEY HAD BEEN SERVICEABLE, IS THERE A POLICY ON WHEN THEY ARE USED AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT USED IT, IT WOULD BE, UH, IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE WE WERE IN THIS WEEKEND AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOOL THAT THE, UH, THE LEADERSHIP THAT WAS OUT THERE THAT DAY.
UH, AGAIN, IT MIGHT'VE BEEN IN THE, UH, THE OPERATIONAL PLAN.
UH, THEY WOULD'VE MADE THAT DECISION IF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE APPROPRIATE TOOL.
UM, AND THEN HOW DOES APD RESPOND WHEN AN OFFICER USES RACIST LANGUAGE? WELL, THAT OBVIOUSLY IS A SERIOUS COMPLAINT.
AND ONE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IF WE RECEIVED THAT LANGUAGE, THEN WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY BEGIN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS PROCESS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATION WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN.
AND THEN WE WOULD CONCLUDE WITH WHEREVER THE FINDINGS WERE.
IS IT ALSO, UM, ACCEPTED A POLICY AND PROCEDURE THAT IF ONE OFFICER HEARS ANOTHER OFFICER USING RACIST LANGUAGE THAT, UM, THE OFFICER HEARING IT WOULD INTERVENE AND, UM, REMIND THE OTHER OFFICER THAT THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE, THAT IS THE EXPECTATION POLICING YOURSELVES.
THAT IS THE BET IS THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WE HAVE A POLICY THAT SAYS, IF YOU'RE AWARE OF ANOTHER EMPLOYEE VIOLATED POLICY, THEN YOU HAVE A DUTY TO REPORT THAT.
SO I'M PARAPHRASING OBVIOUSLY, BUT YES, THAT WOULD BE THE EXPECTATION.
I'VE SAID A NUMBER OF TIMES THIS WEEK THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING POLICED WHEN, UM, THEY SHOULD BE, THEY SHOULD FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING PROTECTED.
AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE, UH, LIKE I SAID, A FIERCE, WE SHOULD FIERCELY FOCUS ON THAT GOAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN, MUST DO NOW AND MUST DO GOING FORWARD.
SO CITY MANAGER, ACM ARIANO AND CHIEF MANLEY,
[09:05:01]
IF YOU COULD RESPOND, WHAT THOUGHTS YOU HAVE ABOUT THAT STATEMENT ABOUT PEOPLE FEELING THAT THEY'RE BEING POLICED WHEN THEY SHOULD BE FEELING LIKE THEY'RE BEING PROTECTED SINCE MY MIKE'S HOT RIGHT NOW, I'LL GO AHEAD.IF I MAY, I'M SORRY, I'LL GO FIRST.
BUT, UM, I, I REGULARLY SAY THAT POLICING IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND NOT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE FEELINGS COMING OUT OF LAST WEEKEND.
UM, AND SO I AM COMMITTED TO RESTORING THAT FEELING WHERE IT WAS LOST, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT POLICING IS A PARTNERSHIP.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE SUCCEED IS IF WE'RE DOING IT WITH A COMMUNITY AND NOT TO A COMMUNITY, IF I MAY GO TO THE EXTENT COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE THEME.
I THINK IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE WE HAD THIS CONCEPT OF WE SHOULD BE GUARDIANS AND NOT WARRIORS AND WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THAT REGARD.
AND CERTAINLY THE WAY YOU'RE CHARACTERIZING IT AS PROTECTING RESIDENT POLICING, CERTAINLY AS ONE THAT CAN HELP ENHANCE HOW WE APPROACH WHAT WE MIGHT DO GOING FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A SOBER TWO YEARS AND I'VE SEEN HOW AUSTINITES HAVE COME TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE SAME VALUES OF NOT ONLY HAVING EVERYONE IN AUSTIN HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY, BUT ENSURING THAT WE KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE AND PROTECTED.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT PROTECTION OF, OF, OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF ENSURING THAT EVERYONE DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE THEIR LIVES AND FEEL SAFE AND SECURE.
THAT'S AN ONGOING DISCUSSION, ONGOING RELATIONSHIP THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL OFFICER AND EACH INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT HAS WITH EACH OTHER.
AND WE DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.
UH, WE CONSISTENTLY WORK ON THAT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OVER TIME.
SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THE COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
UM, I WANT TO JUST START BY ASKING, UM, MS. MUSKEGON, THE QUESTION.
UM, FIRST I WANTED TO THINK, UM, CRITICAL WORK.
DURING THIS TIME, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING, UM, SEVERAL WEEKS.
UM, I KNOW YOU'RE INVESTIGATING AND ESCALATING THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING.
UM, AND I KNOW IT'S TAKING ITS TOLL MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, ET CETERA.
I WANTED TO, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.
UM, BUT THEN I WANTED TO ASK, FOR SOME CLARITY, YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE 59 COMPLAINTS THAT WERE USED FROM MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
MANY OF WHICH I'M ASSUMING ARE FROM THE WEEKEND.
UM, I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND IF THOSE REPRESENT 159 DIFFERENT INCIDENTS, OR IF THEY COVER THE SAME INCIDENT, TO THE EXTENT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE 250 COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO JUSTIN HAMMOND.
SO CAN YOU HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
SO, UM, WE RECEIVED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMUNITY VIA OUR ONLINE COMPLAINT FORM, UM, EMAILS AND CALLS.
AND SO OUR PROCESS IS, IS WE REVIEW THEM.
UM, GENERALLY IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THEY WOULD HAVE VIDEO ATTACHED.
WE WOULD REVIEW THE VIDEO, WE REVIEW POLICY.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS THAT IT'S STAFFED INTERNALLY AND THEN, UM, DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT WE SEE ANY POTENTIAL POLICY VIOLATIONS.
AND THEN WE DRAFT WHAT'S CALLED A NOTICE OF FORMAL COMPLAINT, AND IT'S BASICALLY AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT FORM THAT SEND TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY LEAD TO AN INVESTIGATION.
AND SO THAT 159, THAT 159 THAT I MENTIONED IS NOTICED AS A FORMAL COMPLAINT THAT WE SENT TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
WE'VE HAD MUCH MORE CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY THAN THAT, THAT LARGER NUMBER I DON'T REALLY HAVE AT THIS MOMENT, BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT WITH YOU ON THAT.
UM, BUT IN TERMS OF FORMAL COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE SENT TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS, THAT NUMBER IS 159.
WHEN I WAS REFERRING TO THE, UM, 250 IN OUR INBOX, WE HAVE 250 OVER 250 EMAILS THAT SPECIFICALLY RELATE TO THE INCIDENT INVOLVING JUSTIN HALL, UM, AND 30 VOICEMAILS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THAT.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT GENERALLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING, UM, THROUGH CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE VARIOUS MEANS THE COMPLAINT FORM, EMAIL AND PHONE CALL THAT WE PUT THEM IN KIND OF THREE BUCKETS, WHICH IS THE INCIDENTS RELATED TO BRETT IOLA, SARAH NIKA, MARTIN, AND JUSTIN HOWL, UM, THE EXCESSIVE FORCE BUCKET.
[09:10:01]
YOU JUST THE USE OF THE, UM, THE, THE LESS LETHAL ROUNDS AND THE PEPPER SPRAY? AND SO THERE IS OVERLAP WITH THE COMPLAINTS.AND SO WE'VE BEEN SENDING THEM DOWN, UM, BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS COMING FORWARD.
WE'VE BEEN SENDING TO THEM DOING GENERAL AFFAIRS.
UM, BUT THERE, THERE IS OVERLAP WITH THE COMPLAINTS IN TERMS OF, UM, RELATING TO SPECIFIC INCIDENTS.
UH, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? DOES THAT CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT? SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY 159 DIFFERENT INCIDENTS, LIKE 10 OF THEM MAY SPECIFICALLY RELATE TO BRETT IO.
I'M JUST USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE.
I DON'T HAVE THIS SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN, UM, BUT THEY'RE NOT 159 DIFFERENT INCIDENCES, BUT THEY'RE ALL RELATED TO THE PROTEST, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
I GUESS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC INCIDENTS THAT WE'VE RIGHTLY HEARD A LOT ABOUT.
AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THERE WERE OTHER INCIDENCES THAT WE HADN'T HEARD ABOUT THAT WERE REPRESENTED IN THAT 159 AND HOW THOSE THREE OR FOUR SPECIFIC ONES WHERE WE HAD A LOT MORE PUBLICITY ABOUT HOW THEY WERE REPRESENTED IN.
SO THERE ARE OTHER INCIDENCES THAT ARE CONCERNING THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS.
SO I MIGHT LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT WE CAN DO THAT OFFLINE.
AND THEN, UM, DID HE MANAGE YOUR RESPONSE EARLIER QUESTION? I THINK IT WAS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR STAFF HAD THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO CARRY OUT THESE INVESTIGATIONS.
UM, AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION LAST FRIDAY BEFORE THE PROTEST ABOUT MY CONCERN ABOUT HOW THE FREEZE WAS POTENTIALLY IMPACTING THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.
UM, WHAT STEPS HAVE YOU TAKEN SINCE I RAISED THAT ON FRIDAY SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT IS ABLE TO HAVE ITS STAFF AND OBVIOUSLY GIVEN THE PROTESTS, THERE'S LIKELY A NEED FOR MORE RESET THAT QUINN'S QUESTIONING COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND AFTER WE HAD OUR DISCUSSION, I IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED UP WITH OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER TO ENSURE THAT IF THERE WERE REQUESTS, UH, AND TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES WERE AVAILABLE.
UH, AND SO THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED UP ON.
UM, AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CHIEF MANLEY.
UM, SO I APPRECIATED THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SHARED, UM, ABOUT CHANGING THE PROTOCOL FOR OFFICERS, UM, SPEAKING INTO THEIR BODY WORN CAMERAS BEFORE FIRING THESE LESS LETHAL ARMS. BUT I THINK I ALSO HEARD YOU SAY EACH OFFICER WHO FIRED ONE OF THESE ROUNDS COMPLETED A REPORT FOLLOWING THE EVENTS THAT VERY EVENING.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME IF YOU HAVE REPORTS FROM THE OFFICERS WHO FIRED ON INDIVIDUALS LIKE BRATTY GALA, JUSTIN HOWL AND NIKA MART? SO JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR WHEN I WAS EXPLAINING IT, THEY WON'T SPEAK INTO THEIR BODY CAMERA BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION, BUT IF THEY DO TAKE ACTION THAT THEY WOULD SPEAK INTO THEIR BODY CAMERA ABOUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED THAT WAY AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, THEY COULD WRITE A REPORT.
UH, I DO NOT KNOW FOR CERTAINTY THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE OFFICER SPECIFICALLY IN THOSE THREE CASES.
I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE IN TWO OF THEM, BUT I'M NOT CERTAIN.
AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH.
UM, AND AS FOLLOWUP, AS YOU JUST SAID, YOU'RE SORTING THROUGH THE FOOTAGE, ET CETERA, BUT, UM, WHEN WILL THAT VIDEO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND WHEN WILL THE OFFICER'S CULPABLE FOR A SHOOTING BYSTANDERS BE IDENTIFIED AND WHEN THEY'RE IDENTIFIED, WHAT IS THE COURSE OF ACTION? SO THAT'LL ALL DEPEND UPON THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
SO SIU IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENTS THAT I'VE DISCUSSED.
THERE WILL BE A CONCURRENT INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION IN THOSE INCIDENTS AS WELL.
AND VIDEO WOULD BE DEPENDENT UPON THE, UH, INVEST THE STATE OF THE INVESTIGATION, PLUS OUR WORK WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, IF THEY'RE GOING TO REVIEW THIS AS WELL AND WHAT THE APPROPRIATE TIMELINE WOULD BE FOR RELEASE SO THAT IT WOULDN'T JEOPARDIZE ANY OF THE INVESTIGATIVE INTEGRITY.
SO I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN EXACT TIMELINE FOR WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
IF I MAY COUNCIL MEMBER JUST BOTH THE CHIEF MYSELF DISTRICT ATTORNEY KNOW THAT THE TIMING OF THIS IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE.
AND SO WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT THE SWIFT RELEASE OF THEM AS SOON AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
UM, AND THEN CHIEF QUESTION FOR YOU IS HOW IS THE RIOTOUS BEHAVIOR DEFINED? UM, I ASK FOR MANY REASONS, ONE BEING THE VIDEO, I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN OF OFFICERS BEING SPRAYED WITH WATER AND RESPONDING WITH IMPACT MUNITIONS AT A CLOSE RANGE.
[09:15:01]
UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THIS INCIDENT AND HOW THAT FITS INTO THE STANDARDS YOU SHARED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CASAR ON THE USE OF FORCE DEFINE RIOTOUS BEHAVIOR? SURE.SO, UH, RIOTOUS BEHAVIOR, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A VERBATIM DEFINITION, BUT IT'S THE THINGS LIKE WHEN YOU'RE IN THE LARGE GROUP, THERE'S A PENAL CODE DEFINITION THAT HAS A MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO, FOR ENGAGING IN RIOTOUS BEHAVIOR.
BUT THEN THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE THINGS LIKE THROWING OBJECTS AT, UM, OFFICERS THROWING THE ROCKS.
UH, WE HAD, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE CAR SET ON FIRE.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS FEED INTO THE, THE DECISION OF WHETHER THAT IS RIOTOUS BEHAVIOR, BUT THE TEXAS PENAL CODE HAS A DEFINITION FOR RIOT.
AND YOU'LL SET, I CAN LOOK THAT UP AND GET THAT TO YOU.
BUT, UH, HERE IN THIS MOMENT, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT, OKAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT SHOOTING WHATEVER THEY WERE SHOOTING IS THE RIGHT THINGS TO BE SHOOTING WHEN YOU'RE GETTING SPRAYED WATER.
OBVIOUSLY THERE MAY BE MORE INFORMATION FOR THAT INSTANCE INSTANCE.
UM, SO IN THINKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT, I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY THE WAY THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON FRAMED SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH.
AND THIS WAS KIND OF ECHOING SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE HAD SAID.
UM, NAMELY, UM, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN HAVE A PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND WE CAN HAVE GOOD OFFICERS ON THE FORCE.
UM, AND THOSE TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, WE'VE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF EMAILS OVER THE WEEK, AND SOME OF THOSE DO COMMUNICATE A NEED FOR US TO SUPPORT THE POLICE AND TO SUPPORT YOU CHIEF MANLEY SPECIFICALLY.
UM, DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO ASSESS THE SITUATION, EXAMINE WHAT WENT WRONG AND IDENTIFY NEEDED REFORMS WHILE STILL BEING SUPPORTIVE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF? I REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE ON HOW WE MIGHT DO THAT.
UM, BECAUSE WE CLEARLY HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT MOST OFFICERS ARE APPROACH THEIR, THEIR DUTY AS PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL OF AUSTIN.
UM, AND I'M REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE, HOW WE CAN APPROACH THAT AND, AND, AND COUNSEL COUNCIL MEMBER.
YOUR QUESTION IS HOW DO WE AFFECT REFORM IS, AND I'M SORRY, I WAS TRYING TO FOLLOW THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I ANSWER THE RIGHT QUESTION.
SO, I MEAN, I THINK IT GETS AT A BROADER, BROADER ISSUE AND I'M TRYING TO STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS, UM, BRIEFING, WHICH WAS, WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, PRESENTED TO US AS IF WE WERE SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT THE PROTEST.
UM, BUT MY QUESTION IS REALLY A BROADER ONE IN THE CON IN THE CONTEXT OF EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING AND EVERYTHING, UM, THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN WORKING ON, BUT TO MAKE IT SPECIFIC TO THIS PROTEST, UM, HOW DO WE, HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WE DO BELIEVE IN HOW WOULD WE ASSESS THE SITUATION EXAMINING WHAT WRONG, WHAT WENT WRONG AND IDENTIFY THE REFORMS, AND HOW WOULD WE DO THAT IN A WAY THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF? SO FIRST I'M GOING TO TRY, SO TELL ME IF I, IF I'M GETTING, I THINK FIRST WE HAVE TO DO A CRITICAL AFTER ACTION REVIEW AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AT EACH STEP OF THE WAY, AND IT, IT IT'LL BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH HAPPENING.
IT WAS HAPPENING AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS WHILE WE WERE DEALING WITH PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS THAT, UH, THE OFFICERS WERE DEALING WITH AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAD PEOPLE UP ON
SO WE'RE, WE'RE GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND THERE MAY BE BEEN A MARCH AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE'VE GOTTA BE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER A THOROUGH AFTER ACTION REVIEW, LOOKING AT HOW WE HANDLED EACH OF THOSE INCIDENTS, WHETHER THEY WERE OCCURRING, UM, CONCURRENTLY OR IN SUCCESSION OR W OR, OR HOWEVER, AND THEN IF THERE ARE AREAS THAT WE IDENTIFY AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, WE HAVE TO, AND HOW DO WE DO THIS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY'S CONCERNS IN MIND? I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS REALIZE THAT THE POLICIES HAVE TO REFLECT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE ENTRUSTED TO CARE FOR, BUT ALSO THE SAFETY OF THE OFFICERS WHILE THEY'RE CARRYING OUT THEIR DUTIES.
AND SO I THINK IT'S THAT BALANCING ACT AS WELL.
SO, UM, I GUESS I, I, I, WHEN I HEAR, HEAR WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND KIND OF DIGEST IT THINGS FROM THIS MORNING, UM, BUT IT, IT DOES SEEM LIKE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INCIDENCES AND COMPLAINTS, UM, AND, AND TRYING TO
[09:20:01]
FIGURE OUT HOW WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST ISOLATED ERROR MISTAKES, BUT THERE'S A CULTURAL INSTRUCTIONAL PROBLEM.AND, AND WE TALK ABOUT THE POLICIES AND THE POLICIES ARE IMPORTANT.
UM, BUT WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE CULTURE AND HOW WE CHANGE THAT, THAT CULTURE.
AND I THINK THAT'S, UM, JUST SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT HOW, HOW WE DO THAT.
UM, FROM WHAT YOU KNOW, CHIEF, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE ARE HEARING AND SEEING, UM, FROM THIS WEEKEND JUST REPRESENTS ISOLATED INSTANCES THAT ARE PART OF AIR OR MISTAKE, OR DO YOU AGREE THAT WE NEED INSTITUTIONAL REFORM? I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO START WITH, WITH THE EARLIER PART OF THAT QUESTION OR COMMENT MAYBE, AND THAT IS THE NEED FOR CULTURAL CHANGE AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE OPEN TO THE REVIEW AND WE ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGING IN THAT REVIEW.
THE TATUM REPORT IDENTIFIED SOME THINGS THAT WE ARE ALL WORKING ON AS A DEPARTMENT IN A, IN AN ATTEMPT TO FURTHER MOVE INTO THAT DIRECTION.
WE HAVE ENTERED INTO A, UH, AGREEMENT WITH A LOCAL CONSULTANT THAT DOES WORK SPECIFICALLY IN THIS FIELD ABOUT COMING IN AND DOING A, A CULTURE ASSESSMENT ON THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
NOW, THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE TATUM REPORT ITSELF, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAY GROW OUT OF THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE CULTURE OF THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE OCCURRENCES OF THIS WEEKEND, UH, SHOULD LEAD PEOPLE TO BELIEVE AUTOMATICALLY THAT THERE'S A CULTURE PROBLEM.
WE HAD OUR OFFICERS, UH, IN VERY UNCERTAIN SITUATIONS, SITUATIONS THAT WERE EXTREMELY DYNAMIC THAT WE HAVE NOT FACED HERE BEFORE IN MY 30 YEARS.
AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO CLICK ON THE NATIONAL NEWS FOR 15 MINUTES TO SEE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER CITIES THAT ARE GRAPPLING WITH THIS VERY SAME ISSUE WHERE POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN CALLED IN TO QUELL THESE, WHAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PEACEFUL PROTESTS, BUT THAT GOT CO-OPTED OR SOME THAT WERE MEANT TO BE WHAT THEY WERE.
AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THIS COUNTRY ARE GOING TO BE DOING A LOT OF SELF ANALYSIS.
AND I THINK AS A PERCENT PROFESSION, WE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF SELF REFLECTION.
THIS WILL BE ONE OF THOSE WATERSHED MOMENTS.
I THINK FOR OUR PROFESSION THAT WE LEARN FROM GROW FROM AND ARE BETTER FOR IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WE, WE, AND HERE WE WILL BE COMMITTED TO ENGAGING IN THAT.
I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PROTESTS DID NOT COME IN A VACUUM FOR AUSTIN, AND WE'VE BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, WORKING AS A COUNCIL, UM, TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
THE VERY FACT THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THE ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS, WHICH IS GOING TO HELP IS THE FUNCTION OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
UM, AND THERE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THAT.
UM, BUT, BUT THERE'S, THERE IS A BROADER CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH THIS, UM, IS HAPPENING.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE IT.
UM, SO MY VERY LAST QUESTION IS TO MR. ARIANO, WHO IS THE ACM IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND WE'VE NOT HEARD MUCH FROM YOU IN GENERALLY.
I HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT FROM YOU ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR MANAGERIAL ROLE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CARRYING OUT, UM, THE POLICY THAT WE SET AS COUNSEL.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SEE AS YOUR ROLE AND WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING, UM, AND KIND OF WHAT LESSONS YOU'VE TAKEN FROM THE MANY RESOLUTIONS WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT HAVE ASKED FOR SOME REFORM OF SOME SORT, UM, MANY OF WHICH ADMITTEDLY ARE STILL IN MOTION, AND WE ARE AHEAD OF SOME OTHER CITIES AND DOING, UM, BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE BUCK STOPS HERE AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
IN MANY WAYS, I OPERATE BEHIND THE SCENES SERVING AS THE INTERFACE, IF YOU WILL, FROM THE CITY MANAGER WITH THE CHIEF.
UH, AND I, I STRONGLY WORK WITH CHIEF, UH, TO, IN ORDER TO SEE HOW WE MIGHT BEST IMPLEMENT THE COUNCIL POLICIES THAT ARE ENACTED AS WELL AS BALANCING THE CHIEF INFORMS ME ABOUT IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING HIS OFFICER SAFE.
AND SO AGAIN, I REITERATE THE COMMITMENT THAT I HAVE IN ORDER TO SEE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REACT TO WHAT WE'VE HEARD AND EXPERIENCED OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, AND, UH, COMMIT THAT THESE CHANGES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, UH, THAT WE, THAT YOU NEED TO BE DONE.
UH, AND CERTAINLY I CAN TAKE A MUCH MORE VISIBLE PRESENCE IN THIS REGARD.
I MEAN, I THINK THESE HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH IT DIDN'T TAKE THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEKEND TO
[09:25:01]
HAVE YOU DO THE JOB THAT IS YOUR JOB, WHICH IS TO HELP US IMPLEMENT THE POLICY AND TO HOLD FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE, THAT ARE UNDER YOU.REMEMBER ELLIS, I THINK WAS THERE.
UM, GOSH, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT, IT'S A LOT TO GO OVER.
UM, I WANT TO, I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE USAGE.
SO OF THESE, WHAT UNQUOTE LESS LETHAL BULLETS.
WE'VE OBVIOUSLY SEEN THAT THEY'RE PUTTING PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL THAT CAN KILL PEOPLE.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT TERMINOLOGY IS APPROPRIATE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO DETERMINES HOW MUCH THE OFFICERS ARE CARRYING ON THEM.
AND WHEN THEY'RE DEPLOYED, IS THAT AN OFFICER BY OFFICER BASIS, OR IS THERE SOME SORT OF PROCESS AND INVENTORY TO WHAT IS APPROPRIATE WHEN YOU'RE GOING INTO A CITY LIKE THIS WITH UNARMED CIVILIANS? SO THE OPERATIONAL PLAN THAT I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS THAT WOULD OUTLINE WHO THE COMMAND STRUCTURE IS, WHO THE COMMANDER OR ASSISTANT CHIEF IS RUNNING THE OPERATION.
HOW MANY OFFICERS WILL BE THERE, WHETHER THERE WILL BE TEAMS LIKE THE SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM, THE BICYCLE PUBLIC ORDER TEAM, AND THEN WITHIN THAT WOULD BE THE, THE ASSIGNMENT OF ROLES, AS FAR AS WHO CARRIES, WHICH PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THE SRT IS VERY DETAILED IN.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT A SQUAD WILL CONSIST OF, WHAT A PLATOON WILL CONSIST OF.
AND WITHIN THAT SQUAD, YOU'LL HAVE OFFICERS THAT DON'T CARRY ANYTHING.
SO THEREFORE THEIR HANDS ARE FREE SO THAT YOU CAN JUST ENGAGE SOMEONE WITH YOUR HANDS.
UM, IF YOU WERE TO TRY AND PLAY SOMEBODY IN HANDCUFFS ALL THE WAY UP TO OFFICERS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO CARRY THE IMPACT MUNITIONS AS WELL.
SO THAT'S ALL DEFINED IN THE, UM, IN THE OPERATIONS PROTOCOLS FOR THE, THOSE TEAMS. AND CAN YOU DEFINE SRT FOR, FOR US AND FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE TERMINOLOGY? SO THE SRT IS OUR SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM, AND THIS IS THE ONE WE SAID THEIR MOTTO IS DEFEND THE FIRST.
SO THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN INSIGHT.
THIS IS OUR TEAM THAT IS REALLY TRAINED TO HANDLE PROTEST, FREE SPEECH TYPES EVENTS, UM, THAT HAPPENED IN AUSTIN SO FREQUENTLY.
AND THEIR ROLE IS TO KEEP THOSE EVENTS SAFE, TO ALLOW THEM TO TAKE PLACE.
OFTENTIMES, AS WE KNOW, THERE WILL BE COUNTERING OPINIONS, THERE'LL BE A PROTEST AND A COUNTER PROTEST.
SO IS EITHER THE GROUPS THAT GO IN THERE AND TRY AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EVERYBODY CAN COME OUT, CAN SPEAK OUT, SPEAK AGAINST WHAT'S BEING SAID AND DO SO SAFELY.
AND IS THERE ANY KIND OF INVENTORY? SO IN A SITUATION LIKE WE SAW THIS WEEKEND, THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW, HOW MUCH WAS FIRED BY OFFICERS.
I DON'T KNOW, WITH THIS LAST WEEKEND, WHETHER WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET AN EXACT AMOUNT, BUT TYPICALLY WHEN AN OFFICER UTILIZES THAT, UH, THAT WEAPONS SYSTEM, THE LESS LETHAL MUNITION, WHEN THEY GO AND WRITE THEIR REPORT, THERE'S A DETAILS PAGE WHERE YOU DOCUMENT THE PERSON ON WHOM YOU USE THAT FORCE ON A RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE YOUR DOCUMENTS, SPECIFIC INFORMATION, RACE, GENDER, AGE, AND THEN IN THERE IS ALSO NUMBER OF SHOTS FIRED.
SO TYPICALLY YES, THAT INFORMATION IS GATHERED WITH THE WAY THE WEEKEND WENT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF, UM, WHAT PORTION OF APDS BUDGET IS FOR THESE LESS LETHAL TYPES OF, OF ROUNDS? NOT, NOT HERE TODAY? I DO NOT.
I'D BE INTERESTED IN THAT, CAUSE I'M JUST REALLY CONCERNED WITH THE INDISCRIMINATE NATURE.
IT SEEMS THAT SOME OF THESE EVENTS TOOK PLACE, UM, IS BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE GOING TO BE RELEASED OR WHO DECIDES WHEN THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? WELL, THAT'LL KIND OF GO BACK TO THE EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE REVIEW INTO THESE INCIDENTS.
AND, UH, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AS I SAID, IS LOOKING INTO SOME OF THESE.
SO AT THAT POINT WHERE WE THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE, IF IT WOULD NOT IMPACT, IF IT WOULD NOT, UM, UH, JEOPARDIZE ANY ONGOING INVESTIGATION.
AND THEN IF IT MEETS THE DEFINITIONS UNDER STATE LAW ABOUT RELEASABLE VIDEO, THEN WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY RELEASE THAT, THAT EARLY ON 180 DAY RULE WITHOUT APPLY TO SOME OF THIS, SOME OF THESE OCCURRENCES, YES, THE 180 DAY RULE WILL APPLY TO THESE INCIDENTS.
SO IF IT TAKES LONGER THAN 180 DAYS, WE MIGHT NOT GET INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
IF IT TAKES LONGER 180 DAYS BY CIVIL SERVICE LAW, THE MAXIMUM DISCIPLINE THAT AN OFFICER CAN FACE WOULD BE A WRITTEN REPRIMAND.
SO THAT'S THE BIG, THAT'S THE BIG CONSTRAINT UNDER CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
AND IS THAT CIVIL SERVICE LAW? SOMETHING THAT WE HANDLED IT THROUGH THE CONTRACT OR IS THAT SET AT THE STATE LEVEL? OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? SO THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW IS SET AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT THAT IS NEGOTIATED
[09:30:01]
EVERY THREE OR FOUR YEARS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE APA THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.SO OFTENTIMES, UH, WHAT, WHAT CITY LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT WANTS IS TO HAVE OFFICERS FOREGO SOME OF THEIR RIGHTS THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO THEM UNDER CIVIL SERVICE LAW, AND THEN THE APA REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT.
THE OFFICERS WILL HAVE THINGS THEY WANT IN RETURN FOR THAT.
SO THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO RIGHTS THAT ARE GUARANTEED UNDER CIVIL SERVICE.
YOU EITHER HAVE TO GO LOBBY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE CIVIL SERVICE LAW, OR YOU HAVE TO HANDLE IT HERE DURING MEET CONFER DISCUSSIONS.
AND I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT DID COME UP THE LAST TIME THE POLICE CONTRACT WAS BEING DISCUSSED.
I DO REMEMBER THAT THE ONE 80 DID COME UP, BUT THERE WAS NO, THERE WAS NO REVISIONS.
AND THEN THERE'S, THERE IS ONE, UM, THERE IS ONE EXCEPTION THAT IF THE INCIDENT BEING INVESTIGATED HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR BEING CRIMINAL, THEN I CAN, PRIOR TO THE 180TH DAY, SEND A LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I NEED TO HOLD OFF ON MAKING ANY DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS BASED ON THE ONGOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
AND SO THAT'S THE ONLY, UH, THAT'S THE ONLY REAL EXCEPTION TO THAT THOUGH.
AND, UM, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU, AS THE CHIEF IDENTIFIED THAT RULES HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND YOU DECIDE THAT SOMEONE IS NOT ABLE TO SERVE ANYMORE AS A POLICE OFFICER, WHAT DOES THE PROCESS BEYOND THAT LOOK LIKE? SO THE WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS HERE IS THE POLICE CHIEF HAS THE ABILITY TO INDEFINITELY SUSPEND AN OFFICER.
AND THAT'S THE, THAT'S OUR TERM FOR FIRE, UM, FOR FIRING SOMEONE.
BUT THEN THAT OFFICER HAS THE RIGHT TO GO TO ARBITRATION.
AND SO THEY CAN TAKE THAT BEFORE A THIRD PARTY, UH, ADMINISTRATOR, UM, AND, UH, AND, AND DO A ARBITRATION.
SO AN ARBITRATOR WOULD SIT OVER THAT THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS THAT LET YOU GO TO THE COURTS INSTEAD OF TO THE ARBITRATOR, BUT OFFICERS ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTEST A CHIEF'S DECISION.
AND THEN THE DECISION OF THAT RULING BODY, NORMALLY AN ARBITRATOR IS THE DECISION THAT STANDS WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS OF NOTE TO ME, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT RECENTLY YOU DID ACTUALLY FIRE TWO OFFICERS WHO WERE SHELLED TO BE LYING WHEN THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE WAS RELEASED.
AND THERE WAS NEWS RECENTLY THAT THEY ARE NOW BACK ON THE FORCE WITH BACK-PAY.
AND I SEE THAT AS A PLACE WHERE YOU SAW SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND YOU MADE AN APPROPRIATE CALL.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO DAYLIGHT WHILE WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT THIS DISCUSSION, BUT THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE, WHERE THERE IS AN ACTION BY AN OFFICER THAT IS NOT ACCORDING TO PROTOCOL, AND THERE ARE STILL SOME OTHER RULES AT PLAY THAT ARE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, UNDERSTAND THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE POLICE FORCE.
AND, AND, AND THAT THERE ARE STATE RULES AND, UM, OTHER LEVELS OF COURTS AND GOVERNMENTS THAT, THAT SOMETIMES GO AGAINST THE WISHES OF A, OF A POLICE CHIEF.
SO I, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE THIS WEEKEND.
WE NEED TO BE PROVIDING A SAFER SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF COLOR TO BE ABLE TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE USE OF THESE LESS LETHAL BULLETS.
THEY, THEY ARE THERE, THAT'S A, THAT'S A SOFT WORD FOR WHAT THESE THINGS DO.
AND IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY EARLIER, UM, IS THE BEANBAG BULLET GOING TO BE DISCONTINUED, OR IS THAT GOING TO BE A DISCONTINUED ON, UM, CERTAIN BASIS TYPE OF DECISION? AND CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THAT? YOU MAY HAVE SAID IT AND I MISSED IT.
THE LANGUAGE WILL BASICALLY PROHIBITED BEING USED IN A CROWD IN A CROWD SITUATION.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WOULDN'T FIRE INTO, INTO A CROWD.
IT IS STILL A VERY USEFUL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR OFFICERS TO HAVE, BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LESS LETHAL OPTION THAT WITHOUT THAT LESLEY FILL OPTION, THEY MIGHT HAVE TO REVERT TO THE NEXT LEVEL UP.
THE ONLY OTHER REALLY LESS LETHAL OPTION OFFICERS HAVE THAT PROVIDES THAT STANDOFF DISTANCE.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE UP CLOSE IS OUR TASER, BUT IF MEMORY SERVES ME, RIGHT, I THINK THOSE ARE ONLY 21 FEET LONG.
THE CABLES THAT, THAT ATTACHED TO THOSE, AND THEN A PEPPER SPRAY HAS A LIMITED RANGE AS WELL.
SO IT IS A TOOL THAT, UH, IN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES PROVIDES OFFICERS WITH AN EXTRA WAY TO APPROACH A SITUATION WITH, UH, WITH, WITH, WITHOUT HAVING TO ENGAGE.
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK WHAT, YOU KNOW, THESE, AS PEOPLE ARE SEEING WHAT THESE BEAN BAG BULLETS REALLY ARE AND HOW MUCH MEDICAL DAMAGE THEY CAN DO TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HIT BY THEM.
AND I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY CONCERNING.
I KNOW ONE WAS USED SHORTLY BEFORE MIKE RAMOS HIS DEATH AND SEEING WHAT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE PEOPLE
[09:35:01]
WHO ARE HIT BY THEM THIS WEEKEND.I JUST CANNOT IMAGINE ANYONE BEING HIT BY ONE AND THEN DECIDING TO START VOLUNTARILY COMPLYING.
AND I THINK THAT'S JUST A MATTER OF POLICE PROCESS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING.
UM, AND, AND I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT SOME OF THE RULES YOU'VE CHANGED ALREADY.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GET TO THE EIGHT, THE EIGHT RULES THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO ASSIST WITH THE ESCALATION.
I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT DEESCALATION PROTOCOLS SO THAT THE OFFICERS AREN'T THE FIRST ONES SHOWING UP.
IF IT IS A SITUATION OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, LIKE MR. DESANTIS, UM, WE, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THIS MORE COMPREHENSIVELY.
WE DO NEED TO BE CHANGING SOME RULES AND SOME OF THE FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING ON WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS AND TO LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT GAVE US THEIR HEARTFELT RESPONSES YESTERDAY.
I'M GOING TO GIVE A QUICK COMMENT HERE MYSELF, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE'VE ADDRESSED THE, SOME OF THE SPECIFICS, UH, CERTAINLY WITH RESPECT TO THE, TO THE NOT SO USE, BUT I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON, UH, A LITTLE BIT LARGER, UH, CONTEXT.
UM, UH, AND I, I DIRECTED TO THE, TO THE THREE OF YOU, RIGHT.
AND MANAGER, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND PAST WEEKEND THAT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE, OR LOOK LIKE AUSTIN.
I HAD, I THINK THAT, UH, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE, ARE REACTING TO THAT TO SOME DEGREE.
UH, IT JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THE AUSTIN THAT WE ASPIRE TO BE.
I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S A CHANGE IN POLICY WITH RESPECT TO FIRING GUNS AT AUSTINITES THAT GATHERED TO PROTEST.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THERE BE REVIEW AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL THE VIDEOS AND THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE HEARD.
UH, BUT THE TROUBLE IN MY HEART GOES BEYOND THE SPECIFIC ANALYSIS OF ANY PARTICULAR OFFICER'S CONDUCT AT ANY MOMENT.
ALTHOUGH IT CERTAINLY INCLUDES THAT AUSTIN IS A PROGRESSIVE CARING, INNOVATIVE, FRIENDLY, AND SUPPORTIVE CITY, AND WE NEED A POLICE FORCE THAT AND CONDUCT PRACTICE, AND THEN SPIRIT, UM, UH, IS, IS, IS PART AND PARCEL OF THAT.
WE NEED A POLICE FORCE THAT, THAT SUPPORTS AND IMPLEMENTS AND SHARES, UH, THAT AUSTIN CULTURE TO WHICH WE ASPIRE.
UH, SO, UM, TRYING TO PUT THE DECISIONS AND PRACTICES WEEKEND INTO THAT HARDER CONTEXT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANTICIPATE AT ANY POINT IN TIME, EVERY DECISION THAT HAS TO BE MADE AS PEOPLE ARE, ARE OUT THERE, THEIR, THEIR JOBS AND THEIR DUTY AFTER THE CITY, UH, ADOPTED A POLICY THAT ENDED CURFEWS FOR, FOR ADOLESCENTS.
AND THERE WAS A DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BECAUSE IT WAS INITIALLY SEEN AS A TOOL THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE POLICE TO HAVE WE NEEDED A POLICE FORCE THAT MOVES INTO THAT NEW POLICY ONCE THE CITY, UM, UH, TAKES IT AND YOU, AND THE FORCE DID THAT.
UH, AND, AND, AND IT WORKED REALLY WELL FOR THE BENEFIT OF, UM, AFTER ALL THE DEBATE AND THE DISCUSSION WAS OVER, UH, AND, AND THE CITY DID, UH, AND ADOPT A POLICY THAT'S THAT SEEKS TO DECRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS.
ALSO A RACE ISSUE GIVEN THAT ALMOST HALF THE FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE BLACK.
UM, WE NEED A POLICE FORCE THAT REALLY LEANS INTO THAT NEW POLICY.
I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT WORK AT ALL LEVELS.
AND I DID NOT FEEL LIKE WE HAD A REAL PARTNER, UH, IN, IN THAT REGARD AFTER THE CITY ADOPTS A POLICY ON A LEVEL OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES LIKE WE DID WITH MARIJUANA POSSESSION, FOR MANY OF THE EQUITY AND ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW IN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE, UH, COMING FROM THE SAME PLACE.
UH, WE NEED A PLACE FOR US, AGAIN, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT ADOPTS AND, AND, AND SUPPORTS AND TRIES TO FURTHER THAN THAT, THAT POLICY DIRECTION THAT THE CITY HAS HAS TAKEN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I THINK WHAT WE, WHAT WE WANT AND NEED ARE OUR PRACTICES AND VISUALS, UH, FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT, THAT ARE SEEN AS BEING WITH AND SUPPORTING THE PROTESTING COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY,
[09:40:01]
UH, CAUSE THAT'S WHO THIS COMMUNITY IS.AND THERE WERE MOMENTS OF THAT THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, AND THEY WERE GREAT TO, TO SEE AND, AND REAFFIRMING, IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THE DOMINANT CONDUCT OR THE DOMINANT MESSAGE.
I RECOGNIZE AS I THINK WE ALL DO THE NEED FOR OUR OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO BE SAFE AND TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AND THE POLICE STATION, ESPECIALLY AGAINST CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT DOING THAT SOMETIMES IS GOING TO CREATE AN IMAGE OR A VISUAL THAT'S HARD.
UH, THAT'S JUST PART OF THAT REALITY, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT IS PRESENT, THERE NEEDS TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED AND DELIBERATE AND INTENTIONAL EFFORT BY EVERYBODY ON THE FORCE TO MORE THAN BALANCE THAT WITH ACTUAL CONDUCT AND TANGIBLE AND VISUAL MESSAGING TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE, OR THAT WE TRULY BECOME AS THE SIGN SAYS, HANGING ON THE, ON THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, AUSTIN, ONE COMMUNITY SAFER TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THAT GOES TO A, TO A LARGER ISSUE.
THERE'LL BE TRUST IN THIS COMMUNITY TO THE DEGREE THAT THE FEELS THAT OUR POLICE FORCE AND EVERYONE WORKING IN THE CITY INTERNALIZES AND IS MOTIVATED BY THE PROGRESSIVE CITY POLICIES THAT ARE THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
AND THEN I ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF SOME GLAD TO HAVE A MOMENT TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS A LITTLE MORE FULLY, UM, THANKS TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE ASKED SOME VERY IMPORTANT AND GOOD QUESTIONS THAT I THINK ALL OF US WERE SHARING.
WE, WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS DOING SOME VERY DEEP AND DIFFICULT REFORM WORK ON POLICING.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEPT BEING REPEATED VERY CLEARLY, THAT WE ALL AGREED WITH WAS THAT COMMUNITY TRUST IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO SUCCESSFUL POLICING AND A CRITICAL COMPONENT.
AND THE POINT OF COMMUNITY POLICING CHIEF, I AM, UH, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT TO MAKING CHANGE AND A COMMITMENT TO REFORM.
I DON'T KNOW THAT USING SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HEAR THE PRESIDENT USE IS GOING TO HELP US GET THERE.
THERE ARE CERTAINLY PROVOCATEURS THAT ACT, BUT, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS COMMUNITY IS LOOKING TO HEAR IT DESCRIBED THE WAY THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES IT.
I HAVE HAD MANY CONCERNS LONG BEFORE THIS WEEKEND.
AND ULTIMATELY FOR ME, I THINK THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO CONSIDER A PATH IN THIS MOVEMENT FOR BIG STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND REFORM WHERE YOUR ROLE MAY NOT BE IN THE SEAT THAT YOU ARE IN NOW.
AND IT MIGHT BE, UH, I AM OPEN TO OTHER OPTIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THEM INCLUDING, UH, WHAT YOU MIGHT DO AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
UM, KATHY, AND THEN NATASHA CAN HEAR YOU.
CAN'T TELL YOU HOW ABOUT NOW? YES, YOU'RE FINE.
UM, THANK YOU, TAMARA COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.
I HAVE TRIED TO REVISE MINE SO THAT I'M NOT DUPLICATING THEM, BUT I DO NEED TO INDICATE I HAVE, I HAVE MULTIPLE QUESTIONS, UM, THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF WORK THROUGH.
UM, LET ME START BY SAYING, WELL, LET ME ASK MY QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
UM, CHIEF YOU'VE ADDRESSED, YOU'VE ADDRESSED PROCEDURE AND HAVE ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT, ABOUT PROCEDURES, BUT I'M NOT SURE.
AND IF YOU SAID IT, I MISSED IT.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHEN THE LAST TIME WAS THAT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE POLICING OF PROTESTS
[09:45:01]
WERE REVISED? I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE, CAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT.THERE'S DIFFERENT POLICIES AS FAR AS THE USE OF KINETIC ENERGY PROJECTILES AS A POLICY, BECAUSE THAT CAME INTO PLAY LAST WEEKEND, UM, MOBILE FIELD FORCE.
SO THERE'S NOT LIKE JUST ONE TIME POLICY ON HOW TO MANAGE A PROTEST.
SO I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND TRY AND IDENTIFY WHICH POLICIES WOULD BE RELATIVE TO THAT QUESTION.
AND THEN, AND THEN PROVIDE YOU FEED.
SO LET ME JUST BOOKMARK, UM, I, I BELIEVE WE NEED THAT INFORMATION AND I THINK THAT FEEDS DIRECTLY INTO, INTO WHAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE CALLED FOR, UM, WHICH IS A REAL PLAN FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE.
SO IN ADDITION TO KNOWING WHEN THOSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WERE REVISED LAST, UM, I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW, BUT, UH, WHAT KIND OF BEST PRACTICES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, UM, IN RECENT HISTORY AND I TO REVISE THOSE.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEKEND SHOW VERY CLEARLY THAT THOSE POLICIES NEED REVISION.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE MADE ONE FOR THIS WEEKEND.
UM, IT, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY PROBABLY NEED TO BE BROADER AND WIDER AND SCALE.
UH, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE DISCUSSION OF
OF COURSE, WE WANT TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO ARE OCCUPYING THE ROAD, BUT WE DO REDO CLOSE DOWN.
UM, CAN YOU, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH, CAN YOU ANSWER, UM, UM, I GUESS FOR US, HOW THOUGHTFULLY AND DELIBERATIVELY AND BROADLY, UM, WAS THAT CONVERSATION HAD AHEAD OF TIME ABOUT WHETHER I AGE 35 WOULD BE CUT CLEAR OR WHETHER PROTESTERS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE SUBTLY OCCUPIED? WELL, THAT IS A DISCUSSION THAT WAS HAD AHEAD OF TIME WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE FOR WHAT PROTEST OR ACTIVITY MIGHT TAKE PLACE THAT WOULD DISRUPT THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY.
AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT IF WE LET PROTESTERS TAKE OVER AGE 35, THEN WE HAVE IMPACTED NOT ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT QUALITY OF LIFE AROUND THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND TO WHAT EXTENT DO WE ALLOW THAT TO HAVE HAPPEN? AND THEN WHAT IF TOMORROW WE HAVE A GROUP OF 10 PEOPLE THAT ARE PROTESTING SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THIS LAST WEEKEND WAS ABOUT.
AND THOSE 10 PEOPLE WALK UP ON IHI 35 AND DECIDE THEY WANT TO SIT DOWN, WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE BOUNDARY OVER? WHO GETS TO CLOSE
AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT UNNECESSARILY, BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THERE ARE TIMES IT'S CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS NORMALLY CAREFULLY PLANNED DURING THE NIGHTTIME OVERTIME HOURS TO DO NOT IMPEDE.
AND THEN WHEN WE WERE HAVING MAJOR CONSTRUCTION DONE UP AT THE ONE 83 INTERCHANGE TECH STOCK CAME IN AND ACTUALLY PUT UP BARRIER BARRIERS AND ALL THAT.
SO PEOPLE KNEW WELL AHEAD OF TIME.
AND SO THE DECISION, IT IS A WELL THOUGHT OUT DECISION, BUT IT IS A DECISION THAT WE'VE HAD HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME ABOUT THE, UH, THE NEED TO KEEP THE INTERSTATE OPEN.
AND THAT IS A DISCUSSION THAT I HAD WITH OTHERS AS WELL.
I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO REFLECT ON THOSE, UM, ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IN THOSE WORDS AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS A NECESSARY INSTANCE WHERE A CLOSURE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MORE APPROPRIATE METHOD.
UM, I WANTED TO MOVE ON TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD ABOUT, UM, I, I MAY HAVE MISHEARD YOU, BUT I BELIEVE THAT AT SOME POINT DURING THIS MORNING, YOU INDICATED THAT APD WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS OR THE EXTENT OF THE INJURIES.
AND MY QUESTION IS, IS FOR, FOR YOU OR ACM ARIANO.
UM, CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY APD, IF THAT'S ACCURATE, IF I HEARD THAT ACCURATELY,
[09:50:01]
WHY WASN'T APD INFORMED WMS HAS RESPONSE OF, AND THE VOLUNTEER MEDICS RESPONSE OF THE REALLY SIGNIFICANT, SERIOUS INJURIES THAT WERE BEING, BEING SEEN BY OUR PARAMEDICS AND OUR MEDICS OUT THERE ON THE STREETS AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT MUNITION, WE WERE NOT AWARE, OFTENTIMES WHEN AN OFFICER BE INVOLVED IN A RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE, WE'RE TAKING THAT PERSON INTO IMMEDIATE CUSTODY.SO WE UNDERSTAND WHETHER THERE WAS AN INJURY OR THERE'S A COMPLAINT OF AN INJURY IN THESE CASES.
WE WERE NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES I DON'T KNOW IF EVER TAKING THESE PEOPLE INTO CUSTODY INSTEAD, THEY WOULD RUN AWAY IF THEY WERE IMPACTED OR AS WE'RE LEARNING.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THESE ROUNDS APPARENTLY HIT PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT THE INTENDED, UH, UH, PERSON.
SO I WAS NOT AWARE THAT WE HAD SUCH HIGH LEVEL OF INJURIES.
WE WERE NOT GETTING IMMEDIATE REPORTS.
WE DID KNOW THE NIGHT, UM, UH, WHEN MR. HOWELL WAS INJURED, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY HE WAS, HE WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO US AND WE GOT HIM IMMEDIATELY TO THE AMBULANCE.
BUT MANY OF THESE REPORTS THAT WE'RE GETTING, ESPECIALLY ON THE 10 CASES THAT I SAID, WE'RE TRACKING, THEY CAME IN WELL AFTER THE EVENT, WE WERE GETTING INFORMATION ON MONDAY ON THOSE.
NOW IT MAY HAVE BEEN, IT MAY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO A FEW, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE AN INFORMATION SYSTEM WHERE WE WERE GETTING UPDATED REPORTS FROM, UH, YEAH.
INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING THEMSELVES AT THE HOSPITAL, I GUESS, IS THE BEST WAY TO SAY IT IS CRM, SCM, MARIANO DEPARTMENTS.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THE INFORMATION TRANSFER WAS LIKE BETWEEN EMS AND APD? WHAT I WAS GOING TO ADD TO THE CHEATS REMARKS? THANK YOU.
A, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THAT I WAS GOING TO ANSWER THE CHIEF'S REMARKS IS, IS THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, TO SEE HOW WE MIGHT BETTER CONNECT THAT INFORMATION AS HE DESCRIBED.
UH, WE ARE GENERALLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CROWD.
WE ARE GENERALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE, UH, THE IMPACT TO THE PERSON THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT.
AND SO WE KNOW WHAT, UH, WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MODIFY WHATEVER THE RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE WAS, OR, OR CAN BE, UH, CLEARLY THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, TO SEE HOW HE MIGHT BETTER CONNECT THE INFORMATION, UH, ON A REAL TIME BASIS, RATHER THAN HAVING TO LOOK AT IT SEVERAL DAYS AFTERWARDS.
SO, UM, MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE ALSO, YOU KNOW, I WE'VE SPENT RIGHTLY SPENT A LOT OF TODAY'S CONGRESS DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON THE USE OF IMPACT MUNITION.
AND, AND I, AGAIN, RIGHTLY BECAUSE THE, UH, THE INJURIES WERE, WERE SO SIGNIFICANT AND, YOU KNOW, BUT THE TESTIMONIES THAT WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY, AND AGAIN, VIA EMAIL WERE HORRIFYING, UM, LISTENING TO CHIEF RODRIGUEZ, DESCRIBE THE EXTENT AND IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANCE AND RAMIFICATIONS OF THEM THIS MORNING WAS STOMACH TURNING.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, RIGHTLY I THINK THOSE ARE, ARE THE INSTANCES THAT THAT WILL REQUIRE THE MOST INVESTIGATION IN TERMS OF REVIEWING VIDEOS AND DETERMINING WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE, UM, AND, AND WHY, UM, THEY FIRED AN AND WHY THEY, AT LEAST IN THE CASES WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, APPEAR TO HAVE FILED FIRED, UM, OUTSIDE OF, OF THE TRAINING INSTRUCTIONS THAT I READ IN THE RESPONSE AND THE RESPONSE, UM, FORCE POLICY.
BUT I HOPE THAT, UH, WE'RE ALSO THAT, THAT YOU ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE VIDEOS AND THE OTHER TESTIMONY AND THE OTHER EXAMPLES OF INSTANCES WHERE WE'RE HEARING REPORTS OF OFFICERS VIOLENT, FIRING, UM, PEPPER SPRAY WITH AN EXTREMELY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO, TO PROTESTORS AND LOOKING CAREFULLY AT THOSE INSTANCES AS WELL.
UM, ONE QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN RAISED MULTIPLE TIMES BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WRITING IS WHETHER THERE WAS THOUGHT GIVEN BEHIND USE OF TEAR GAS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN A RESPIRATORY PANDEMIC AS ONE SPEAKER, PUT IT YESTERDAY.
WAS THERE ANY CONVERSATION AROUND THE USE OF THAT TACTIC? UM, IN LIGHT OF, OF THE CURRENT PANDEMIC, WE DID NOT HAVE A DISCUSSION LINKING THE USE OF CS WITH KOBE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE CLEARLY GOTTEN LOTS OF, UM, REQUESTS FOR WHAT, WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND BY THAT, I MEAN, ALL RESIDENTS IN AUSTIN HAVE ASKED US TO DO.
[09:55:01]
HAVE NEVER SEEN HAVING LIVED IN, IN AUSTIN, UM, PROJECTED AND HAVING PARTICIPATED IN PROTESTS FOR DECADES, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE THAT PURE PEOPLE, FEAR VIOLENCE, SORT OF ERUPT.I'VE NEVER, NEVER SEEN A POLICE RESPONSE LIKE THIS.
UM, CERTAINLY I STAND WITH, WITH, UM, MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THAT WE, WE EXPECT OUR OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE AS THEY'RE KEEPING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO, TO RAISE THEIR VOICE AND PROTEST.
I APPRECIATE YOU'VE MAINLY YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING AN IMMEDIATE CHANGE WITH REGARD TO THE POLICY.
UM, ONE IS, UM, POLICE MONITOR MUSKET.
AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE, ARE EXTREMELY BUSY RESPONDING AND EVALUATING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, AND I APPRECIATE IT AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON YOUR STAFF AT, AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME.
UM, IF THAT INFORMATION COULD BE COMMUNICATED TO US IN WRITING, I DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO CAPTURE BACK TO THE STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE CORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF REPORTS AND SOME OF THE OTHER DATA THAT YOU GAVE US EARLIER.
I THINK THAT IS, I WOULD SAY CITY MANAGER, I BELIEVE THAT IS INFORMATION THAT ARE PUBLIC ALSO ON IT SOONER, RATHER THAN LATER, CHIEF MANLEY.
YOU TALKED ABOUT AN AFTER ACTION REPORT, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS TO BE DONE IN A DATA DRIVEN EVIDENCE-BASED AND DELIBERATIVE MANNER.
I WOULD ASK ONE, I WOULD, AS A DIRECT QUESTION, WILL THERE BE A PUBLIC COMPONENT TO THAT? YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ASKED MONITORS MUST GET IN, IS ASKED FOR INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY.
UM, AS YOU'RE DEVELOPING YOUR AFTER ACTION REPORT, I HOPE THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INPUT THAT GOES INTO THAT.
AND SHE JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU IF THAT WAS PART OF YOUR INTENT.
I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THAT WE HAVE NOT PUT TOGETHER THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE'RE GOING TO DO THE AFTER ACTION.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT CAME FORWARD LAST NIGHT IS IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
WE HAVE NOT FRAMED HOW WE'RE GOING TO CARRY THAT OUT YET.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I MAY, I'LL JUST, I'LL COMMIT HERE PUBLICLY TO ENSURING THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC CASE OF, OF, OF WHATEVER WE CAN, UH, THROUGH THAT INVESTIGATION.
SO WE WANT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THIS.
SO THE MANAGER, IT MAY HAVE JUST BEEN ON MY END, BUT I COULDN'T CAPTURE WHAT YOU SAID.
I JUST, I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF, OF YOUR, YOUR QUESTION AND ENSURING THAT WE CAN GET OUT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AS APPROPRIATE, AND I'M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
UM, AND AS I WAS STARTING TO SAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT AN AFTER ACTION REPORT WILL NEED TO BE DELIVERED AND THOROUGH AND WILL TAKE TIME.
I WOULD REQUEST OF YOU MANAGER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, CHIEF MANLEY REFERRED TO AN OPERATIONAL PLAN OF THE POLICE AND GOING INTO THIS, I THINK WE NEED AN OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE.
I THINK THAT IS CLEARLY, UM, SOME OF THE WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS INITIATIVE HAS INITIATED ALREADY AND IS IN PROGRESS.
THE TATUM REPORT GAVE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I HEAR YOU, AND I HEAR YOUR COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENTING.
I BELIEVE WE NEED AN OPERATIONAL CHANGE OR TRANSFER MORE TRANSFORMATIONAL REFORM.
I THINK THAT OPERATIONAL PLAN NEEDS TO IDENTIFY SOME IMMEDIATE SHORT TERM ACTIONS AS CHIEF MANLEY.
YOU HAVE WITH THE CHANGE IN POLICY THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THIS WEEKEND.
I THINK WE NEED SOME NEAR TERM RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOME LONGER TERM ONES.
AND SO MANAGER, I WOULD ASK YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO WORK ON THAT.
IT, IT, IT NEEDS TO REALLY BE IMMEDIATE.
AND SO IT'S FINE FOR IT TO EVOLVE AND TO DEEPEN AND TO, AND TO BECOME BROADER, BUT WE NEED THAT.
WE NEED THAT COMMITMENT FOR IMMEDIATE CHANGE, AND WE NEED IT JUSTICE VERY SOON AS YOU CAN MAKE THAT.
UM, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ALL GOTTEN, UM, FEEDBACK ABOUT, ABOUT, UM, LAST NIGHT'S BOAT WITH REGARD TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE GRANT AND WHAT THAT SIGNIFIED.
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES SPOKE ABOUT IT AT THE TIME I VOTED FOR IT FOR THE REASONS SEVERAL OF THEM SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS, UM, IT WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT ACCEPTING A GRANT WITH A MATCH
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THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY EXISTING SALARY.I WOULD WELCOME MY COLLEAGUES CONVERSATION.
I, I HAVE IN SOME OF THE EMAILS, UM, GATHERED THAT SEVERAL OF YOU ARE WORKING ON, ON RESOLUTIONS AND ACTION FOR NEXT WEEK AND WOULD WELCOME THAT CONVERSATION HERE TODAY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GET A SENSE OF, OF THE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS WE INTEND TO HAVE, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
SO IF ANYONE FEELS COMFORTABLE SHARING SOME OF THOSE DETAILS TODAY, I WOULD, I WOULD WELCOME THAT.
UM, I WANT TO SAY VERY CLEARLY TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
I AM HORRIFIED BY WHAT I SAW IN THE VIDEOS.
NOT ONLY DOES IT NOT, IT DOESN'T LOOK AND FEEL LIKE AUSTIN.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, BUT THOSE, IT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING ANYWHERE, NOT JUST IN AUSTIN.
UM, I CONDEMN THE USE OF THE METHODS AND THE WAY THAT AS I UNDERSTAND THEY WERE APPLIED, UM, WHICH WAS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PLACED PROTESTING PEACEFULLY IN MANY CASES.
UM, AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT POLICY CHANGES IF NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SEE INJURIES LIKE THAT AGAIN.
SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THOSE, UM, ALL OF THE CONVERSATION AND REALLY ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE PROVIDED US WITH INPUT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST EMPHASIZE AGAIN, MANAGER, UH, OUR OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT TRANSFORMATIONAL REFORM AND TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE HERE IN AUSTIN NEEDS TO BE DONE IN COLLABORATION AND CO-CREATED WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON NEXT, UH, TIME CHECK COLLEAGUES.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT GOING TILL HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE STILL WOULD LIKE TO AND WOULD STILL LIKES MAYOR PRO TEM WOULD STILL LIKE TO SPEAK TO WE KEEP GOING IN AND JUST YOUR
DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'VE BEEN HAVING TECH DIFFICULTIES TODAY, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN RESOLVED.
UM, SO, OH BOY, WHERE DO I START? UM, I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN TAKEN UP A LOT OF SPACE AND THERE WAS A PART OF ME THAT FELT GUILTY FOR THAT.
AND THEN I REALIZED I WAS GUILTY FOR THAT.
I BET THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE THAT I NEED TO TAKE UP RIGHT NOW.
UM, I HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS, UM, BUT I WILL TRY TO RESPECT EVERYBODY'S TIME TODAY.
UM, ESPECIALLY THE MAMA'S ON THE LINE.
I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE GETTING THE SAME QUESTIONS I AM ABOUT.
SO, UM, I KNOW CHIN CASSIDY IS OFF THE LINE, BUT ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED HIM TO COME BEFORE US TODAY IS DURING THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION, SUCH A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION, I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE NOTE OF HOW FREQUENTLY I FEEL LIKE THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION IS ABSOLUTELY IRRESPONSIBLE WITH WHAT THEY SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW THEY ENGAGE WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ENGAGING WITH THEIR MEMBERS, I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC I THINK THEY DO.
AND SAY THINGS OFTEN THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC AND INCENDIARY.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED HIM ON THE LINE TODAY.
AND I THINK HE'S ALREADY GONE.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY MOVING FORWARD.
IT IS BY HOPE THAT THEY WILL BE MORE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE VOICE THAT THEY HAVE AND HOW THEY SAY THINGS.
UM, UH, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS THAT IT IS ALSO MY HOPE THAT ESPECIALLY DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TIME, AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC THAT WHAT'S BEING REPORTED BACK TO THE MEMBERSHIP IS EMOTIONALLY MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE AND PRODUCTIVE.
I HOPE THAT WHAT'S BEING REPORTED BACK TO THE MEMBERSHIP IS THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE COMPLICATED NATURE OF WHAT IT IS WE'RE DISCUSSING.
AND WE NEED FOR, YOU KNOW, DURING THE COURSE OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LEADERSHIP, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF MANLEY.
BUT I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T RECOGNIZE APA.
THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION IS THE VOICE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
[10:05:01]
WE NEED THEM TO BE VERY, VERY RESPONSIBLE AND HOW THEY COMMUNICATE WHERE COUNCIL IS.AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT WILL BE THE COURSE MOVING FORWARD.
SOME OF MY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA FOR SAYING I WROTE IT DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY I COULD REMEMBER IT ALL.
SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW, AND I CHEAT.
THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU AND, OR I GUESS THE ONLY OTHER PERSON ON THE CALL WHO COULD ADDRESS THIS WOULD BE ACM ARIANA.
UM, I KEPT HEARING OVER AND OVER HOW THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE USE OF A PARTICULAR TYPE OF FORCE, AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS, RIGHT.
IT'S FORCE, UM, WE'RE JUSTIFIED OR WITHIN THE PARAMETERS, YOU KNOW? WELL, I CAN'T HELP HIM AS WHEN WE, JIM CASSIDY TALKED ABOUT ALL THE RALLIES, ALL THE MARCH, ALL THE PROTESTS WE HAVE IN AUSTIN.
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT HE SAW THE IRONY THERE.
SO WHEN THE CLAN COMES IN PROTESTS IN AUSTIN, ARE WE DEPLOYING THESE TRAJECTORY, WHATEVER MILITARY TERM YOU USE TO DESCRIBE THINGS THAT HURT PEOPLE.
LIKE I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO KNOW WHEN THE CLAN COMES TO AUSTIN TO PROTEST, WHEN THE REOPEN AUSTIN RALLIES AND PROTESTS HAPPENED.
DID ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE GET SHOT BY ANYTHING? IS THAT A QUESTION COUNCIL MEMBER FOR ME? I CAN'T HEAR YOU SAYING, IS THAT A, IS THAT A, SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN DO SOMETHING WITH MY TECH, HANG ON A SECOND CHIEF.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? I'M SORRY.
IS THERE A PHONE NUMBER YOU CAN TEXT TWO TO BE ABLE TO CALL IT IN HERE.
WE'VE GIVEN ALL THE INFORMATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON ALREADY.
HELLO? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
UM, SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS, UH, SO IT TURNS OUT FOR WHATEVER REASON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MY TECH ISSUE IS I CAN'T BE AUDIBLE AND VISIBLE AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, SO I'M JUST GOING TO WALK AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER.
UM, SO YES, THAT WAS THE QUESTION.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I STARTED SPEAKING, I DON'T KNOW THE PARTICULARS OF THOSE PROTESTS SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A RESPONSE IS BASED ON WHAT THE OFFICERS ARE CONFRONTED WITH.
SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO IS PROTESTING OR WHAT IS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PROTEST IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CONDUCT OF THOSE PROTESTING.
AND AS I'VE SAID, MANY TIMES ON, ON, OH, THIS MEETING SO FAR TODAY IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE GROUPS THAT CAME IN AND, AND INFILTRATED WHAT WAS TO BE A POSITIVE, PRODUCTIVE, UM, FREE SPEECH OPPORTUNITY.
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I CAN'T HEAR YOU.CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? CAN YOU HEAR HER CHIEF? UH, CAN YOU, CAN YOU TRY AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER? YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.
SO I, I CUT YOU OFF BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND IT'S SUCH A, FRANKLY, NOT TO BE RUDE, BUT THAT'S LIKE TOP OUT.
I MEAN, WE'VE WATCHED THESE PEOPLE EXHIBIT EXTRAORDINARILY BAD BEHAVIOR.
IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, HUMAN BEINGS EXHIBITING BAD BEHAVIOR.
WE'VE WATCHED THOSE PEOPLE EXHIBIT BAD BEHAVIOR AND TIME, AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, EVEN DURING THE COURSE OF THIS BOND PRECEDENTED SERIES OF EVENTS, WE'VE WATCHED FRANKLY, WHITE PEOPLE WITH GUNS BEHAVE BADLY AND THEY DON'T GET SHOT AT.
AND SO I'M REALLY JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO DEPLOY THAT LEVEL OF, FOR BOTH BY WAY OF THE PRESENCE AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF WHAT YOU KEEP REFERRING TO AS TOOLS.
I, I SIMPLY CANNOT FOR ONE MOMENT, UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS APPROPRIATE NOW, AND IT HASN'T BEEN BEFORE.
AND MAYBE IT'S NOT A QUESTION AT THIS POINT SO MUCH AS A STATEMENT IN WHICH CASE I'LL KEEP MOVING.
UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS, UM, AS WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT NON-LETHAL POLICY, UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'VE ANSWERED THIS.
MAYBE YOU DID, MAYBE I WAS HAVING SEX TECH ISSUES.
IS THERE A POLICY ABOUT NOT SHOOTING ABOVE THE KNEES? IS THERE A POLICY ABOUT THE TASK TO LEAST DAMAGE TO HUMAN FLESH? WE HAVE POLICIES THAT FIRST TALK ABOUT THE SANCTITY OF LIFE, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC TARGET AREAS, SOME OF OUR POLICIES DO ADDRESS THAT.
AND I JUST DID MAKE A CHANGE TO THE KINETIC ENERGY PROJECTILE POLICY.
IT SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF THAT YOU WOULD NOT TARGET THE HECKER NET AREA UNLESS THERE WAS A NEED FOR IMMEDIATE INCAPACITATION.
AND WHAT I WILL BE SIGNING INTO POLICY IS THAT YOU WILL NOT TARGET THE HEAD OR NECK AREA UNLESS IT IS A DEADLY FORCE ENCOUNTER.
SO WE DO HAVE POLICIES THAT TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC TARGET AREAS.
IN OTHER WORDS, AN IMPACT BATON STRIKE TO THE LEG IS A MUCH LOWER LEVEL USE OF FORCE THAN AN IMPACT BATON STRIKE TO THE HEAD, WHICH AGAIN, WOULD HAVE TO BE A DEADLY FORCE SITUATION.
MAN, I'LL KEEP IT TO MYSELF BECAUSE AT THIS POINT IT'S NOT A QUESTION.
IT'S A STATEMENT, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S HELPFUL.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF THE NEW PROTOCOL, HOW QUICKLY WILL THEY BE PUT INTO PLACE? AND, UM, AS WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TIBET CLASSES AND TRAINING, OR FRANKLY IN MY MIND THAT THE LACK THEREOF, UM, HOW, HOW IS THAT? WILL THAT BE A PART OF THE CURRICULUM THAT NEEDS TO DESPERATE? SO THAT POLICY CHANGE, UM, AS SOON AS I SIGN, IT OBVIOUSLY BECOMES THE CURRENT POLICY.
WE'VE ALREADY PUT IT OUT VERBALLY TO THE OFFICERS WORKING RIGHT NOW ON THE PROTEST.
SO THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS IN PLACE AND THIS WOULD BE PART OF THE CURRICULUM FOR THE NEXT UPCOMING CADET CLASS.
UM, I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT AND I REALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION WITH MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO RESUME TODAY, BUT IS IN MY MIND'S EYE NOW IS NOT THE TIME.
UM, SO THE NEXT THING I WOULD ASK, AND I THINK YOU MIGHT'VE SORT OF TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR SOME OF THE FOLKS, EITHER ON THE LINE OR LISTENING IN, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT CHAIN OF COMMAND BRIEFLY.
YOU SAID, IF THERE'S A LIEUTENANT OR A SERGEANT BEHIND, THEY'RE GOING TO WATCH THE PERSON WHO ENGAGED IN BEHAVIOR THAT WAS, UM, UH, DANGEROUS, UH, SO TO SPEAK.
AND SO I JUST, I COULDN'T HELP, BUT WONDER, LIKE, I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS ARE WONDERING WATCHING THIS.
IT FELT LIKE NOBODY WAS IN CHARGE.
I JUST LIKE TO TALK ABOUT CHAIN OF COMMAND AND LIKE UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THERE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS WHO HAVE HAD THE NECESSARY DEGREE OF TRAINING AND TIME ON THE JOB AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THEY OVERSEEING? IS IT ONE LIEUTENANT, ONE SERGEANT FOR FIVE, FOR 10? LIKE HOW DOES THAT WORK? WE'D REALLY LIKE TO GET SOME CLARITY THERE.
[10:15:01]
WHAT IS SPELLED OUT IN THE OPERATIONAL PLANS IS WHO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND WILL BE FOR THAT EVENT.SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR ONE OF THESE DAYS EVENTS, IT NAMES THE ASSISTANT CHIEF THAT WAS THE CHAIN OF COMMAND OVER THE OPERATION, ALONG WITH THE COMMANDER.
SO IT IDENTIFIES THEM AS HAVING OPERATIONAL COMMAND FOR THE DAY OVER THE OPERATION.
AND THEN IT GOES ON TO IDENTIFY A LIEUTENANT THAT'S OVER THE SRT COMPONENT, A LIEUTENANT THAT WAS OVER THE BIKE PATROL OF THE BIKE PUBLIC ORDER TEAM AND THE HORSES.
AND THEN IT'S GOT LISTED OUT ON THIS ONE HERE, IT'S GOT FOUR SERGEANTS OVER SRT, AND IT'S GOT TWO SERGEANTS OVER THE BIKE, PUBLIC ORDER TEAM.
IT'S GOT THE MOUNTED PATROL SERGEANT, AND THEN IT'S GOT THE SERGEANT OVER THE MOTORS DIVISION.
SO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IS ALL SPELLED OUT AS FAR AS WHICH SERGEANTS ARE OVER WHICH INDIVIDUAL OPERATIONAL UNIT AND THEN THE LIEUTENANTS THAT WILL, THAT THEY WILL REPORT TO.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE COMMANDER AND THE, AND THE, UH, THE, UH, EXECUTIVE, IF THERE'S ONE OVER THE OPERATION, SHE'S, YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME AND ANYBODY ELSE ON THE LINE.
IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE MILITARY TALK TO ME.
UM, AND SO I ONLY UNDERSTOOD HALF OF WHAT YOU SAID.
SO I GUESS IF I COULD SAY IT IN REAL PRACTICAL LAYMAN'S TERMINOLOGY, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN CHARGE AND WHO MANY AND WHO, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THEY IN CHARGE OF? SO THERE WILL THERE ON THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, AS IT'S SPELLED OUT IN THE OPERATIONAL PLANS, THERE IS AN ASSISTANT CHIEF WHO WILL BE OVER THE OPERATION.
AND SO THAT PERSON IS OVER THE PLAN, THE OPERATION, THE EVENT, AND THEN UNDERNEATH THEM, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT IS A RANK AND FILE SYSTEM UNDERNEATH THEM WILL BE A COUPLE OF COMMANDERS SO THAT THEY CAN HELP CARRY OUT THE DIRECTION OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF.
AND THEN UNDERNEATH THE COMMANDERS WILL BE THE LIEUTENANTS WHO WILL THEN SUPERVISE THE SERGEANTS.
AND SO IT IS A RANK AND FILE SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S HOW IT'S STRUCTURED.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, MY QUESTION.
UM, I, I'M NOT TRYING TO BADGER YOU.
I JUST, I HAVE QUESTIONS AND THE PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS AND I REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ANSWERING THEM RIGHT NOW.
SO IF YOU COULD, I'M GOING TO TRY ONE MORE TIME.
LET'S SAY THERE'S ONE, SERGEANT ONE LIEUTENANT, APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE UNDER THEIR WATCHFUL EYE.
AND I GUESS WE'RE JUST REALLY TRYING TO GET A MENTAL IMAGE OF WHERE'S THE BOSS RIGHT NOW.
AND WHO'S TELLING YOU TO STAND DOWN WHEN YOUR BEHAVIOR IS INAPPROPRIATE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET A FEEL FOR.
SO THE SERGEANT WILL BE OVER A GROUP OF OFFICERS.
AND I CAN'T SAY WITH EXACT CERTAINTY, TYPICALLY THERE'S GOING TO BE BETWEEN EIGHT AND 10 OFFICERS THAT WILL BE WITH THAT SERGEANT.
UM, THAT'S HOW WE'RE ON PATROL.
A SERGEANT HAS A GROUP OF ANYWHERE FROM EIGHT TO 12 OFFICERS.
UM, AND SO THAT'S THE FIRST LINE SUPERVISOR IS THE SERGEANT.
THE LIEUTENANT WILL BE OVER A COUPLE OF GROUPS OF SERGEANTS POTENTIALLY, UNLESS IT IS JUST A LIEUTENANT WHO HAS A SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENT, BUT TYPICALLY THE LIEUTENANTS WILL HAVE A GROUP OF, UM, OF OFFICERS UNDER THEM.
SO LIKE IN THIS ONE OPERATION, WE HAD ONE LIEUTENANT WHO WAS OVER SRT.
SO THE ENTIRE SRT COMPONENT WITH SERGEANTS, THERE WOULD BE, THERE WOULD BE SRT SERGEANT.
THEY WOULD REPORT TO THAT LIEUTENANT.
THE OTHER LIEUTENANT WOULD BE OVER THE BIKE PUBLIC ORDER TEAM AND THE MOUNTAIN PATROL THE HORSES.
AND SO THE LIEUTENANTS SUPERVISE THE SERGEANTS.
SO THEY, DEPENDING UPON HOW MANY SERGEANTS ON, SO THE, THE SRT HAD FOUR SERGEANTS WORKING ON THE OPS PLAN I'M LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
SO THOSE FOUR SERGEANTS WOULD BE OVER ALL OF THE SRT OFFICERS THAT WAS FOUR SERGEANTS WOULD BE REPORTING TO ONE LIEUTENANT.
AND THAT ONE LIEUTENANT WOULD REPORT TO ONE COMMANDER.
THAT COMMANDER OBVIOUSLY IS OVER HOWEVER MANY LIEUTENANTS.
THERE WERE THAT DAY, UNLESS THERE WAS A SECOND COMMANDER.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE ASSISTANT CHIEF IS OVER THE ENTIRE OPERATION.
I THINK THAT'S MUCH CLOSER TO THE ANSWER I WAS LOOKING FOR.
UM, AND SO I WOULD ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES REALLY WISH I COULD SEE ALL RIGHT NOW, BUT AS SOON AS I TURN MY VIDEO ON EVERYTHING GOES WONKY.
UM, SO I ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THAT.
UM, WE CAN'T POSSIBLY, AND I THINK IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, I THINK ALL OF OUR OFFICES ARE RECOGNIZING YOU GET 3000 EMAILS AND 24 HOURS, AND YOU'RE THE PERSON TEST WITH HANDLING
[10:20:01]
THAT THERE'S NO HUMAN CAPABILITY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.SO BEING INUNDATED CONSTANTLY ALL THE TIME AND STILL TRYING TO DO YOUR JOB, I'M RECOGNIZING, UM, THAT WE CAN'T POSSIBLY ASK THE OPO TO DO THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING SO FAR WITHOUT OFFERING SOME SUPPORT AND SOME ADDITIONAL STAFFING.
AND SO MANAGERS, THIS IS FOR YOU AS MUCH AS IT IS, UM, CHIEF MANLEY.
I JUST LIKE FOR YOU TO OFFER ONE PUBLICLY, SOME COMMITMENT TO MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE SET THAT OFFICE APPROPRIATELY, UM, TO WHERE THEY CAN BE A VIABLE SUBSTANTIVE CONTINUED FOR THEN DOING THE RIGHT THING.
AND SO I JUST LIKE TO KNOW BOTH OF YOU, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU AGREE WITH THAT? YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, I HAVE, I'VE MADE THAT COMMITMENT WHEN THIS, WHEN THE SOPHOS WAS FIRST STARTED, I CONTINUED TO HAVE THOSE TOUCH POINTS WITH THE DIRECTOR AND THEN OVER THE PAST WEEK, UH, HAVING SOME MORE SPECIFIC CONVERSATIONS THAT I KNOW THAT THE DIRECTOR HAD WITH OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
UH, BUT THIS IS A COMMITMENT THAT I WILL REITERATE HERE THAT WE WILL ONLY BE A STRONGER AND MORE TRUSTWORTHY CITY.
IF WE HAVE A STRONG, UH, OPPOSITE POLICE OVERSIGHT.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE LAID A GOOD FOUNDATION TWO YEARS AGO, BUT THAT FOUNDATION NEEDS TO BE BUILT ON.
UH, IF I COULD ANSWER, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST ELABORATING THE QUESTION WAS, DO YOU AGREE THAT WE NEED TO FORTIFY OUR OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AT ALL COSTS RIGHT NOW, IN WHICH CASE, YOU KNOW, I RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A HIRING FREEZE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO OFFER UP EMPLOYEE FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF TO MANAGE THE THOUSANDS OF EMAILS, BUT CAN WE, AT THE VERY LEAST COMMIT TO THE CITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO FORTIFY THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AS IT SHOULD BE? YEAH.
COUNCIL MEMBER, IF THAT WASN'T CLEAR.
UM, CHIEF MANLEY, I'M JUST ASKING FOR YOUR THOUGHTS THERE AND, AND HOPING TO GET A PRETTY CLEAR AND FIRM COMMITMENT FROM YOU AS WELL, THAT THIS IS A NEAT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE IN, I BELIEVE IN IT.
AND IT IS A NEED BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE WORKLOAD THAT, UH, THE OPO DIRECTOR'S OFFICE ALREADY HAS AND WITH THE INFLUX OF COMPLAINTS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RECEIVE, IT WILL EXCEED THEIR CAPACITY AND WE STAND READY TO ASSIST IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN.
WELL, SO MY HOPE IS THAT ASSISTANCE, WE GET TO HIRE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND CAPABLE OF DOING THE WORK, AS OPPOSED TO SHIFTING PEOPLE FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO CAN MAYBE HELP WITH SOME ADMIN WORK.
AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I, THAT I WANT TO TAKE LIGHTLY.
SO, UM, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER DURING THE COURSE OF YOUR CONVERSATION AROUND CIVIL SERVICE LAW AND VIKI CONFER, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE EXISTENCE.
SO THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU GET TO MAKE IT, THAT'S BEEN, I'M SUPER CURIOUS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF DISCRETION THERE AND LIKE HOW OFTEN DOES IT HAPPEN? I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT DOES THAT EVEN LOOK LIKE? WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT AN EXCEPTION OF THE 180 DAY RULE COUNCIL MEMBER, CORRECT? YES.
IF I HAVE A CASE THAT HAS BOTH AN ADMINISTRATIVE COMPONENT AND A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL COMPONENT, THEN I'LL CAN FILE A LETTER WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKING THEM TO GIVE ME AN EXTENSION OF THE 180 DAYS, BECAUSE I NEED THE CRIMINAL, UH, COMPONENT TO CARRY ITS COURSE.
FIRST, THIS IS THE, THIS IS DONE IN A HANDFUL OF CASES.
UM, OFTENTIMES OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, BECAUSE THE REVIEW THAT IS DONE BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS OFTEN QUITE LENGTHY AND THOROUGH AND DOES NOT GET COMPLETED WITHIN THAT 180 DAYS.
AND SO I NEED TO HOLD ON TO THAT.
WE'VE ALSO HAD INSTANCES WHERE, UM, WE HAVE HAD OFFICERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF OTHER CRIMINAL CONDUCT AND THAT, THAT CAME TO INVESTIGATION.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THE 180 DAY RULE, IF IT WAS GONNA RUN, I COULD, UH, I COULD EXPAND ON THE DEADLINE WITH A LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THERE AS WELL.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I GET TO PICK OR CHOOSE HELPFUL.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, IT'S NOT SOMETHING I GET TO PICK OR CHOOSE WHEN I USE IT HAS TO MEET THOSE CRITERIA.
IT HAS TO HAVE A CRIMINAL COMPONENT.
THAT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
AND THEREFORE I CAN'T RENDER MY DECISION PRIOR TO ITS CONCLUSION.
SO THAT'S WHEN I HAVE TO SEEK AN ATTORNEY GENERAL A LETTER.
I THINK THAT'S THE CLARITY THAT WE WERE ALL LOOKING FOR.
UM, ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE'S A CODE AND
[10:25:01]
FRANKLY, THERE'S POLICY PROTOCOL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OFFICERS ENGAGE IN, UM, BEHAVIOR THAT'S FRANKLY, UNPROFESSIONAL.UM, YOU SAID THE THING ABOUT HOW MISCONDUCT, UH, IS ADDRESSED, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SYSTEM FOR OTHER OFFICERS TO HOLD OTHER OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.
I'M JUST SUPER CURIOUS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SO THAT I CAN SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS.
WERE THERE ANY OFFICERS WHO HAD TO REPORT THAT THEY HAD TO INTERVENE OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF RIGHT NOW.
SO MY FOLLOW UP WOULD BE, DO YOU FIND THAT PROBLEMATIC ONCE WE'RE RECOGNIZING HIM, YOU SAID YOURSELF MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS CALL, BUT THERE WERE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION AND THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE PROBLEMATIC.
DO YOU FIND IT PROBLEMATIC THAT NO BODY DC INTERVENTION POLICY AND THAT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM A SINGLE OFFICER, INCLUDING THAT, WHAT, IT SOUNDS LIKE A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVEN'T HEARD A WORD FROM ANYBODY.
NOBODY HAS USED THE INTERVENTION POLICY.
I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT, SO I'LL KEEP IT CLEAR.
THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU FIND THAT AS PROBLEMATIC AS I DO? WELL, ONCE I GET A REVIEW OF THE INCIDENT AND WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN NEAR AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AND WHETHER THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THAT AND SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE REPORTED THEN, UM, THEN I THINK THAT'S WHEN I WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.
UM, SO ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD, UM, IS ABOUT, AND WE'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SPORTS, UM, I'M SORRY ABOUT THE, WHAT I SAID, WE'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND.
UM, SO, SO I, I, I WON'T GO AS BROAD AS I COULD, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR FOR SAYING LIKE SOME OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS AND CONCERNS ARE BROAD AND THEY DIDN'T START 50 WEEKENDS.
THESE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEM.
THIS IS ALWAYS HOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION FOR WHOM THIS IS HOW THEY ASSUME PD WILL SHOW UP ALL BATTERY AND NO COMMUNITY.
AND SO THE QUESTION I'M GOING TO ASK IS ALONG THOSE LINES, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP IT, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE CONFINES OF WHAT IT IS.
IF WE WERE INTENDING TO THIS DESTINY, I REALLY HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT HOW FREQUENTLY IN MY MIND'S EYE.
THERE WERE SITUATIONS THAT OCCURRED OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND THAT WERE A VERY US VERSUS THEM KIND OF MENTALITY.
I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO KNOW WHAT YOU, OR FRANKLY, WHOEVER IS IN THE POSITION OF LEADERSHIP MOVING FORWARD FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT SEES AS A MORE APPROPRIATE FORCE OF CREATING RELATIONSHIPS WHERE THERE'S NOT THIS MISTRUST.
IT FEELS LIKE Y'ALL HATE THEM.
YOU KNOW? AND IT'S LIKE, I KNOW THAT'S REALLY SORT OF BAD, BUT THAT FEELING IS REAL.
PEOPLE FEEL LIKE Y'ALL HATE THEM AND YOU TREAT THEM LIKE LESSER THAN AND INHUMANE IN WAYS THAT WE WATCHED PLAY OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND.
AND I REMIND YOU, THIS IS A STATEMENT, NOT A QUESTION I WILL REMIND YOU.
I DIDN'T SEE ONE PLAN'S MEN GET HURT.
YOU'VE GOTTA REOPEN AT ALL COSTS PERSON GET HURT, BUT WE GOT YOUNG BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE OUT HERE GETTING HURT.
I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO ADDRESS BY WAY OF WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND.
HOW DO WE, HOW DOES THE LEADERSHIP ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE THEM VERSUS US MENTALITY? WE GOTTA FIX IT.
AND I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO KNOW YOUR IDEAS.
AND FRANKLY, THAT'LL BE MY LAST QUESTION.
UM, SO I HOPE YOUR ANSWER IS CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO IS ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THE EVENT ORGANIZERS AHEAD OF TIME.
AND TYPICALLY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WHEN THESE ARE EVENTS THAT ARE ORGANIZED BY OUR LOCAL GROUPS THAT WE WORK WITH REGULARLY.
[10:30:02]
MANY TIMES WE WOULD ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCH, BUT AT LEAST WE'D HAVE SOLID AVENUES OF COMMUNICATION SO THAT IT DIDN'T BECOME THAT WHAT WE'VE BEEN ENCOURAGING, UH, INDIVIDUALS TO DO, ESPECIALLY MONDAY THROUGH LAST NIGHT, THESE PROTESTS OUT FRONT WERE EXTREMELY PEACEFUL.OFFICERS WERE OUT THERE JUST MINGLING TALKING WITH, UH, UH, THOSE THAT WERE HERE TO PROTEST.
WE ESCORTED THE PROTESTERS TO THE CAPITOL AND BACK BECAUSE WE WEREN'T HAVING ROCKS AND BRICKS AND OTHER THINGS THROWN AT THE OFFICERS.
SO THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT APPROACH TO HOW IT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEKEND.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE TALKING TO THE PROTESTORS AS THEY WERE THERE ABOUT WAS IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, THOSE ARE HERE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE INJUSTICES AND THE EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED HELP TO SELF POLICE.
AND I SAY THAT CAUTIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM GETTING INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF DISTURBANCES WITH THOSE THAT ARE THERE FOR THE WRONG REASON, BUT TO HELP IDENTIFY THEM, CONVINCE THEM NOT TO ENGAGE IN THAT BEHAVIOR OR POINT THEM OUT IF THEY ARE, THEN THAT WILL HELP KEEP ALL OF THESE EVENTS SAFE.
AND THEN I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON TO THIS WEEK IS TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM THAT WILL BE HERE IN FRONT OF THE HEADQUARTERS, TALKING AND LISTENING TO THE PROTESTORS AS THEY SHOW UP, TO HEAR WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE ABOUT, WHETHER IT IS ABOUT MR FLOYD'S CASE OR WHETHER IT'S ABOUT OUR LOCAL MR. RAMOS CASE OR WHETHER IT'S ABOUT OUR, UH, OUR, UH, INCIDENTS LAST WEEK.
SO THAT IS ANOTHER STEP WE'RE TAKING TO TRY AND DO THAT BECAUSE I AGREE IT CANNOT BE US VERSUS THEM.
UH, IT GETS COMPLICATED THOUGH, WHEN WE HAVE THE ANTAGONIZER THE, UH, THE ANARCHIST, THOSE THAT ARE HERE TO DO HARM INTERMIX, AND THEN START THROWING AND DOING OTHER THINGS TOWARDS THE OFFICERS.
I DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE THE NUANCE THERE.
AND, AND FOR ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING TO THINK ABOUT GOING OUT THIS WEEKEND, I WILL, UH, I'LL DOUBLE DOWN ON MY, UH, MY SENTIMENT FROM YESTERDAY.
BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHO YOU CONNECT WITH.
UH, AND IF PEOPLE ARE HANDING YOU STUFF AND TELLING YOU TO THROW IT, AND THAT'S NOT, WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART, PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
UM, DON'T LET, DON'T LET PEOPLE, CO-OP WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP, TO BE SEEN, TO BE HEARD IN THE FACE OF RECOGNIZING THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER.
UM, I'M, UH, I'M GONNA LEAVE WITH A FEW PARTING WORDS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING, I'VE, UH, I'VE HAD A REALLY ROUGH WEEK Y'ALL AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO, AND THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE PHYSICALLY INJURED IN A WAY THAT I'M NOT, AND I, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM.
UM, I KNOW THERE'VE BEEN SOME CALLS FOR ME TO BE PRESENT AND BE, YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY PRESENT AND I'M RELATIVELY PRIVATE ABOUT IT, BUT I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO SAY I'M AN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PERSON.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPROMISED PEOPLE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AT RISK POPULATIONS, I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT OF MY HOUSE AND ALMOST THREE MONTHS AT THIS POINT.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE STANDING ARM IN ARM WITH YOU.
I WOULD LOVE THE, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OUT LOUD IN FRONT OF YOU WITH MY FIST RAISED IN SOLIDARITY IN A WAY THAT GOT TO SEE MY LOVE FOR YOU AND UNDERSTAND THAT I'M AS FRUSTRATED AS YOU ARE.
IF EVERYTHING COSTS TOO MUCH AND TAKE TOO LONG, LIKE WE CAN'T GET THE WORK DONE.
SO PLEASE DON'T THINK I'M NOT THERE WITH YOU BECAUSE I'M PHYSICALLY NOT THERE WITH YOU.
I JUST, I CAN'T BE, UM, I'M A MAMA.
I, I GOT TO KEEP LIVING, UH, LIKE MR. OVERTON SAID, KEEP LIVING DON'T DIE.
YOU KNOW, I GOT TO LIVE IN AND I CAN'T DIE.
IN WHICH CASE I CAN'T BE OUT THERE WITH YOU, BUT I AM 100% OUT THERE WITH YOU.
DON'T DOUBT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
YESTERDAY DAY, THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST VOCAL COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN.
I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, BUT WOW, THIS IS JUST BEEN AMAZING TO WATCH AND TO HEAR SOMETIMES SO PAINFUL.
I HAD TO TURN MY CAMERA OFF SO YOU DIDN'T WATCH ME UGLY CRY.
OTHER TIMES I COULDN'T WAIT TO BRING MY SISTER IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOU.
SO THANK EVERYBODY WHO IS SHOWING UP.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED YOU.
[10:35:01]
US ACCOUNTABLE AND REMIND US WHILE WE BEG FOR THESE JOBS.I CAMPAIGN IS NOT AN EASY WALK, WALK AND RAISE HIM ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE ELECTED.
SO NOW THAT WE'RE HERE, HERE, REMIND US WHAT ALL THAT WORK WAS FOR.
REMIND US WHY DON'T WE BEG FOR THE JOB AND DON'T LET US SLEEP ON YOU.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT YOU HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.
THE UNITY OF THE VOICES THAT WE HEARD YESTERDAY WAS JUST, HEY, I'M VERY RARELY SPEAK WITH, BUT I'M SPEECHLESS.
BUT LIKE I SAID, AT THE BEGINNING, THE TIME FOR US TO CONTINUE TO TALKING IN CIRCLES IS ABSOLUTELY OVER.
I FEEL LIKE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, ESPECIALLY MY COLLEAGUES AND I, UM, WE LISTEN AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN.
WHAT I HOPE FOR IS THAT AS A BODY AND MOVING INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK, THAT WE CAN START TAKING ACTION.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY TRAUMATIZED.
AND SOMETIMES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WERE ALREADY TRAUMATIZED JUST BY HOW THEY SHOW UP IN THE WORLD.
PEOPLE WERE TRAUMATIZED MARGARITA, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1865.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A TIME FORWARD.
UM, WHILE I APPRECIATE THE CRITICISM AND YOU ALL HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE, I MENTIONED IT YESTERDAY AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN TODAY.
WE'RE ALL JUST PEOPLE EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, SHE WOULD KIND WORD TO MY FRIENDS AND SOME OF OUR SUPPORTERS HAVE BEEN DROPPING OFF FOOD AND COOKIES AND TAKING MY KIDS ON WALKS.
UM, I WILL SAY, I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS FAR FROM OVER 100% RECOGNIZE THIS IS FAR FROM OVER.
UM, BUT PLEASE CONTINUE TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, DO NOT CEASE TO SPEAK OUT.
I'VE EVEN HAD TO REMIND MYSELF OF THAT, TAKE UP SOME SPACE.
SO I'M TELLING YOU THAT TO TAKE UP SOME SPACE, LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD, SHOW UP, SHOW OUT OF THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY THERE IS OUT OF DEEP CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO GET TO THE LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER IN OUR CITY.
IF WE DON'T LEAVE ANY OTHER SPACE CLEAR, WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE SPACE CLEAR FOR OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES PROFESSIONALS TO GET PEOPLE TO THE MIDDLE.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT THAT'S SORT OF ONE OF THOSE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT CONVERSATIONS THAT FOLKS CAN HAVE AMONGST THEMSELVES.
IF SOMEBODY'S HURT, IF THEY'RE INJURED, IF THEY HAD A STROKE OR HEART ATTACK OR AN ASTHMA ATTACK, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL FAST.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONE THING I'M BEGGING PEOPLE TO DO.
KEEP THE SPACE OPEN FOR FOLKS TO GET THE HOSPITAL.
UM, I WILL SAY THIS, I KNOW TONIGHT, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, BREEZY REGULAR SATURDAY NIGHT FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, BUT I DO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GET SOME SLEEP, GET SOME BREASTS I'M GOING TO DO SO MYSELF.
IF WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE IN THE CITY, WE'VE GOT TO KEEP COMING BACK AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT WHEN YOU'RE BROKEN AND EXHAUSTED AND DELIRIOUS, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HEAL AND RISE UP FROM THIS IS TO REST, REFLECT AND TO ACT.
UM, I'LL CLOSE WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, THERE'S TWO POSTS THAT KEEP COMING TO MIND OVER AND OVER AND OVER DACA KING SAID THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS AND MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.
AND THEN LASTLY, I'LL SAY FREDERICK DOUGLAS SAID IT, AND I CERTAINLY COULDN'T SAY IT BETTER.
IF THERE IS NO STRUGGLE, THERE IS NO PROGRESS.
SO I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO SAFE AS POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WITH THE ELEGANT NEXT WEEKEND OR I'M STARTING NEXT WEEK, NEXT THURSDAY.
UM, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE FOR OFFERING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY JUST TAKE UP
[10:40:01]
SOME SPACE.THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, TO REAL QUICKLY, I GUESS, ANNE.
WOULD YOU, DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? OKAY.
UM, I HAVE, UH, JUST, UH, WELL JUST THREE QUICK THINGS.
UM, ONE OF THEM RELATES TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, UH, THANK YOU, UM, UH, CHIEF RODRIGUEZ FOR SHARING WITH US, WHAT YOU HAD SEEN FROM, UM, EMS AND, UH, FROM, UH, INJURIES THAT WERE REPORTED.
I WOULD, I WOULD ASK YOU IF THERE'S ANY OTHER OF DATA THAT YOU CAN ACCESS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS, BUT I'M CURIOUS WHETHER THERE'S ANY HOSPITALS THAT COULD REPORT.
UM, AND THEN I WOULD JUST ASK INDIVIDUALS TO LET US KNOW, BECAUSE I DO KNOW AS YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE, THERE ARE FOLKS THAT DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR DIDN'T CALL EMS THAT EXPERIENCED INJURIES.
UM, I'VE RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM TWO INDIVIDUALS, UH, IN MY, UH, IN MY DISTRICT.
AND I HAVE LET THEM KNOW THAT I HAVE SHARED THIS INFORMATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, UM, AND ASKED THAT THESE INCIDENT INCIDENCES BE, UH, REVIEWED OR INVESTIGATED JUST AS OTHERS HAVE.
BUT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERED, YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT OTHER INSTANCES AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SHARE THE FIRST ONE.
UM, THE FIRST ONE INVOLVED, UM, SOMEONE WHO, UM, WHO WAS SHOT TWICE BY A BEAN BAG, BULLETS ENDED UP GOING TO THEIR DOCTOR, UH, AND WERE DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN RIB, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER KINDS OF INJURIES THAT GO WITH THAT.
AND THE OTHER ONE INVOLVED AN INCIDENT THAT WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT YESTERDAY THAT INVOLVED PEPPER SPRAY THAT WAS EXPERIENCED BY, UH, SOMEONE'S CHILD.
AND SO I'VE MENTIONED THE, I JUST MENTIONED THESE TWO BECAUSE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MORE INJURIES THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THAN THEN WE HAVE REPORTED.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU, I, I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I WOULD JUST ASK YOU, I'M NOT, IS, IS THERE ANY OTHER SOURCE OF DATA THAT YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN LOOK TO OTHER THAN THE TRANSPORTS THAT YOU ALL MADE COUNCIL MEMBER? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE AREN'T SOME OTHER SOURCES THAT WE CAN TAP INTO.
WE CAN MAKE A REQUEST FOR, OF ALL OUR AREA HOSPITALS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE US AT LEAST, UH, REGARDING MAYBE THE COUNTS OF, UH, VICTIMS THAT THEY SAW IN THEIR ADA, AS WE'RE TRYING TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THE TOTAL IMPACT IS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE CAN ASK FOR THAT SUPPORT FROM THEM.
UM, I'M NOT REALLY SURE EXACTLY WHAT ROUTE WE WOULD TAKE TO DO THAT, UH, BUT I'M SURE WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT AND MAKE A REQUEST.
THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU CAN IN THAT REGARD.
UM, AND CITY MANAGER, I WOULD ASK YOU TO, TO LOOK INTO EXPLORE AND LET US KNOW WHAT THE CITY CAN DO WITH REGARD TO THE, THE, UM, THE IMPACT, BOTH ON THE INDIVIDUALS AND ON THE BUSINESSES THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM, UH, WE'VE TALKED, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INJURIES.
THERE ARE MANY, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT'S RELATED TO THAT, AND THERE'S A COST TO, FOR INDIVIDUALS IN TERMS OF THEIR MEDICAL CARE.
SO, UM, AND THERE ARE COSTS TO BUSINESSES, UM, FROM WHAT WAS EXPERIENCED IN TERMS OF THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES THAT OCCURRED WITH THE LOOTING, THAT SORT OF THING.
SO I DON'T EXPECT YOU ALL TO ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE CITY MANAGER, I WOULD LIKE, UM, A REPORT TO US OR INFORMATION TO US ABOUT WHAT THE CITY CAN DO, UH, TO HELP THE, UH, HELP THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE SEEN ON THESE, ON THESE PEOPLE.
SO IF YOU WOULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
AND THEN ECHO, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID AND, UH, THE WAY IN WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO ASKS FOR IT, AND THAT IS AN OPERATIONAL POINT IN HER FOR TRANSFORMATION.
I REALLY, REALLY THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, UM, TO, IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING WHAT HAPPENED IS TO HAVE A VERY CLEAR PATH.
AND I LIKED THE WAY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO MENTIONED IT.
SO I WON'T READ ALL THAT SHE SAID,
[10:45:01]
BUT CITY MANAGER, I THINK THAT IS, I THINK THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS IN A WAY THAT, UM, THAT WE AS A COUNCIL AND AS A COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT WE CAN TALK THROUGH.SO I HAVE MAYOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM WANTS TO END, MAYBE I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO END, BUT BY ASKING, GO AFTER ME.
UM, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT I KNOW THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND IT'S TAKES MORE THAN ONE SESSION TO CHANGE IT AND TO MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
UH, THESE PROBLEMS ARE THEY'RE INDIVIDUAL THEY'RE INSTITUTIONAL, AND THEY'RE SYSTEMIC.
UM, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF THOSE OF US ON THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE ARE REALLY HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING ON THESE ISSUES SO MUCH.
UM, MAYBE THAT IS WHY THE FOUR OF US OFTEN PROVIDE A DIFFERENT, OR HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE WEEDS OF IT AND SEEING TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, UM, EFFORTS TO REFORM EFFORTS TO CHANGE THINGS, UM, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET INFORMATION, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING AS SMALL AS WHEN WE, WHEN WE, WHEN WE PASS THE POLICY TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA, BECAUSE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A WASTE OF RESOURCES WHEN IT IS A CRIME THAT IS NOT LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA.
IT'S NOT MARIJUANA, IT'S NOT BEING PROSECUTED RIGHT NOW.
WHY, WHY ARE WE WASTING RESOURCES, STILL TICKETING AND ARRESTING FOR SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY WILL NOT BE PROSECUTED FOR? AND WE'RE MET BY OUR CHIEF THE VERY FOLLOWING DAY, NOPE, I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING THIS.
THIS IS STILL THE LAW OF THE STATE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT, YOU, YOU SEE WHY PEOPLE ARE SO FRUSTRATED.
YOU SEE WHY WE GOT WHAT THOUSANDS OF EMAILS, THOUSANDS OF CALLS ASKING FOR CHANGE.
AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE SAID, WHO HAVE ASKED THE CHIEF TO RECONSIDER YOUR ROLE IN THIS ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING ASKING FOR YOUR HONORABLE RESIGNATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE LISTENING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE MOVE PAST THIS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE, HOW WE RETAIN FAITH IN OUR COMMUNITY AFTER THIS WEEKEND, AFTER SEEING THAT VIDEO OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN OF A 16 YEAR OLD BOY, JUST GO BUMP.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE MOVE PAST THIS WITHOUT A CHANGE AND WITHOUT BEING RESPONSIVE AND WITHOUT SHOWING COURAGE AT THIS TIME.
SO, UM, SO I HOPE I HOPE WE CAN IN THE MOST PEACEFUL WAY POSSIBLE.
I PLAN TO BE THERE ON SUNDAY AT HTC, AND I'M IN THE MOST CAREFUL WAY POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC AND WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL.
THAT'S, COFFEE'S, IT'S ONE O'CLOCK WE HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE RAISING THEIR HANDS.
DO WE WANT TO BREAK FOR LUNCH? COME BACK.
I JUST WANTED TO OFFER, SORRY.
I JUST WANTED TO OFFER REAL QUICK THAT ATX EMERGENCY SUPPLY HAS OFFERED US OVER 6,000 METH FOR FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO BE ATTENDING THE PROTESTS THIS WEEKEND.
SO, UM, JUST TO ECHO WHAT MAYOR PRETEND SAID ABOUT BEING A SAFEST POSSIBLE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP A LOT MORE PEOPLE SAFE BY WAY OF THAT.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT DONATION, IF WE'RE GONNA BE LONG OR NO, IT'S SHORT.
UM, WEDNESDAY OBAMA HAD A, UH, UH, UH, VIRTUAL TOWN HALL AND HE TALKED AGAIN ABOUT INITIATIVES THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION PUT OUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY ATE.
CAN'T WAIT, UM, COMMUNITY POLICING, UM, UH, FOCUSED ITEMS, UH, THAT I DREW ON HIM WAS TIME HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH MY STAFF ABOUT, ARE COMING FROM, I SEE THAT WILL BE SOME, UM, AMENDMENTS, UH, SOME RESOLUTIONS BROUGHT ON THE 11TH.
UH, I WAS, UH, ALREADY INTENDING TO WORK WITH STAFF.
AND WITH ANY OF YOU, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA HAD INDICATED AN INTEREST IN WORKING ON POLICING WITH ME.
SO, UM, WE'LL STILL PULL THESE TOGETHER,
[10:50:01]
TRY TO DO IT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE THEM ON THE 11TH, UH, OR MAYBE JUST BRING THEM IF WE CAN'T PULL TOGETHER AN ENTIRE RESOLUTION, BRING THEM AS AMENDMENTS.BUT I, THERE WASN'T ANYBODY ON THIS DIOCESE IN OUR, IN OUR GRID HERE WHERE WE'RE ALL, UM, WATCHING, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED WHO DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE THESE, THE TRANSFORMATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE THAT WE NEED TO THESE SYSTEMS. UM, UM, SO THANKS EVERYBODY FOR, UM, FOR ALL OF THE INSIGHTS AND THE HELP AND THE EXPLANATIONS AND THE TENACITY, AND KEEP WORKING TOGETHER AND PULLING TOGETHER ON THESE ISSUES.
UM, THEY'LL BE IT PUBLISHED ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.
I'M HERE IN A MERE HOURS, UH, CHANGES TO GET ALL EIGHT OF THOSE POLICIES IN OUR CITY, ALONG WITH OTHER CHANGES, LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET, LOOKING AT OUR CITY'S DIRECTION AND GOALS.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE IS REAL SUPPORT OF THE DIOCESE.
I APPRECIATE, UH, WORDS OF EVERYONE AND WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
WE CAN'T ALL TALK, BUT I WANT TO SHARE FOLKS.
YOU WILL SEE THOSE PUBLISHED HERE.
I'VE ENDORSED THOSE EIGHT PRINCIPLES.
I'M HAPPY TO BRING YOU FORWARD.
UH, JUST TO, AND IF YOU'RE, IF YOU NEED TO DEMONSTRATE OR WANT TO DEMONSTRATE THIS WEEKEND, I WOULD URGE YOU TO BE SAFE.
I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GONNA SEE IN SEVERAL WEEKS.
UH, THE, UM, EVENT ON SUNDAY IS REALLY FOR 'EM, UH, THE SCENT OF AN EVENT THAT CENTERS ON BLACK VOICES, BLACK STORIES AND BLACK SOLUTIONS.
IT'S AT ONE O'CLOCK AT HOUSTON.
SO LISTEN, IF YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO HASHTAG WAIT TILL SUNDAY AND SOCIAL DISTANCE AND WEAR MASS GIVES US SOMETHING TO DO.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK THAT WE'RE DONE IT'S ONE OH SEVEN CHIEF.
THANK YOU, UH, MANAGER, RAY FOR BRINGING, UH, VERA, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR PARTICIPATING WITH US TODAY.
WE'RE GOING INTO THIS NEXT WEEKEND AT A BETTER PLACE.
I THINK PROCEDURALLY THAN WE HAD GOING INTO LAST WEEK WITH THAT, UH, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.