Title
Recommendation to Provide Feedback on Draft Recommendations from the Community-Led Committee on Police Reform & Racial Justice
Body
To: Honorable President Christine Chilcott and Members of the Social Service Human Relations Board
BACKGROUND
The Committee on Police Reform and Racial Equity (“Committee”) is a community-led group developing recommendations for changes to policing and methods to address systemic racism in Alameda. At the direction of the City Council, in August 2020 the City Manager appointed four community members to the Steering Committee to lead this work: Christine Chilcott, Al Mance, Cheryl Taylor, and Jolene Wright. The Steering Committee then selected 60 people to serve on five Subcommittees addressing the following topics:
• Unbundling Services Currently Delivered by the Police Department
• A Review of Laws that Criminalize Survival
• A Review of Police Department Policies and Practices
• Systemic and Community Racism/Anti-Racism
• Police Department Accountability and Oversight
The Steering Committee states, “we are committed to the idea of reforming aspects of the way in which policing is done in the City of Alameda, and we hope to do so in a collaborative way. We understand that policing is important to our community and we respect APD’s commitment to the safety and security of our community but we believe that the manner of policing can be improved so that all of the people in our community as well as all who visit our community feel safe, secure and respected.”
After months of research and work, the Subcommittees have completed their draft recommendations. From January 21-Feburary 17 the Committee will work with the City to seek feedback and perspectives from the broader Alameda community. This will include a public forum, online survey, mailing, flyer, social media posts, op-eds, and informal conversations with friends and neighbors. After the public engagement period, the Committee will present their final recommendations to the City Council. Information is available at: www.alamedaca.gov/policing.
The purpose of this report is to forward the Committee’s draft recommendations in their words, and to provide an opportunity for public comment.
DISCUSSION
Public Engagement
From January 21-February 17, Committee members will work with City staff to engage Alameda community members, including those who live, work, visit, or worship here. They aim to share the Committee process and recommendations with the public; request feedback on draft recommendations; and hear about community experiences with police. They will engage the public via public forums, an online survey, mailing, flyer, social media posts, opinion editorials, and informal conversations with friends and neighbors. When the public engagement period is over, the Committee plans to present their recommendations and public feedback findings to the City Council on March 16.
Public events include:
• January 6: Presentation to the Civil Service Board
• January 22: Public Forum
• January 27: Presentation to the Transportation Commission
• January 28: Presentation to the Social Service Human Relations Board
• February 2 or 9: Presentation to Tuesdays @ 2 Town Hall with Alameda Business Leaders
• February 10: Presentation to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities
• TBD: Additional public meetings as scheduling allows
• March 16: City Council - present final recommendations
All information, including recommendations, event details, and the public survey, will be available here starting January 21: www.alamedaca.gov/policing <http://www.alamedaca.gov/policing>.
Committee Process
The Steering Committee members were appointed in late August 2020. In addition to the four Steering Committee members, there are five Subcommittees involving 60 Alameda community members, chosen in September 2020. The Subcommittees cover the following topics:
• Unbundling Services Currently Delivered by the Police Department
• A Review of Laws that Criminalize Survival
• A Review of Police Department Policies and Practices
• Systemic and Community Racism/Anti-Racism
• Police Department Accountability and Oversight
The Steering Committee states, “to fill those subcommittees, with the City’s help we put out a call for volunteers and received over 250 responses. Some applicants included detailed background/qualification information, and some did not. We felt a need to begin this important work as quickly as possible and we made our decisions based on the information we received as well as any information we were able to gather through internet research. It is worth saying that with a few exceptions, our committee is composed of lay people with no experience or expertise in policing. We are all volunteers and we’re here because of our love for this community and commitment to positive change. This is a community-led effort. While we have key staff members supporting our efforts, our meetings are community-run by the Steering Committee and Subcommittee chairs.”
Data and Information
Many Committee members undertook substantial research to develop their draft recommendations. At members’ request, the City provided eighty (80) information files to the Committee. While most of the data and information came from the Alameda Police Department (APD), other departments providing information included Fire, Economic Development, Human Resources, and the City Attorney’s Office.
The Committee also collaborated with City staff to host a three-night APD speaker series. APD staff presented information about the Department’s policies, practices, data, budget, and more, followed by a Q&A with Committee members. Members of the public were invited to watch via livestream and the series was recorded for viewing after the events.
Recommendations for Policy and Program Changes
See Exhibit 1 for draft recommendations from all five Subcommittees.
Subcommittee Vision and Goals
The five Subcommittees each developed missions for their recommendations. These are below, in the Subcommittees’ words.
Unbundling Services Currently Delivered by the Police Department
To support the City of Alameda in (1) identifying the most appropriate community and governmental agencies to provide core services, thus creating a healthier and more safe Alameda for everyone, (2) eliminating the inequitable and unjust police interactions that disproportionately impact--and put at greater risk--people of color and other marginalized members of our community, and (3) striving for the best possible outcomes and most positive interactions with service providers.
A Review of Laws that Criminalize Survival
As a committee, we will analyze data on police involvement in Alameda pertaining to issues that “criminalize survival.” These include (but are not solely limited to): homelessness/unhoused populations and protocol around space, loitering, and presence; arrests and other forms of police action taken towards sex workers and sex trafficking victims, misdemeanors, and within the framework of other street economies; and on the fines and fees associated with the criminal justice system (both on local levels and county levels). We strive to produce research that, when possible, directs police energies, campaigns, and services away from the above issues, and towards community-run organizations and social services who prioritize the well-being and mental health of their served populations.
A Review of Police Department Policies and Practices
To review, evaluate, and make recommendations to improve current training policies, practices and procedures with an eye toward maximizing service to and communication with the community in order to improve the quality of interactions between the police and the community. To ensure that police policies and procedures meet the standards and expectations of the Alameda community.
Systemic and Community Racism/Anti-Racism
Our subcommittee has identified five different areas of systemic racism within our community that we will seek to address and remedy: Housing, Education, Healthcare, Law Enforcement and City Government. We will push to get public portals for community feedback and get such systems in place - within both the City Government & Law enforcement - in an effort to collect data relevant to our greater mission: a more inclusive city. We endeavor to implement programs within AUSD, focusing on creating racially focused dialogue between staff & administration, students & their parents/guardians, and the greater community. Upon receipt of collected data, we’ll then undertake a plan to assess the remaining areas of concern with respect to systemic racism within Alameda.
Police Department Accountability and Oversight
The APD Community Accountability and Oversight Committee, working together with those affected most by policing in Alameda and other community stakeholders, to foster an atmosphere of dignity, respect, and trust; seeks to listen, discover and report patterns of systemic racism and other forms of marginalization in police behavior by: developing recommendations for the creation of systems of oversight, ensure accessible complaint processes, increase transparency, deter police misconduct, promote thorough/fair investigations, identify patterns and opportunities for harm prevention and/or restorative justice, and manage adaptability to adjust to changing community needs over time.
ALTERNATIVES
SSHRB members can provide feedback during this meeting or as part of the public engagement process, including the public forum, online survey, and mailing. They can also decline to provide feedback.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This is a budget-neutral request for feedback on draft recommendations for changes to policies and practices. Budget implications of the recommendations will be assessed and reviewed separately before changes are adopted.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The Alameda Police Department Policy Manual contains APD policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
There are no identifiable environmental impacts associated with the subject of this report.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation to Provide Feedback on Draft Recommendations from the Committee on Police Reform & Racial Justice.
Respectfully submitted,
Eric Levitt, City Manager
By,
Christine Chilcott, Al Mance, Cheryl Taylor, and Jolene Wright
Steering Committee, Committee on Police Reform and Racial Justice
And
Lisa Foster, Transportation Planner
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Annie To, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Committee on Police Reform and Racial Justice Draft Recommendations