Title
Recommendation to Provide Feedback on Draft Recommendations from the Community-Led Committee on Police Reform & Racial Justice
Body
To: Honorable Chair Tilos and Members of the Open Government Commission
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 includes public forums, an online survey, 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...
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