HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC_2020-06-23_MinutesPUBLIC COMMENT PROVIDED BY EMAIL
COMMUNITY FORUM:
SUBMISSION FROM: Leila Daniel
From: Leila Daniel <leila.r.daniel@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2020 1:21 PM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>
Subject: Public comment: fight racism
Hi there,
My name is Leila Daniel and I live in SLO county. I am writing to make sure you are committed
to fighting racism in our community. You need to reallocate funds from law enforcement and
incarceration to fund community services, mental health and community non-profits. Our
community needs this funding! Law enforcement officers should not be dealing with any issues
other than crime (with sufficient training, functioning body cameras, and only from support of
the black community). Resources need to be allocated to mental health and social workers so
that they can support their community members. Over and over again, we see law
enforcement hurting and killing our black and brown brothers and sisters. The system was
meant to control people of color and so it is our job to dismantle that system and rebuild
something that makes sense for ALL of us. Support R.A.C.E. Matters demands in your
jurisdiction. Adopt a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. Also, as a city council,
connect and collaborate with organizations in Atascadero who work on diversity, inclusion,
equity and/or racial justice.
Thank you for your time,
Leila Daniel
SUBMISSION FROM: Sophie Stebbins
From: Sophie Stebbins <sannestebbins@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2020 1:48 PM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>
Subject: Public Comment for board meeting 6/23
Hello,
I am writing to demand that Atascadero city council hears the voices and demands of our
Black community.
I am asking that the city council:
- Supports R.A.C.E Matters’ (SLO) demands in their jurisdiction.
- Adopts a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
- Connects and collaborates with organizations who work on diversity, inclusion, equity,
and/or racial justice.
The citizens of SLO county are asking for a response and swift action regarding racial justice.
Thank you,
Sophie Stebbins
SUBMISSION FROM: Karina Smyth
From: Karina Smyth <k91smyth@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2020 5:13 PM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>
Subject: Community Forum statement
Mayor Moreno and members of the Atascadero City Council:
My name is Karina Smyth, and I was born and raised in Atascadero. I urge you to 1) support
R.A.C.E. Matters demands within Atascadero, 2) adopt a resolution declaring racism a public
health crisis, and 3) connect and collaborate with organizations in Atascadero who work on
diversity, inclusion, equity, or racial justice.
There are no Black people represented on the Atascadero city council, but you all represent
the city of Atascadero - including our Black residents. So: what are you doing to ensure their
safety? What are you doing to confront the racism they have faced? How are you eliciting and
elevating their voices using your platform? The three aforementioned mentioned requests are
a good place to begin.
Combatting racism ought to be at the forefront of our city's agendas, otherwise it will
taint every item the council reviews - from housing developments to budgets to permits
for local events. Either you choose to take actions against it, or you continue to foster
its existence.
Thank you for your work,
Karina Smyth
SUBMISSION FROM: Aline DeLuca
From: Aline DeLuca <alinegalilee@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 7:51 AM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>; City Council <CityCouncil@atascadero.org>
Subject: 6/23 Meeting Community Forum Comment in Support of RACE Matters
Dear Council Members Moreno, Bourbeau, Fonzi, Funk, and Newsom,
As a current resident of SLO County and someone who grew up in Atascadero, I am writing to
urge you to to respond to the demands made by RACE Matters SLO County, specifically in the
following areas:
Adopt a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
Commit to reading and providing a report on the work that has been done within
Atascadero toward the demands listed by RACE Matters.
Connect and collaborate with organizations within the city who are already working on
diversity, inclusion, equity, and racial justice.
I write this comment with a renewed sense of urgency as video footage documenting an
incident of racial hatred within our community was released during the last week, in which
one white community member used hateful and threatening language toward a Black
community member, in public and broad daylight, in the year 2020. The concern of racism in
Atascadero and in SLO County at large is not abstract or nebulous; it is tangible and alive as
we speak, and it requires your immediate action.
Please demonstrate your commitment as a governing body to be actively anti-racist and
stand in solidarity with your Black community members.
Thank you,
Aline DeLuca
805-598-7673
alinegalilee@gmail.com
SUBMISSION FROM: Joseph DeLuca
From: Joey DeLuca <josephdelucaca@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 11:21 AM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>; City Council <CityCouncil@atascadero.org>
Subject: 6/23 Meeting Community Forum Comment in Support of RACE Matters
Dear Council Members Moreno, Bourbeau, Fonzi, Funk, and Newsom,
As a current resident of SLO County and someone who grew up in Atascadero, I am writing to
urge you to to respond to the demands made by RACE Matters SLO County, specifically in the
following areas:
Adopt a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
Commit to reading and providing a report on the work that has been done within
Atascadero toward the demands listed by RACE Matters.
Connect and collaborate with organizations within the city who are already working on
diversity, inclusion, equity, and racial justice.
I write this comment with a renewed sense of urgency as video footage documenting an
incident of racial hatred within our community was released during the last week, in which
one white community member used hateful and threatening language toward a Black
community member, in public and broad daylight, in the year 2020. The concern of racism in
Atascadero and in SLO County at large is not abstract or nebulous; it is tangible and alive as we
speak, and it requires your immediate action.
Please demonstrate your commitment as a governing body to be actively anti-racist and stand
in solidarity with your Black community members.
Thank you,
Joseph DeLuca
805-952-5093
josephdelucaca@gmail.com
SUBMISSION FROM: Georgia Crowley
From: Georgia Crowley <georgia.crowley14@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 12:26 PM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>
Subject: Immediate change is needed
Hello,
I am writing a public comment addressing systemic racism and oppression in our society. I am
demanding that you support all of the R.A.C.E matters demands in your jurisdiction.
I am writing to demand that you adopt a resolution declaring that RACISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS. I demand that the city connects and collaborates with individuals who work on
diversity, inclusion, equity, or racial justice in order to move forward and implement change
that will actually change things.
We have been ignoring the deep faults in our system for far too long. We must change.
Best,
Georgia Crowley
SUBMISSION FROM: Thomas Arndt
From: Thomas Arndt <thomashanspaul@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 1:41 PM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>
Subject: 6/23 Council Meeting Public Comment - Community Forum
Mayor Moreno and Members of the Council,
My name is Thomas, and I am writing to urge the Council to commit to the reforms detailed in
the widely-circulated RACE Matters petition addressing the pervasive issue of racial violence
by police. I think the petition speaks for itself—please take the time to read the it, consider
each of the policy recommendations, and direct staff to pursue a formal report on the current
state of police reform in Atascadero.
I will add one thing: I have heard the rhetoric recently that we in SLO County “do not have this
issue” and that calls to address racism here are misguided talking points from outside our
region. This is not only false, but it also invites a dangerous complacency. Racism is an issue
here, as it is across the county, and racism hurts people here just like everywhere else. The
recent demonstrations across the County, and across the country, are a testament to the
widespread dissatisfaction we as the public feel over the state of policing. Please heed this call.
Thank you for your time,
Thomas Arndt
SUBMISSION FROM: Raleigh Delk
From: Raleigh Delk <raleighdelk@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 3:35 PM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>
Subject: June 23rd Meeting Comminity Forum
I'm Raleigh from Los Osos and I'm asking the Atascadero City Council to address and
respond to the demands of R.A.C.E. Matters SLO. These potential improvements
include the reallocating funds from the police department to local mental health
services and nonprofits. Additionally, I agree wholeheartedly with the proposed
resolution declaring racism a public health crisis as San Luis Obispo has done. For
more information, refer to https://www.racemattersslo.org/ and connect and
collaborate with other organizations in your city who work on diversity, inclusion,
equity, and racial justice.
Regardless of the degree of racism in Atascadero and SLO County as a whole, such
changes could benefit everyone in the community and set an example for the rest of
the state and the country. Learn more about the data-driven studies behind these
demands at https://www.joincampaignzero.org/
Sincerely,
Raleigh Delk
SUBMISSION FROM: Karen Kubarek and Nate Page
From: Karen Kubarek <karen.m.kubarek@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 4:56 PM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>
Subject: Racism as a public health crisis - today's meeting
We want our voices heard about meeting R.A.C.E. Matter Slo’s demands, including
appropriate police reform and the recognition of racial discrimination as pervasive in our
society, therefore racism should be declared a Public Health Emergency by Atascadero, and
every city at the SLO County Level.
On January 28th, 2020 the American Psychological Association published an article written by
Zara Abrams titled, “Sounding the Alarm on Black Youth Suicide”. This article states:
“Between 1991 and 2017, suicide attempts among black adolescents increased by 73%, while
attempts among white youth decreased, according to an analysis of more than 198,000 high
school students nationwide (Lindsey, M.A., et. al., Pediatrics, Vol. 144, No. 5, 2019). Other
studies have shown an elevated risk of suicide among African American boys ages 5 to 11
(Bridge, J.A., et. al., JAMA Pediatrics, Vol. 172, No. 7, 2018)
… Across the board, mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic
stress disorder put youth at risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts. But many African
American children and adolescents face additional challenges, including exposure to violent
racial discrimination, that may further increase their risk, says Sherry Molock, PhD, associate
professor of psychology at the George Washington University in the District of Columbia and
a member of the working group.
Black youth are also less likely than their white peers to receive care for depression - and
when they do enter treatment, it’s often through the juvenile justice system…”.
Another article, “Racism is a Public Health Crisis, Say Cities and Counties”, posted on June
15th, 2020 on www.pewtrusts.org by Christine Vessel, says, “Black women are up to four
times more likely to die of pregnancy related complications than white women. Black men
are more than twice as likely to be killed by police as white men. And the average life
expectancy of African Americans is four years lower than the rest of the U.S. population”.
These racial disparities are heartbreaking and frightening. We need to do better to dismantle
racism on a systemic level. Racism is a public health crisis and it is imperative for Atascadero
and San Luis Obispo County to step up and acknowledge this so all members of the
community feel supported and safe.
Karen Kubarek and Nate Page, Morro Bay
SUBMISSION FROM: Michael Ens
From: Michael Ens <mikeens@pacbell.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 5:24 PM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@atascadero.org>
Subject: Public Comment 06/23/2020
I want to thank the Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno, City Manager Rachelle Rickard, City
Clerk Lara Christensen & others that have been involved in the increase of public
information about local reopening activities from the COVID-19 restrictions. It has been
confusing and frustrating to know what changes are happening and what is allowed to open
and steps or restrictions that they still need to maintain. More important, what are we as
citizens able to do and places where we are able to go. From the restrictions from the
federal level on down to the city, information has been hard to understand and follow.
I also want to say thank you to Chief of Police Jerel Haley & Fire Chief Casey Bryson for the
work of the first responders to keep our community safe. With all of the events of the past
few weeks, it is very comforting to live in a city where departments have staff ready to
quickly react to potentially dangerous situations.
Michael Ens
(8200 Pequenia Ave)