[00:15:21]
[00:15:21]
RIGHT.[00:15:21]
CALLING[00:15:21]
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FORWARD.WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED IN A MOMENT AND CALLING ROLLING IN ONE MINUTE.
[CALL TO ORDER]
WELL, IT IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH.HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH, EVERYBODY.
ALL RIGHT, WE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL, CALL THE MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[ROLL CALL]
COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS.WHAT IS HIS NAME? COUNCILMAN THRESH.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN IS IN SACRAMENTO IN HER ROLE AS SCAG PRESIDENT, SO SHE WON'T BE HERE THIS EVENING.
UH, WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER AU TO
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
LEAD US IN THE MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.AND TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO QUOTE OUR FORMER MAYOR, UH, BOB FOSTER.
AND I QUOTE, WE'LL START AS IS OUR CUSTOM WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE, FOLLOWED BY THE FLAG SALUTE.
PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE TO GIVE REVERENCE TO THAT WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE FLAG.
PLEASE RISE, EMBODY YOUR SPIRIT.
FACE THE FLAG, HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
UH, HOW MANY OF YOU WERE OUT IN THE LOBBY FOR OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION? GOOD.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, UH, FOR ORGANIZING THIS TRADITION.
UH, IT WAS, IT WAS PRETTY LIVE, GREAT MUSIC.
IT WAS COLD OUT THERE, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S OKAY.
YOU KNOW, ALPHA'S, ALPHA'S COLD.
IT'S A ICE COLD TUESDAY IS WHAT IT IS.
UM, THE GREEKS KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE.
UH, WE WANT TO, WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
THE FIRST WILL BE, UH, ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE NATIONAL PLAN LENNIC COUNCIL.
UH, SO WE'RE GONNA INVITE UP, LET'S SEE, MICHELLE,
[ BLACK HISTORY MONTH]
MICHELLE ROBERTS WILL COME UP, UH, AND PROVIDE A PRESENTATION ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH.UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR IN THE CITY FOR ALLOWING THE B TO HOST THE EVENT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
EVERY YEAR IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER.
AND OUR FLAG RAISING CEREMONY IS ALWAYS SUCH SO TOUCHING.
UM, I DID WANT TO, UH, SAY, UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL ATTENDING THE EVENT TODAY.
UM, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UM, THE FOUNDER WAS CARTER G WOODSON, AND WAS FOUNDED IN THE, UM, BLACK HISTORY WEEK IN 1926.
THE OFFICIAL DECLARATION WAS IN 19 76, 19 76, WHEN IT WAS OFFICIALLY EXPANDED TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH BY PRESIDENT GERALD FORD.
THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WAS CHOSEN TO ALIGN WITH THE BIRTHDAYS OF FREDERICK DOUGLAS AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BOTH PIVOTAL FI FIGURES AND THE EMANCIPATION OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE.
THE SIGNIFICANCE IT SERVES TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF BLACK AMERICANS AND THEIR CENTRAL AND HOUSTON US HISTORY.
TODAY, THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, UM, CELEBRATE OUR OWN LOCAL HEROES, OUR LONG BEACH HEROES.
SO WE DO HAVE A FEW OF THEM HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
UM, WE DO HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR THEM.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH, WELL, I'M GONNA CALL EVERYONE'S NAME.
SO THE FIRST PERSON IS ALICE ROBINSON.
[00:20:01]
HER ADVOCACY FOR, UH, RESIDENTS KELVIN ANDERSON FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSICAL CULTURE.SHARON MCLUCAS, PRESERVATION OF BLACK HISTORY.
MR. DERRICK SAMPSON, HIS, UM, LEADERSHIP AND NONPROFIT, UH, COACH LATONYA SHEFFIELD.
SHE'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OLYMPICS.
WE HAVE DON NORFORD CONTRIBUTIONS TO ATHLETICS.
ALLISON KING, LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
STEVE NEIL, LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND YVONNE WILLER, SERVICE TO WORKERS.
SO WE DO HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES FROM THE MAYOR THAT WE LIKE TO PRESENT AND WE CAN, UM, DO YOU COME DOWN AND TAKE PICTURES WITH THEM? OKAY.
SO THE ONES THAT ARE HERE, IF YOU GUYS CAN COME DOWN.
DEREK, YOU CAN STAND HERE AND I WILL GIVE YOU, HAND YOU YOUR CERTIFICATE.
YOU'RE GONNA COME IN AND WE'RE GONNA GO TAKE PICTURES.
OPEN, OPEN THEM UP SO I CAN SEE YOUR NAMES.
[ NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL: THE DIVINE 9]
NEXT PRESENTATION IS ON THE NATIONAL PANHELLENIC COUNCIL, THE DIVINE NINE.THESE ARE THE NINE HISTORIC, UH, BLACK FRATERNITIES AND SOROR SORORITIES, UH, INTERCOLLEGIATE GREEK LETTER FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES IS THE REASON WHY I HAVE MY FRATERNITY LETTERMAN JACKET ON TODAY.
UH, WHY THE COUNCILWOMAN HAS HER BLAZER ON TODAY, UH, AND WHY YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE DRESSED UP IN, UH, THEIR FRATERNAL SORORITY SORORITY COLORS, UH, IS BECAUSE WE'RE RECOGNIZING THE DIVINE NINE TODAY AS A PART OF, UH, UH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AND SO I WANNA INVITE COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH IN TOOK, UH, TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND, UH, GLAD TO SEE, UH, ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF THE DIVINE NINE OUT THIS EVENING.
SO, UH, TONIGHT I'M GOING TO, UH, TALK ABOUT THE DIVINE NINE AND EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS.
THE NATIONAL PANHELLENIC COUNCIL, AND WE OFTEN REFER TO IT LOVINGLY AS THE DIVINE NINE.
THIS IS A POWERHOUSE OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE HAD IMPACT INTERNATIONALLY, AS WELL AS RIGHT HERE WITHIN OUR CITY AND REGION.
SO THE FIRST ITEM IS, WHO ARE THE DIVINE NINE? THE NATIONAL PANHELLENIC COUNCIL WAS FOUNDED IN 1930.
IT'S A COALITION OF NINE HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATIONS BUILT ON SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF NPHC IS COMRADERY, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
[00:25:01]
AND EXTENSIVE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.THE PHRASE DIVINE NINE REFLECTS THE REVERENCE AND RESPECT THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE EARNED THROUGH DECADES OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP RANGING OVER A HUNDRED YEARS FOR SEVERAL OF THEM.
EACH OF THE NINE ORGANIZATIONS HAS ITS OWN IDENTITY, BUT ALL SHARE THAT COMMON MISSION.
SO THERE ARE FIVE FRATERNITIES AND FOUR SORORITIES FOUNDED BETWEEN 1906 AND 1963 EMERGING DURING SEGREGATION AND EXCLUSION.
EACH CREATED LEADERSHIP PIPELINES WHEN OTHER DOORS WERE CLOSED AND WERE ACTIVE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR FIRST, LET'S START WITH ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.
FOUNDED IN 1906, THEY WERE THE FIRST GREEK LETTER FRATERNITY ESTABLISHED FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY WITH OVER 290,000 MEMBERS AND OVER 800 CHAPTERS.
NOTABLE ALPHA PHI ALPHA MEN WOULD BE ANOTHER FIRST, OUR VERY OWN FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF LONG BEACH MAYOR REX RICHARDSON.
BUT, WELL, YEAH, ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT.
PAVING THE WAY IN THIS ORGANIZATION WAS ALSO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, WEB DUB BOIS LA THURGOOD MARSHALL, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
AND WE THANK YOU AND ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
ANOTHER FIRST, THE OLDEST GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATION BY BLACK COLLEGE WOMEN.
THE LOVELY LATEST OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED FOUNDED IN 1908 AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY WITH MORE THAN 365 MEMBERS AND OVER A THOUSAND CHAPTERS GLOBALLY.
IT IS SUCH AN HONOR THAT I MYSELF AM A MEMBER OF THIS ILLUSTRIOUS ORGANIZATION WITH THE LIKES OF FORMER VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, ROSA PARKS, CORETTA SCOTT KING, ARTIST MAYA ANGELOU.
AND OF COURSE, WE ALSO HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR ALICE KING.
SERVICE ISN'T SOMETHING WE DO OCCASIONALLY.
IT IS A LEGACY THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADVANCING EDUCATION, HEALTH, EQUITY, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND GLOBAL SERVICE.
NEXT WE HAVE THE THE BROTHERS OF KAPPA ALPHA SCI, UH, FRATERNITY.
FOUNDED IN 1911 AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY WITH OVER 200,000 MEMBERS AND 700 CHAPTERS.
KAPPA ALPHA SI WAS FOUNDED TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACHIEVEMENT DURING A TIME OF RACIAL EXCLUSION.
THE FRATERNITY EMPHASIZES ACHIEVEMENT IN EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR.
NOTABLE MEMBERS INCLUDE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, JOHNNY COCHRAN, WILT CHAMBERLAIN, BILL RUSSELL, AND, AND COLIN KAEPERNICK.
WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
NEXT, WE HAVE THE MEN OF OMEGA SCI-FI FRATERNITY, 1911, FOUNDED ON THE CAMPUS OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY WITH OVER 250,000 MEMBERS AND 700 CHAPTERS.
OMEGA SCI-FI IS ROOTED IN THE PRINCIPLES OF MANHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, PERSEVERANCE, AND UPLIFT.
THE FRATERNITY IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS COMMUNITY SERVICE, MENTORING, AND ADDRESSING CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUES.
NOTABLE MEMBERS INCLUDE LANGSTON HUGHES, REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, MICHAEL JORDAN, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, AND STEVE HARVEY.
WE THANK THEM IN FOR THEIR SERVICE.
NEXT WE HAVE DELTA SIGMA THETA, UH, SORORITY INCORPORATED.
FOUNDED IN 1913 AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY BY WOMEN COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND SOCIAL ACTION.
THE SORORITY HAS A PROUD HISTORY OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ADVOCACY, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF VOTING RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
WITH OVER 350,000 MEMBERS AND OVER A THOUSAND CHAPTERS.
NOTABLE MEMBERS INCLUDE FORMER US ATTORNEY GENERAL LORETTA LYNCH, JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, KAJI BROWN, JACKSON, SICILY, TYSON, KEISHA, LANCE BOTTOMS. WE THANK THE LADIES OF DELTA FOR THEIR SERVICE.
NEXT, WE HAVE FIVE BETA SIGMA, FOUNDED IN 1914 AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY WITH THE IDEAL OF INCLUSIVE BROTHERHOOD WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON COMMUNITY SERVICE, EDUCATION, AND PARTNERSHIP.
THE FRATERNITY IS KNOWN FOR MEETING COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE AND RESPONDING TO, TO THEIR PRESSING NEEDS.
WITH OVER 225,000 MEMBERS AND NEARLY 600 CHAPTERS.
NOTABLE MEMBERS INCLUDE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER, JOHN LEWIS, AL SHARPTON, JERRY RICE, AND EMMETT SMITH.
WE THANK THEM IN FOR THEIR SERVICE.
NEXT WE HAVE ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INCORPORATED.
FOUNDED IN 1920 ON THE CAMPUS OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
ZETA PHI BETA WAS FOUNDED WITH A COMMITMENT TO SCHOLARSHIPS, SERVICE, SISTERHOOD, AND FINER WOMANHOOD.
[00:30:01]
SORORITY EMPHASIZES COMMUNITY CONSCIOUS ACTION AND HAS BEEN A LEADER IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES WITH OVER 125,000 MEMBERS AND NEARLY 900 CHAPTERS.NOTABLE MEMBERS INCLUDE CHERYL UNDERWOOD, CONGRESSWOMAN SIDNEY COM, LAGGER DOVE, CONGRESSWOMAN RASHIDA TALIB, DIANE WARWICK, ZORA NO HURSTON, ANITA HILL, AND VIVICA A FOX.
WE THANK THE LADIES FOR THEIR SERVICE.
AND THEN WE HAVE SIGMA GAMMA ROSE SORORITY INCORPORATED.
FOUNDED AT BUTLER UNIVERSITY IN 1922 BY EDUCATORS AND MAINTAINS A STRONG FOCUS ON EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
ITS MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND ACTION.
NOTABLE MEMBERS INCLUDE CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN, KELLY, NINA TURNER, HATTIE MCDONAL, AND KELLY PRICE.
WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE AND WE HAVE IOTA PHI THETA FRATERNITY.
IOTA PHI THETA IS THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE DIVINE NINE AND WAS FOUNDED DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA AT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1963.
THE FRATERNITY EMPHASIZES BUILDING A TRADITION, UH, NOT JUST RUSTIC UPON ONE WITH A STRONG FOCUS IN CIV SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
NOTABLE MEMBERS INCLUDE BOBBY RUSH, MAJOR, GENERAL W MONTAGUE, WINFIELD, HARRY C ALFRED, AND KENNY BURGESS.
WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
SO THE DIVINE NINE, AS YOU HEARD THOSE THEMES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SERVICE, SCHOLARSHIP, SISTERHOOD, AND BROTHERHOOD HAS OVER 2 MILLION MEMBERS AND MORE THAN 6,600 CHAPTERS.
AND WHILE EACH ORGANIZATION IS UNIQUE TOGETHER, THE DIVINE NINE REPRESENTS A POWERFUL COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO LEADERSHIP AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WHO MIGHT BE HERE TONIGHT FROM ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.
TAO MU LAMBDA CHAPTER, LONG BEACH, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED.
THETA ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER, LONG BEACH KAPPA ALPHA S FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.
LONG BEACH, INGLEWOOD, SOUTH BAY ALUM CHAPTER OMEGA SCI-FI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.
ROE IOTA IOTA CHAPTER, LONG BEACH DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED.
CHAPTER FIVE BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.
THETA ALPHA SIGMA CHAPTER, LONG BEACH ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INCORPORATED.
SIGMA ATA ZETA CHAPTER, LONG BEACH SIGMA GAMMA ROW SORORITY INCORPORATED.
GAMMA TA SIGMA ALUMNI CHAPTER AND IOTA PHI THETA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.
GAMMA GAMMA OMEGA CHAPTER, LONG BEACH, SOUTH BAY, TO ALL OF OUR DIVINE NINE, UH, FAMILY.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE GRAVITY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AT THIS TIME.
MAYOR, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN THE HOUSE TODAY.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S, UH, LET'S PREPARE THE, THE ROOM AND INVITE BACK.
UH, IT'S MOSTLY ZETAS AND SIGMAS HERE, SO THAT'S WHAT I SEE.
REGGIE HARRISON, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
AS LONG AS EVERYONE STAYS BETWEEN THE FLAG
[00:36:11]
THAT, THAT WAS ALL RIGHT.WELL, WELL THANK YOU EVERYONE.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATIONS.
[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 11.)]
TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
ARE WE ON 11? ARE WE ON 11? WE'RE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
OKAY, SO I'M JUST GONNA READ IT TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF.
RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS.
THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 10 ON THE CONSENT AND AWARD OF CONTRACT TO MIDWEST VETERINARY SUPPLY, INC.
OF LAKEVIEW, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.
I'M SORRY FOR THE PURCHASE OF VETERINARY PHARMACEUTICALS AND SUPPLIES IN THE TOTAL ANNUAL AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 200,000 FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR THREE ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY MANAGER AND AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS.
AGAIN, ANY TIME THAT WE SPEND MONEY OUTSIDE OF LONG BEACH, I MEAN, 'CAUSE HERE WE'RE SPENDING 200,000 FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.
SO $400,000 TO ACCOMPANY OUTSIDE LONG BEACH FOR VETERINARY SUPPLIES.
AGAIN, I WANT YOU TO BE MINDFUL THAT MOVING FORWARD THE MONEY NEEDS TO STAY IN THE CITY.
I'M SURE THAT WE CAN FIND VETERINARY PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS WITHIN THE GREATER BOUNDARIES OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
WE NEED TO STOP SPENDING MONEY OUTSIDE OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE A CITY OF ALMOST HALF A MILLION RESIDENTS, SO WE NEED TO KEEP THE MONEY IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
ANYWAYS, AGAIN, IT'S GONNA BE AN APPROVED RECOMMENDATION.
YOU'RE GONNA UNANIMOUSLY PASS IT ONCE AGAIN.
EVERYBODY SAYS AGREE, AGREE, AGREE, AGREE, AGREE.
IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF TODAY SOMEBODY SAYS NAY.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL NOW MOVE ON TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ]
I SEE NINE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON, UM, NON-AG AGENDA ITEMS. LET ME PULL UP THE, UM, SPEAKERS.
ELIZABETH WALLER, G-T-F-O-L LOVE, LB PARK, CHEVY SEYMOUR, JUSTICE ZACHERY GONZALEZ, FRANCESCA, AND DAVE SHUKLA.
IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
CAN I JUST GET STARTED OR PLEASE? OKAY, GREAT.
UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL HERE,
[00:40:01]
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, YOUR HARDWORKING STAFFS, AND MY FELLOW LONG BEACH NEIGHBORS HERE FOR GIVING ME THIS CHANCE TO SPEAK.UM, I'M HERE REPRESENTING CHRISTIAN OUTREACH AND ACTION.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ORGANIZATION, IT'S A NON-DENOMINATIONAL 5 0 1 C3 THAT SERVICES THE HOMELESS AND IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITY HERE IN LONG BEACH THROUGH, AMONG OTHER WAYS, FOOD BANK, CLOTHING BANK, DYER BANK, FREE DINNERS, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, FREE BREAKFAST EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
I MYSELF AM ACTUALLY RELATIVELY NEW TO THE ORGANIZATION, BUT IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE BEEN THERE, I HAVE BEEN SO AMAZED AND IT MAKE IT CHOKES ME UP.
IT, I'M SO AMAZED TO SEE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, NOT JUST THE INCREDIBLE KINDNESS OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN OUR CITY, BUT HOW WHAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE THE SMALLEST GESTURE CAN LEAVE NOTHING LESS THAN A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON ANOTHER PERSON.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
UH, COA IS CURRENTLY HOLDING ITS ANNUAL SPREAD THE LOVE EVENT WHERE WE TAKE THOUSANDS OF THESE HEARTS, WE PUT INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGES ON THEM, AND ON FRIDAY WE HAND 'EM OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT JUST THE CLIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE, BUT ANYBODY WHO NEEDS A THANK YOU, ANYBODY WHO MIGHT NEED TO BE APPRECIATED.
HOME HEALTHCARE WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO WORK AT SENIOR CITIZENS HOMES, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE, ANYBODY THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR AND MAYBE NEEDS A LITTLE EXTRA HUG.
UM, AND THE MESSAGES ARE SIMPLE.
UH, I BROUGHT A COUPLE WITH ME.
LOVE IS THE ANSWER NO MATTER WHAT THE QUESTION.
AND SO THIS PUBLIC COMMENT IS ACTUALLY A PUBLIC ASK.
UM, I'VE BROUGHT A NUMBER OF BLANK HEARTS WITH ME, ALONG WITH SOME MARKERS AND STICKERS, AND I'M HERE TO ASK IF YOU WILL HELP US DECORATE THESE HEARTS.
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IN THE OFFICE, IN THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, PLEASE COME FIND ME.
I'D BE, I'D LOVE TO SET YOU UP WITH SOME AS WELL.
UM, AND SO, MR. MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CAN I LEAVE THESE HANDFUL OF HEARTS WITH YOU, UH, AND FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFFERS TO ADD JUST QUICK SHORT MESSAGES TO, AND, UH, OUR PLAN IS TO PASS 'EM OUT FRIDAY AND I'M HAPPY TO SWING BACK HERE THURSDAY TO PICK UP.
UM, AND WE'D LOVE TO GET YOUR INVOLVEMENT.
UH, AND CAN WE COUNT ON YOU? WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WORK WITH JEFF RIGHT OVER THERE.
JEFF CAN MAKE SURE WE DISTRIBUTE TO SOME OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO SPEAK.
UH, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, A FEW MONTHS AGO, UM, GOONS FROM ICE CAME TO PAULIS PIS, UH, THAT WASN'T INTENDED RHYME.
UM, MAYOR, YOU AND, UM, COUNCILWOMAN KERR, UM, CAME OVER TO, UH, PAULIS PIS, I THINK IT WAS THE, THE NEXT MORNING.
AND YOU STOOD OUT IN FRONT AND YOU SAID, CLEARLY, UH, PUBLICLY, ICE DOES NOT BELONG IN LONG BEACH.
SO, REX, I'M HERE TO HOLD YOU TO YOUR WORD.
WILL YOU MOUNT THIS BANNER ON THE PODIUM? THESE ARE YOUR WORDS, NOT MINE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
UM, AND THAT WASN'T THE ONLY TIME.
OF COURSE YOU'VE SAID IT BEFORE AT THE STATE OF THE UNION, YOU SAID ICE DOES NOT BELONG IN LONG BEACH.
UM, AND SO MY QUESTION IS, UH, AND, AND I THINK EVERYBODY'S QUESTION IS EVERYBODY WHO HAS, UH, DEDICATED THE LAST, UH, ALMOST A YEAR TO, UM, UM, TO DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO AS INDIVIDUALS, AS RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS TO, UH, PREVENT ICE FROM KIDNAPPING PEOPLE, WILL YOU INSTRUCT YOUR POLICE OFFICERS TO STOP OBSTRUCTING OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PROTEST? AND I KNOW WE HAVE A VALUES ACT, AND I KNOW, AND EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS WHO HAS BEEN TO A PROTEST THAT THE CITY IS NOT ABIDING BY IT.
SO ONE THING IS TO SAY IT, ANOTHER ONE IS TO DO IT.
WILL YOU INSTRUCT YOUR POLICE NEVER AGAIN TO ARREST LITTLE OLD LADIES FOR PROTESTING AGAINST ARMED TESTOSTERONE NAZIS WHO ARE ARRESTING OUR HARDWORKING
[00:45:01]
NEIGHBORS? BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED.SO ANYWAY, UM, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I'M A CENTRAL AMERICAN IMMIGRANT, BUT MY GRANDPA WAS A MULATTO FROM JAMAICA.
AND MY DNA TEST IS THAT, THAT I'M NINE, 9% AFRICAN, BUT I'M NOT CULTURALLY BLACK.
I, UH, I DIDN'T GROW UP IN A BLACK FAMILY, BUT, UH, I'M A FIGHTER FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AS WAS MY FATHER.
AND, UH, OTHER OPPRESSED PEOPLES.
AND SOME OF MY HEROES DID NOT APPEAR ON THAT BOARD.
MALCOLM X, MUMIA BU, JAMAL GERONIMO, PRATT CLAUDETTE COLVIN, THOSE ARE HEROES.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO ATTEND HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT THEY'RE NOT THERE.
SO THAT LIST DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO ME.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR FOR MONTHS NOW IN TERMS OF ICE CLEAR CALLS BY CITY OFFICIALS, INCLUDING ALL OF YOU, TO ABOLISH ICE.
UH, USE CITY RESOURCES TO IMMEDIATELY BROADCAST WHEN ICE RAIDS OCCUR.
CONFIRM THAT THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT COOPERATING WITH ICE AGENTS IN ANY WAY, OR ACTING AS MY COMRAD SAID, IN ANY WAY TO ARREST THOSE WHO ARE PROTESTING AGAINST THEIR ACTIONS OR COMMITTED TO, TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.
UM, USE ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO PRESSURE ICE OUT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING THE RESIDENTS INN ON QUEENSWAY AND THE HOLIDAY INN AIRPORT ON LAKEWOOD.
UM, BUT BESIDES THAT, I WANNA SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S DECISION TO WELCOME WEAPONS MANUFACTURER ANDRE, INTO LONG BEACH.
THIS COMPANY HAS RECENTLY BEEN GIVEN A CONTRACT WITH THE US ARMY TO SELL THEM AI POWERED WEAPONRY.
LET US BE VERY CLEAR IN WHAT THIS WEAPONRY IS GONNA BE USED FOR.
IT IS GONNA BE USED TO MURDER INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE US.
MILITARY'S, UNCONSTITUTIONAL WAR CURRENTLY GOING ON IN VENEZUELA.
IT IS GONNA BE USED BY THE ISRAELI MILITARY TO CONTINUE THEIR GENOCIDE AND GAZA AND THE WEST BANK AS PART OF THE CONTINUOUS EXCHANGE OF, OF KILLING TECHNOLOGY BETWEEN THE US MILITARY AND THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE.
AND INEVITABLY, IT WILL COME BACK TO OUR OWN STREETS AND BE USED AGAINST THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES OF LONG BEACH WITH ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY, WHETHER IT'S BY FEDERAL ICE AGENTS OR BY THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE $700 A YEAR THEY'RE SPENDING ON MILITARY TECHNOLOGY.
THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ARE SO HAPPY TO BE BUILDING IN LONG BEACH RIGHT NOW IS GONNA COME BACK AND IS GONNA KILL PEOPLE IN OUR OWN CITY.
ANDY'S WEBSITE STATES THAT US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL USES THEIR AI MODEL LATTICE QUOTE, THIS IS THEIR OWN WORDS FOR LAND AND MARITIME BORDER SECURITY TO AUTONOMOUSLY IDENTIFY, TRACK, AND DETECT PEOPLE.
THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH TALK LATELY OF HOLDING ICE AGENTS ACCOUNTABLE.
HOW DO WE DO THAT WHEN IT'S A COMPUTER DOING THE KILLING? HOW DO WE DO THAT WHEN AN AI MODEL IS SELECTING PEOPLE TO BE PUT IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS? WE HAVE SEEN ESSENTIALLY ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ANY AI MANUFACTURERS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IN ANY OF THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY.
UM, UH, ELON MUSK'S AI MODEL GROK, UM, SHOWING PORN TO USERS AS YOUNG AS 12 YEARS OLD.
OKAY? UH, THE MAYOR'S ADDRESS ON HIS INSTAGRAM SAYS, QUOTE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE PARTNERS TO PREPARE LOCAL TALENT TO MEET THIS DEMAND.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S TRULY REPREHENSIBLE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FUNNEL THE YOUTH OF OUR CITY TO BUILD THE SAME WEAPONS THAT ARE GONNA KILL THEIR FAMILIES AND KILL THEIR COMMUNITIES.
MY NAME IS POS KAVE AND I'VE MET WITH A COUPLE OF YOU WITH A GROUP OF RAPID RESPONDERS.
I'M A RAPID RESPONDER FOR LONG BEACH, AND I'VE MET WITH MEGAN KERR AND REX RICHARDSON.
AND I JUST WANT EVERYONE HERE TO KNOW WHAT MY IMPRESSION OF THESE PEOPLE ARE.
FIRST OFF, MAYOR REX, YOU LIKE TO TALK QUITE A BIT.
FILIBUSTER, PRETTY MUCH YOU LIKE TO BRAG ABOUT BEING THE FIRST OF EVERYTHING, AND YET SHOWING NOTHING FOR BEING THE FIRST OF ANYTHING.
YOU HAVE LEGAL FUNDS, YOU'VE BRAGGED ABOUT.
THERE'S PEOPLE SITTING BEHIND RED TAPE WAITING FOR
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LEGAL HELP THAT I'LL BE GOING TO VISIT TOMORROW.MEGAN KERR, I, YOU SAID TO CHALLENGE YOU.
I SAT IN THAT OFFICE AND CHALLENGED YOU TO STAND UP AND SAY, THIS IS FASCISM SILENCE.
YOU SAID YOU ARE NOT GONNA CUSS AND SAY F**K ICE.
YOUR MORAL COMPASSES ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
CAN YOU SAY ABOLISH? CAN YOU SAY ABOLISH ICE.
IN THAT MEETING, I WATCHED YOU CUT OFF WOMEN TO LISTEN TO YOURSELF, TALK SOME MORE.
AND DURING THAT MEETING YOU ALSO SAID YOU PRETTY MUCH UNDERSTOOD WHY WE WERE SAYING WE WOULD LIKE CIVIL LAWSUITS AGAINST THESE ICE AGENTS THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD.
SO YOU KNOW, IT'S FASCISM AND YET YOU WON'T COME OUT AND SAY IT AND YOU WON'T COME OUT.
AND FULL FORCE FIGHT SAID YOU WANNA ACT LIKE EVERYTHING IS NORMAL.
AND THAT'S HOW THINGS HAPPENED IN GERMANY.
EVERYONE TURNED A BLIND EYE TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND IT FEELS AS IF ALL OF YOU ARE AS WELL.
YOU ALSO SAID YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IF YOU WOULD HAVE A STATEMENT READY FOR PRIME TIME AS IF, IF IT'S A SHOWBOAT.
ON THE HAND, YOU SAID PRIME TIME.
AND YOU GUYS ARE ALL ACTING AS IF NOTHING IS REALLY HAPPENING.
YOU HAVE FOUR HOTELS HOSTING ICE AGENTS HERE, FOUR OF 'EM, HAMPTON INN, MARRIOTT ON SPRING IN LAKEWOOD, THE MARRIOTT ON WILLOW AND THE MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN.
AND EVERY TIME WE GO OUT AND PROTEST, POLICE ARE BROUGHT OUT.
AND JUST TO ADD TO TODAY, I WITNESSED A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT THIS MORNING, AND THEN AFTER IT WAS, I THINK IT WAS A FATALITY AFTERWARDS, I WATCHED YOUR POLICE STAND IN FRONT OF THE CAR THAT HIT THE MOTORCYCLE AND JOKES.
THE CITY IS GROSS AND IT'S YOUR CITY RIGHT NOW.
AND I WILL MAKE IT MY LIFE'S MISSION TO MAKE SURE YOUR POLITICS, YOUR POLITICAL AGENDA ENDS AS MAYOR.
UM, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS ARE, UH, HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT ALREADY, BUT BEFORE THAT I JUST WANNA SAY I, I ROLLED UP AS EARLY AS I COULD TODAY AND I SAW A PRETTY AWESOME BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION OUTSIDE.
I MISSED THE PAN-AFRICAN FLAG GOING UP.
BUT, UH, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE I FEEL REALLY PROUD TO BE A LONG BEACH RESIDENT AND I SEE LONG BEACH MOVING IN A DIRECTION THAT, UH, I THINK MY KIDS AND MY GRANDKIDS AND ALL OF OUR, UH, FUTURE PROGENY WILL BE PROUD OF.
UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE.
AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A CITY FOR OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION IS NOT ONLY WOEFULLY INADEQUATE, UH, IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL LIKE MY, MY CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR ARE COLLABORATING WITH THE VERY FASCISM THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR STREETS.
TO ME AT THIS POINT, WHETHER YOU'RE A POLICE OFFICER, A MAYOR, A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, A TEACHER LIKE MYSELF, A GUY THAT WORKS AT A A ANYWHERE ELSE, IF YOU'RE NOT ACTIVELY RESISTING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STREETS TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YOU'RE COLLABORATING WITH THEM.
AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE MADE STATEMENTS, REX, I'VE, I'VE HEARD YOU SAY ICE HAS NO PLACE IN LONG BEACH.
I THINK YOU PUTTING THAT, UH, LITTLE BANNER UP ON THE DEUS WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY OF THAT.
NOT EVERYBODY SEES THE STATE OF THE CITY.
NOT EVERYBODY IS FOLLOWING, YOU KNOW, LIKE CITY WEBSITES AND STUFF.
THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER PERFORMATIVE MEASURE THAT WOULD LIKE GET US MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT ICE IS STILL STAYING IN OUR HOTELS.
I WONDER, HAS ANY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT LIVES IN THOSE DISTRICTS CALLED AND TRIED TO TALK TO AND UPPER MANAGEMENT OF THAT HOTEL TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR POLICY IS AND PUSH THEM AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO NOT TAKE FEDERAL CONTRACTS WITH ICE MEMBERS? REX, HAVE YOU MADE ANY PERSONAL FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS WITH ANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POWER TO DO THE THINGS YOU SAY YOU DON'T HAVE POWER TO DO? NO.
YOU SAID YOU CAN'T DIRECT THE PD.
I ASKED WHO CAN I HEAR? THE CITY MANAGER AND THE PIO ARE THE ONES IN CHARGE OF THAT.
HAVE THE CITY MANAGER OR THE PIO HAD A SIT DOWN WITH YOU SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TRAINING OFFICERS NOT TO COLLABORATE WITH ICE OR NOT TO LET THEM KIDNAP OUR NEIGHBORS STANDING WITH YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKET
[00:55:01]
WATCHING IT HAPPEN.THE COPS I TALK TO AND I TALK TO ANYONE THAT I CAN, THEY SAY THEY DO THEIR THING.
WE DO OUR THING, WE STAY OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS.
WELL, WHO'S THEY? THE THE MASK GUY WITH NO BADGE, NO WARRANT.
TERMINAL ISLAND'S BEEN QUIET THIS WEEK.
AND IF WE DON'T HAVE A PD THAT'S TRAINED UP AND READY TO GO, LIKE THEY CLEARLY TELL US THEY AREN'T.
WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A CITY TO BE READY FOR MINNEAPOLIS? THANK YOU.
SO MY NAME IS ZURICH GONZALEZ.
I'M A STREET VENDOR FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
UM, THE PAST TWO YEARS, UH, WHEN YOU GUYS PASSED THE CITY OF DENS, UH, THE WHOLE, UM, SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS HAS BEEN A FAILURE FOR ME.
UM, I TRIED TO APPLY FOR A CAR AND OVER A YEAR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT KEEP ASKING ME FOR LIKE, MULTIPLE THINGS.
I SEND IT OUT, GOING BACK AND FORTH.
AFTER THAT YEAR, UM, THEY JUST CALLED ME BACK SAYING LIKE, OH, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A FREE CARD OR TO GET YOUR LICENSE, EVEN THOUGH I'M TRYING MY BEST, UH, TO BE LEGIT WITH THE CITY.
UM, AND AFTER THAT, UM, I SAW THIS RENTAL SPACE RIGHT THERE ON 12 OH LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.
SO IT USED TO BE A SNOWBALLS, FLUFFY SHOP.
SO WHEN I SAW THEY LEFT, I DESIRE MYSELF TO GO IN AND GET THE LEASE FOR THREE YEARS.
UM, I NOTICED THEY WERE OPERATING FOR THREE YEARS.
UH, EVERYTHING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE UP TO CODE.
AND THEN NOW THAT I TRIED TO OPEN MY BRICK AND MORTAR, UH, CITY OFFICIALS TOLD ME, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU CAN'T OPEN, UH, BECAUSE THIS, THIS PLACE IS NOT UP TO CODE.
SO WHEN I DID MY LEASE, I WAS THINKING LIKE, HOW COME IF THE PREVIOUS BUSINESS WAS OPERATING FOR THREE YEARS? AND EVEN THEY HAVE A, A BIG GRAND OPENING WITH THE PREVIOUS MAYOR AND THEN WITH REX RICHARDSON TOO.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PICTURES OUT THERE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THERE'S NO CEILINGS, THERE'S NO FLOORS, UH, THERE'S NOTHING.
UM, THERE WAS UP TO CODE THEN NOW THEY'RE ASKING ME TO DO, WHICH I'M NOT, I'M NOT AGAINST TO DO IT, BUT IT'S SO HARD TO BE BROWN AND LATINO AND BE EXCLUDED FOR OPENING MY SMALL BUSINESSES OR BEING ABLE TO GET A FREE CARD FROM THE CITY AS A STREET VENDOR.
SO ERY, THE PROGRAM IS STILL GOING.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO THE CITY DEPUTY, WHOEVER THE CITY MANAGER ON DUTY IS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROGRAM.
'CAUSE THERE'S CARTS AVAILABLE.
THEY, THEY EXCLUDED ME FROM THE PROGRAM.
'CAUSE MY CONCEPT, THEY SAYING, WELL, LET'S, LET'S FIGURE IT OUT.
AND AFTER FRANCESCA, OUR FINAL SPEAKERS, DAVE SHUKLA.
UH, I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENING TOOL ONCE MORE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHICH BE, WHICH WOULD BE A DECLARATION AND COMMITMENT TO LONG BEACH IS ALREADY, UH, EXISTING VALUES AND INITIATIVES.
THIS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL TOOL TO CITY'S ALREADY EXISTING PROCESS.
AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS THAT WORK LIKE THE CITY OF, UM, BERKELEY, WHICH ADOPTED A SIMILAR POLICY IN THE 1970S AND CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THIS, UH, EXISTING POLICY.
SO WE KNOW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS POSSIBLE.
UH, I'M ALSO HERE TO STAND IN SUPPORT OF OUR LONG BEACH RAPID RESPONSE NETWORK THAT HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU SAID ABOLISH ICE, BUT TO BE HONEST, IT KIND OF FELT LIKE A HERE DAM.
LIKE JUST MOVE ON WITH IT ALREADY.
UM, AND I FEEL LIKE THIS, THIS ELEMENT OF IRRITATION IS IN THIS ROOM EVERY TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING UP HERE TO SPEAK.
BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GENUINELY SCARED AND PEOPLE ARE GENUINELY TIRED.
UM, THEY ARE BALANCING THEIR LIFE, THEIR WORK, THEIR COMMUNITY, THEIR OWN TROUBLES, THEIR OWN LOSSES, AND THEN THE LOSSES OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S NOT, UH, SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DO LIGHTLY.
THEY'RE HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE GENUINELY EXHAUSTED AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
UM, AND I KNOW LAST WEEK YOU MENTIONED THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS NO CONTRACTS WITH HOTELS, BUT I THINK WHAT THE CITY WAS ASKING FOR IS, ARE WE COMMITTED TO NOT HAVING ANY CONTRACTS WITH ANY ENTITY THAT IS IN SUPPORT OF ICE DHS OR CPP, FOR EXAMPLE, CORE CIVIC, WHICH LONG BEACH DOES HAVE CONTRACTS WITH.
IN FACT, CORECIVIC SPONSORED AN EVENT THAT WAS HELD AT THE LONG BEACH, UH, CONVENTION CENTER THIS PAST WEEKEND.
AND THIS IS AN ENTITY THAT BUILDS CONCENTRATION CAMPS FOR DHS.
SO THESE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS, ARE WE LOOKING AT OUR CONTRACTS? ARE WE LOOKING AT THE WAY THAT OUR CITY IS
[01:00:01]
ALSO SUPPORTING THIS, THESE ACTIONS? UM, IF WE LOOK AT CHICAGO'S MAYOR, UM, HE AUTHORIZED LOCAL POLICE AND AN INVESTIGATION OF FEDERAL AGENTS, UH, AND THE USE OF CITY PROPERTY AND ALSO TO OFFICIALLY DOCUMENT, UH, MISCONDUCT INTO PURSUE PROSECUTION OF FEDERAL AGENTS.AND SO THESE ARE THE TYPES OF ACTIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR SOMETHING CONCRETE THAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK TO AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? AT LEAST WE'RE FIGHTING NOT, NOT, UH, THINGS THAT ARE PASSIVE AND THAT FEEL IRRITABLE.
UM, AND SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THE IRRITATION OF AGITATION, I JUST WANNA LEAVE US WITH THE WORDS OF WEB DU BOIS WHO SAID, AGITATION IS A NECESSARY EVIL TO TELL US THE LIES OF THE SUFFERING.
WITHOUT IT, MANY A NATION HAVE BEEN LULLED TO FALSE SECURITY AND PREENED ITSELF WITH VIRTUES IT DID NOT POSSESS.
IT IS A HARD DUTY, BUT A NECESSARY ONE.
PAIN IS NOT GOOD, BUT PAIN IS NECESSARY.
PAIN DOES NOT AGGRAVATE DISEASE.
AGITATION DOES NOT MEAN AGGRAVATION.
AGGRAVATION CALLS FOR AGITATION IN ORDER THAT THAT REMEDY MAY BE FOUND.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, OUR FINAL SPEAKER, DAVE SHUKLA.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, NICE JACKET REX.
UM, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH
UH, BEFORE I GET TO THE SUBJECT MATTER, UH, I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A SMALL BIT OF GOOD NEWS.
HOPEFUL NEWS TODAY IN BERLIN WAS THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL TEST FLIGHT OF AN ENTIRELY ELECTRIC VTOL AIRCRAFT.
THAT'S A VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING.
UM, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE CAN DO IT.
WE CAN HAVE THE JETSONS, IN FACT, UH, INSTEAD OF BUILDING AND EXPORTING DRONES AND HATE, I MEAN, WE COULD HAVE BEEN BUILDING THIS STUFF IN LONG BEACH FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.
UM, BUT SINCE WE WON'T, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, OTHER COUNTRIES WILL CATCH UP AND THEY'LL, UH, NOT ONLY SET THE TERMS, UH, BUT THEY'LL SELL 'EM BACK TO US.
SO, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNAWARE OR NOT PRESENT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, UH, THREE WEEKS AGO, UH, I SUBDUCTED TWO MEN, UH, OFF OUR LAWN, UH, ONE OF WHOM WAS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
THEY APPARENTLY COERCED THEM, UH, TO SIGN SELF DEPORTATION PAPERS THAT SAME DAY.
AND WITHIN THE WEEK, THESE TWO MEN, UH, WHO WERE NOT CRIMINALS, WHO HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG, UH, THEY WERE GONE POSSIBLY NEVER TO RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, I'D LIKE TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT THERE IS MORE THAN CIRCUM CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, TIME, PLACE TACTICS, UH, THAT THE PRESENCE OF ICE, UH, AT THE END OF ELLIOT STREET, UH, THAT MORNING OF JANUARY 20TH WAS INTENTIONAL AND TARGETED.
MY FAMILY, UH, ARE IMMIGRANTS TO THIS COUNTRY AND, UH, WE FEEL TARGETED.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
UH, BUT, BUT THERE'S STILL LINGERING QUESTIONS.
MR. MAYOR, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN, UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, UH, I'D LIKE TO KNOW PRACTICALLY WHAT RESIDENTS CAN DO.
YOU KNOW, WHAT ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL CAN BE DONE, NOT JUST SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT ON AN INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL SO THAT THIS BECOMES A THING OF THE PAST OF THE HORRID BACK IN THE BAD OLD DAYS PAST.
WILL WE PUBLICLY POST WHAT OUR CITIZENS' RIGHTS ARE? WILL YOU DIRECT LBPD TO INTERVENE IN, UH, EVERY INSTANCE OF ICE ACTION ON SO-CALLED ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS TO INSIST THAT ONLY JUDICIAL WARRANTS COUNT? WILL YOU PASS A STEP-BY-STEP PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT ICE OR ANYONE IMPERSONATING THEM HAS NO PRESENCE AT THE LA 28 OLYMPICS? UNLIKE THIS WEEKEND IN MILAN, WILL YOU PASS AN INVESTMENTS POLICY AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER HAS MENTIONED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS DONE QUITE A BIT OF GOOD WORK WITH? YEP.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? WHAT CAN WE DO? I WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH EACH OF YOUR OFFICES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOUR ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE.
ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
[18. 26-54322 Recommendation to direct City Manager to ensure that Health and Human Services Department (HHS) presents the Black Community Health Strengths and Needs Assessment to the governing bodies of local agencies by December 31, 2026, with a summary prepared after each presentation; and Direct City Manager to compile and analyze data on City employee demographics, with an identification of key geographic areas within the city considered employment deserts, and report back on specific policy measures to increase local hiring, outreach, and recruitment in these special zones, within 120 days. Office or Department: Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Councilwoman, Eighth District; Suely Saro, Councilwoman, Sixth District; Joni Ricks-Oddie, Councilmember, Ninth District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
18, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN THRESH ENUK COUNCILWOMAN SORROW COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI RECOMMENDATION TO ENSURE THAT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT PRESENTS THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO THE GOVERNING BODIES OF LOCAL AGENCIES BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, AND COMPILE AND ANALYZE DATA ON CITY EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS WITHIN IDENTIFICATION OF KEY GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WITHIN THE CITY, CONSIDERED EMPLOYMENT DESERTS AND REPORT BACK ON SPECIFIC POLICY MEASURES TO INCREASE LOCAL HIRING, OUTREACH, AND RECRUITMENT IN THE SPECIAL ZONES WITHIN 120 DAYS.COUNCIL MEMBER THS AND TOOK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO, AND GOOD EVENING TO ALL WHO ARE HERE THIS EVENING AND IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, AND TO MY COLLEAGUES.
SO TODAY WE'VE ALREADY HAD, UH,
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A DAY OF REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION.WE'VE HONORED BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WE'VE HEARD SOME POWERFUL REMARKS FROM OUR BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION THAT REMIND US HOW DEEPLY BLACK LEADERSHIP, LABOR, AND CULTURE ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY.
TODAY'S ITEM BUILDS ON THAT SPIRIT, NOT JUST BY CELEBRATING HISTORY, BUT BY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRESENT AND INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE.
IT BUILDS UPON OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT, SPECIFICALLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
SO BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCILWOMAN SULI SORO, AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOANI RICKS OTI FOR CO-AUTHORING THIS ITEM WITH ME AND FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP.
DURING THIS PROCESS, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK LEGISLATORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED, UH, LETTERS OF SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM, STATE OFFICIALS, SENATOR LENA GONZALEZ, ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIKE GIBSON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL LOCAL ORGANIZATION, HOOPS AFTER DARK BOSS BUSINESS OF STUDENT SUCCESS, THE NEIGHBOR, THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD TENANT COUNCIL, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE N-A-A-C-P, THE DIVINE NINE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING SIGMA GAMMA ROW, DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, AND ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED.
THEIR SUPPORT REFLECTS A SHARED UNDERSTANDING THAT IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES REQUIRES COORDINATION AND SUSTAINED ACTION.
SO LAST DECEMBER, WALKING THROUGH, UH, THIS MATTER, UH, WE HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR THE INITIAL FOUNDING FINDINGS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT.
THE REPORT OFFERED A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY INFORMED LOOK AT THE LIVED EXPERIENCES, PRIORITIES, AND STRENGTHS OF BLACK RESIDENTS.
MORE THAN 600 RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED, INCLUDING 300 SURVEY PARTICIPANTS.
THE HIGHEST RANKED NEEDS CENTERED ON ECONOMIC, THE ECONOMIC WELLBEING, MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING STABILITY, AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES.
THESE ARE NOT JUST ABSTRACT ISSUES.
THEY SHAPE THE DAILY LIFE OPPORTUNITY AND LONGEVITY OF COMMUNITIES.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S NEXT STEP INCLUDES SHARING THE REPORT MORE BROADLY WITH THE COMMUNITY AND INFORMING A, INFORMING A STEERING COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT THESE FINDINGS LEAD TO ACTION.
AT ITS CORE, THE ASSESSMENT ADVANCES THE CITY'S RACIAL EQUITY AND RECONCILIATION INITIATIVE AND OUR COMMITMENT TO ELIMINATING SYSTEMATIC RACISM AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES ACROSS OUR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
TODAY'S MATTER MAKES TAKES THAT THE NEXT STEP.
FURTHER, IT OPERATIONALIZES TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE ASSESSMENT AND MOVES US FROM DATA TO IMPLEMENTATION.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FIRST COMPONENT THAT THIS MOTION DIRECTS.
THE ITEM DIRECTS THAT THE FULL ASSESSMENT BE SHARED WITH THE GOVERNING BODIES OF LOCAL PARTNER AGENCIES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER AGENCIES ACROSS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
BY FORMALLY PRESENTING THESE FINDINGS, WE ENSURE THAT THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF BLACK RESIDENTS HELP INFORM POLICY DECISIONS BEYOND CITY HALL.
THE SECOND COMPONENT IS INTERNAL.
UH, THIS ITEM DIRECTS OUR CITY WORKFORCE AND DIRECTS A CITY WORKFORCE ANALYSIS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW OUR OWN HIRING PRACTICES, RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES, AND OUTREACH EFFORTS CAN EXPAND OPPORTUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN UNDERREPRESENTED PARTS OF LONG BEACH.
TOGETHER THESE TWO ACTIONS REFLECT A SIMPLE AND POWERFUL IDEA.
EQUITY REQUIRES COLLABORATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, UH, SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UH, WILL PRESENT THESE FINDINGS, UH, TO THE LEGISLATIVE BODIES OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS BASED ON THIS ACTION THAT WOULD BE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, LONG BEACH TRANSIT, THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, AND THE AIRPORT.
THIS ENSURES DECISION MAKERS RECEIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE.
EACH AGENCY IS UNIQUE FROM SCHOOLS, TRANSIT SYSTEMS, PORTS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IMPACT DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY'S LIVES.
PROVIDING LOCALIZED DATA ALSO ALLOWS THESE AGENCIES TO HELP SHAPE POLICIES AND SERVICES THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.
IMPORTANTLY, AFTER EACH SUMMARY, AFTER EACH PRESENTATION, A SUMMARY WILL BE PREPARED TO DOCUMENT FEEDBACK, CAPTURE EXISTING INITIATIVES, AND TRACK HOW AGENCIES RESPOND.
THE STRENGTHENS ACCOUNTABILITY REINFORCES PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORTS COORDINATION.
ONE OF THE, LET'S TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
ONE OF THE MESSAGES FROM THE ASSESSMENT THAT CAME OUT LOUD AND CLEAR, AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I SPOKE ON WHEN WE WERE FIRST SAW, IT WAS, ECONOMIC STABILITY IS FOUNDATIONAL TO HEALTH.
OVER 54% OF RESPONDENTS REPORTED BEING EMPLOYED MORE THAN A THIRD REPORTED WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET A QUARTER WERE UNABLE TO AFFORD RENT THE PRIOR MONTH AND MORE
[01:10:01]
THAN HALF REPORTED EMOTIONAL DISTRESS.THESE FIGURES ALIGNED WITH CITYWIDE, UH, WHAT WE SEE CITYWIDE.
WHILE BLACK RESIDENTS MAKE UP ROUGHLY 12% OF LONG BEACH'S POPULATION, THEY REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
ECONOMIC INSECURITY FUELS, HOUSING INSTABILITY, CHRONIC STRESS, AND LONG-TERM HEALTH DISPARITIES.
UH, THESE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED.
SO WE MUST ADDRESS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IF WE'RE TO SEE HEALTH OUTCOMES IMPROVE.
THIS BRINGS ME TO THE SPECIFIC PART IN THIS DIRECTIVE WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ACTION AS THE EMPLOYER OF MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE.
THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC ENGINE.
MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT HAS HISTORICALLY PROVIDED STABLE WAGES, BENEFITS, AND PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR FAMILIES.
THE COMMON EXPERIENCE OF WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS MIGHT TO MIGHT POINT TO THE EXISTENCE OF EMPLOYMENT DESERTS.
EMPLOYMENT DESERTS ARE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE RESIDENTS FACE SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS TO ACCESSING QUALITY MUNICIPAL JOBS DUE TO FACTORS SUCH AS LIMITED INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES OR HIRING PRACTICES THAT INEVITABLY EXCLUDE LOCAL APPLICANTS.
THE ASSESSMENT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT BLACK COMMUNITIES NEED ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT THAT AND ARE MAY NOT BE AS WELL REPRESENTED IN THE CITY'S WORKFORCE.
SO WE WANNA TRY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT REPRESENTATION LOOKS LIKE ACROSS THE CITY.
THIS PARTICULAR ITEM DIRECTS A WORKFORCE ANALYSIS TO ENSURE THAT HIRING PRACTICES EXPAND OPPORTUNITY AND DON'T UNINTENTIONALLY REINFORCE DISPARITIES.
A COMMON EXPERIENCE OF WORKING, UH, MORE JOBS, MORE THAN ONE JOB IS PART OF THE POINT THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS.
SO WE WILL EXAMINE EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS BY GEOGRAPHY, SALARY RANGE, APPLICANT DATA RELATED TO LOCAL AND NEW HIRE PREFERENCES, REPRESENTATION IN LEADERSHIP AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT DESERTS OR AREAS WHERE RESIDENTS FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CITY JOBS.
THE GOAL IS NOT JUST THE ANALYSIS 'CAUSE WE'LL GET THAT, BUT IT IS TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP, WHICH IS ACTION.
THE REPORT WILL RETURN WITH CONCRETE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN OUTREACH, RECRUITMENT, WORKFORCE PIPELINES, AND ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED.
WE WOULD LIKE THE STAFF TO CONSIDER PARTNERSHIPS THAT ALIGN WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE BLACK WORKER CENTER, UH, THE LOS ANGELES, AS WELL AS LONG BEACH, UH, OFFICES.
BOTH GROUPS FOCUS ON EQUITABLE PATHWAYS TO QUALITY EMPLOYMENT.
THIS WORK ACTUALLY ALIGNS REALLY WELL WITH MEASURE JB, WHICH WE NOW REFER TO AS THE LONG BEACH JOBS PROMISE AND POSITION, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO BE A LEADER HERE.
SO AS I CONTINUE TO, MY CONCLUDING SLIDES AT THE HEART OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS ABOUT A ALIGNMENT AT ALIGNS INFORMATION SHARING AGAIN, ACROSS THE CITY.
WITH THOSE EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS, WE'RE STRENGTHENING CROSS COLLABORATION AND WE POSITION OURSELVES IN LONG BEACH.
AS A RACIAL EQUITY LEADER, THIS WORKS TOWARDS TRANSFORMING, UH, AND IMPROVING WELLNESS BY ADDRESSING ECONOMIC DISPARITIES.
THIS ASSESSMENT CAN REFLECT BOTH THE STRENGTHS AND THE BARRIERS COMMUNITY, FAITH COMMUNITIES FACE, BUT WITH THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND WITH INTENTION, COORDINATION AND CARE COLLEAGUES.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
COUNCILWOMAN RASH TOOK, UM, I WANNA START BY GROUNDING THIS CONVERSATION PERSONALLY.
UM, BEFORE I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, AS A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND A COMMUNITY LEADER, I WAS PART OF THE EARLY CONVERSATIONS AROUND BLACK HEALTH EQUITY, UH, BACK IN 2021 AND 2020 WHEN BLACK RESIDENTS WERE FIRST BEING DIRECTLY ASKED TO NAME THE CONDITIONS IMPACTING THEIR HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY.
THE RESULTING FRAMEWORK FOR RACIAL RECONCILIATION WAS THE CITY ACKNOWLEDGING THE WAYS THE CITY HAD HAD NOT SERVED THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND VOWED TO DO BETTER.
I SHARE THIS BECAUSE THIS ITEM IS NOT ABSTRACT TO ME.
IT IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO BOTH COMMUNITY VOICE AND EVIDENCE.
AS AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST, I APPROACH HEALTH NOT JUST AS ACCESS TO CARE, BUT AS A CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE WELL.
EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC STABILITY AND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY ARE CORE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.
THAT FRAMING IS CLEARLY REFLECTED IN THIS WORK.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FRAMEWORK FOR RACIAL CONCILIATION, THE REPORT IS ORGANIZED INTO FOUR MAIN THEMES.
THESE FOUR THEMES ARE GOVERNMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICING, HEALTH EQUITY, AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FRAMEWORK, PARTICULARLY AT ECONOMIC INCLUSION, WE SEE AN EMPHASIS ON IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLNESS BY ELIMINATING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES.
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STORY ON PAGE 17 OF THAT ORIGINAL REPORT, ECONOMIC INCLUSION IS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES.SPECIFICALLY, OVER 42% OF RESPONDENTS IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
33% CALL FOR JOBS, JOB PROGRAMS, AND SKILLED TRAINING FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.
AND NEARLY 19% EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING LOCAL MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.
THESE ARE NOT INCIDENTAL FINDINGS.
THEY ARE DIRECT EXPRESSIONS OF WHAT BLACK RESIDENTS TOLD US WOULD IMPROVE HEALTH STABILITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY IN THEIR LIVES.
THIS ITEM TAKES THOSE FINDINGS SERIOUSLY AND IT OPERATIONALIZES THEM BY HAVING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PRESENT THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO KEY PARTNERS, INCLUDING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, TRANSIT SYSTEM, PORT AND AIRPORT, WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ECONOMIC EQUITY IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ONE DEPARTMENT ALONE.
IT REQUIRES CROSS SECTOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
AT THE SAME TIME THE ITEM LOOKS INWARD.
IT ASKS THE CITY AS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE REGION, AS MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, TO EXAMINE OUR OWN WORKFORCE DATA, IDENTIFY EMPLOYMENT DESERTS, BRING FORWARD POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND STRENGTHEN LOCAL HIRING, RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH PARTICULARLY AND SPECIFICALLY FOR BLACK RESIDENTS.
THAT MATTERS BECAUSE ADVANCING ECONOMIC EQUITY IS NOT JUST ABOUT CONVENING PARTNERS, IT IS ALSO ABOUT ALIGNING OUR OWN PRACTICES WHERE VALUES WE HAVE ARTICULATED IN THE FRAME.
THE FRAMEWORK IS EXPLICIT ABOUT THIS.
THE ACTIONS TIED TO ADVANCING ECONOMIC EQUITY FROM IMPROVING ACCESS TO GOOD PAYING JOBS, TO WORKFORCE PATHWAYS, TO BUSINESS NAVIGATION AND INCLUSION ARE NOT ASPIRATIONAL LANGUAGE.
THIS ITEM IS A MECHANISM FOR MOVING THOSE ACTIONS FORWARD.
ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL IS ALIGNMENT BETWEEN WHAT OUR COMMUNITY TOLD US, WHAT OUR DATA SHOWS US, AND WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO NEXT.
THIS ITEM BRINGS THOSE PIECES TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT IS MEASURABLE, TIME BOUND AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR ME.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO TREAT ECONOMIC EQUITY AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND TO ACT ACCORDINGLY FOR THOSE REASONS, I'M PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR THIS ITEM AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES COUNCILWOMAN THRESH, INTU AND COUNCILWOMAN SORROW FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE SUBJECT.
I, UM, WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN THRASH AND FOR LEADING THIS ITEM AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, RICK SODI FOR, UM, SPONSORING IT.
I WANNA ECHO, I AGREE AND ECHO WHAT YOU BOTH HAVE ALREADY SAID.
THIS ITEM IS ABOUT INVESTING IN OUR BLACK COMMUNITIES AND DOING SO IN A WAY THAT IS GROUNDED IN DATA, LIVE EXPERIENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE ARE ON, WE ARE HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH THROUGH THIS ITEM BY CELEBRATING BLACK EXCELLENCE AS WE JUST DID.
UM, BUT WE ARE ALSO CONFRONTING THE INEQUITIES THAT BLACK RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO FACE IN LONG BEACH.
BLACK RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE HIGHER RATES OF ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, HOUSING INSECURITY, MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS, AND SHORTER LIFE AND EXP EXPECTANCY BECAUSE OF LONGSTANDING SYSTEMIC BARRIERS.
SO THIS WORKS NEEDS TO BE COORDINATED AS SHARED AND, UM, AND SHOULD BEGIN WITH.
OUR CITY EQUITY REQUIRES ALIGNMENT ACROSS AGENCIES THAT SHAPES OUR DAILY LIVES, UH, IN OUR CITY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TRANSLATES INTO IMPROVEMENTS IN ECONOMIC STABILITY, HEALTH, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK RESIDENTS IN LONG BEACH.
SO WE HAVE THE DATA AND WE HAVE THE TOOL, SO LET'S USE THEM.
AND I, UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS A, A ITEM IS ASKING US TO DO.
I WANNA, UH, RECOGNIZE, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR, UH, BRINGING THIS FORWARD, PARTICULARLY IN THIS MOMENT.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE THIS ASSESSMENT.
WE WE'RE, NOW IT IS TIME FOR US TO USE THAT ASSESSMENT TO WORK THE PLAN.
IT'S A MOMENT WHERE WE SEE, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH DOLLARS ARE UNDER ATTACK FEDERALLY, HR ONE AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS.
AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH CITY AND WE LOOK AT THESE ISSUES FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH LENS, UM, OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, LIKE OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND OUR OTHER INSTITUTIONS ARE COUNTING ON US AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO REALLY PLACE THAT LENS ON ALL THE DECISIONS WE'RE MAKING.
IF YOU SEE PATTERNS OF DISPARITY THAT PERSISTS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND GENERATIONS THAT IMPACT, YOU KNOW, ONE GROUP OR ANOTHER, THAT MEANS THE SYSTEM'S DOING WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO.
AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT A SYSTEMS CHANGE APPROACH AND LOOK AT A PUBLIC HEALTH LENS IF YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE THAT SYSTEM.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT, UH, THIS MOTION, UH, MOVE FORWARD.
UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, IN A TIME WHERE WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE AGAINST NAMING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
AND WE MADE A, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A, UM, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION AS A CITY COUNCIL BACK IN JANUARY WHEN WE WERE GETTING THREATENING, UM, EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND OTHER THINGS, UM, TELLING US TO DILUTE OR OR WHITEWASH OUR PROGRAMS TO REMOVE RACE.
AND WE SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.
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CONTINUE TO LEAD, CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DIVERSITY, CONTINUE TO SEE THAT IT'S A STRENGTH, AND, UM, CONTINUE TO LEAD AND BELIEVE IN DATA EVEN IN THE A MOMENT WHERE ALL DATA IS BEING QUESTIONED.WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OUR DATA AND GUIDE WITH DATA, GUIDE OURSELVES WITH DATA.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR LEADING ON THIS.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, WE HAVE NINE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
REFA BATZ, ANTHONY HOLMES, BRANDY DAVIDSON, CARRIE SHAY, MELISSA MORGAN, ROGELIO, AND SEYMOUR.
UM, CAROLYN IS FIRST FOLLOWED BY DR.
UH, YOU ALL, THIS IS YOUR FRIEND CAROLYN ESSEX AND REPRESENTING THE COALITION FOR A JUST AND EQUITABLE CALIFORNIA AND PRINCESS KING CONSULTANTS, WHICH IS MY SERVICE FOR MESSAGING AND BRANDING.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE CITY BRINGING, UM, FORWARD ITEM 18 AND TAKING STEPS TO PRESENT THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTH AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND TO EXAMINE LOCAL HIRING.
WHAT MATTERS NOW IS CAREFUL IMPLEMENTATION.
IF THIS IS CARRIED OUT AS INTENDED, RESIDENTS SHOULD SEE CONCRETE OUTCOMES, HEALTH ASSESSMENT FINDINGS THAT INFORM REAL PROGRAM CHANGES AND BUDGET PRIORITIES.
A CLEAR IDENTIFICATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS LEFT OUT OF CITY HIRING PIPELINES, NEW OR EXPANDED LOCAL HIRING PATHWAYS SUCH AS JOB FAIRS AND UNDESERVED AREAS, PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND TARGETED RECRUITMENT AND REGULAR PUBLIC REPORTING ON WHETHER CITY EMPLOYMENT IS BECOMING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO BLACK AMERICANS.
THIS IS HOW ASSESSMENTS BECOME ACTION AND HOW TRUST IS BUILT THROUGH VISIBLE RESULTS AND TRANSPARENT FOLLOW THROUGH.
I SAY THIS BECAUSE I SEE THE TOLL THAT DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM TAKE ON MY COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
TOO OFTEN PEOPLE FEEL HOPELESS IN THE FACE OF THESE BARRIERS.
AND WHEN SOME OF US STEP FORWARD WITH LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE, IT IS OFTEN MET WITH SUCH A DEEP APATHY THAT IT CAN MAKE YOU WANT TO GIVE UP.
BUT WE CAN'T AND WE WILL NOT SO HELP US GOD.
THE FACT THAT WE EVEN NEED A POLICY LIKE THIS IS, IS ITSELF AN INDICTMENT.
DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM HAVE CUT SHORT CAREERS AND DETERRED GENERATIONS OF FROM SERVING THE PUBLIC.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMEN UA, THR TUCK, AND DR.
JOANIE RICKS OTI FOR AUTHORING THESE ITEMS ALONG WITH THE CITY STAFF AND COMMUNITY COALITIONS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND THE REVIEW OF LOCAL HIRING PRACTICES THAT HAVE ADVERSELY, ADVERSELY IMPACTED FRIEDMAN FAMILIES.
AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS DAILY ON REPARATIVE JUSTICE POLICY, THIS ITEM TRULY WARMED MY HEART AND IT WILL BE A HELP TO THE WORK THAT I DO IN REPARATIVE JUSTICE POLICY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUTCOMES THAT REFLECT REAL PROGRESS AND SHARED SATISFACTION.
IF WE COMMIT TO GENUINE COLLABORATION, UH, AND NOT MARGINALIZING PEOPLE AND CONSISTENTLY PUT OUR SHARED HUMANITY FIRST, I BELIEVE WE CAN CREATE LASTING CHANGE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SHARE MY THOUGHTS.
I AM, UM, A LITTLE OVERWHELMED AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE IN 2013, DR. NORMAN AND I PRESENTED, UM, ACTUALLY WE WROTE THE STATE OF BLACK LONG BEACH, A CALL TO ACTION.
AND THIS IS 20 26, 13 YEARS LATER, AND WE ARE NOW PRIORITIZING CHRONIC BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT BECAUSE WHEN WE FIRST MENTIONED IT, WHEN WE FIRST WROTE ABOUT IT, IT WAS MET WITH DERISION AND DISDAIN SHAME.
SO I FEEL A LITTLE OVERWHELMED BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST AS IF WE'RE FINALLY GETTING THE RECOGNITION THAT WE DESERVE ON THIS TOPIC.
UM, I'M WEARING A SHIRT, A T-SHIRT, AND IT SAYS STEREOTYPED IS LAZY.
EVER SINCE WE STOPPED WORKING FOR FREE, WE HAVE, UM, BEEN IN THIS CITY OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AND, UM, WE HAVE DEDICATED AND DEMONSTRATED OUR, UH, PATRIOTISM AND OUR, UH, LONG BEACH COMMUNITY SPIRIT.
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OUR ANCESTORS, OUR ELDERS, OUR PARENTS FOR 70 YEARS, 80 YEARS, 90 YEARS.AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SOMETIMES THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.
I AM GLAD I READ THE REPORT AND I APPRECIATE WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY COLLEGE PROFESSOR SAID TO ME.
IT'S NOT ABOUT AN A PAPER, IT'S ABOUT AN A IN IMPLEMENTATION.
WE ARE EXPECTING CHRONIC BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT TO BE ADDRESSED AND NOT JUST WITH WORDS, BUT WITH ACTUALITY.
BLACK MEN IN THIS CITY NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK FOR A LIVING AND TO MAKE MONEY AND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT THAT WILL NOT ONLY ENABLE THEM TO BE GOOD CITIZENS, BUT ALSO TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES IN A MANNER THAT GIVES THEM DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
AND I THINK FOR FAR TOO LONG WE HAVE BECOME VERY ACCUSTOMED TO UNEMPLOYED BLACK MEN, AS IF TO SAY THAT THE ONLY TIME THAT A BLACK MAN HAS VALUE IS WHEN HE'S INCARCERATED AND A FREE BLACK MAN DOESN'T GENERATE ENOUGH INCOME TO MAKE HIS FREEDOM WORTH PRESERVING.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR FINALLY GIVING THE ATTENTION THAT IT DESERVES 2013, AND WE'RE FINALLY GETTING SOME HEADWAY HERE.
I WILL BE IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN ON THIS ISSUE UNTIL WE YIELD THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE EXPECTING.
THANK YOU MAYOR RICK RICHARDSON AND LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
ON BEHALF OF THE N-A-A-C-P LONG BEACH BRANCH, WE ARE PLEASED TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE COUNCIL ITEM FOCUSED ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND OPERA REALIZATION, SORRY, OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
SO THIS ITEM IS WELL ALIGNED WITH THE NAACP'S MISSION TO ELIMINATE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND ADVANCE EQUITY, JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES.
OUR ORGANIZATION WORKS CLOSELY WITH BLACK RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES IN LONG BEACH AND FIND, AND THE FINDINGS OF THIS ASSESSMENT REFLECT MANY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT WE SEE DAILY.
THE ASSESSMENT REFLECTS COMMUNITY DRIVEN DATA, EVALUATES LIVED EXPERIENCES, AND PROVIDES A CRITICAL FOUNDATION FOR ADDRESSING LONGSTANDING DISPARITIES IN HEALTH, INCLUDING MENTAL WELLBEING, ECONOMIC STABILITY, HOUSING SECURITY, AND EMPLOYMENT ACCESS.
SO BY CENTERING COMMUNITY VOICES AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE OUTREACH, THE ASSESSMENT OFFERS A POWERFUL FOUNDATION FOR INFORMED DECISION MAKING THAT ACKNOWLEDGES BOTH COMMUNITY STRENGTHS AND LONGSTANDING INEQUITIES.
WE PARTICULARLY SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL TO SHARE THE ASSESSMENT WITH THE LOCAL AGENCIES WHOSE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS INFLUENCE EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND HEALTH OUT OUTCOMES.
COORDINATED ACTION ACROSS THESE INSTITUTIONS IS ESSENTIAL TO ADDRESSING THE DISPARITIES AND ENSURING THAT THE EQUITY EFFORTS ARE ALIGNED, TRANSPARENT, AND EFFECTIVE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE COMMEND THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO EXAMINING ITS OWN ROLE AS AN EMPLOYER.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO QUALITY STABLE JOBS FOR RESIDENTS IS A CRITICAL STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING ECONOMIC SECURITY, HOUSING STABILITY, AND LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
THIS ITEM REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS ACCOUNTABILITY, COLLABORATION, AND TANGIBLE PROGRESS, AND LEVERAGING TOOLS SUCH AS MEASURE.
JB REPRESENTS A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC BARRIERS WHILE MODELING EQUITY CENTERED EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.
SO WE APPRECIATE CITY COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING POLICIES THAT ARE INFORMED BY COMMUNITY DATA AND GROUNDED IN EQUITY.
NOW IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PARTICIPATION IN THE ASSESSMENT REPRESENTS A RELATIVELY SMALL PORTION OF LONG BEACH'S BLACK POPULATION WITH APPROXIMATELY 600 RESIDENTS ENGAGED OUT OF MORE THAN 50,000.
WHILE THIS DOES NOT DIMINISH THE VALUE OF THE FINDINGS, IT DOES UNDERSCORE THE NEED FOR CONTINUED EXPANDED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO ENSURE BROADER REPRESENTATION AND TRUST AS IMPLEMENTATION MOVES FORWARD.
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LONG BEACH BRANCH STANDS READY TO ASSIST THE CITY AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN INCREASING PARTICIPATION IN DEEPENING THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.SO, AS A LONGSTANDING, TRUSTED ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, WE CAN SUPPORT FU FUTURE ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS THROUGH OUR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS COMMITTEE WORK PARTNERSHIP WITH FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
CAN I HAVE YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED IF YOU GET YOUR COMMENTS.
HELLO, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BRANDY DAVIDSON AND I'M A HERO ON BEHALF OF THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD TENANT COUNCIL PROGRAM, WHICH IS EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BLM GRASSROOTS LONG BEACH AND LONG BEACH RESIDENTS EMPOWERED.
WE WORK TO BRING TOGETHER BLACK COMMUNITY HERE IN LONG BEACH TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS, HOUSING JUSTICE, AND THEIR RIGHTS AS RENTERS.
I'M HERE EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THIS COUNCIL ITEM REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HEALTH STRENGTHS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHILE WE ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO DO, THIS COUNCIL ITEM REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD COLLABORATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MEASURABLE PROGRESS THAT WAS PROMISED IN THE FOUNDATION GIVEN BY THE FRAMEWORK FOR RECONCILIATION.
WE APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP AND ADVANCING POLICIES THAT ARE INFORMED BY COMMUNITY DATA AND GROUNDED IN EQUITY.
WE RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM AND ENCOURAGE CONTINUED INVESTMENT AND STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE HEALTH OPPORTUNITY AND STABILITY FOR BLACK RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH.
DEAR HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, UH, MY NAME IS CARRIE HAI, UH, SPEAKING ON AS AN ALLY AND DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD TENANT COUNCIL.
IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 18, WE ASK THE CITY TO ASSESS KEY LOCAL AGENCIES AND TO IZE EMPLOYMENT DEMOGRAPHICS WILL AID IN THE ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
MELISSA, AFTER MELISSA IS ROGELIO.
UM, I'M HERE WITH, WELL, I WEAR A LOT OF HATS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE BLACK WORKER JUSTICE REALM ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
UM, I'M A BLACK WORKER AND I'M HERE ALSO WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER, GRASSROOTS LONG BEACH.
WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S REALLY ABOUT FIGHTING SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION AND STATE SANCTIONED VIOLENCE.
SO WE LOOK AT IT THROUGH SEVERAL LENSES, WHAT HAPPENS IN ECONOMICS, IN HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, MENTAL WELLNESS, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATION.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT VIOLENCE COMMITTED AGAINST OUR BODIES BY CORPORAL PUNISHING SYSTEMS LIKE THE POLICE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THE ISSUES AND WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 18.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS WHERE IT'S AT.
SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM.
I KNOW THEY'RE REALLY FUNDED THROUGH GRANT FUNDING, BUT THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT.
THIS ASSESSMENT CONFIRMS WHAT BLACK RESIDENTS AND WORKERS HAVE KNOWN AND LIVED AS DR.
HOLLY HAS SHARED BACK WHEN I WORKED AT THE CITY, CITY MANAGER DID NOT LIKE IT WHEN SHE WOULD COME TO VISIT BECAUSE SHE WAS SAYING THESE THINGS WAY BACK THEN OVER 15 YEARS AGO, BEFORE MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS BORN.
AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, RACISM AND HEALTH OUTCOMES, THEY'RE DEEPLY CONNECTED.
AND WE KNOW THIS WHEN PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS AND WAGES DON'T MEET THE COST OF LIVING.
WHEN HOUSING IS UNSTABLE, THE RESULT IS CHRONIC STRESS, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, DECLINING MENTAL HEALTH.
THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT INDIVIDUAL, THEY'RE SYSTEMIC.
I'VE LIVED IN ALL BUT TWO OF YOUR DISTRICTS IN MY TIME AS A BLACK WORKER HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND I HAVE SEEN THINGS.
I'M NOW LIVING IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS DEFINITELY IMMENSE POVERTY.
UM, AND I'M GONNA STRAY FROM MY SPEECH.
UM, THERE ARE TWO BLACK WOMEN THAT WILL WAKE US UP AT TWO IN THE MORNING FIGHTING OUTSIDE.
BOTH I BELIEVE ARE UNEMPLOYED.
ONE HAS INTENSE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
UM, I ENDED UP CALLING, UM, ATTEMPTING TO CALL THE CITY REACH TEAM FOR COMMUNITY TO KNOW.
THAT'S 5 6 2 5 7 0 4 6 7 2 TO COME AND SUPPORT.
I THEN CALLED THE MENTAL THE MET TEAM FOR MENTAL EVALUATION 5 6 2 5 7 7 1 9 5 BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN COMMUNITY CARE INSTEAD OF CALLING POLICE.
ENDED UP CALLING THE DMH ACCESS LINE 808 5 4 7 7 7 1.
THE NEIGHBORS SAY SHE IS IN THE STREETS, UM, IN THE ALLEYS DEALING WITH BREAKING UP GARBAGE, THROWING IT ALL OVER THE PLACE.
NOT WELL, OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY DRUGS, IS NOT WORKING.
I WENT INSIDE TO SEE IF SHE WAS STILL ALIVE AN HOUR LATER WHEN DMH CAME TO FIND HER AND TALK WITH HER AND SEE IF WE CAN GET HER SOME COMMUNITY CARE.
'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE VIDEOTAPING, LAUGHING, RECORDING AND NOT DOING ANYTHING.
UM, TURNS OUT SHE HAS DIPLOMAS ON HER
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WALL.SHE WAS ON THE DEAN'S LIST AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
SHE HAD TWO DIPLOMAS ON THE WALL.
THIS WOMAN HAD A LIFE BEFORE BEING UNEMPLOYED AND BEFORE HAVING THESE INTENSE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
AND I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND CONTINUED TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY CARE, ABOLISH ICE, DEFUND POLICE, AND LET'S FUND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, MY COMMENTS ARE GONNA BE BRIEF.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM AGENDA ITEM 18.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M USING ACTUALLY THAT WORD.
BUT THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE.
SO WHAT DOES GOOD LOOK LIKE? UM, THE HHS REPRESENTS THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT MEANS THAT'S A, THAT'S AN INTERNAL DEPARTMENT TO LONG BEACH, WHICH IS AMAZING.
THIS IS WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE VERSUS LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT BAD LOOKS LIKE.
SO IN THIS ONE, WE'RE PROVIDING THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE TUNE OF $14,223 FOR A FIVE MONTH PERIOD TO DO HIV TESTING.
I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT OUR HHS COULD HANDLE THAT AS WELL.
SO THAT IS WHAT BAD LOOKS LIKE VERSUS WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER, RIGHT, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY OUTSIDE THE CITY, PLEASE DO SO MORE RESPONSIBLY.
LET'S KEEP THE MONEY IN THE CITY.
UM, SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, TU AND DR.
UH, I AM REALLY EXCITED WHEN I SEE STUFF LIKE THIS AND I JUST HAD A, A COUPLE OF REQUESTS OR QUE MAYBE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
UM, AND I JUST ALSO LEARNED THAT MAYBE THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING.
SO I'M, I'M GLAD IT'S HAPPENING NOW WHILE I LIVE IN LONG BEACH.
UH, I'M JUST WONDERING WHEN, WHAT THE TIMETABLE IS FOR.
I SEE A 120 DAYS WHERE THIS, UH, THESE FINDINGS WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THOSE, THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SEE THIS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO ACCESS THOSE, UM, RESOURCES AND, AND THAT IMPLEMENTATION CAN HAPPEN TO IMPROVE THESE PROBLEMS OR THESE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW SOMETIMES WE MAKE DECISIONS AS A CITY AND IT GETS ON OUR CITY WEBSITE.
IT MAYBE GETS AT ONE OF THESE MEETINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T A VERY REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS ONLINE OR IN THE MEETING.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT GETS REALLY OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES WHO NEED THAT INFORMATION THE MOST.
UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT IMPLEMENTED IN OUR CITY.
FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[14. 26-54287 Recommendation to request to receive and file a presentation on the City’s Response Strategy for Individuals Displaying Unsafe or Non-Criminal Threatening Behavior. Office or Department: Kristina Duggan, Councilmember, Third District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE CITY'S RESPONSE STRATEGY FOR INDIVIDUALS DISPLAYING UNSAFE OR NON-CRIMINAL THREATENING BEHAVIOR.COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRESENTATION WITH THIS ITEM.
SO, UH, THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE FULL CITY COUNCIL, UM, LAST YEAR TO REALLY GO THROUGH A PRETTY EXTENSIVE REPORT.
UH, WE, UH, PROVIDED THAT REPORT IN WRITING, UH, LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN INDIVIDUALS CALL, UM, YOU KNOW, 9 1 1 OR, OR A NON-EMERGENCY LINE, UH, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO INDIVIDUALS DISPLAYING UNSAFE AND NON-CRIMINAL THREATENING BEHAVIOR.
UH, SO THERE WAS A REQUEST, UH, FOR US TO COME AND, UH, GIVE THAT MORE OF AN ORAL PRESENTATION.
SO, UH, THAT'LL BE LED BY OUR DIRECTOR OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY PREPARATION.
UH, UM, REGGIE HARRISON, UH, GABRIELLE ANGELIC, AND, UH, ALLISON KING WILL ALSO BE HERE TO HELP ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT ON, UM, OUR, THE CITY'S RESPONSE STRATEGIES FOR UNSAFE, UM, BUT NON-CRIMINAL THREATENING BEHAVIOR.
AS TOM MENTIONED, I'M JOINING THIS PRESENTATION WITH, UH, 9 1 1 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER GABRIELA
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ALLISON KING, OUR HEALTH DIRECTOR.AND ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE THIS PRESENTATION IS GONNA INVOLVE A MULTITUDE OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE ADMINISTERED BY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY, WE ALSO HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
UH, DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF MIKE, UH, SOTO, FIRE CHIEF DENNIS BUCHANAN, AND DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY, UM, ELLIE, BEN SCHMO, SORRY, ELLIE
AS TOM MENTIONED, THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED THE CITY MANAGER TO REPORT BACK WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S COORDINATED RESPONSE TO INDIVIDUALS DISPLAYING THREATENING OR UNSAFE BEHAVIOR.
THIS RES THIS REQUEST EMPHASIZED IMPROVING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHEN AND HOW TO SEEK, HELP CLARIFY IN ROLES AND PROTOCOLS ACROSS PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUTREACH TEAMS, ENHANCING COORDINATION AMONG CITY DEPARTMENTS AND PARTNER AGENCIES, AND REVIEWING CURRENT SERVICES AND GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE AND PROTOCOLS.
SO THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW, UM, TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH IMPORTANT CONTEXT FOR UNDERSTANDING NON-CRIMINAL THREATENING BEHAVIOR AND THE CITY'S COORDINATED RESPONSE TO SUCH SITUATIONS.
IT OFFERS A DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE 9 1 1 DISPATCH PROTOCOLS TO EXPLAIN HOW CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE TRIAGED AND PRIORITIZED, AND IT PRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF CITYWIDE NON-EMERGENCY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT TIMELY AND COMPASSIONATE INTERVENTIONS.
THIS PRESENTATION FURTHER EXAMINES CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS SPACE, AND OUTLINES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING, COORDINATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS AND RESOURCES.
COULD WE ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE? IT'S NOT WORKING NOW.
UH, WENT TOO FAR, DIDN'T IT? DIDN'T SAY WE SHOULD BE AT BACKGROUND.
CAN THE CLERK ADVANCE THE SLIDE? WE SHOULD BE ON THE SLIDE TITLED BACKGROUND.
NOT ALL CALLS REGARDING THREATENING OR UNSAFE BEHAVIOR STEM FROM CRIMINAL INTENT, BUT FROM COMPLEX SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS.
SOMETIMES PERCEIVED THREATENING BEHAVIOR MAY BE THE RESULT OF UNTREATED OR UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, HOMELESSNESS OR SEVERE ECONOMIC DISTRESS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EPISODES THAT IMPACT JUDGMENT OR COMMUNICATIONS AND SITUATIONAL OR TEMPORARY EPISODES OF INSTABILITY.
A SOLELY ENFORCEMENT BASED APPROACH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE BEST OPTION FOR THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
WHILE POLICE AND FIRE REMAINING ESSENTIAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY, MANY OF THESE SITUATIONS ARE NOT BEST ADDRESSED THROUGH A TRADITIONAL ENFORCEMENT OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE.
CAN WE ADVANCE THIS SLIDE? THANK YOU.
SO, BEFORE WE CAN DISCUSS RESPONSE STRATEGIES, IS IT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN CRIMINAL CRIMINAL THREATS AND NON-CRIMINAL, BUT CONCERNING BEHAVIORS, CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE DEFINES THREATENING BEHAVIOR AS A WILLFUL AND MALICIOUS THREAT TO COMMIT A CRIME THAT WOULD, IF CARRIED OUT, RESULT IN DEATH OR INJURY TO ANOTHER PERSON.
FOR EXAMPLE, TEXTING SOMEONE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO INFLICT GREAT BODILY HARM IS CONSIDERED A CRIMINAL THREAT.
NON-CRIMINAL THREATENING BEHAVIORS REFER TO ACTIONS THAT MAY CAUSE FAIR DISCOMFORT OR CONCERN, BUT DO NOT MEET THE LEGAL THRESHOLD OF A, OF A CRIMINAL THREAT AND DO NOT INVOLVE VIOLENCE, WEAPONS, OR EXPLICIT INTENT TO CAUSE HARM.
FURTHER, NON-CRIMINAL THREATENING BEHAVIOR CAN BE SUBJECTIVE AND VARY BASED ON SITUATIONAL FACTORS, SUCH AS TIME OF DAY, THE SETTING AND THE BYSTANDERS FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA OR THE INDIVIDUAL.
AN EXAMPLE OF NON-CRIMINAL THREATENING BEHAVIOR WOULD BE SOMEONE MAKING PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE COMMENTS OR INSULTS.
WHILE THIS BEHAVIOR MAY BE UNPLEASANT FOR A BYSTANDER
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OR RECIPIENT, IT DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A CRIMINAL, OF A CRIMINALLY THREATENED BEHAVIOR OR PENAL CODE TO BE CERTAIN.THE CITY HAS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WELFARE BEING OF ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE PAST TWO DECADES.
THE CITY HAS SEEN A 20% DECLINE IN VIOLENT CRIME, INCLUDING NOTABLE REDUCTIONS IN MURDER AND ROBBERY.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS, UM, ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL, INCLUDING CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY AND PERSONS.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS REFLECT THE CITY'S ONGOING INVESTMENT IN PREVENTION, ENFORCEMENT, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
YET EVEN AS CRIME RATES IMPROVE, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS MAY CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE DISCOMFORT IN PUBLIC SPACES WHEN CONFRONTED WITH BEHAVIORS THAT FEEL UNSAFE OR THREATENING, BUT DO NOT MEET THE LEGAL THRESHOLD OF A CRIME.
RECOGNIZING THIS DISTINCTION IS CRITICAL TO SHAPING A COORDINATED RESPONSE THAT ADDRESSES BOTH ACTUAL CRIME AND THE BROADER SENSE OF SECURITY.
AND SO THE PROCESS ALL BEGINS WITH THE CALL TO THE NINE ONE ONE, UH, CENTER.
AND FOR THIS PORTION OF OUR PRESENTATION, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO GABRIELA GILLI.
DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN CRIMINAL AND NON-CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BEGINS WITH THE CALL TO NINE ONE ONE.
THE LONG BEACH 9 1 1 COMMUNICATION CENTER ANSWERS APPROXIMATELY 600,000 EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY CALLS FOR SERVICE EACH YEAR.
WHEN 9 1 1 CALLS ARE RECEIVED, DISPATCHERS IMMEDIATELY GATHER ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FROM CALLERS TO DETERMINE THE NATURE AND URGENCY OF EACH INCIDENT TO ENSURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE POLICE, FIRE, OR MEDICAL RESPONSES DISPATCHED PERTINENT QUESTIONS INCLUDE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY.
SO THAT DISPATCHERS CAN BETTER INFORM FIRST RESPONDERS OF THE NATURE OF THE INCIDENT UPON THEIR ARRIVAL TO THE SCENE.
BASED ON THAT INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE CALLER DISPATCHERS, ASSESS AND ASSIGN A PRIORITY TO THE CALL BASED ON A PENAL CODE, VEHICLE CODE, MUNICIPAL CODE, POLICE AND FIRE POLICIES, AND WHETHER A MEDICAL RESPONSE IS REQUIRED AS DEPICTED ON THIS SLIDE, A PRIORITY ONE CALL, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE IS GOING TO INCLUDE SHOOTING STABBINGS OR SUICIDAL SUBJECTS.
LIKEWISE, THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF CALL TYPE FOR THE FIRE OR MEDICAL RESPONSE WOULD BE A CHARLIE CALL, WHICH INCLUDES HOUSE FIRES, STROKES, OR CHEST PAIN CALL PRIORITIZATION ALLOWS DISPATCHERS TO MATCH EACH INCIDENT WITH THE MOST APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY OR NON-EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THEREBY ENSURING OUR LIMITED PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES ARE DEDICATED TO THE MOST URGENT INCIDENTS.
CALLS THAT DO NOT FALL INTO A PRIORITY CATEGORY MAY BE REFERRED TO ONE OF THE CITY'S MANY NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT, NON-EMERGENCY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE, THROUGH A MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL APPROACH.
IN RESEARCHING THIS REPORT, WE FOUND 22 NON-EMERGENCY PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY, AND SIX PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY EXTERNAL PARTNERS DEDICATED TO CONNECTING THE PUBLIC WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
REGGIE IS NOW GOING TO DISCUSS SOME OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS. SO THIS SLIDE OUTLINES THE 22 CITY PROGRAMS, UM, THAT PRIORITIZE DEESCALATION, STABILIZATION AND CONNECTION TO SERVICES RATHER THAN ENFORCEMENT.
MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE MANAGED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE PARK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UH, OR THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS IN THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
SO THESE PROGRAMS REPRESENT A CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT IN NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES TO FREE FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THE MORE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
HOWEVER, THESE PROGRAMS ARE VOLUNTARY WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED BUT NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE.
IF A PERSON CHOOSES NOT TO ENGAGE IN THESE PROGRAMS AND ARE NOT AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, CITY TEAMS DISENGAGE.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE, THE CITY HAS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF THESE NON-EMERGENCY PROGRAMS. AND AS I STATED EARLIER, SUBJECT EX SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
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WHEN I'M GONNA SPEND A FEW MINUTES HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS. AND AMONGST THE MOST, UH, WELL KNOWN OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE THE ONES ADMINISTERED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.SO ALLISON KING IS GONNA TALK TO THOSE.
UM, NOTABLY IS OUR MOST, OUR, OUR PHYSICAL LOCATION IS OUR MULTI CENTER, UM, WHERE WE OFFER EXTENSIVE SERVICES THAT INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING NAVIGATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS.
IT'S A ONE STOP SHOP FOR PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND SERVES AS AN ENTRY POINT FOR THE CITY'S COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM.
WE ALSO HAVE MULTIPLE OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ON SITE, AND THE CENTER IS OPERATED EVERY WEEKDAY FROM EIGHT TO FOUR AND IS STAFFED WITH CASE MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF THAT FOCUS ON THE WORK.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM.
UH, THIS TEAM IS SPECIALIZED NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL THAT RESPOND TO NON-MEDICAL AND NON-VIOLENT CALLS, UH, THAT INVOLVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONCERNS.
CCR TEAMS PROVIDE BASIC NEEDS, SUPPLIES, CRISIS INTERVENTION SUPPORT, DEESCALATION FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND GROUPS, HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION.
THEY OPERATE FROM 10 TO FIVE AND ARE NOW SERVING CITYWIDE.
THE TEAM IS COMPRISED OF A CRISIS INTERVENTION SPECIALIST, A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE, AND A PEER NAVIGATOR.
THEY ARE DISPATCHED FROM, UM, DEX DISPATCH CENTER.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S REACH TEAM CONNECTS SPECIFICALLY WITH PERSONS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UH, AND THEY CONNECT THEM TO LONG-TERM CARE AND SUPPORT.
THIS TEAM FOCUSES ON INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES, AS WELL AS HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT RESOURCES, WHICH REDUCE THE IMPACT TO THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM AND ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS.
THE REACH TEAM OPERATES WEEKDAYS FROM SEVEN TO FIVE AND IS STAFFED BY THREE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES, THREE PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND TWO HEALTH EDUCATORS.
UH, NOW WE WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE NON-EMERGENCY PROGRAMS OPERATED WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHILE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A PRIMARY MISSION TO RESPOND TO 9 1 1 CALLS FOR SERVICE, THE DEPARTMENT AUGMENTS ITS BASIC PATROL SERVICES WITH PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR POLICE, FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR REQUIRING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE MENTAL EVALUATION TEAM OR MET PARTNERS, A POLICE OFFICER WITH A MEDICAL HEALTH CLINICIAN TO RESPOND TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC EXHIBITING NON-CRIMINAL, BUT CONCERNING BEHAVIOR.
MEMBERS OF MET ARE TRAINED TO CONNECT CLIENTS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING PLACING CLIENTS ON A MENTAL HEALTH HOLD AT HOSPITALS WHEN THE CLIENT IS A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.
MET ALSO RECEIVES REPORTS FROM MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS OF PATIENTS EXPRESSING A POTENTIAL THREAT TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.
MET OPERATES DAILY FROM 6:00 AM TO 11:00 PM AND IS STAFFED BY ONE POLICE SERGEANT AND A NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS AND LA COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS, WHICH VARY BY DAY AND TIME.
THE QUALITY OF LIFE TEAM WORKS TO CONNECT PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND ASSIST IN ENCAMPMENT CLEANUPS ALONGSIDE THE PARKS, PUBLIC WORKS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
THE QUALITY OF LIFE TEAM OPERATES WEEKDAYS FROM 6:00 AM TO 4:00 PM AND IS STAFF BY ONE POLICE SERGEANT AND A NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT VARIES BY DAY AND TIME.
AND FINALLY, ANOTHER PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD BIKE SAFETY TEAMS WHO COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO BUILD STRONG PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH PROACTIVE PATROLS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
THIS PROGRAM OPERATES WEEKDAYS FROM 7:00 AM TO 5:00 PM AND IS STAFFED BY ONE SERGEANT AND A NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT VARY BY DAY AND TIME.
AS REGGIE MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER CITY PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE PARK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH ENHANCES A STAFF PRESENCE IN MANY MAJOR PARKS AND IMPROVES THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF PARK VISITORS.
PARK AMBASSADORS ARE TRAINED IN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS TO EQUIP THEM WITH SKILLS FOR HANDLING CHALLENGING SITUATIONS.
AMBASSADORS OPERATE EVERY DAY FROM 3:00 PM TO 11:30 PM AND IS STAFFED WITH 11 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
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OFFICERS LOCATED AT BILLIE JEAN KING LIBRARY ALSO PROVIDE A STAFF PRESENCE AND SUPPORT LIBRARY STAFF IN SITUATIONS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A POLICE OFFICER RESPONSE.SSOS ARE AT THE MAIN LIBRARY TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM 9:45 AM TO 7:15 PM AND THEIR STAFFING NUMBERS BY VARY.
THEIR STAFFING NUMBERS VARY BY DAY AND TIME.
THE FINAL PROGRAM I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE PRIORITY ACCESS DIVERSION PROGRAM AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TREATMENT OPTIONS IN LIEU OF, IN LIEU OF INCARCERATION.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CARE COURT PROGRAM PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO HAVE OUTSTANDING CRIMINAL NEEDS, WHILE ALSO CONNECTING THEM TO OTHER WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
NOW BACK TO REGGIE TO DISCUSS OUR EXTERNAL PARTNER PROGRAMS. SO, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE ARE MANY EXTERNAL PARTNER PROGRAMS THAT SERVE AS A PART OF A MUCH BROADER NETWORK OF SUPPORT TO, TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING LONG BEACH TRANSIT AMBASSADORS ASSIGNED TO ALL BUS LINES.
LA COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH HELP, MENTAL HEALTH HELPLINE, WHICH OPERATES 24 7.
THE NATIONAL 9 8 8 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL IDEATIONS AND THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AMBASSADORS WHO CONDUCT PATROLS AND REPORT CRIMES.
WHILE THE CITY HAS DEVELOPED A NETWORK OF EMERGENCY, UH, NON-EMERGENCY AND COMMUNITY BASED RE RESPONSE PROGRAMS, SEVERAL OP OPERATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO FULLY MEET COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS REGARDING NON-CRIMINAL THREATENING BEHAVIOR.
FIRST, LIMITED STAFFING CAPACITY AND COVERAGE.
MANY OF THE PROGRAMS OPERATE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.
HOWEVER, REPORTS OF CONCERNING OR UNSAFE BEHAVIOR OCCURS AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.
LIMITED STAFFING ALSO RESULTS IN GAPS IN COVERAGE.
LEAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IS THE PRIMARY RESPONSE O OPTION DURING OFF HOURS, EVEN IF THE FORMATION PROGRAMS MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE.
SECOND, CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS.
THE CITY MUST BALANCE COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS FOR INTERVEN WITH CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND LIMITS ON DETENTION AND USE OF FORCE.
INDIVIDUALS MAY ENGAGE IN SPEECH OR BEHAVIOR THAT IS OFFENSIVE OR DISRUPTIVE TO BYSTANDERS AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT BREAK THE LAW.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FREQUENTLY ASK THE CITY TO REMOVE INDIVIDUALS FROM SIDEWALKS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, OR OTHER PUBLIC SPACES.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS NO SPECIFIC CRIME AND THE INVOLUNTARY MENTAL HEALTH WHOLE CRITERIA ARE NOT MET, THEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO REMAIN.
WHILE CITY PERSONNEL CAN OFFER THEIR ASSISTANCE, THEY CANNOT INFRINGE ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS, EVEN IF THE BEHAVIOR GENERATES COMMUNITY CONCERN.
AND FINALLY, VARIABILITY AND PERCEIVED THREATS.
PERCEPTION OF THREATENING BEHAVIOR ARE HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE AND DEPEND ON CONTEXT, PERSONAL HISTORY, AND SITUATIONAL FACTORS SUCH AS TIME OF DAY, LOCATION, AND WHO IS PRESENT.
A BEHAVIOR THAT APPEARS BENIGN TO ONE INDIVIDUAL MAY FEEL THREATENING TO ANOTHER.
AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY 9 1 1 DISPATCHERS ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS OF CALLING PARTIES TO GATHER CLARITY ON, SIT ON THE SITUATION TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A CRIMINAL THREAT, SAFETY, UH, SAFETY HAZARD, OR A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONCERN, AND THEN DISPATCH THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.
NOW, CONSIDERING THESE CHALLENGES, THE CITY ALSO HAS A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
OUR FIRST OP, OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY IS LEGISLATIVE.
THE CITY, THE CITY PROSECUTORS, CITY ATTORNEY AND INTERGOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICE MONITOR AND ANALYZE FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION FOR FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER PROPOSITION ONE BOND GUIDELINES, THE CITY IS PURSUING FUNDING TO SUPPORT TWO PRIORITY PROJECTS.
ONE, AN OFFICE-BASED OPIOID TREATMENT FACILITY AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER TO PROVIDE, NOT TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TREATMENT FOR OPIOID USE.
DISORDERED, THIS PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST APPROXIMATELY $19 MILLION.
ANOTHER PROGRAM THROUGH PROP ONE IS A SOCIAL REHABILITATION FACILITY AT THE 7 0 2
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SHELTER, OFFERING 24 HOUR NON-MEDICAL CARE AND INTENSIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ANY HOME LIKE SITUATION OR SETTING.INITIAL ESTIMATES FOR THIS PROJECT ARE $12 MILLION ADDITIONAL.
ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE PASSAGE OF PROP 36, THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE NOW HAS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL TO REFER REPEATED DRUG AND THEFT OFFENDERS INTO MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN LIEU OF TOUGHER CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IS CONTINUING EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION.
OUR COORDINATED EFFORTS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, SUPPORT EARLY INTERVENTION, AND RESPOND MORE EFFECTIVELY TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT NONCRIMINAL, BUT TROUBLING BEHAVIOR.
THIS COLLABORATION ALSO ALLOWS CITY, THE CITY TO BALANCE LIMITED RESOURCES ACROSS THEIR WIDE RANGE OF PRIORITIES TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION EACH NEIGHBORHOOD'S MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE SOME COMMUNITIES IDENTIFY MENTAL HEALTH RELATED CAUSE AS THEIR MOST URGENT CONCERN, OTHERS ARE GRAPPLING WITH ISSUES SUCH AS PROSTITUTION OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND FINALLY, MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE, UM, LISTED ARE NEWLY ESTABLISHED OR IN EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.
MOST DO NOT PROVIDE 24 HOUR SERVICE LEAVING AFTER HOUR INCIDENTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ADDRESS TO ADDRESS.
WHILE WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, WE HAVE SEEN SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FROM THESE PROGRAMS. CURRENT FUNDING LEVELS REMAIN INSUFFICIENT IN MEETING GROWING NEEDS.
IF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BECOME AVAILABLE, THESE PROGRAMS COULD INCREASE THEIR SERVICE CAPACITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM TO EFFECTIVELY OPERATE ON A 24 7 BASIS WOULD REQUIRE INCREASING FROM TWO TEAMS TO 10 AT AN ANNUAL COST OF APPROXIMATELY $7.7 MILLION EACH YEAR.
ALTHOUGH THIS LEVEL OF INVESTMENT IS CHALLENGING UNDER CURRENT FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, IT REPRESENTS A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR THE CITY.
SHOULD FUTURE RESOURCES ALLOW SUCH INVESTMENTS REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF ESCALATION AND SUPPORT POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL CHANGE WHILE FOSTERING SAFER, HEALTHY AND MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY.
IN CLOSING, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS REPORT HAS RESULTED IN A COMPREHENSIVE CATALOG OF CITI AND PARTNER OPERATED NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES, A VALUABLE FOUNDATION FOR STRENGTHENING COORDINATED RESPONSES TO NON-CRIMINAL, BUT POTENTIALLY UNSAFE BEHAVIORS.
WHILE THE BIRTH OF INFORMATION IS SIGNIFICANT, IT ALSO PRESENTS CHALLENGES TO THE COMMUNITY, TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND WHICH RESOURCES TO ACCESS AND WHEN TO ENSURE THIS INFORMATION IS BOTH ACCURATE AND ACCESSIBLE.
STAFF HAVE THE FOLLOWING TWO KEY REC RECOMMENDATIONS.
EACH DEPARTMENT WILL REVIEW ITS PUBLIC FACING MATERIALS, INCLUDING WEBSITES, FLYERS, AND OTHER OUTREACH MATERIALS TO CONFIRM THAT INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE RESOURCES ARE CURRENT, CLEAR AND CONSISTENT.
TWO CITY STAFF WILL USE THIS REPORT TO CREATE A CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC FACING RE RESOURCE, SUCH AS FLYERS, BROCHURES, OR BOOKLETS.
THIS TOOL WILL STREAMLINE ALL INFORMATION INTO A FORMAT THAT IS EASY FOR RESIDENTS TO ASSESS AND UNDERSTAND SUPPORTING TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE USE OF CITY SERVICES.
WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL TO CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.
UM, I WANNA THANK DIRECTOR HARRISON FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I KNOW HE IS WORKED FOR MONTHS ON THIS, ALONG WITH COLLABORATING WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT WHO PROVIDED INFORMATION.
UM, GABRIELA, YOU AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER, UM, AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR KING FOR, FOR YOUR, UM, PRESENTATION TOO.
I THINK IT'S IMPACTFUL FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHO TO CALL, WHAT RESOURCES RESPOND, AND WHEN THEY RESPOND, AND THEN WHERE WE STILL HAVE GAPS IN OUR RESPONSE TO PEOPLE DISPLAYING THREATENING OR UNSAFE BEHAVIOR.
THIS DISTINCTION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTEN USE THE BLANKET TERM HOMELESS WHEN NOT EVERYONE IN THESE SITUATIONS IS LIVING ON THE STREETS.
AND CIRCUMSTANCES VARY, UH, WIDELY VARY.
UM, THEY RANGE FROM FAMILIES LIVING IN VEHICLES TO INDIVIDUALS REPEATEDLY ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, OR AS WE JUST HEARD
[02:05:01]
ON ITEM 18 IN PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, SOMEONE REFERENCED A PERSON SCREAMING AND THEY HAD TO CALL FOUR DIFFERENT SERVICES AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHO TO CALL TO GET SOME HELP.I WANNA KEEP THE FOCUS ON BEHAVIOR THAT DISRUPTS OUR COMMUNITIES AND INFRINGES ON OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS' ABILITY TO SAFELY USE OUR LIBRARIES, OUR PARKS, AND OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
A LOT OF IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED HERE TODAY, UH, BY STAFF.
AT THE MOST BASIC LEVEL, THOUGH, I WANNA BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S GOAL WHEN RESPONDING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DISPLAYING THREATENING OR UNSAFE BEHAVIOR.
FOR ME, THE PRIORITY IS SAFETY FIRST, AND THAT MEANS SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC, OUR RESIDENTS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE DISPLAYING THREATENING BEHAVIOR FOLLOWED BY GETTING THAT PERSON THE HELP THEY NEED.
CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE CITY'S GOAL IN THESE RESPONSES? HOW DO WE DEFINE SUCCESS AND WHAT DOES AN INTERACTION LOOK LIKE WHEN IT MISSES THE MARK? UM, REFERENCING BACK, UM, COUNCILWOMAN TO THE, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE A NON-EMERGENCY LINE THAT RESIDENTS CAN CALL TO PROVIDE, UM, TO GAIN ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH OR DO NOT KNOW THAT THE CITY PROVIDES.
SO THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE LISTS SOME OF THE MOST CURRENT, I MEAN SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR RE RESOURCES THAT THE PUBLIC ASKS FOR, BUT THROUGH THAT LINE AS WELL, THEY'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH A 9 1 1 DISPATCHER WHO WILL THEN CONNECT THEM TO THE SERVICE THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR, LOOKING, LOOKING FOR.
UM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF SUCCESS, I, I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS A DEESCALATION OF THE SITUATION THROUGH, UH, THESE NON-EMERGENCY, UM, SERVICES.
I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR A COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE TO INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT HAVE LONG TERM OR TEMPORARY PERIODS OF, OF INSTABILITY.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO, I THINK, CON CONNECTING, UH, INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICES THAT THEY MIGHT NEED.
I THINK THAT IN A NUTSHELL, KIND OF LOOKS LIKE SUCCESS FOR US.
I AGREE THAT THAT'S THE GOAL, BUT I THINK WHEN PEOPLE CALL NON-EMERGENCY NINE ONE ONE, WHICH PEOPLE DO, THEY REALIZE A CRIME ISN'T HAPPENING.
THEY WANNA CALL AND SAY, THIS PERSON IS SCREAMING OR EXPOSING THEMSELVES.
THEY CALL AND THEY, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS, THEY GO THROUGH THE QUESTIONS AND SOMETIMES DISPATCH ISN'T, THERE ISN'T A DISPATCH OF CCR.
I MEAN, WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THOSE SERVICES AND THERE WAS NOT A LISTING.
I THINK, UM, DIRECTOR KING SAID THAT CCR, YOU GO THROUGH DISPATCH AND THEY WILL DISPATCH CCR, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.
HOW DO WE GET AHOLD OF THE MET TEAM? DO WE GO THROUGH 9 1 1 OR NON-EMERGENCY? I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW.
AND I KNOW DISPATCH HAS MADE SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES WITH REGARD TO THESE CALLS.
SO I, I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? WHAT, WHAT AM I AT? I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
UM, SO I THINK, UH, HAVING CLARITY ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, UM, IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO, UM, OUR DECISION MAKING AS WE REFINE OUR RESPONSE LIKE WE'VE DONE BY US MEETING ONE AREA, I DON'T THINK THE STAFF REPORT OR PRESENTATION ADDRESS IS WHEN A CALL FOR SERVICE SHIFTS FROM COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY RESPONSE TO A MANDATORY INTERVENTION.
THE STATE HAS GIVEN TOOLS YOU PUT IN, UH, PROP ONE AND PROPOSITION 36 STATE'S GIVEN US MORE TOOLS THAN BEFORE TO REQUIRE MANDATORY INTERVENTION.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK HOW WE'RE USING THOSE TOOLS.
UM, THE STATE EXPANDED THE DEFINITION OF GRAVELY DISABLED FOR PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, ALLOWING JURISDICTIONS TO PLACE INDIVIDUALS ON MANDATORY MEDICAL HOLD.
SB 43, UM, CARE COURT ALLOWS REFERRALS AND ALLOWS JUDGES TO REQUIRE TREATMENT
[02:10:01]
FOR PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA, NOT WITH CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.I THINK THAT THAT CRIMINAL NEEDS WAS LISTED IN REFERENCE TO CARE COURT.
I, I THINK, UM, VOTERS ALSO PASSED PROPOSITION 36 OVERWHELMINGLY THIS INCREASED PENALTIES FOR REPEAT DRUG POSSESSION OFFENSES.
SO I'M INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING HOW THE CITY IS IMPLEMENTING AND LEVERAGING THESE NEW TOOLS AND HOW THEY INTERACT WITH OUR EXISTING VOLUNTARY RESPONSE MODEL AS OPPOSED TO MANDATORY.
AND CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH HOW OUR RESPONSE HAS CHANGED WITH THESE CHANGES FROM THE STATE, IF AT ALL? AND WHAT KIND OF GUIDANCE ARE WE GIVING STAFF IN THE FIELD FOR THIS? AND WHILE OUR POLICE, UH, DEPARTMENT COMES UP TO TALK TO THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME ON THE FIRST QUESTION, WHICH IS, WHO DO YOU CALL? UM, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY PURPOSEFUL WHEN WE PUT THESE TEAMS TOGETHER.
WE WANT PEOPLE CALLING EITHER 9 1 1 OR THE NON-EMERGENCY.
WE OFTEN GET COMMUNITIES SAYING, WELL, I WANNA SELF DISPATCH THIS UNIT.
THAT REALLY DOES NOT WORK FROM A OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
UH, WE NEED TO HAVE ONE CENTRAL GROUP THAT REALLY, UM, ASKS ALL THOSE QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW, DOES IT NEED A POLICE RESPONSE? DOES IT NEED A FIRE RESPONSE, DOES IT NEED A HEALTH RESPONSE? AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT THEN DISPATCH IT.
SO, UH, REALLY THOSE ARE OUR PROFESSIONALS WHO REALLY RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE CALL EITHER NINE ONE ONE OR NON-EMERGENCY LINE, UH, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TRIAGE, UM, WHERE THAT NEEDS TO GO.
SO FOR HEALTH RESPONSE, THAT'S USUALLY WHAT I REMEMBER.
CCR, UM, I THINK ON SLIDE FIVE OR SIX, IT LITERALLY LISTED EACH OF HEALTH RESPONSES, PD RESPONSES, AND THEN OTHER RESPONSES.
CAN WE GO BACK TO SLIDE, THE SLIDE THAT HAD THREE CATEGORIES ON IT? I APOLOGIZE.
AND SO IF WE CALLED NON EEM, IF ANYONE CALLED NON-EMERGENCY, UM, OBVIOUSLY LIBRARY OUTREACH IS THERE, BUT HOW DOES SOMEONE REACH SAFE PASSAGES PROGRAM? UM, COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE? WE KNOW THE MAC, I BELIEVE EACH DISTRICT KIND OF WORKS WITH THE MOBILE, UH, THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
I JUST THINK THAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHO TO CALL AND WE WANNA MAKE THAT AS OBVIOUS AS POSSIBLE.
COUNCILMAN, AS WE SAID, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS A PART OF THIS REPORT IS THAT WE CREATE BROCHURES, FLYERS THAT DESCRIBE THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AND HOW THEY'RE DISPATCHED.
I THINK IN THE REPORT THAT WE PROVIDED, WE TALK ABOUT SOME UNITS, UH, SELF DISPATCHING, UM, AND MIKE CAN TALK, TALK TO THOSE UNITS.
OTHERS ARE DISPATCHED THROUGH OUR 9 1 1 CENTER.
BUT THE KEY TO ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT YOU SEE THERE IS THAT FEW, IF ANY OF THEM ARE 24 HOUR OPERATIONS.
SO WHILE WE HAVE THEM, THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE, OR BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED NUMBERS OF THOSE UNITS, THEY MAY BE OCCUPIED WITH ANOTHER, UM, SITUATION.
SO AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO THE ONE THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN AT THAT MOMENT.
IT WOULD BE GREAT WITH THOSE HOURS LISTED TO SEE THE HOURS SHIFTED TO VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AND LATER AT NIGHT.
I THINK DIRECTOR KING AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR DIFFERENT TIMEFRAMES.
I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET STAFF.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING, UM, DC SO AMIDO, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN.
AND, AND THAT IS THIS, ALTHOUGH THE, IT IS TRUE THAT, UM, FOR INSTANCE, SOME OF THESE DETAILS THAT ARE LISTED UNDER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE SPECIFIC HOURS.
AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 24 7.
THE MENTAL EVALUATION TEAM HAS SPECIAL TRAINING IN DEALING WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE OFFICERS HAVE SPECIAL, UH, TRAINING IN INTERACTING WITH, UH, PERSONS EXPERIE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
HOWEVER, ALL OF OUR OFFICERS ARE TRAINED IN EACH OF THESE, UM, QUALITIES AS WELL.
SO IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S TWO O'CLOCK ON AN AFTERNOON ON TUESDAY OR TWO O'CLOCK ON SUNDAY MORNING, IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CALLED REGARDING AN INCIDENT THAT SAY, FOR
[02:15:01]
INSTANCE, IF A MET UNIT WAS AVAILABLE OR WORKING, UM, WOULD RESPOND TO, THEN IF THEY'RE NOT ON DUTY AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, A POLICE OFFICER WILL RESPOND.AND, AND THEY ARE TRAINED TO HANDLE THAT SAME SITUATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, FOR BRINGING UP THIS VERY IMPORTANT ITEM.
UM, I'M WITH YOU ON, ON THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ITEM I FIND, UM, THANK YOU CITY STAFF FOR THIS REPORT.
I FIND THIS INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US VERY HELPFUL.
UM, ESPECIALLY HAVING IT ALL OUTLINED IN ONE DOCUMENT.
UM, I ALSO, UH, FOUND IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A DISTINCTION, UM, BETWEEN THE SAFETY RELATED CALLS THAT ARE NOT CONNECTED TO CRIMES, UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE, AS, AS STATED IN THE REPORT, UM, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CALLS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY CONNECTED TO CRIMES.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT I HEAR FROM MY RESIDENTS AND FROM MY CONSTITUENTS IS WHO DO WE CALL? SO I ABSOLUTELY AGREE AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC FACING INFORMATION, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, UM, DIRECTOR, UM, OF HAVING FLYERS, HAVING IT EVERYWHERE SO EVERYONE CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO CALL WHEN THEY, UM, ENCOUNTER SOME OF THESE, UH, SITUATIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, OR ONE OF THE MOST RECENT ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPENED, OR INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED IN MY DISTRICT WAS THAT, UM, THERE WAS A, A, A PERSON THAT WAS IN A RESTAURANT, IN A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND WAS, UM, BEING VERY THREATENING WITH THE STAFF, WITH THE CUSTOMERS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, NATURALLY THEY CALLED 9 1 1.
IT WAS, UM, THROUGH ALL THE QUESTIONS.
UM, THEY THEN WERE, UM, SENT TO THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM.
AND SO A CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM CAME OUT THERE, UM, TALKED TO THE PERSON, ASKED THEM TO LEAVE, THEY DIDN'T WANNA LEAVE.
UM, THEN THEY, YOU KNOW, ASKED THEM IF THEY WANTED, YOU KNOW, MORE HELP OR SERVICES AND THEY DENIED THOSE SERVICES.
LATER ON, YOU FIND THAT SAME INDIVIDUAL IN ANOTHER STORE WAVING A KNIFE AROUND THREATENING PEOPLE.
THAT WAS SCARY BECAUSE WE, THEY FELT THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED IN THE FIRST INCIDENT WHERE THEY WERE BEING, OR WHERE THEY WERE FEELING THREATENED.
UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE WERE CALLED BY THE TIME THE POLICE GOT THERE.
THE, THE GENTLEMAN HAD GONE, UM, ELSEWHERE.
UM, THEN HE WENT INTO ANOTHER STORE AND HE STOLE A CAP, UH, FROM ONE OF THE STORES.
AND THAT'S WHAT, WHEN THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO ARREST HIM BECAUSE HE COMMITTED A CRIME, MY RESIDENTS, UM, THEIR THING IS THAT WHEN THEY SEE THREATENING SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, THEY NEED TO KNOW WHO TO CALL.
AND WHAT IN PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, IS WHAT DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN HAVING, UM, CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM RESPOND, AND THEN WHAT ELEVATES IT THAT TO WHEN PEOPLE REALLY FEEL THREATENED AND THEY SEE THAT THIS PERSON OR INDIVIDUAL HAVE OTHER INTENTS OF EITHER HARMING THEMSELVES OR HARM HARMING OTHER PEOPLE.
SO MAYBE YOU CAN ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT WHEN THAT DISTINCTION IS, I THINK IF WE UNDERSTAND THE, THE QUESTION, WHEN CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS, UM, RE RESPOND TO WHAT IS INITIALLY TO DESCRIBED AS A NON-CRIMINAL, UM, BEHAVIOR, UM, ONCE THEY GET ON THE SCENE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS CAN ESCALATE AT THAT.
AT THAT POINT, WHEN THAT OCCURS, THOSE TEAMS ARE TRAINED TO DISENGAGE AND CALL FOR SUPPORT FROM PD OR FIRE, WHICHEVER MIGHT BE THE APPROPRIATE, UM, UNIT TO RESPOND TO THAT SITUATION.
SO WE'VE, WE HAVE, UM, WHAT WE, WHAT WE HOPE ARE IS A SYSTEM THAT'S DESIGNED, UM, TO BE FLEXIBLE BUT ALSO RESPONSIVE TO THE EXACT NEED OF THE SITUATION AT THAT TIME.
[02:20:03]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE ON THAT.I THINK WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THAT TIME, ONCE THE RESPONSE TEAM, UH, UH, CAME OUT, THEY ACTUALLY, WHAT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME IS THAT THEY WITHDREW IT FROM THE NINE ONE ONE CALL AND THEN THEY LEFT.
I GUESS MY POINT RIGHT HERE IS, UM, IS THAT I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR, THE ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE MATCH WHAT WE ARE TELLING THE PUBLIC.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE, UM, THAT WE DEVELOP THOSE BROCHURES, THOSE FLYERS, EVERYTHING THAT, UM, THAT WE HAVE AND THE STEPS THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO TAKE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS, UM, ANY SITUATION, WHETHER IT BE ESCALATING OR WHETHER IT BE NON-THREATENING.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK ON THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE WORK ON THIS DONE COUNCIL MEMBER AS WELL.
GOING BACK TO THAT, THAT ILLUSTRATION THAT YOU PROVIDED, THAT DESCRIPTION OF THIS ESCALATING SITUATION, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, YOU SAID THAT THIS PERSON WAS BRANDISHING A WEAPON, A A KNIFE, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN APPROPRIATE FOR A CALL TO NINE ONE ONE CENTER FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE.
UM, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION, UM, THAT WAS PROVIDED AROUND WALKING US THROUGH JUST THE LANDSCAPE OF WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, CITY CURRENTLY RESPONDS TO AROUND INDIVIDUALS DISPLAYING SAFE OR, UH, I MEAN DISPLAYING UNSAFE OR NON-CRIMINAL THREATENING BEHAVIOR.
UM, AND ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD, I THINK THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, REGULARLY RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, SENIORS, FAMILIES, UM, PARTICULARLY CORRIDORS WITH, UH, LIQUOR STORES AND SMOKE SHOP, THERE'S HEIGHTENED BEHAVIORS THAT ARE EXHIBITED THAT FAMILIES FEEL ARE UNSAFE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENS PRETTY OFTEN IN DISTRICT SIX, WE DID A BUSINESS WALK, I, I WOULD SAY SOME STAFF WALK WITH US, AND I THINK THEY ALSO MAYBE HAD THEIR ALERTNESS ON BECAUSE THERE WAS A VARIETY OF BEHAVIOR.
WHILE IT WASN'T CRIMINAL, IT WAS THREATENING.
AND IT'S VERY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF CALLS THAT CAN BE MADE, BUT IT ALSO TAKES TIME FOR THESE DIFFERENT RESPONSE.
UM, CAN YOU SHARE, UH, IF YOU CALL WHILE THEY ARE OPERATING, WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF GENERAL RESPONSE TIME FOR THE CRI, THE, THE CHRIST CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, THE MET? AND THEN I THINK, LIKE, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE WHEN IT GETS REFERRED TO THE MET TEAM? SO IT JUST GIVES ME A SENSE, I THINK IN ADDITION TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE IS ASKING, NOT ONLY GIVING INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS ON WHO TO CALL, BUT YOU KNOW, SHOULD I ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION MYSELF RIGHT BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS? OR DO I STAND AND WAIT, UH, KIND OF ASSESSMENT.
IT JUST GIVES US RESIDENTS A SENSE ON, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW, HOW TO RESPOND IN THAT SITUATION.
SO, COUNCILWOMAN, GOOD EVENING.
I CAN, I THINK, ADDRESS SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THE MET TEAM, AND, UH, I THINK MAYBE, UM, JUST TO KIND OF LAY THIS OUT A LITTLE CLEARER, WHEN THE POLICE, WHEN, WHEN 9 1 1 IS CALLED AND IT IS DETERMINED TO BE A POLICE RESPONSE, AND IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE, OUR OFFICERS WILL BE THERE VERY QUICKLY MM-HMM
WHEN THE OFFICERS ARRIVE AND THEY DETERMINE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BEST HANDLED BY A MET UNIT, OUR MENTAL EVALUATION TEAM, THE PATROL OFFICER, THE OFFICER WORKING THAT GEOGRAPHIC AREA CAN ASK FOR A MET UNIT TO RESPOND, AND THEN THEY CAN COME OUT AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.
UM, BUT THE OFFICER, AGAIN, IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING THAT SITUATION THEMSELVES, BUT THE MET TEAM HAS MORE, UM, JUST A GREATER LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE IN HANDLING THOSE SITUATIONS.
SO, UM, MORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM AND SO FORTH.
SO I, I, I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE COMING IN ABOUT, WELL, HOW DO I GET THIS DETAIL THERE AND HOW DO I GET THAT DETAIL THERE? I THINK IF THE PERSON IS CALLING THE COMM CENTER OR D PREP, THEY'RE GONNA DETERMINE WHO RESPONDS.
AND IF IT'S POLICE, WE WILL, WE WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL, UH, DETAILS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT SPECIFIC SITUATION.
BUT WE WILL RESPOND, UM, USUALLY FROM A PATROL RESPONSE FIRST.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE,
[02:25:01]
BUT I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, WAS ASKING ON THE RESPONSE TIME, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT IT'S KIND OF, IT MAKES ME FEEL AT TIMES, YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN HMO THAT I NEED TO FIRST GO TO A DISPATCH, WHICH IS LIKE A GENERAL PHYSICIAN, THEN DIAGNOSE WHETHER OR NOT I NEED A SPECIALIST, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME ABOUT THE MET, RIGHT? SO HAD TO GO THROUGH THESE DIFFERENT LEVELS TO DETERMINE, SO IF AN INCIDENT OCCURRED, IT PROBABLY WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE DEGREE LONG PATH, RIGHT? SO I KNOW THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT RESPONSE, BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHERE ON OUR END, WHERE WE'RE CONTINUES ASKING THIS QUESTION BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO RESIDENT WHEN THEY'RE TELLING US AND THEY'RE SHARING WITH US THESE CONCERNING BEHAVIOR.UM, SO, YOU KNOW, MY OTHER QUESTION THEN KIND OF GOES INTO SELF-DEFENSE, RIGHT? UM, I AM SOMEONE WHO'VE ALWAYS KIND OF GROWN UP IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE I HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR SELF-DEFENSE, RIGHT? AND SO I, I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME QUESTION, I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO ALSO PROVIDE, LIKE, I'M JUST CURIOUS SOME LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, LEVELS OF EDUCATION THAT COULD BE PROVIDED, RIGHT? AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD BE RELYING ON SERVICES, IT'S LIKE GUIDANCE FOR RESIDENT AND HOW TO DEESCALATE CERTAIN SITUATION, UM, UNTIL MAYBE HELP ARRIVES WOULD BE HELPFUL MAYBE AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, AT SOME LEVEL, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK THAT, UH, SOME OF US CARRY PEPPER SPRAY.
I, I MEAN, I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE TASERS IN THEIR PURSES TOO, RIGHT? SO I, I'M NOT BEING, I'M NOT SAYING THIS BE FUNNY, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S THE LEVEL OF DEGREE THAT WE'RE GETTING TO IS POINT OF WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE HAVE TO GET INTO THEIR CAR, THEY'RE GONNA DO WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SAFE.
SO I ALSO DO WANNA KNOW LIKE WHAT LEVEL OF FORM, YOU KNOW, OF SELF-DEFENSE DO WE HAVE TO TAKE WHERE WE WOULDN'T OURSELF AS RESIDENT GET IN TROUBLE, RIGHT? SO THAT'S THE REAL QUESTION.
SO, UM, I COULD HAVE MIKE TALK ABOUT THE SELF-DEFENSE QUESTION, BUT, UM, I ALSO WANT, UH, UM, AT THE END OF THAT FOR GABBY TO REALLY TALK ABOUT OUR TIER DISPATCH SYSTEM.
SO, UH, EVERYBODY WHO CALLS 9 1 1 OR THE NON-EMERGENCY LINE FOR THEM, THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CALL GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
SO FOR THEM, THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS A SYSTEM.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE, YOU KNOW, WHAT CALLS WE GO TO WITH THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES WE HAVE.
WE HAVE PRIORITY ONE, WE HAD PRIORITY TWO, WE HAD PRIORITY THREE.
AND SO THE DISPATCHER'S JOB IS TO HELP GATHER THAT INFORMATION TO DETERMINE HOW FAST OF A RESPONSE THAT'S GONNA BE AND WHAT UNITS NEED TO BE SENT, BALANCING ALL THE DIFFERENT CALLS THAT ARE COMING IN, UM, UH, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND SO I'LL HAVE MIKE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN GABBY, IF YOU CAN WALK THROUGH KIND OF WHAT IS A PRIORITY ONE CALL VERSUS TWO VERSUS THREE, UH, AND, UH, SOME GENERAL SENSE OF, OF WHAT THOSE WILL WILL DO, BECAUSE THERE ARE THESE CALLS THAT SOMETIMES WILL TAKE A, A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET SOMEBODY ASSOCIATED OR DISPATCHED TO IT BECAUSE THERE IS A MORE URGENT CALL WAITING OR ALL, UM, OTHER UNITS ARE, ARE RESPONDING TO SOMETHING THAT IS, THAT IS, UH, A HIGHER PRIORITY AT THE TIME.
AND THEN THEY CLEAR THOSE CALLS AND THEY ARE ABLE TO TAKE THE LOWER PRIORITY CALLS.
SO COUNCILWOMAN, THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY IS THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE BASED ON THE SCENARIO, YOU'RE KIND OF PAINTING THERE, THAT TO ME SOUNDS LIKE AN URGENT MATTER, A SERIOUS SITUATION TO ME, THAT'S A CALL TO NINE ONE ONE.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A PRIORITY RESPONSE, WHICH MEANS AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR LIFE IS BEING THREATENED OR YOUR SAFETY IS BEING THREATENED.
UH, SO WHEN I HEAR YOU SAY, WHEN, WHEN I HEAR YOU ASKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT MEASURES OF SELF-DEFENSE CAN YOU TAKE, I WOULDN'T, UM, YOU KNOW, ADVISE YOU ON DOING ANYTHING THAT YOU DIDN'T, THAT WOULD ADVISE YOU AGAINST PROTECTING YOURSELF.
UM, THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT, THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL WOULD HAVE TO, UH, KIND OF GET TO THAT POINT OR GET TO THAT, UH, PLACE THEMSELVES.
BUT BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING THERE, TO ME THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
LIKE, YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR LIFE OR YOUR SAFETY IS, UH, AT RISK.
AND THAT IS A PRIORITY ONE RESPONSE.
BUT I WILL DEFER TO, UM, GABBY TO SPEAK TO THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI, THEY'RE STILL ANSWERING.
SO I'M GONNA TRY AND BEST, UM, ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
THERE'S ONE QUESTION THAT I HEARD ABOUT MANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME DIRECTING YOUR, YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS TO WHO TO CALL TO BASICALLY GET OUT THE CORRECT RESOURCE.
UM, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE THEM CALL THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY.
THEN OBVIOUSLY 9 1 1 IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE NUMBER.
FROM THAT POINT, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND TRIAGE THE CALL AS WE EXPLAINED THROUGH THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, AND THEN WE WILL CONTACT
[02:30:01]
THAT APPROPRIATE RESOURCES IF NEEDED.IF THEY DON'T WANNA GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF OF PHONE NUMBERS TO DETERMINE WHO, YOU KNOW, CCR, THE APPROPRIATE PERSON TO GO, UH, SHOULD WE CALL THEM MULTI-SERVICE CENTER? UM, JUST HAVE THEM CALL OUR NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER, UM, TO THE TIERED, UH, DISPATCHING SYSTEM.
SO AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN OUR PRESENTATION, WE DISPATCH BASED ON PRIORITY.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND DISPATCH THOSE MOST URGENT CALLS FIRST OUT TO THE FIELD.
NOW OBVIOUSLY IF YOU CALL AND THERE'S SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, DISPLAYING THREATENING BEHAVIOR, WE WILL CATEGOR CATEGORIZE THAT CALL FOR SERVICE, APPLY THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.
IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A PRIORITY TOO, UM, MEANING THERE'S NO WEAPONS INVOLVED, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE, THERE'S THREATENING BEHAVIOR INVOLVED.
UM, WE CAN PROBABLY CATEGORIZE THAT NOW, DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF OFFICERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, DEPENDING ON THE CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT ARE PENDING, DEPENDING, UH, THERE'S SO MANY VARIABLES, THEN THAT'S HOW WE WOULD DISPATCH THAT CALL.
IF THERE'S AN OFFICER AVAILABLE, THEN IT IMMEDIATELY GOES OUT.
IF THERE'S NOT, THEN WE BASICALLY GO AHEAD AND DISPATCH BASED ON PRIORITY.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER OTTI.
UM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.
UM, THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION THAT WAS ELICITED BY YOUR ORIGINAL ITEM.
AND I THINK I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY'S FOUNDATION, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, CONFUSION AROUND THIS, RIGHT? I THINK WHEN I HEAR THIS CONVERSATION, ADMITTEDLY, I FEEL LIKE I'M LEFT AFTER READ, LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATION AND READING THE STAFF REPORT, STILL NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR ON HOW WE PRIORITIZE AND KIND OF DISPATCH THESE SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FOR LEVEL THREE.
I MEAN, I'M JUST, I'M BEING REALLY HONEST.
LIKE, I DON'T KNOW THAT I, I, I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING ABLE TO LIKE, TAKE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE FROM COUNCIL AND GO BACK AND THEN EXPLAIN IT TO MY RESIDENTS.
AND I'M SITTING HERE THINKING TO MYSELF, I DON'T THINK I'D BE ABLE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW AFTER THE CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE HAVING.
SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT MORE, UM, AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT I THINK WHEN I READ THROUGH THE REPORT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS AMAZING TO ME, AND ADMITTEDLY NOT IN A GREAT WAY, WAS UNDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS REPORT HAS RESULTED IN A COMPREHENSIVE CATALOG OF CITYWIDE NON-EMERGENCY RESOURCES, A VALUABLE FOUNDATION FOR STRENGTHENING COORDINATED RESPONSES TO NON-CRIMINAL, BUT POTENTIALLY UNSAFE BEHAVIORS.
AND I WAS LEFT THINKING WE DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT LIKE CATALOG, RIGHT? LIKE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE THAT.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT, I SAY, WELL, HOW DO WE TRAIN OUR DISPATCHERS TO THEN DISPATCH THOSE THINGS IF WE NEVER HAD A COMPREHENSIVE CATALOG OF ALL OF THE SERVICES AND INITIATIVES IN THE CITY, RIGHT? LIKE, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME WHEN WE HAVE THIS PARTICULAR CONVERSATION, WHICH IS WHY I THINK IT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR SEVERAL OF US, RIGHT? UM, BECAUSE I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE USING, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, RIGHT? I'M NOT CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE DEPLOYING THEM EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, RIGHT? UM, AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY ANYONE'S SPECIFIC FAULT.
I THINK THAT'S LIKE A, IT'S A SYSTEM ISSUE, RIGHT? THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED TO, TOM, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO ADDRESS, UM, HOLISTICALLY.
'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.
UH, SECOND IS, UH, REGGIE, I KNOW THAT YOU AND I ARE, I THINK YOU, WE HAD AN ITEM BEFORE THAT TALKED ABOUT KIND OF THE USAGE OF LIKE AI AND SOME OTHER, UM, SYSTEMS, RIGHT? TO DO EVALUATION.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD HAVE A QUESTION ON IS WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO DO, BECAUSE I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT USE AI, THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON THEN THAT REVIEWS THOSE THINGS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD WANNA KNOW IS LIKE, HOW ARE WE EVALUATING HOW EFFECTIVELY OUR DISPATCHERS, DISPATCHERS ARE THEN HEARING THE CALLS COME IN, DETERMINATE THEIR LEVEL THREE, RIGHT? AND THEN, AND THEN FIGURING OUT WHAT, WHAT TEAM THEY GO TO, RIGHT? AND ARE WE DOING THAT AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE? SO LIKE, I'D LIKE TO SEE COME BACK, UM, LIKE AN ACTUAL, LIKE A EVALUATION STRUCTURE, LIKE HOW DO WE DO THAT SO THAT I THINK I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF THAT I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE DOING THAT.
AND IF WE'RE NOT, OR THERE'S WAYS FOR US TO IMPROVE THAT WE THEN HAVE A, A, A, A COMPREHENSIVE WAY MOVING FORWARD AND A PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.
SO I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A, IT'S A QUESTION AND A SERIES OF COMMENTARIES ALL AT THE SAME TIME, BUT LIKE, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING THROUGH MY HEAD RIGHT NOW AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
SO COUNCILWOMAN, I'M GONNA HAVE GABBY TALK ABOUT THE USE OF AI IN OUR 9 1 1 CENTER.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE HAVE, UH, A, A, A NUMBER OF MOVEMENTS IN THAT AREA, BUT I DO WANNA GO BACK, UM, TO, TO YOUR QUESTION REGARDING THE, THE CATALOG OF PROGRAMS. OUR DISPATCHERS ARE AWARE OF ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WAS ON THE SCREEN AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE, THE, THE IT, THE CATALOG IS DEVELOPED FOR A PUB AS A PUBLIC FACING DOCUMENT SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN BE AWARE OF THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DESCRIBED IN
[02:35:01]
THAT CONCISE WAY AT THIS TIME, ANYWHERE IN THE CITY.THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ITS PROGRAMS AND THEY HAVE, AND THEY GOT A GREAT DESCRIPTIONS OF THEM, AND POLICE HAVE A GREAT DESCRIPTION OF THEIR PROGRAMS AS WELL.
SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS BRINGING THEM ALL IN TOGETHER TO ONE, UM, CONCISE DOCUMENT THAT CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE THEN TO THE PUBLIC, WHETHER IT'S WRITTEN MATERIAL OR ON A WEBSITE SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THAT, BUT TRUST THAT OUR DISPATCHERS ARE AWARE OF THESE PROGRAMS, SERVICES THAT THEY CAN, UM, USE IF AVAILABLE.
AND I'M GONNA HAVE GABBY TALK TO AI.
OKAY? WE DID, UM, TALK ABOUT AI BEFORE, AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY A TRAINING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT WE IMPLEMENTED.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE THE MEASURABLES IN PLACE FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM TO DETERMINE HOW WE'RE EFFECTIVELY DISPATCHING THESE RESOURCES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO DEFINITELY GO BACK AND SEE IF WE CAN MAYBE, UH, IMPLEMENT SOMETHING OR DRAW UP A QUESTION WHERE AI WOULD HAVE TO PICK IT UP, UH, DURING THESE TYPES OF CALLS, I, I'M GONNA HAVE TO DEFINITELY RESEARCH THAT.
UM, AND HOW WE'RE EFFECTIVELY DISPATCHING OUR CURRENT RESOURCES.
UH, THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IS IF YOU HAVE THAT PRIORITY THREE, OR IF YOU HAVE THAT CALL THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY, UM, NEED AN OFFICER TO BE DISPATCHED, WE STILL GATHER THAT INFORMATION AND WE DELIVER IT TO THE CCR TEAM OR TO THAT APPROPRIATE, UM, TEAM THAT NEEDS TO GO OUT.
UM, WE CURRENTLY DO A LOT OF TRAINING.
I CAN DEFINITELY GO BACK AND ENSURE THAT WE DO HAVE NEW PERSONNEL THAT WE'RE CONSISTENTLY TRAINING OUR STAFF TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE IN FACT DOING THIS.
I MEAN, WE DO HAVE NEW DISPATCHERS IN PLACE.
UM, THEY, THEY DO GET THE INFORMATION ON THESE DIFFERENT TEAMS MET TEAMS, CCR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY DO FORGET, WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND CIRCLE BACK AND ENSURE THAT WE DO DELIVER ALL THIS INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PRIORITIZING THESE CALLS APPROPRIATELY AND THEN DISPATCHING THEM IN A TIMELY MANNER.
BUT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN PLACE ALREADY.
BUT I WILL CERTAINLY GO BACK AND CIRCLE BACK ON THAT.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER AS, AS WELL, WE ARE USING, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS USING AI TO TAKE A LOOK AT EVALUATING THE CALLS FOR SERVICE.
WE DO A QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM NOW WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, SENIOR DISPATCHERS DO THAT, BUT THROUGH AI IT HAS THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THROUGH THE VOICE, THROUGH THE PROMPTS THAT WE'VE GIVEN IT, IF IN FACT THE DISPATCHER HAS FOLLOWED ALL OF THE PROCEDURES THAT, THAT THEY SHOULD FOLLOW.
AND THEN ONE OF OUR SUPERVISORS WILL GO IN AND REVIEW THAT CALL TO SEE WHY, FOR INSTANCE, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN, AN ELEVATED TONE THAT THE, THAT AI PICKED UP ON.
AND SO WE'LL GO BACK AND, AND, AND REVIEW THAT CALL AND, AND, AND WE MIGHT DETERMINE THAT, OH, THE CALLER WAS BEING, UM, COMBATIVE AND SO THAT'S WHAT, WHY THIS TONE WENT, THIS WENT THIS WAY, OR THEY DIDN'T ASK THE CORRECT QUESTIONS ONCE, YOU KNOW, THE WORD GUN WAS USED.
AND THEN THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER SERIES OF QUESTIONS.
ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER IS THE ABILITY FOR THE 9 1 1 CENTER, UM, FOR CELLULAR CALLERS TO RECEIVE A CALLBACK INDICATING WE'VE GOT YOUR CALL.
IT'S STILL HOLDING ON ON A QUEUE WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN.
SO JUST LIKE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT GET WHEN YOU CALL A BANK, YOU GET THAT MESSAGE AND IT'LL REPEAT AGAIN.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT KIND OF USE AS WELL.
AND, AND, AND AS, AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE, WE'LL USE THAT SAME PROGRAM COUNCIL MEMBER TO CALL BACK AND SEE, HOW WAS YOUR SERVICE? WOULD YOU, HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE, THE, UH, DISPATCHER, THEIR TONE OF VOICE INFORMATION RECEIVED? DID YOU FEEL SATISFIED? ALL OF THOSE SYSTEMS ARE IN THE WORKS, UH, NOW.
AND SO THOSE PROGRAMS, SPECIFICALLY THAT I JUST DESCRIBED, WILL BE AVAILABLE TO, UM, CELLULAR CALLERS FOR LANDLINE CALLERS.
WE WILL MAKE AVAILABLE AND THIS, SO WE'LL NEED SOME HELP GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT, BUT THERE'LL BE A, A, A SPOT ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE THOSE CALLERS CAN GO IN AND FILL OUT A SIMILAR SURVEY.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, I THINK PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW AND DR.
JONI OTTI SAID, UM, THIS IS GREAT CONVERSATION.
WHAT DOES OUR RESPONSE LOOK LIKE? AND THIS MIGHT BE FOR CHIEF SODA, UM, WHEN THREATENING OR UNSAFE BEHAVIOR IS PAIRED
[02:40:01]
WITH A CRIME OR A CODE VIOLATION SUCH AS INDECENT EXPOSURE, USING DRUGS, TRESPASSING, SLEEPING IN PUBLIC, AND THAT CONDUCT IS ALSO DISRUPTING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.DOES THAT CHANGE HOW WE RESPOND? WELL, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CRIMES.
ANYTIME THAT THERE'S A, AN INDICATION THAT A CRIME HAS OCCURRED, THE, UM, WE'RE GOING TO BE DISPATCHED, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S GOING TO BE DISPATCHED, AND DEPENDING ON THE PRIORITY LEVEL, WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE, UH, WE'LL DICTATE USUALLY ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES.
SO AGAIN, IF IT'S A PRIORITY ONE CALL, UM, WE, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, UNDER SIX MINUTES FOR A PRIORITY ONE CALL BE THERE.
UH, THOSE ARE, UM, I MEAN, THAT'S BEEN CONSISTENT FOR YEARS AND YEARS IN THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO, UH, I, I THINK I'M, I THINK, IS THAT THE QUESTION YOU'RE ASKING ME? IT IS, BUT I THINK LIKE, UH, I THINK IT'S JUST BRINGING TO LIGHT THE FACT THAT IT'S HARD WHEN YOU, WHEN SOMEONE SEES INDECENT EXPOSURE, WHICH IS A CODE VIOL, IT'S A CRIME, THEY CALL 9 1 1 OR EVEN NON-EMERGENCY BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
AND I THINK THIS ACTUALLY IS PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH SO MANY VACANCIES.
IT'S, IT'S NOT, THERE AREN'T A LOT OF TIMES THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAYING, WELL, I CALLED 9 1 1 AND NOTHING HAPPENED.
ALL I'M SAYING IS WE NEED TO GET THIS MORE DEFINED FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND ORDINANCES THAT PD WILL RESPOND TO AND HANDLE.
UM, BUT I THINK YOU, YOU HAVE ANSWERED THAT BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF AT AN IMPASSE.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GETTING AN ANSWER TO AN INDECENT EXPOSURE CALL.
UM, I DO WANNA GO BACK TO, UM, HOW OUR RESPONSE HAS CHANGED WITH PROP ONE, PROP 36, SB 43.
HAVE WE CHANGED OUR, HOW WE ARE RESPONDING WITH THESE TOOLS? SO I JUST, I, I WANNA GO BACK TO WHAT, WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING ME A QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, REALLY THIS, AND I, THIS IS WHERE I KEEP, I GET A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY BELIEVES THAT A CRIME IS OCCURRING, I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS.
THEY SHOULD BE CALLING, THEY SHOULD BE CALLING THE POLICE, AND WE WILL RESPOND TO THAT CALL, DEPENDING ON THE PRIORITY LEVEL, SOMEONE THAT'S NAKED IN PUBLIC OR COMMITTING A LEWD ACT IN PUBLIC IS GOING TO BE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
UM, EARLIER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THAT'S, UM, THAT'S NOT A PRIORITY ONE RESPONSE, A PRIORITY TWO RESPONSE IS 40 MINUTES TO AN HOUR.
IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PRIORITY TWO RESPONSE TIME IS.
I WOULD DEFER TO THE COMM CENTER ON THAT ONE.
WE, WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S A STANDARD COUNCIL MEMBER.
WE CAN SEE THAT PERHAPS SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT, BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, UM, THAT WE CAN SEND OUT EVEN WITH POLICE OFFICERS.
AND OFTENTIMES WHEN WE GET A CALL AND WE, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, TO DO SOME MORE EXPLORING OF A CALL, LIKE, WHY DID IT TAKE THAT LONG, 40 MINUTES TO RESPOND, THEN WE FIND THAT WE HAD MULTIPLE PRIORITY CALL TO CALLS THAT P THAT PD WAS RESPONDING TO, UH, IN THE AREA.
SO NOT JUST THE ONE CALL, BUT THERE WERE MULTIPLE CALLS.
AND SO AS PD IS ABLE TO SOLVE ONE SITUATION, THEN IT CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SITUATION AS THE TIME.
AND THAT'S AS I STATED BEFORE.
BUT PRIORITY TWO I, ARE WE CLARIFYING HOW LONG PRIORITY TWO IS AND WOULD INDECENT, UH, EXPOSURE, WOULD THAT FALL INTO PRIORITY TWO? TWO P TWO P? SHE SAID, I'M HEARING GABBY SAYING A TWO P AND MAYBE GABBY CAN COME UP.
TWO P IS A PRIORITY JUST BELOW PRIORITY ONE FOR US, AND A PRIORITY ONE.
AS YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW, THAT'S LIGHTS AND SIRENS TO, TO THE SCENE TWO P IS JUST BELOW THAT.
UH, SO FOR PRIORITY ONE, WE HAVE, UH, FIVE MINUTES IN FIVE SECONDS.
PRIORITY TWO IS 38 POINT, UH, 38 MINUTES AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME.
AND THEN PRIORITY THREE IS 49 MINUTES, I BELIEVE THREE 14.
A THREE 14 INDECENT EXPOSURE WOULD FALL UNDER TWO P.
[02:45:01]
DO NOT HAVE THAT RESPONSE TIME IN THIS CURRENT, UM, EXCEL SHEET, SO I WOULD HAVE TO GET THAT FOR YOU.SO THIS IS, UM, I, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS.
I DO THINK THAT THIS NEEDS FURTHER DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE MORE CLEAR ABOUT THE GOALS IN THESE SITUATIONS.
AND WHEN A RESPONSE ESCALATES FROM VOLUNTARY ENGAGEMENT TO MANDATORY INTERVENTION, WHAT TOOLS ARE WE, WE HAVE, WE, WE'VE KIND OF DEFINED THAT, BUT ARE WE USING THOSE TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US? AND I, FROM CONVERSATION, I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF COUNSEL AGREES WHERE THE LINE IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, FOR THREATENING BEHAVIOR, CRIMINAL OR NON-CRIMINAL, BUT I THINK EVERYONE HAS A POINT.
UH, WE'RE LEAVING SOMEONE IN CRISIS WITHOUT INTERVENTION ISN'T ACCEPTABLE FOR ME WHEN THE POLICE NEED TO RESPOND BECAUSE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS ON OUR CITY STAFF, OUR CITY TEAMS, CAN'T SAFELY ENGAGE.
OR WHEN CRIMES OR CODE VIOLATIONS ACCOMPANYING THREATENING, OR UNSAFE BEHAVIOR, UH, AT THAT POINT, A RESPONSE THAT DISENGAGES AND LEAVES THE PERSON IN CRISIS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, PLACES THE BURDEN THEN ON RESIDENTS OR BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE NO TRAINING AND NO RESOURCES.
SO THIS IS AN ISSUE MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON, AND I PLAN TO CONTINUE TO WORKING WORK ON THIS IN COMING MONTHS.
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING WITH, OUR RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING AT.
UM, GOOD REPORT, GOOD QUESTIONS, GOOD ISSUES CAN BE BROUGHT UP.
BUT AS WE KNOW, ONE PERSON'S PERCEPTION IS ANOTHER PERSON'S REALITY.
AND I'VE COME ACROSS SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THERE'S AN OLDEST PERSON ON THE STREET, ONE PERSON SEES THAT PERSON AS BEING DANGEROUS.
ANOTHER PERSON SAYS, WELL, THEY'RE JUST OLDEST.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT THE CITY IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE NA, AFTER NA, AFTER NAY, AFTER NAY, THAT SAME PERSON IS THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE THAT PERHAPS THERE WAS A THEATER RESPONSE, THERE WAS A MED TEAM, THERE WAS A QUALITY OF LIFE TEAM, THERE WAS MSC, SOMEBODY RESPONDED.
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T SEE THAT.
ALL THEY KNOW IS THIS OLDER PERSON IS OUT THERE STILL.
AND I THINK, UH, MR. EVERSON, YOU MENTIONED THAT EVEN HOMELESS PERSONS HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICES, BUT THE PE PEOPLE DON'T SEE THAT.
THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THIS PERSON HAS REFUSED SERVICES.
ALL THEY SEE IS A PERSON OUT THERE HOMELESS, URINATING, DEFECATING OUT IN PUBLIC, AND DOING IT DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.
SO WE NEED SOMETHING STRONGER THAN WHEN WE GET INDIVIDUALS LIKE THAT INTO ACCEPTING CHURCHES.
SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE IS THAT WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD FOR THE MET TEAM TO DETERMINE WHETHER A PERSON IS A DANGER TO HIMSELF OR TO THE PUBLIC TO GET THEM OFF THE STREET? TO ME, WHEN YOU HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL OUT THERE REGARDLESS, 10, 20, 30 CONTACTS THAT SAYS NO, THEY DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT SERVICES, AT WHAT POINT DO WE DETERMINE THAT THIS PERSON IS NOW A DANGER OR A NUISANCE, BLIND GRACE BLIND TO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT ARE HIGHLY TRAFFICKED, LIKE BANKS, GROCERY STORES, SCHOOLS, PARKS, THAT TYPE OF THING.
BECAUSE I'VE RUN ACROSS SEVERAL SITUATIONS WHERE THERE'S A
[02:50:01]
HOMELESS PERSON REFUSING SERVICES, BUT OUR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CREATING A CRIME.THEY'RE JUST THERE, BUT THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME KIND OF AN ORDINANCE OR WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO THAT SAYS, IF YOU URINATE IN PUBLIC, PUBLIC, YOU GRADING CRIME, YOU ATE IN PUBLIC, YOU GRADING A CRIME, IT'S THAT GREAT TO GO.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS THEN MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS STAY OUT THERE THAT LONG IS NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HELPING THEM.
PEOPLE GIVE 'EM FOOD, PEOPLE GIVE 'EM MONEY.
OTHER PEOPLE GIVE THEM REASONS TO STAY OUT THERE AS OPPOSED TO GOING INTO A FACILITY.
BUT AGAIN, IF THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE CONTACTS WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS AND HE MULTIPLY, REFUSE THOSE CONTACTS, THERE'S GOTTA BE A POINT WHERE, LIKE I WOULD SAY IN SPANISH, YOU HAVETA, YOU HAVETA, MOVE ON.
LET'S, LET'S, UH, CLEAN UP THE STREET.
LET'S, UH, GET THIS PERSON INTO, INTO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN FEEL BETTER AND FEEL ABOUT THEMSELVES.
AND LET'S CLEAN UP THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THERE'S NOT A REAL QUESTION THERE, BUT I DO WANT KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT THRESHOLD IS FOR WHEN WE SAY YOU LOST.
SO BEFORE WE GET TO THE THRESHOLD, I, I WANNA REALLY NOTE WHAT WHAT YOU SAID, I THINK IS, IS REALLY THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE IS THIS IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT PUBLIC POLICY WORK BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO'S CALLING IN JUST SAYS, THERE'S SOMEBODY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DOING SOMETHING.
BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S A HUGE SYSTEMS APPROACH.
THAT PERSON PROBABLY DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FROM THEIR, FROM THEIR FEDERAL BENEFITS TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM HOUSED.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MEDICAL CARE.
AND SO ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE A LOT OF TIMES AT THE STATE LEVEL, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THEY MANIFEST THEMSELVES IN THE CITY ITSELF.
AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITY STAFF TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND WE DO THAT WITH THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH OFTENTIMES ARE POLICE OFFICERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, AND IN LONG BEACH, WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE ASSIST AS WELL, LIKE HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS AND OTHERS TO TRY TO ALL PIECE TOGETHER THAT PUZZLE TO GET THAT PERSON THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
UM, AND, UH, I'LL BE HONEST, IT'S, IT'S REALLY, IT IS AN UNFAIR THING AND TO, TO EXPECT A CITY BY ITSELF TO HAVE TO, UM, MANAGE ALL THAT.
BUT THAT IS THE ROLE THAT WE'RE IN, THAT WE ARE THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO, TO OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE RESPONDING EVEN WHEN A LOT OF THAT IS CREATED BY THESE EXTERNALITIES FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM POOR FEDERAL POLICY OR STATE POLICY OR PEOPLE NOT HAVING THE BENEFITS, UH, UH, THAT THEY NEED.
UH, THAT SAID, UM, REMOVING SOMEBODY'S LIBERTY IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS THAT GOVERNMENT HAS, UM, WHERE YOU ARE ACTUALLY TAKING THEIR LIBERTY AWAY FROM THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE ON THE STREET OR, OR THEIR MENTAL CAPACITY.
AND THAT HAS A VERY HIGH BAR AND THAT SET VERY HIGH BY THE STATE.
UH, I'LL LET, UH, UH, UH, COMMANDER OR, UH, DC SOLE ME TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
AT WHAT POINT ARE WE ALLOWED TO ARREST SOMEBODY FOR OR DO THAT, THAT 51 50 HOLD BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND THEN IF YOU CAN ALSO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE WHEN, WHEN SOMEBODY, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, CONSTANTLY IS REFUSING SERVICES AND IT'S NOT ENGAGING.
OKAY, BEFORE YOU GO THERE, I WANNA DO THE NOTE THAT I THINK STAFF IS DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO PROVIDE AS MANY SERVICES TO THESE INDIVIDUALS INTO CAN.
HOWEVER, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE REFUSING SERVICES BECAUSE OF MY LACK, MY OTHER SERVICES.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL YOU TALK TO THEM AND SOME DON'T WANNA TALK, THEY JUST STAY QUIET AND THEY SAY NO, AND THAT'S IT.
THEY GO TO THE MIDDLE, THEY GO TO A LITTLE SHELL WITH THE CAT, THE TAR FOR THEMSELVES, AND THAT'S IT.
THAT'S THE END OF THAT CONVERSATION UNTIL SOMEBODY ELSE CALLS IN AGAIN.
THAT GUY IS STILL OUT THERE, STILL DOING HIS THING.
WHY IS HE STILL THERE? DOES IT, HE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING.
AND THEN WHO DOES IT GO TO ME TO HER, TO THEM? BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOB, BUT WE ARE, HOWEVER THEY HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO SAY NO, AND WE CAN'T FORCE THEM.
SO, UH, I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR MY, MY BAD VOICE, BUT THE FRUSTRATION THAT I HAD WITH
[02:55:01]
THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT MEAN ATTACKED WHEN, HEY, I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN.THAT PERSON JUST DOESN'T WANNA COOPERATE, OR THAT PERSON JUST DOESN'T WANNA TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR THE COUNCIL.
IT'S, UH, AS IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR STAFF, IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR OUR, OUR RESPONDERS ON THE GROUND, UH, WHO REALLY DO WANT TO HELP AND TRY TO GET THAT PERSON, UH, UM, SOME HELP AND ALSO RESOLVE THE, THE, UM, THE COMMUNITY CALLING WHO ARE SEEING THINGS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE FEELING ARE NOT RIGHT IF THERE'S TRASH.
WHAT ABOUT THAT FOR ME IS THAT WE SHOULDN'T ALWAYS USE A CRIME BEING COMMITTED AS THE, AS THE BENCHMARK, WHETHER WE, UH, ARREST THIS PERSON OR, OR MOVE THEM.
THERE'S GOTTA BE OTHER, OTHER FACTORS THAT COMMIT INTO PLAY AS WELL.
SO I'LL HAVE, UH,
AND THEN ALSO, UH, WHAT DO WE DO FOR SOMEBODY THAT CAN, THAT CONSTANTLY REFUSES SERVICES AND IS, UH, CREATING, UH, CRIME IN THE COMMUNITY? ALL RIGHT, THAT IS TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER THRASHING TOOK, OH, I THINK, OH, YOU GOT SOMEBODY ELSE TALKING?
SO SIR, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, IN ORDER TO PLACE SOMEBODY ON A 72 HOUR HOLD, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S, IT'S A DANGER TO SELF DANGER TO OTHERS ARE GRAVELY DISABLED.
THE OFFICER THAT RESPONDS TO THAT HAS TO HAVE AND HAS TO LAY OUT THE ARTICULABLE FACTS THAT INDICATE, AND THAT POINT TO THE, TO THE, THE FACT THAT THE PERSON WANTS TO HARM THEMSELVES.
SO USUALLY THERE'S A THREAT OF VIOLENCE EITHER TO THEMSELVES OR TO OTHER, WITH THE ABILITY TO CARRY OUT, WITH THE ABILITY TO CARRY THAT OUT, BEING CALLED REPEATEDLY TO THE SAME LOCATION FOR SOMEONE THAT, UM, MAY BE SUFFERING FROM, UM, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES DOESN'T MEAN IN AND OF ITSELF THAT THEY CAN BE PLACED ON A 72 HOUR HOLD.
IT JUST, AND SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OFFICERS WILL RESPOND TO THAT IS WE WILL CERTAINLY TRY TO, UM, WE'LL ASSESS THE SITUATION, DETERMINE IF THEY FIT INTO THE 72 HOUR HOLD CRITERIA.
AND IF THEY DON'T, THEN OFTENTIMES THEY WILL OFFER TO PROVIDE, UM, THAT INDIVIDUAL WITH SERVICES AND BEING TRANSPORTED TO, UM, A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY.
SO THERE IS A VOLUNTARY, SOMEONE WHO VOLUNTARILY GOES FOR ASSISTANCE, AND THEN THERE'S THE 72 HOUR HOLD.
UM, AND THE, I, I HEAR THE FRUSTRATION IN YOUR VOICE, AND WE SHARE IT BECAUSE WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS BY TRADE.
AND WHEN WE GO OUT THERE AND WE CAN'T GET TO A CONCLUSION THAT'S, THAT'S HELPING THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE SERVING, IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR US.
WE DO HAVE OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE CAN UTILIZE TO HELP WITH THAT, WITH THAT CONCERN.
IF IT'S SOMEONE IN THE SAME LOCATION IN THE SAME PLACE, SOMETIMES WE'RE ABLE TO USE OUR POLICE RESOURCE OFFICER TO HELP WITH THAT SITUATION.
UM, BUT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT JUST, IT, EACH SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.
UM, AND WHAT WE WILL DO OFTEN IS IF, IF WE CAN'T PLACE SOMEBODY ON A 72 HOUR HOLD AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO GET, UM, HELP VOLUNTARILY, WE'LL PASS THAT OFF TO OUR MED OFFICERS WHO WILL THEN FOLLOW UP.
BUT YOU SAID IT, UM, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE CAN'T FORCE SOMEONE TO ACCEPT SERVICES NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER, THRASH INTO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A ROBUST CONVERSATION AND ONE THAT I THINK MAY HAVE STARTED, YOU KNOW, OUT IN ONE WAY, BUT REALLY HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT, UH, THE CRUX OF THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL OF THE PROGRAMS ARE THAT WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVELY.
UH, WHEN YOU CALL UPON THOSE PROGRAMS, HOW YOU DO THAT, UM, AS A RESIDENT AND WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT THE OUTCOMES TO BE ONCE THEY ARE CALLED UPON ACCORDINGLY.
UM, AND WE STILL HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN THERE, BUT WE'VE, WE'VE GOT THE TIP HERE, UH, TONIGHT IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THAT.
UM, TO ME, THIS, UH, REALLY REQUIRES US TO TAKE A LOOK AT POTENTIALLY CREATING NOT JUST A LISTING OF THE PROGRAMS, BUT A BIT OF A DECISION TREE THAT CAN HELP US AND OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND IF CERTAIN THRESHOLDS OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING, UH, WHERE THEY MIGHT TURN, UH, FOR RESOURCES.
[03:00:01]
THAT THAT INFORMATION'S AVAILABLE IN HOPEFULLY A VERY STRONG COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.UM, ONE THAT IS NOT JUST STATIC IN A PAMPHLET, UM, BUT HAS OTHER DYNAMIC WAYS OF BEING ABLE TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC, UH, WHAT IS POTENTIALLY HAPPENING.
YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE THEY SEEING, NOT MAYBE NOT EVEN IN THE ACTUAL MOMENT, BUT AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT WHEN THOSE THINGS DO COME UP, THERE IS A REFERENCE POINT FOR HOW, UH, THEY MIGHT, UH, REACH OUT FOR CITY SERVICES.
UM, I EVEN CONSIDER THAT I WAS, AS I WAS SITTING HERE, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COLLEAGUES WERE TALKING ABOUT FROM HOW DO I DEFEND MYSELF TO, UH, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY DO COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT THE PUBLIC ALSO IS AWARE OF THESE PROGRAMS AND CAN BE AN AMBASSADOR THEMSELVES.
SO MUCH LIKE WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER PROGRAMS, WHICH ALLOW OUR RESIDENTS TRUE INSIGHT INTO HOW OUR CITY WORKS AND HOW THEY CAN MAKE IT WORK FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.
THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE BRING TOGETHER A NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER AMBASSADOR PROGRAM THAT HIGHLIGHTS ALL THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, UM, TO SUPPORT, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE EXHIBITING OR EXPERIENCING, UH, MENTAL, UH, HEALTH CONCERNS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THE TIME THAT EDUCATE EVEN MORE PUBLIC MEMBERS WHO CAN SERVE AS AMBASSADORS AS WELL.
AND THEN THE OTHER ELEMENT THAT I HEAR TONIGHT IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THESE SYS WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THESE VARIOUS PROGRAMS IN PLACE, BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO STRESS TEST THEM.
UM, IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO STRESS TEST THE SYSTEMS AND, AND HOW THEY WORK.
MEANING, YOU KNOW, LET'S HAVE OUR RESIDENTS PROVIDE US WITH QUESTIONS OR TELL US WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.
AND THEN WE RUN THROUGH A MODEL TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A RESIDENT CALLED WITH THIS PARTICULAR INFORMATION, WHO THEY CALLED, HOW MIGHT THEY BE ROUTED, UM, THROUGH OUR SYSTEMS. AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, I ALSO THINK HAVING SOME LEVEL OF CASE STUDIES, UM, WHERE WE CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND, HERE'S A SERIES OF CASES, AND WE JUST STARTED THAT CONVERSATION A BIT HERE, UH, WITH VICE MAYOR IN DC SODA, WHERE IF THERE'S SOMEONE WHO IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE SERVICES AND REFUSES THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE STARTED ALMOST LIKE A CASE STUDY HERE OF WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND WHAT CAN WE DO, UM, AS A COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THAT PERSON, UM, YOU KNOW, GETS THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SAFE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS A START OF A, A LARGER CONVERSATION THAT I DON'T THINK, UH, THE COUNCILWOMAN WHO BROUGHT IT FORTH THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY CONSIDERED THAT THIS IS WHERE IT WILL GO.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE NOW UNCOVERED AT LEAST ONE ELEMENT OF THE FRUSTRATION THAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, AND HOW WE CAN BETTER CREATE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, OTHER AMBASSADORS, UM, AND CASE STUDIES TO HELP, UH, OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TO, UH, RESPOND TO THESE CRISES.
HOPEFULLY NOT JUST AS THEY'RE HAPPENING, BUT BE EDUCATED IN ADVANCE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK TI UH, THANK YOU VICE MAYOR.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP.
SO I KNOW WE MENTIONED WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT ASSESSING, UM, OUR, THE EFFICIENCY IN WHICH WE ARE DEPLOYING OUR DIFFERENT KIND OF SERVICE MODELS AND PROGRAMMING.
UM, AND I KNOW YOU ALL MENTIONED, AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, UM, THAT THERE WERE SPECIFIC MEASURABLES WE WERE GONNA LOOK AT TO SEE IF WE WERE DOING THAT EFFECTIVELY.
UM, AND THEN, UM, DR. HARRISON, YOU MENTIONED, UM, THERE'S GONNA BE AN UPCOMING KIND OF, UH, EVAL, UH, KIND OF PROCESS FOR, UM, FOR, FOR DISPATCH AND LIKE KIND OF ASSESSING OUR SERVICES.
I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCRETE.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE A REPORT BACK OR INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, AND MAYBE THIS IS A CITY MANAGER QUESTION, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME BACK IN A WRITTEN FORM? LIKE, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT, THAT I WOULD NEED TO THEN DO A FRIENDLY ON THE COUNCILMAN'S MOTION TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT, THAT INFORMATION COMES BACK TO COUNCIL? HOW DO I GO ABOUT DOING THAT? I THINK TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT FOR US TO BRING THIS BACK AND, UH, GET ANY, UH, FURTHER DIRECTION.
SO WE'VE GOT OUR REPORT, WE'VE GOT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUR FOLLOW UPS.
IF THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC ITEMS YOU WANT US TO FOLLOW UP ON, UH, TONIGHT WOULD BE THE NIGHT TO, TO DO THAT.
AND THEN WE CAN CON CONTINUE TO COME BACK IN WRITING, UH, WITH WHAT SOME OF THOSE, UH, DATA REQUESTS ARE.
WELL THEN, LET ME SAY THIS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UM, WOULD YOU ACCEPT A FRIENDLY TO ADD AS PART OF YOUR MOTION A REPORT BACK AROUND SOME OF THE DATA AND METRICS, UM, THAT, UH, DISPATCH USES TO ASSESS, UM, THE EFFICIENT DEPLOYMENT, UM, OF THE DIFFERENT, UM, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PRESENTED TONIGHT? YES, I WOULD ACCEPT THAT THIS IS FOR THE RECEIVE AND FILE.
WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THAT AND ADD, YES.
UM, YES, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
[03:05:01]
TO COMMENT ON, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH TOOK THE POINT OF THIS ITEM WAS TO MAKE SURE WE ALL HAD CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, SO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOOD WORK.THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS, BUT IT'S GOOD.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AT THIS POINT.
OH, THE COMMENTS, OH, KURT OVER THERE.
I WANNA THANK, UH, MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE ROBUST CONVERSATION AND FOR THE TEAMS. UM, NOT ONLY THE REPORT BACK, BUT THE ENGAGEMENT TONIGHT.
UM, CITY MANAGER, MOOCH, I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON THIS, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY FOR DECADES, THIS COUNCIL, FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE.
BUT I KNOW IN THE YEARS BEFORE THAT THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE REASONS WHY SOMEONE MAY BE UNHOUSED OR NOT UNHOUSED, BUT ACTING OUT WHETHER IT'S NOT PROPER SUPPORTS, UM, INSUFFICIENT BENEFITS, LACK OF, UM, ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
WE, WE KNOW ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE REAL.
SOME OF THOSE ARE LA YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE'S DEFECATING IN PUBLIC, IS IT BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PUBLIC BATHROOMS OPEN THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO USE? UM, AND THEN IF SOMEONE DOES SAY YES, DO WE HAVE TEMPORARY BEDS? AND IF WE HAVE TEMPORARY BEDS, DO WE HAVE TRANSITIONAL BEDS? AND IF WE HAVE TRANSITIONAL BEDS, DO WE HAVE, UM, LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THIS IS THE COMPLICATED WEB THAT WE AS A CITY CALL ON OUR, UH, COUNTY PARTNERS, OUR STATE PARTNERS AND FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP US WITH THIS GIANT SAFETY NET? SO I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT AND KNOWING THAT WE ALL HAVE WORK TO DO.
UM, I DO WANNA THANK DISPATCH, UH, FOR COMING OUT TO ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TO ENGAGE WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND TALK THIS PROCESS THROUGH WITH OUR RESIDENTS SO THEY COULD ASK THOSE VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
THOSE, THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT SCENARIOS THAT THEY SEE IN THEIR LIFE, UM, AND BEING, BEING WILLING TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE ABILITY AND THE NEED TO DO BETTER IN SOME OF THOSE SITUATIONS.
UH, WE HAD AN INCIDENT NOT TOO LONG AGO IN VERY SIMILAR, SOMEONE FEELING, UM, THREATENED AND SOMEONE ACTING ERRATICALLY.
AND WHEN THEY CALLED OUR OFFICE, THEY WERE IN ALMOST A STATE OF PANIC TO SAY, THIS IS A THING THAT HAPPENED.
AND SO WE ASKED, WHEN DID YOU CALL? WHAT TIME? AND DISPATCH GRACIOUSLY WENT BACK, UM, REVIEWED THE CALL, SAID THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT.
THEY WEREN'T, UM, THEY DIDN'T SAY THE THINGS TO DISPATCH THAT THEY SAID TO OUR OFFICE.
AND SO THAT CHANGED THE WAY THE CALL WAS DISPATCHED.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME OUT TO PROBABLY ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, TO ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS DIRECTLY TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
UM, AND THEN TO HAVE THE SPECIFICS OF WHEN THEY RESPONDED, WHAT TIME, HOW THEY COULD HAVE DONE BETTER, AND HAVING THE SAME OFFICERS REACH BACK OUT TO THAT PERSON TO REASSURE THEM AND TALK THEM THROUGH THE INCIDENT AND ASK HOW THEY CAN BE OF SUPPORT NEXT TIME.
SO, UH, I'M JUST SAYING THAT AS WE SAW KIND OF THAT CLOSED LOOP OF THE SELF-REFLECTION THAT, THAT YOUR OFFICE DID, THAT PD DID, UM, AND THEN CLOSE THE LOOP AGAIN WITH RESIDENTS ON HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER BETTER.
UM, BUT JUST WANTED TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE AGAIN THE COMPLICATED ISSUES OF THE WORK WE ALL NEED TO DO BETTER AND THE SOLUTIONS WE HAVE TO SUPPORT BOTH LARGE AND SMALL THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, UM, TO MAKE THIS BETTER.
BECAUSE THE QUESTION ALWAYS IS, IF THIS PERSON ISN'T HERE, WHERE DO THEY GO THEN IF WE DON'T HAVE SPACES AVAILABLE TO SERVE THEM? AND THAT IS TO ANOTHER PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S A CALL TO A DIFFERENT COUNCIL OFFICE.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION THAT WE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FIND THE SOLUTIONS AND HAVE THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO THE TEAM FOR THE RESPONSES TONIGHT.
ALRIGHT, SO I WANNA, UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, YOU ALL GAVE SOME, YOU GOT SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS TONIGHT AND YOU, YOU GAVE SOME PRETTY, UH, SOLID RESPONSES.
YOU EVEN GOT, UH, GOT TOM TOM ON HIS TOES A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT.
SO, UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE HOW COMPLEX THIS ISSUE IS, AND I APPRECIATE SEEING ALL OF YOU LEANING IN TOM, COMMANDER SOLATA, UH, RED, UH, MR. HARRISON, UM, DIRECTOR KING, ALL OF YOU.
THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY AND IT REQUIRES ALL OF US TO REALLY LEAN IN AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
ALSO, WANNA JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU ALL ARE THE ONES WHO GET THE COUNT, GET THE PHONE CALLS, AND I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS.
IT, IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH, IT'S EASY.
WHENEVER, UH, THEY START WITH IT'S EASY.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE WRONG ANSWER.
THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX SITUATION.
YOU'VE GOT, UM, YOU KNOW, SHELTER, WE STARTED OFF, WE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MUCH AT ALL.
WE'VE INCREASED 86% IN VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
DIFFERENT DEGREES OF OUTREACH, DIFFERENT LEVELS, COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS, INITIALLY A PILOT DURING THE PANDEMIC.
NOW, CITYWIDE MENTAL HEALTH IS A, THE STATE,
[03:10:01]
UH, DESIGNATES THE COUNTIES AS MENTAL HEALTH, BUT PEOPLE DON'T CALL THEIR COUNTY SUPERVISOR WHEN THEY HAVE A CRISIS HAPPEN IN THEIR COMMUNITY.THEY'RE CALLING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE CALLING THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND SO, EVEN THOUGH IT'S RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY, IT'S AN EXPECTATION THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE CAPACITY, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT FUNDED TO DO.
SO, EXPECTATIONS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE WAY UP HERE.
FUNDING IS WAY DOWN THERE AND NOT GETTING BETTER.
UH, HR ONE FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE DIRECTLY ATTACKING PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS LIKE WE HAVE IN LONG BEACH.
AND SO YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHO'S YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN DEALING, ENGAGING WITH HOMELESSNESS WHO'S TAKEN ON A WIDER MANDATE WHILE THE FUNDING WE CAN COUNT ON AND THE SAFETY NET WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON IS NO LONGER THERE FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT.
SO IT IS A CHALLENGE, BUT I WILL SAY I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE, WE HAVE A STRATEGY THAT WE CAN CLEARLY SHOW WHERE WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS AND THAT WE'RE NOT GIVING UP UNTIL PEOPLE'S DAILY EXPERIENCE MATCH OUR GOALS AND OUR DATA.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO.
UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANNA GIVE YOU ENCOURAGEMENT.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE NOT, NOT EASY ISSUES.
YOU SPENT A COUPLE HOURS TALKING ABOUT THIS TONIGHT AND YOU PROBABLY COULDN'T GONE EVEN LONGER.
BUT THIS IS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE THE PHONE CALLS YOU'RE GETTING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, SO WE CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR PATIENCE.
MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA GO TO, BEFORE WE VOTE, I JUST WANTED TO ASK WE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLARIFICATION YES.
ON THE, UM, FRIENDLY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT RIGHT.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST CLARIFY, I THINK YOU SAID YOU WANTED REPORT BACK WITH DATA AND METRICS.
IF YOU COULD JUST BE SPECIFIC.
UM, WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? THE OTHER PERSON THAT WAS SPEAKING? THE WOMAN IN THE BACK.
SO GABBY MENTIONED SHE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MEASURABLES, UM, BUT SHE NEVER ACTUALLY SPECIFIED WHAT THOSE MEASURABLES WERE.
SO IT'S THE MEASURABLES SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT ARE THE ONES THAT I WANNA REPORT BACK ON.
UM, BUT SHE DIDN'T DELINEATE WHAT THOSE WERE, WHICH IS WHY I SAID METRICS AND MEASURABLES.
'CAUSE I DON'T, THEY, THEY WEREN'T ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY STATED.
I THINK A GOOD SENSE OF LIKE, WHAT DATA DO WE HAVE? WHAT CAN WE REPORT ON? HOW ARE WE, HOW ARE WE DOING WHEN WE GET THESE CALLS IN, WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT WE THINK WE'RE EFFECTIVELY RESPONDING TO? WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MORE PROBLEMATIC? UH, AND MAY NOT RESULT IN THE, IN, IN ALWAYS A RESOLUTION.
BUT HOW DO WE TRACK THAT AND HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT, HOW WELL OUR PROGRAMS ARE WORKING AND NOT WORKING.
SO WE'LL BRING, UH, BACK WHAT INFORMATION THAT WE CAN.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S, THAT CAPTURES IT.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, UM, I SAY AGAIN, DIRECTOR HARRISON MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE, UM, AN EVALUATION PROGRAM THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE, UM, OUTLINING AND DEPLOYING.
UM, AND SO THAT INFORMATION, WHAT THOSE METRICS WILL BE, WHAT THEY'LL BE COLLECTING, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY'LL BE MEASURED.
THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT WILL HELP EDUCATE ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ON HOW WE ARE, HOW WE'RE DOING, BUT ALSO HOW WE'RE EFFECTIVELY TAKING IN THOSE PRIORITY THREE CALLS, UM, AND THEN DETERMINING WHERE THEY GO.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
DAVE ROGELIO AND SEYMOUR MORE.
UM, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN FOR FOLLOWING UP ON THIS ITEM AND FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.
UH, THANK YOU ALSO, UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, THRASH INUK AND, UH, RICK SODI, UH, FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
UM, VICE MAYOR, UH, ORANGA, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU IN ACTION AS YOU CONTINUE TO RECOVER.
UH, IT'S REALLY INSPIRING AS ALWAYS.
UM, I SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND I SUPPORT THE CITY'S, UH, COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND OPEN DATA.
UM, AS A MAPPER, WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER WITH THE DATA, BUT I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD START.
UM, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, AND FRANKLY, WITHOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SYSTEMS CHANGE APPROACH BY YOUR ADMINISTRATION, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON, UH, I, I DO NOT THINK WE WOULD BE HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW, LIKE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW, UH, THAT IT IS APPRECIATED.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IN THIS CITY OVER THE PAST FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AND INSTITUTIONALLY, UH, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THE OFFICES OF EQUITY AND THE FRAMEWORK FOR, UH, RA UH, RACIAL RECONSTRUCTION.
UH, IT'S CHANGED HOW POLICING IS DONE IN THIS TOWN.
I, UH, HOPE, UH, THAT WE ALL HERE IN THIS ROOM, UH, ARE HERE ON THE DAY WHERE A TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION ACCOUNTING FOR SOME OF THE CRIMINAL, ILLEGAL, MORAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITY BY THIS, UH, CRIMINAL FASCIST FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, UH, CAN BE, CAN BE, UH, ADDRESSED.
THAT ALL SAID, I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT, UH, THE LOGICAL BLACK HOLE
[03:15:01]
IN ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS, THE TRUMP SIZED LACUNA.UH, WHAT HAPPENS IF ICE SHOWS UP IN FRONT OF POLLING CENTERS AS THEY ANNOUNCED LAST WEDNESDAY, THEY'RE GOING TO THIS NOVEMBER? IS THAT UNSAFE? IS THAT THREATENING? IS THAT CRIMINAL? THAT'S CRIMINAL.
CRIMINAL? WELL, THAT'S FOR ALL OF US TO DECIDE, RIGHT? IT'S STILL A DEMOCRACY, RIGHT? UM, I THINK, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY IS HAPPENING SO FAST.
THE QUESTION IS ABOUT AI, FOR INSTANCE, UM, ARE ALLOWING THINGS LIKE DEEPFAKES OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO BE POSSIBLE.
HOW DOES THIS CITY ENSURE THAT THERE IS A SUFFICIENT AI RESPONSE TO THINGS LIKE THAT? I MEAN, PUTTING IT IN TRAINING, QUALITY ASSURANCE IS GREAT, BUT IF IT'S COMING AT THE, AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE'S JOBS, UH, AND PERHAPS EVEN YOUR OWN, I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE REALLY DOING HERE? UM, APPRECIATE HOW MUCH EFFORT HAS GONE IN TO GET THIS FAR AND I APPRECIATE STAFF FOR THE EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, I THINK THE DISCUSSION WAS EXTREMELY LONG, BUT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO TRANCHES, BUT THEY'RE ADDRESSED AS ONE.
BUT TRANCHE NUMBER ONE IS THE REPORTING.
SO HOW DOES CITIZENS REPORT THESE TWO TYPES OF CALLS? THE OTHER TRANCHE IS, IS THE SERVICES.
WHO DO THEY SERVE? SO THAT PART NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP.
UM, I PARTICIPATED IN THE, UH, POT, WHICH IS THE HOMELESS POINT OF TIME, WHICH WAS, UH, PRETTY EDUCATIONAL.
I WOULD URGE MEMBERS OF, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC TO ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
THAT'S, THAT'S AN ANNUAL EVENT.
UM, ALSO THE, UH, COVENANT HOUSE HAS A PROGRAM CALLED SLEEP OUT.
UM, LOS ANGELES DOES NOT DO IT, BUT THEY DO IT IN OTHER CITIES.
IT'S FOR ONE DAY PEOPLE SLEEP OUTSIDE.
THEY SLEEP INDOORS IN A, IN A PLACE.
UM, BUT AT LEAST IT, IT'S A START.
IT'S A, IN THE, IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WHEN YOU'RE HOMELESS, SLEEPING AND SHOWERS ARE THE MOST VITAL THINGS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO SOMEBODY MENTIONED THE HOURS, THE HOURS OF OPERATION ACTUALLY DO NOT WORK FOR A HOMELESS PERSON.
UM, WITH THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER TRIAGE, THERE'S FIVE FACETS TO HOMELESSNESS.
THERE'S THE, UM, PREVENTION, THERE'S THE, I'M ABOUT TO BE HOMELESS.
THERE'S THE HOMELESS, THEN THERE'S THE, I'M GETTING OUT OF HOMELESS.
AND THEN THERE'S THE, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THAT? YOU DO NOT GO BACK TO HOMELESS.
THE MAC UNIT IS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REFERENCED SEVERAL TIMES, IT'S ACTUALLY NON-EXISTENT.
UM, THAT'S BEEN THE, THE BUDGET HASN'T BEEN THERE.
I KNOW THIS FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.
UM, THERE'S THINGS CALLED BEST PRACTICES, OR I LIKE TO CALL THE MUTUAL AID AS A RETIRED INDUSTRIAL FIREFIGHTER.
UM, WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD URGE YOU TO MEET WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, SPECIFICALLY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
I WAS FORTUNATE TO MEET WITH CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER ZANE OF THE, UH, DISTRICT NINE, WHICH IS THE VAN NUYS DIVISION OF THE LEPD.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE HE IS A GRADUATE OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY OF LONG BEACH, AND I SPENT A GOOD TIME LEARNING ABOUT THEIR BEST PRACTICES ON HOW THEY CURB SUCH THINGS.
UM, WHEN THERE'S A FAMILY THAT IS EXPERIENCED IN HOMELESSNESS, THE MSC IS NOT FOR THEM.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THE MSC IS SPLIT UP INTO MALE AND FEMALE, BUT FAMILY NEEDS TO SAY IN THEIR CAR, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE KIDS.
UM, I LEARNED SOME AMAZING BEST PRACTICES FROM A THREE YEAR LAPD OFFICER WHO WAS HOMELESS, I'M SORRY, AN LAPD OFFICER THAT WAS HOMELESS FOR THREE YEARS.
HE'S DEVELOPED A PROGRAM CALLED TOYS ON PATROL.
UM, I APPRECIATED BEING HERE FOR THE DISCUSSION.
UH, SOMETIMES WHEN WE COME UP HERE, WHEN WE SEE YOU TALK, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GUYS ALREADY HAD THE TALK OUT BACK AND YOU'RE JUST SAYING IT OUT LOUD BEFORE A VOTE.
AND IT FELT NICE TO GET TO KNOW SOME OF YOU, ESPECIALLY ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I JUST WANNA STAY RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT, UM, UNHOUSED FOLKS HAVE COME UP A LOT IN THIS DISCUSSION.
UH, AND THIS ISN'T SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOMELESSNESS OR THE UNHOUSED, BUT, UM, I JUST WANNA STATE
[03:20:01]
FOR MYSELF ANYWAY, THAT IHOUSE FOLKS, PEOPLE IN MENTAL CRISIS, IF PEOPLE ARE IN LONG BEACH, THEY'RE OUR LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.AND WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT FROM SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AS EVERYBODY ELSE AND NOT THAT PERSON.
SO I, THAT GIVES ME GREAT PAUSE.
SO I'M GLAD I'M STICKING AROUND AND HEARING THESE CONVERSATIONS.
IT, IT GIVES A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, EVIDENCE TO SOME OF THE OPINIONS THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU KIND OF TELL ON YOURSELF OUT LOUD.
UM, SO THERE'S A MASLOW QUOTE, I'M AN EDUCATOR, UH, WHEN THE ONLY TOOL YOU HAVE IS A HAMMER, EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS LIKE A NAIL.
AND I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE NAILS WE HAVE TO GET RID OF OR HAMMER DOWN.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE INTENT OF THIS PRESENTATION.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE PRESENTER, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT PRESENTED THIS.
I DIDN'T KNOW OF ALL THOSE CITY AGENCIES AND PLACES THAT WE CAN GO INSTEAD OF THE POLICE FOR THESE SORTS OF MATTERS.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY THE DISCUSSIONS SEEM TO REALLY SHOW THAT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THRESHOLDS ARE FOR ANY OF THESE THINGS.
IF PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL AREN'T SURE, LIKE I DIDN'T KNOW ALL THOSE TEARS AND EVERYTHING, BUT IF THE ISSUE ABOUT SOMEONE THAT WAS MAYBE THREATENING, BUT NON-CRIMINAL, WHAT I HEARD IS, OH, ONCE THEY STOLE A HAT, THEN WE GOT TO CALL THE COPS.
THEN IT BECAME CRIMINAL SO WE COULD DO SOMETHING.
UM, ANOTHER CIRCUMSTANCE, I THINK IT WAS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN BROUGHT UP AS AHY HYPOTHETICAL.
THE OFFICER SAID, OH, NO, NO, NO.
IF THEY HAD A KNIFE, DEFINITELY THAT'S CRIMINAL CALL THE COPS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, LIKE, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE BY DEFAULT IN OUR COUNTRY SINCE THE DAYS OF SLAVE CATCHERS AND BOUNTY HUNTERS, THAT'S WHAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN.
THAT'S THE IMPETUS OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN OUR COUNTRY.
UH, IT'S BEEN TO CORRAL ARREST AND PUNISH AND CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE.
AND WHAT I AM REALLY HAPPY TO SEE ALL THOSE THINGS, IT REALLY PAINS ME TO HEAR OUR CITY COUNCIL TALK ABOUT OUR CITY, OUR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AS PROBLEMS TO SOLVE AND HAMMER NAILS TO HAMMER DOWN.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT.
UM, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. I DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE ON A COMMUNITY MEMBER, BUT I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE THERE AND I PAY ATTENTION A LOT.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF.
SO I, I HOPE THAT THERE'S, THANK YOU, A ROBUST WAY TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT AS WELL.
THAT SATISFIES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[12. 26-54241 Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and grant an Entertainment Permit with conditions for Entertainment with Dancing to DB Experiences Inc., DBA Que Sera, at 1923 East 7th, Long Beach, CA 90813. (District 1) Levine Act: Yes Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD.CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GRANT AN ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT WITH CONDITIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT WITH DANCING TO DB EXPERIENCES DBA RA AT 1923 EAST SEVENTH STREET, DISTRICT ONE.
THERE IS AN OATH REQUIRED FOR THIS HEARING.
PLEASE STAND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TESTIFY ON THIS ITEM.
DO YOU SOLEMNLY STATE THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE IN THE CAUSE NOW PENDING BEFORE THIS BODY SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD? I DO.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO TO THE STAFF REPORT.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, BEFORE YOU.
TONIGHT IS AN APPLICATION FOR ENTERTAINMENT WITH, UH, DANCING FOR, UH, RA.
THE ESTABLISHMENT IS LOCATED AT 1923 EAST SEVENTH STREET, UH, AND OPERATES AS A BAR TAVERN AND, UH, BAR TAVERN LOUNGE.
ALL APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, POLICE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HAVE REVIEWED THE APPLICATION AND HAVE PROVIDED THEIR RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS AS CON CONTAINED IN THE HEARING PACKET.
THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS IN ATTACHMENT A SHOULD BE NOTED FROM THE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS.
SECTION ONE, ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM 5:00 PM TO 12:00 AM FRIDAY, 5:00 PM TO 1:00 AM SATURDAY, 2:00 PM TO 1:00 AM AND SUNDAY, 2:00 PM TO 10:00 PM A NO OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT OR AMPLIFIED MUSIC, UH, OUTDOORS SHALL BE PERMITTED.
I, ALONG WITH COMMANDER STEPHANIE HALL FROM THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT.
WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT RA JULIO MARTINEZ.
UH, MY PUBLIC COMMENT IS BRIEF.
UM, MY, I GUESS IF SOMEBODY CAN JUST LET ME KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT GONNA TELL ME TODAY, BUT IF SOMEBODY CAN REACH OUT TO ME AND JUST LET ME KNOW IF, IF, UH,
[03:25:01]
RA WILL BE ABLE TO BE OPEN UNTIL THE 4:00 AM YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I MEAN, NO.WELL THEN I GUESS I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED IN AS TO WHY THEY'RE GETTING SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT THEY ALREADY HAD.
SO, SO, YEAH, ONCE AGAIN, I MEAN, I SUPPORT THIS, UM, AGENDA ITEM, BUT, UM, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW LIKE WHO IS GOING TO GET THAT 4:00 AM THING 'CAUSE UM, I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.
UH, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, DANCING AND MUSIC, IT'S HEALING, UM, NOT ONLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FOR OUR WHOLE CITY.
SO REALLY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM WITH THE CONDITIONS, UM, THAT WERE SOME OF THE CONCERNS WERE ANSWERED IN THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE ALLOWED.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK ON THIS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO RA HAVING SUCCESSFUL, UM, YEARS TO COME.
ALRIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO QUE ARAH MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[13. 26-54242 Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and grant an Entertainment Permit with conditions for Entertainment without Dancing to Honey and Luna LLC, DBA Sala Coffee, at 3853 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807. (District 5) Levine Act: Yes Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
A REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD.CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GRANT AN ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT WITH CONDITIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT WITHOUT DANCING TO HONEY.
AND LUNA, DBA SALA COFFEE AT 3 8 5 3 ATLANTIC AVENUE, LONG BEACH DISTRICT FIVE.
THERE IS AN OATH REQUIRED FOR THIS HEARING.
PLEASE STAND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TESTIFY ON THIS ITEM.
DO YOU SOLEMNLY STATE THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE AND THE CAUSE NOW PENDING BEFORE THIS BODY SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD? I DO.
UM, BEFORE YOU, TONIGHT IS ANOTHER APPLICATION FOR ENTERTAINMENT WITHOUT DANCING FOR SALA COFFEE.
UH, THE ESTABLISHMENT IS LOCATED AT 38 53 ATLANTIC AVENUE AND OPERATES AS A RESTAURANT WITH READY TO EAT FOOD, ALCOHOL.
ALL APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, POLICE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HAVE REVIEWED THE APPLICATION AND PROVIDED THEIR RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS AS CONTAINED IN THE HEARING PACKET.
THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS IN ATTACHMENT A SHOULD BE NOTED FROM THE ADDITIONAL CONDITION SECTION ONE ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES SUNDAY FROM 1:00 PM TO 6:00 PM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FROM 5:00 PM TO 11:00 PM UH, ONCE AGAIN, NO OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT OR AMPLIFIED MUSIC OUTDOORS, UH, SHALL BE PERMITTED.
AND COMMANDER STEPHANIE HALL FROM LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
AND THIS CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT.
THERE'S ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK LIO.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT AGENDA, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 13, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, UH, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT STARBUCKS IS, UM, GONNA BE CLOSING ABOUT FOUR OR 800 STORES, UM, IN WHAT GEOGRAPHICAL AREA? I'M NOT SURE.
UM, LIKE MANY OF US IN LONG BEACH, UH, WE HAVE OUTSTANDING COFFEE SHOPS, SO IT'S ALWAYS REALLY NICE TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE BIG CONGLOMERATE IS, UM, IS I GUESS IS OVER LEVERAGE, OVER EXTENDED.
ACTUALLY SOME OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ON STRIKE RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UM, SO YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM AND JUST SAY THAT, UM, I WISH THE BEST TO, UH, SALA COFFEE.
UH, BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.
I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT AT SALA COFFEE.
I WANNA THANK BRANDY AND DEREK.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE HERE ANYMORE, BUT THEY HUNG IN FOR A WHILE TONIGHT.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT SALA HAS RECENTLY EXPRESS, UH, EXPERIENCED SOME MAJOR CHALLENGES.
A CAR ACCIDENT, UH, FLEW THROUGH THEIR WALL, AND SO THIS WAS A PERMIT THAT WAS IN PROCESS BEFORE, AND THEY HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO REPAIR AND REOPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BEING ABLE TO HELP THEM SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESS.
WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS, UM, AND I WANTED TO ASSURE FOLKS THAT I'VE MET WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEY'VE EXPRESSED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO IMPROVE THEIR PRACTICES AND COMMUNICATION TO RESIDENTS, UM, AND BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WILL SAY ONE MORE TIME, THE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF OPERATION NOTE SPECIFIC TIMES ON WEEKENDS FOR ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES, ONE TO 6:00 PM ON SUNDAY, FIVE
[03:30:01]
TO 11:00 PM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.AND NO OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT OR AMPLIFIED MUSIC IS PERMITTED AND NO DANCING.
UM, WHICH MAY ASSUAGE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE PERMIT WOULD BE ISSUED AND WHAT TYPE OF NOTIFICATION? PROBABLY FIRST, WHAT TYPE OF NOTIFICATION WAS ISSUED TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY REGARDING THIS, UM, THIS HEARING TONIGHT AND HOW MUCH ADVANCED NOTICE FOLKS HAD TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT AND WHEN WOULD WE EXPECT THE PERMIT TO BE ISSUED? UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN KERR, UM, 10 DAYS PRIOR TO CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THERE IS A NOTIFICATION THAT GOES OUT TO, UH, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS IN A 300 FOOT RADIUS FROM, FROM THE BUSINESS.
AND THAT NOTICE GIVES, UH, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO US WITH THOSE CONCERNS THAT THEY MAY HAVE, UH, REGARDING THIS ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT.
UM, AND ONCE, UH, THIS, THEIR ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT IS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, AND IF THERE'S ANY FEES, UH, THAT ARE LEFT FOR THEM TO BE PAID, WE'LL ISSUE THEIR PERMIT RIGHT AWAY AND THEY CAN GET STARTED.
I KNOW, UM, THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING, UH, REOPENED WITH ALL THE APPROPRIATE, UH, APPROVALS FROM THE CITY, AND THIS WILL ADD TO THAT.
THE BEST OF LUCK AT SLAS COFFEE SHOP.
IS THAT THE ONE, THE TESLA SITUATION? UHHUH.
CAN'T WAIT TILL THEY GET BACK OPEN SO WE CAN CHECK THEM OUT.
UM, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[15. 26-54246 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP HE-25-552 and award contracts to Air Clean Environmental of Baldwin Park, CA; Performance Abatement Services of Anaheim, CA; Vizions West of Menifee, CA; and, Watson Painting Corporation of Riverside, CA, to provide lead and other home hazard remediation services on an as-needed basis, in a total aggregate amount not to exceed $3,500,000, for a period of two years with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide) Office or Department: Health and Human Services Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD VARIOUS CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE LEAD AND OTHER HOME HAZARD RE REMEDIATION SERVICES ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS IN A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 3,500,000 CITYWIDE.THERE'S TWO MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SIGN UP TO SPEAK SHUKLA, DAVE SHUKLA AND LIO.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, LET'S GET THE LET OUT SUPPORT THIS ITEM, THOUGH I DO WISH THERE WAS MORE OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASPECT, UH, TO THE SOLICITATION AND AWARDING OF THESE CONTRACTS.
I DO WISH THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAD A GREATER COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING, UH, THE CAPABILITIES FOR LEAD ABATEMENT IN HOUSE.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ONE OF THE MOST BASIC FOUNDATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF HAVING AN ECONOMY IN HUMAN HISTORY AS BEING ABLE TO CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN, AND IMPROVE ONE'S OWN BUILDING STOCK.
UH, SOMETHING THAT WE AS A SPECIES HAD ALREADY MASTERED BY 3 29 BC UH, WITH THE BUILDING IN THREE WEEKS OF THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA ESCADA, THE OUTPOST OF ALEXANDER'S EMPIRE, THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM MACEDONIA, THEY DID NOT USE LEAD BASED PAINTS IN CONSTRUCTION.
OR LIKE LATER THE ROMANS, UH, LEAD OR ARSENIC BASED PAINTS IN THEIR TABLEWARE.
LEAD INTAKE IS NOT HEALTHY, AS WE ALL KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, CHILDREN AND OTHER GROWING THINGS.
THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW AND THE CITY HAS A DUTY TO DISCLOSE, UM, THE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS OF LEAD UPTAKE IN RESIDENTIAL AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL SETTINGS AND TO, UH, CREATE AND PROVIDE, UH, PUBLICLY A COMPLETE ACCURATE AND UPDATEABLE MAP OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF LEAD AND OTHER TOXIC METAL POLLUTANTS IN LONG BEACH.
UH, MOREOVER, UM, IT CAN BE DONE ON THE CHEAP, LIKE THE BGY.
UH, AS WE'VE SEEN AFTER THE LA FIRES, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES, UH, A NUMBER OF NONPROFIT PARTNERS THAT, UH, CITY OF LONG BEACH CAN PARTNER WITH TO DO THE DATA COLLECTION AND FENCE LINE MONITORING, UH, FOR SUCH REPORTING AND PERHAPS IN YEARS TO COME.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE IN AN EXPANDED LONG BEACH HEALTH AND HUMAN, UH, SERVICES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER.
YEAH, SO IT'S TO NO SURPRISE, UM, THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO TALK WAS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE, AGAIN, AWARDING MONEY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
SO HERE, THE, I'LL JUST NAME THE CITIES.
SO SOME ENTITY IN BALDWIN PARK, ANOTHER ENTITY IN ANAHEIM, ANOTHER ENTITY IN MENIFEE, AND ANOTHER ENTITY IN RIVERSIDE.
I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT BECAUSE BALDWIN PARK, ANAHEIM, RIVERSIDE, AND MENEFEE ARE SMALLER IN SIZE TO LONG BEACH, UM, WE PROBABLY HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS SERVICE.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THE DUE DILIGENCE.
HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THE
[03:35:01]
DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS $3.5 MILLION AND UPWARDS TO 7 MILLION BECAUSE IT'S A TWO YEAR OPTION, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT THAT DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN DONE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED CORRECTLY.BUT IT JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
UM, I'M GOING TO HOLD EACH AND EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE THAT IF WE'RE GONNA SPEND A DOLLAR OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, THERE HAS TO BE A GOOD REASON WHY.
AGAIN, THE FIVE CITIES THAT I LISTED, THEY ALL ARE, THEY ALL PALE IN SIZE TO LONG BEACH.
LONG BEACH IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN CALIFORNIA.
WE DO HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE DO HAVE THE PEOPLE, WE CAN KEEP THE MONEY IN THE CITY SO THAT IT BENEFITS OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW WHAT, UH, CITY MANAGER, UM, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
UM, I KNOW YOUR POSITION IS PROBABLY APPOINTED, I WOULD BE GUESSING, BUT, UM, I'M NOT IMPRESSED.
SO WHEN I BECOME MAYOR, RIGHT, I'M GOING TO HOLD YOU EXTREMELY ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE YOU ARE THE CITY MANAGER.
YOU MANAGE THE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET, YOU ARE NOT MANAGING VERY EFFECTIVELY, RIGHT? SO, SO MY NAME IS ROGELIO MARTINEZ, AND I WILL BE HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS RIGHT NOW.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S AN OPINION, IT'S A STATEMENT.
THERE'S NO FACT I DON'T HAVE ANY FACT OR BASIS TO, TO, TO PROVE THAT.
BUT I HAVE BEEN HERE TIME AND TIME AGAIN SINCE DECEMBER, AND I AM NOT IMPRESSED.
I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH YOU AT ALL, SIR.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[16. 26-54247 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP HE-25-615 and award a contract to PATH, of Los Angeles, CA, for providing operation and supportive services for the Interim Housing Program for individuals and households experiencing homelessness, in a total annual amount not to exceed $1,188,998, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for an additional six-month period, at the discretion of the City Manager; and authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide) Office or Department: Health and Human Services Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO PATH FOR PROVIDING OPERATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THE INTERIM HOUSING PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN A TOTAL ANNUAL AMOUNT.NOT TO EXCEED 1,188,998 CITYWIDE.
ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ROGELIO.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA KEEP THIS BRIEF.
UM, YOU ALL KNOW THAT, UM, WELL ACTUALLY YOU DON'T KNOW THE DATES, BUT ON NOVEMBER 10TH, UM, IS WHEN I LOST MY JOB AT THE, UH, POWER PLANT KNOWN AS IVAN PAW AT STATE LINE ON THE MOJAVE SIDE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO I WAS TASKED TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY HOW THEY WERE NOT GOING TO SHUT DOWN TWO OF THE UNITS.
UM, I DID WHAT I NEEDED TO DO.
IVAN PAUL IS SUCCESSFULLY IN SERVICE TODAY AND PROVIDING POWER TO HALF A MILLION RESIDENTS IN CALIFORNIA THROUGH LIO.
THIS NEEDS TO BE ON TOPIC OF THE ITEM.
UM, I'M, I'M GONNA LAND TO THE POINT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S LAND THAT PLANE.
UM, SO I AM HOMELESS AT THE MOMENT.
I'VE BEEN HOMELESS SINCE DECEMBER 12TH.
SO IN TWO DAYS, IT'LL BE TWO MONTHS.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT COUNCIL PERSON SAID IT, BUT THE, THE WORDS WERE, LET'S STRESS TEST.
I'M LITERALLY STRESS TESTING, A ACTIVELY STRESS TESTING.
SO IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO BE YOUR MAYOR, THAT'S FINE, THAT'S FINE.
BUT UTILIZE ME AS SOMEONE THAT LITERALLY SAID, HEY, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.
SO WHAT CAN I DO TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS BROKEN IN A SYSTEM, WHICH IS HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE HOMELESS OR ARE ARE HOMELESS? SO I'M LIVING IT, SO I'M STRESS TESTING THE PROGRAMS. AGAIN, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
WHEN I SAW THAT LIST, IT LOOKED AMAZING.
BUT HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY AS A RECOMMENDATION TO WHOEVER WANTS TO LISTEN, THERE'S TWO OPPORTUNITIES THAT A CITY CAN GET TO HELP SOMEBODY THAT'S KNOWN AS RENT RELIEF PROGRAM.
[03:40:01]
A RENT RELIEF PROGRAM, THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY CLOSE TO BEING HOMELESS.NEXT UNLAWFUL DETAINER, THERE SHOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE CITY THAT IS GOING TO BE ACCOMPANYING THOSE POLICE OFFICERS FOR THOSE EVICTIONS THAT ARE ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE.
'CAUSE GUESS WHAT? IF YOU'RE BEING EVICTED, YOU'RE HOMELESS.
THOSE ARE TWO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THAT SOMEONE CAN DO OUTREACH TO HELP PEOPLE.
SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS ROGELIO MARTINEZ.
I'M CURRENTLY LIVING IN MY CAR.
YES, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CAR, BUT I'M LIVING IN MY CAR UNTIL I GET MY NEW JOB, WHICH IS ON THE 16TH, WHICH CHEVRON REFINING COMPANY IN EL SEGUNDO USE ME AS A RESOURCE.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[17. 26-54248 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP HE-25-529 Long Beach Reentry Services Program (LBRSP) Substance Use Treatment provider for LBRSP and award a contract to Roots Through Recovery, of Long Beach, CA, for Substance Use Treatment services, in a total amount of $1,201,075, for a period of three years with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide) Office or Department: Health and Human Services Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE LONG BEACH REENTRY SERVICES PROGRAM AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO ROOTS THROUGH RECOVERY FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES IN A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,201,075 CITYWIDE.ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK LIO.
YOU KNOW WHAT? SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, I SUPPORT ITEM 17.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS A SECOND, THIS IS WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE.
SO CLEARLY, UH, THE ACRONYM LBRS SP IS LONG BEACH REENTRY SERVICES PROGRAM.
THE NEXT UM, IS THAT IT'S GOING TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO ROOTS THROUGH RECOVERY OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES.
AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA FOCUS ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNT BECAUSE I TRUST, I HOPE THAT YOU'VE DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, ESPECIALLY YOU TOM, AS A CITY MANAGER, ON HOW UH, $1.2 MILLION WILL BE SPENT IN A A THREE YEAR PERIOD WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS.
SO THAT'S AN OBSCENE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
BUT HEY, IF THAT'S WHAT IT COSTS, THAT'S WHAT IT COSTS.
BUT SEE, THIS IS WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE.
NOT GREAT 'CAUSE NO ONE KNOWS HERE IF THIS IS GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE.
HOPEFULLY THE DOLLARS GET SPENT AND ALLOCATED APPROPRIATELY.
BUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, IS STILL SOMETHING TO BE THE OUTCOME IS STILL SOMETHING TO BE DESIRED.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE AND I WANT THIS TO BE ON THE PUBLIC RECORD THAT WE ARE SPENDING MONEY WITHIN THE CITY.
LET'S KEEP THE MONEY IN LONG BEACH.
LET'S JUST FOCUS ON MAKING LONG BEACH GREAT AGAIN.
'CAUSE THIS IS A PHENOMENAL CITY WITH A LOT OF PRIDE WITH GREAT PEOPLE.
IT'S THE MOST INCLUSIVE CITY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
THE ONLY THING THAT COMES CLOSE TO IT, AND IT'S A WAY BIGGER CITY, IS TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.
IT COMES CLOSE, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE MAGIC THAT LONG BEACH IS.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
ANYWAYS, AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE.
I SAW TWO OF THESE SUCH THINGS TODAY ON THE AGENDA.
I HOPE TO SEE MANY MORE WHERE WE'RE KEEPING THE DOLLARS IN LONG BEACH.
ALRIGHT, UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
JUST QUICKLY, I WANNA THANK, UM, THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION THEY PROVIDED ON THIS ITEM.
THIS ROOTS TO RECOVERY IS LOCATED IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT.
IT'S ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY BUSINESSES.
THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM FUNDED WITH PROP $47.
UM, THE THINGS THEY'RE GOING TO BE TRACKING ARE PARTICIPANTS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM, CASE MANAGEMENT, PEER LED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, STRUCTURED LIFE SKILLS, UH, BASIC NEEDS, SUPPORT, HOUSING SERVICES.
SO, UM, THERE ARE METRICS THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FROM THIS ORGANIZATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS COMMUNITY PARTNER, UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ]
TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT.[03:45:03]
ALL RIGHT.I SEE FIVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT I DON'T SEE FIVE PEOPLE HERE, SO I'LL READ THE NAMES OF YOUR NAME.
AMY BRANDON, KIM ROGELIO, LOURDES DIXON, AND SAMANTHA G IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
I'M GONNA TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS 'CAUSE THREE MINUTES IS ACTUALLY NOT A LONG TIME, BUT BEFORE I START WITH WHAT I CAME HERE TO SAY, I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO SAY THAT THIS MEETING WAS STARTED WITH AN AMAZING CELEBRATION FOR BLACK HISTORY.
AS I WAS SAYING, SO THIS MEETING WAS STARTED WITH AN AMAZING CELEBRATION FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WE ALSO SAT THROUGH A PRESENTATION ON BLACK HEALTH, WHICH HAS APPARENTLY BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
BUT I WANNA POINT OUT THAT I CONTINUE TO HEAR AI IMPLEMENTATION IN A LOT OF OUR SYSTEMS. IT'S IN OUR 9 1 1 CALLS.
IN A PREVIOUS MEETING, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT BEING IMPLEMENTED IN OUR UTILITIES.
UM, BUT IF YOU TRULY CARED ABOUT BLACK BODIES AND BLACK HEALTH, YOU'D REFRAIN FROM IMPLEMENTING AI BECAUSE IT IS A DIRECT POISONING OF THE AIR AND WATER OF BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS, BECAUSE THESE DATA CENTERS THAT ALLOW THIS TECHNOLOGY TO RUN ARE BASED OUT OF BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE HARM OF THE EXACT COMMUNITIES THAT YOU CLAIM TO CARE ABOUT.
OKAY, NOW FOR WHAT I ACTUALLY CAME HERE TO SAY, SO LAST WEEK I WAS UP HERE TALKING ABOUT THE VIOLENCE WE WERE ALREADY SEEING HERE IN LA AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.
SO I JUST WANNA RESUME THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE I DO WANT IT ON THE RECORD.
SO I TALKED ABOUT HOW ON 1 25, 26 THERE WAS LIKE OVER EIGHT PATROL CARS JUST, UM, PROTECTING THE HAMPTON INN, SEVERAL LBPD OFFICERS JUST STANDING AROUND.
SO TWO DAYS AFTER THAT, THE SAME DAY THAT A WELL-KNOWN COMMUNITY PATROLLER WAS BEING ARRESTED BY ICE AND COMPTON AND ICE AGENT AARON PATA, WHO IS ACTUALLY INFAMOUSLY KNOWN FOR ADVERTISING HIS SERVICES ON DATING SITES AND HAS BEEN RECITING HERE IN LONG BEACH FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
HE TACKLED A LONG BEACH RESIDENT WHO WAS OBSERVING THEM IN FRONT OF THE MDC IN LA.
UM, HE ARRESTED HIM WITHOUT CAUSE OR REASON.
AND SO I JUST WANNA BE VERY CLEAR THAT THIS VIOLENCE IS ALREADY BEING INFLICTED ON YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THESE AGENTS, VIOLENT AGENTS ARE ACTIVELY RESIDING HERE IN LB AND ARE ACTIVELY BEING PROTECTED BY LBPD AS A FELLOW SPEAKER SAID EARLIER THIS WEEK HAS THANKFULLY BEEN A QUIET WEEK AS FAR AS KIDNAPPINGS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS MEANS THAT THEY'RE PLANNING AND RE-STRATEGIZING.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THIS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO WRAP UP, RAMP UP THEIR T TACTICS, HOWEVER, ILLEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY AND MORAL, THEY ARE.
YOU ELECTED OFFICIALS MUST ALL WORK EQUALLY AS DIG DILIGENTLY IN ENSURING YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO NOT SUCCUMB TO THIS FASCIST REGIME THAT HAS TAKEN OVER THIS COUNTRY.
AND AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU HAVE MORE LEGAL POWER THAN ANY OF US DO, AND YOU SHOULD BE USING THAT POWER.
WHEN DID YOU ALL LOSE YOUR SOULS? WAS IT THE MONEY THAT MADE YOU SELL YOUR SOUL? BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ALL DON'T GIVE A S**T OR AT LEAST ENOUGH OF A S**T TO DO SOMETHING.
YOU CONSTANTLY SAY ICE OUT OF LONG BEACH AND ICE DOES NOT BELONG IN LONG BEACH, BUT WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY DOING TO GET THEM THE F**K OFF OF OUR STREETS? YOU SIT UP THERE WITH A SMUG LOOK ON YOUR FACE AND YOU'RE CONDESCENDING, AN APATHETIC, ABOLISH ICE STATEMENT THAT REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE A MOCKERY AT THIS POINT.
SO WITH ALL OF THIS BEING SAID, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AND PUT PRESSURE AND HOLD ALL OF YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR COMPLICITY WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING HERE, INCLUDING LONG BEACH PDS, COOPERATION, COOPERATION, AND PROTECTION OF ICE HERE IN OUR STREETS.
I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT I'LL DEFINITELY BE BACK.
AND SO FOR NOW, F**K ICE AND DO MORE.
WAIT, WAS THERE SOMETHING NAMES THAT YOU, YOU'RE UP.
HOW WAS THAT? YEAH, WE DIDN'T HEAR YOU BRO.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TOT I'M SURE YOU GUYS KNOW THAT ACRONYM, BUT IT STANDS FOR THE TRANSIENT OCCUPATION, OOC OCCUPANCY TAX.
RIGHT? IT'S THE TAX THAT HOTELS PAY.
SO HERE IS THE, UM, THE RESEARCH THAT I WAS ABLE TO FIND.
SO IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IT'S 13%, 7% GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND, 6% GOES TO A SPECIAL ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS FUND.
HOPEFULLY THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE JUST HEARING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, BUT, UH, I HEARD THAT THERE'S FOUR HOTELS, RIGHT? OBVIOUSLY, UM, PEOPLE THAT STAY THERE PAY THE TOT AND THEN THE TOT MAKES ITS WAY INTO THOSE TWO BUCKETS.
UM, HOWEVER, THIS IS WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE.
IT SAYS THAT, UH, UM, CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS MAY BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING TOT.
SO I HOPE THAT WE HAVE NOT ELECTED TO EXEMPT ANY ICE OFFICER
[03:50:01]
FROM PAYING TOT TAX 'CAUSE THAT WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE, RIGHT? SO I'D URGE YOU TO LOOK INTO THAT.AND THE REASON WHY IS 'CAUSE I'M GONNA LOOK INTO THAT, RIGHT? THIS IS ALL PUBLIC INFORMATION AND IF I FIND OUT THAT YOU ACTIVELY KNEW THAT THESE GOVERNMENT, THAT THIS GOVERNMENT ENTITY KNOWN AS ICE IS NOT PAYING THAT TAX, AND SOMEONE HERE ACTIVELY SIGNED THE FORM THAT GAVE THEM PERMISSION NOT TO PAY THE TAX, I WILL BE HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO THE EXTENT OF TERMINATION FROM YOUR POST.
THE OTHER THING IS, SO MY, UM, VIDEO JUST PUT HIS TIME.
SO EVERYBODY THOUGHT THAT I WAS GONNA BE HUNG AS A TREASONOUS, RIGHT? THAT I HAD VIOLATED THREE PENAL CODES WHEN THE REALITY IS THAT I'VE GOT A GREAT DEFENSE TEAM.
I HAD ALREADY PREPARED WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY AND I WAS VERY STRATEGIC OF WHAT I SAID.
NOW THE VIDEO HAS GOT NOW ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION VIEWS.
STRATEGICALLY, IT HAS NOT BEEN AIRED ON A, B, C OR CBS.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THAT'S MEANT TO BIAS MORE TIME.
THE REASON WHY ICE HAS NOT KIDNAPPED ANYONE FURTHER IS BECAUSE OF THAT VIDEO.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND.
THANKFULLY, A COMMANDER WITH THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT REACHED OUT AWESOME.
AND SO DID A SPECIAL AGENT FROM THE FBI LONG BEACH DIVISION.
SO YEAH, EVERYBODY KNOWS ICE IS IN TOWN, BUT THEY AIN'T DOING S**T BECAUSE I SCARED THE F**K OUT OF THEM.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS LOURDES, WHEN IS THE GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR REX.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR REX AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LOURDES DIXON LAQUA WAY, PURPLE LANDING PARKING LOT OR LAQUA, THE PACIFIC ALFREDO'S BEACH SHORELINE DRIVE.
I AM HERE TO ASK IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A RESPONSE TO THE TOPIC ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THE SNOW CONE VENDORS WHO CONTINUE INVADING THE AREA OF AQUARIUM WAY PIER PORT LANDING PARKING LOT.
UH, IT'S BEHIND THE AQUARIUM, UH, ALFREDO'S BEACH SHORELINE DRIVE, JUST TO NAME A FEW PARKING ENFORCEMENT QUESTION.
HOW DO THESE VENDORS CONTINUE WORKING WITHOUT PERMITS, WITHOUT INSPECTIONS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT? THE WORST IS THAT THEY DON'T RESPECT THE PARKING RULES OR POLICE OR PARKING ENFORCEMENT.
THEY PARK ON THE RED OR WHITE AREAS OR THE ENTRANCE TO THE AQUARIUM, PARKING UHHUH ANY TIME.
AND THE SIGN SAYS NO PARKING OR NO STOPPING ANY TIME.
I YEAH, THERE'S ALWAYS TWO BLOCKING, BLOCKING THE WHOLE ENTRANCE.
THEY HAVE CONTROL OVER THESE AREAS OR CERTAIN POINTS ON THE BEACH TO SELL.
MR. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE DO ME A FAVOR TO GIVE, GIVE ME AN APPOINTMENT.
MS. MS. SAND HAS MY NUMBER, UM, UH, MR. UM, SDO AND ALSO MR. SDO WHO'S IN PERMITS AND LICENSING.
I HAVE A LOT TO TELL YOU ALL, UH, CERTAIN POINTS OF VIEW.
[03:55:03]
AND THE OTHER ISSUE OF THE PUBLIC BATHROOMS, WHICH ARE IN THE AQUARIUM AREA.SPECIFIC OR THE SPECIFICALLY THE ONES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF THE, UM, IN FRONT OF BABA GUM OR NEXT TO ME.
EVERYTHING IS THE SAME ONE SECTION.
THE BATHROOMS ARE STILL CLOSED.
THERE'S ONLY TWO OR THREE HOMELESS.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONES THERE ARE OTHER HOMELESS.
OR OTHER UNHOUSED PEOPLE SLEEPING.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
TOGETHER WE'LL FIND SOLUTIONS.
I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR OVER A YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS, HOPING TO FIND A SOLUTION.
THAT CONCLUDES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL GO TO CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
COUNCIL MEMBERS, NO ANNOUNCEMENTS.'CAUSE WE CAN ADJOURN THIS THING.
COUNCIL MEMBER KERR SIGNED UP FIRST.
I SAW JOANIE'S NAME SOMEWHERE.
I GOT THRASHING TOOK, I GOT ZENDAY HAS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO THE MONTHLY BIRDWALK, THOSE, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE BIRDERS, STARTING AT 8:00 AM THIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH AT RANCHO CERRITOS.
IT WILL OPEN EARLY WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY A 90 MINUTE GUIDED WALK WITH STAFF TO ANSWER BIRD NATURE RELATED QUESTIONS.
NOVICE BIRDERS ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE AND ENCOURAGED TO BRING BINOCULARS.
ALSO, UM, RANCHO CERRITOS OPEN THEIR NEWEST, NEWEST EXHIBIT, SEEDS OF RESILIENCE, BARRIO AMERICANO, UM, THIS PAST WEEKEND.
IT'S A BE IT'S A WONDERFUL EXHIBIT.
I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VISIT.
YOU CAN START THIS WEEK, WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH THROUGH 15TH, FROM ONE TO FIVE 30, OR ONE TO 5:00 PM YOU CAN FIND MORE INFO@RANCHOLOSCERRITOS.ORG.
ALSO, CONSIDER STOPPING BY FARM LOT 59 FOR THEIR SPRING OPENING THIS YEAR ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH AT 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AND YOU CAN GET A FEW OR WHOLE BOUQUETS OF FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN FLOWERS TO SUPPORT FOOD INSECURE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS.
UM, AND THE HANGAR HAS SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.
THEY HAVE THEIR FRIDAY NIGHT MARKET, UH, FRIDAY FROM FIVE TO 9:00 PM IT'S A VALENTINE'S DAY THEME.
AND THEN ON SUNDAY, THEY'RE HOSTING A LUNAR NEW YEAR EVENT FROM TWO TO 5:00 PM.
UM, AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PET, THEN YOU CAN COME TO PARKVIEW VILLAGE FOR THEIR RESCUE ME VALENTINE'S PET ADOPTION EVENT.
UH, THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH FROM 11 TO THREE.
AND I HOPE TO SEE Y'ALL OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH AND TOOK.
WELL, THIS TIME OF YEAR ALWAYS BRINGS AN INCREASE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITY.
AND I WANNA BEGIN BY HIGHLIGHTING OUR QUEEN MARY NIGHT FOR DISTRICT EIGHT.
UH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENING THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER RESIDENTS FROM ACROSS NORTH LONG BEACH TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOST ICONIC LANDMARKS.
FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO STEP ABOARD, LEARN ABOUT THE SHIP'S RICH HISTORY, EXPLORED SPACES, AND SPEND MEANINGFUL TIME TOGETHER IN A SETTING THAT REFLECTS OUR SHARED SENSE OF PLACE AND PRIDE IN LONG BEACH.
I WANNA SINCERELY THANK EVERYONE WHO JOINED US AT THE QUEEN MARY AND THE QUEEN MARY TEAM, UH, FOR CONTINUING TO OPEN YOUR DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOST SUCH EVENTS.
I KNOW IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, WE BROUGHT HOME THE REPLICA OF THE QUEEN MARY THAT, UH, OUR LITTLE ONE IS PUTTING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW THAT I HOPE TO DISPLAY IN MY OFFICE SOME TIME LATER THIS YEAR.
LOOKING AHEAD THIS WEEK, I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS LEADERS TO ATTEND THE COMMANDER SAFETY FORUM, HOSTED BY COMMANDER ISAIAH HUGHES ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH, FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM THIS FORUM PROVIDES A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE NORTH DIVISION LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHARE INSIGHT, ASK QUESTIONS, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S UNDERWAY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE FORM WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE NORTH PATROL STATION, LOCATED AT 48 91 ATLANTIC AVENUE ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH, KICKOFF VALENTINE'S DAY AT THE REGULAR, UH, RIDGEWOOD TR TRIANGLE ASSOCIATION CLEANUP.
FROM EIGHT 30 TO NINE 30, I INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN US FOR A MORNING DEDICATED TO CARING FOR OUR STREETS AND PUBLIC SPACES.
THE MEETUP POINT WILL BE 4 5 5 5 ORANGE AVENUE.
[04:00:01]
CONTINUE TO KEEP MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS CLEAN AND WELCOMING.SO BEFORE THE MONTH ENDS, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE THAT I'LL BE HOSTING MY FIRST DATE OF THE DISTRICT ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM I'M ALSO PROUD TO SHARE THAT WE WILL BE, UH, OPENING OUR NEW FIELD OFFICE AND THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE THERE.
IT'LL BE 56 59 ATLANTIC AVENUE.
UM, THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF GREAT MOMENTUM.
WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO COLLABORATE AND NOW WE GET TO CELEBRATE ALL OF THE PROGRESS ACROSS DISTRICT EIGHT.
AT THIS EVENT, WE'LL REFLECT ON WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER AND SHARE A CLEAR VISION FOR WHERE WE'RE HEADED NEXT, MORE INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND FEEL FREE TO CALL OUR OFFICE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, SPEND THE TIME WITH LOVED ONES.
AND THIS HOLIDAY IS A REMINDER TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO A NEIGHBOR OR TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND CARE FOR US EVERY DAY.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE CONNECTION AND GRATITUDE.
AND WHOEVER'S RUNNING THE RIDGEWOOD TRIANGLE SOCIAL MEDIA'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
ALL RIGHT, UM, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS.
UM, WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH, YES.
ON VALENTINE'S DAY, WE WILL BE HAVING BLACK HISTORY MONTH RESOURCE FAIR ON THE PROMENADE IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH.
WHY ARE YOU HOSTING VALENTINE'S BLACK HISTORY ON VALENTINE? YOU'RE MAKING ME CHOOSE BETWEEN MY BLACKNESS AND, AND MY LOVE AT THE SAME TIME.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S MY IDEAL DATE GOING TO THE PRO.
IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, THAT RESTAURANT, THE PRIME NIGHT IS PRETTY COOL WHEN PROVENCIO.
YOU KNOW, I GET A LITTLE OUS AT NIGHT.
UM, UH, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO START OUT BY THANKING EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED MY 2026 STATE OF THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING MY LOVELY, UH, UH, NORTH LONG BEACH COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN THRESH INUK.
UH, WE HAD A FANTASTIC TURNOUT AND A STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OPPORTUNITY, PARKS, RECREATION, MARINE AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS FOR JOINING ME AND SHARING IMPORTANT UPDATES WITH RESIDENTS ABOUT ONGOING WORK IN DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UM, PROUDLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE, UH, WITH EVERYONE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AGAIN, THIS MONTH IS AN, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HONOR HISTORY, RESILIENCE, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK COMMUNITIES, PAST AND PRESENT, AND TO RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO ATTEND THE COMMANDER'S FORUM.
UM, SO I'LL REITERATE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN THRESH TOOKS, UM, REMARKS AROUND, UH, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THE COMMANDER'S FORUM WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM UM, AND THEN LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO JOIN US FOR, UM, THE NEXT COFFEE WITH A COP, WHICH WILL BE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH AT 10:00 AM.
UH, STOP BY TO SPEAK WITH AND CONNECT WITH OFFICERS FROM THE NORTH DIVISION IN AN INFORMAL SETTING.
THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN FRONT OF STARBUCKS AT 6 9 5 EAST ARTESIA BOULEVARD, UM, UM, AND 9 0 8 0 5.
UH, AGAIN, THAT IS THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH AT 10:00 AM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7, OR DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV.
[ADJOURNMENT]
MUCH EVERYONE.HAVE A GREAT VALENTINE'S DAY AND WELL, PRESIDENT'S DAY, I THINK TOO.