HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5 - Written Communications Received 4/20 - BakerFrom: Margaret Baker <mbakerdrph@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 1:36 PM
To: CityClerk <CityClerk@chulavistaca.gov>
Cc: Mary Salas <MSalas@chulavistaca.gov>; John McCann <jmccann@chulavistaca.gov>; Jill Galvez
<jmgalvez@chulavistaca.gov>; Steve C. Padilla <spadilla@chulavistaca.gov>; Andrea Cardenas
<acardenas@chulavistaca.gov>
Subject: Items for today's City Council Meeting - Agenda Item #5
Good afternoon,
I would like to submit the attached letters for the City Council and general public to view as
part of the public comment process and to include these letters in the public record for today’s meeting.
Also, I wonder if there is a reason why ALL the public comments related to the City’s ALPR program were
not included in the attachments for today’s meeting, for example, the over 55 eComments and emails
that were submitted for the March 23, 2021, Council meeting. I question why all public testimony is not
being presented for our decision-makers to review and for the public to feel reassured that their
comments are being considered. This is critical for transparency.
I have several suggested changes to the process for assessing public comment regarding the ALPR
program:
1) I respectfully request that a complete review of eComments for ALL meetings dating back to
December 2020 and that all eComments relating to the ALPR program be added to the public record for
today’s meeting. There were eComments submitted under Public Comment for other meetings beside
those noted already. I also would like to know how the Clerk handles eComments that are mistakenly
submitted under the wrong agenda item. I hope that those comments are not lost to public view just
because a person enters the wrong agenda item (which is very easy to do since the alignment on our
computer screens can be misleading.)
2) I would like to request that the “Overall Sentiment" pie charts that display the “sentiments” for
comments feature be deleted/eliminated since the data upon which the pie charts are created are
incomplete. These summary pie charts are misleading and should NOT be used. They do not include
emails, eComments submitted mistakenly under a different agenda item, and eComments for which the
“bubble” is either not completed or was completed mistakenly - which is evident is several cases if the
content of the eComments is read. Once the eComment is submitted there is no way for the “bubble” to
be corrected and the mistakes are quite common - most often because people do not know that this is
the primary way their comments are being assessed. At minimum there should be a way to change a
mistaken click.
3) I would also request that there be a “content analysis” of the public comments - which would yield
substantive and useful information that seems to me should be the basis for any decision-making by our
elected officials. As we are well-aware, the pandemic closures of meetings and offices, has greatly
reduced options for members of the public to access meetings, engage in dialogue with elected officials,
and engage in important dialogue that is necessary among and between community members.
Warning:
External
Email
Item 5 - Written Communications - Baker
Please consider making the changes I am suggesting in the interest of opening up public discourse in
general and, specifically with regard to the ALPR issue, affirming the voices of those who have been
attempting to express their views using the City’s electronic comment portal.
Thank you very much.
Margaret A. Baker, DrPH
619-840-0463
Item 5 - Written Communications - Baker
December 18, 2020
Dear Mayor Salas, (cc: Council members, Police Chief)
During the December 8th City Council meeting, you requested that city staff prepare a
comprehensive report providing details about the Vigilant Solutions data-sharing program. The
report is to be presented to the Council in early January 2021, a timeline that we feel is
inadequate for Chula Vista residents and organizations to provide input.
The undersigned local residents and organizations write to request that City Council’s
deliberation and decisions regarding the City’s contract with Vigilant Solutions be
postponed until there is sufficient time for broad public review and community engagement. We
appreciate your quick action to call for a comprehensive report. We also share the value of
community engagement which stands at the core of the “Welcoming City” model and expect
Chula Vista to meet a high standard of transparency and open governance.
Recent reporting in the Union-Tribune raised serious concerns about lack of
transparency and oversight of this surveillance program. The report additionally raises larger
issues regarding trust and safety that affect all members of our community. The Council
should not rush to a vote on this issue. To do so results in mistrust of local law enforcement,
misunderstanding of the decisions being made by Council, and missed opportunities to hear the
voices of those you serve. Instead we are calling for ample time and avenues for community
engagement in this deliberation.
Throughout the duration of this pandemic, government offices and meeting rooms have been
closed off to community members, leaving Chula Vista residents with limited access to
information and opportunities to voice concerns. We feel our voices have been muted. We want
our comments to be HEARD – not just tabulated by the City Clerk in what feels dismissive of the
time and effort it has taken for us to be informed, formulate cogent responses, and respond in
the 1500 character-limit allotted in an eComment. It is particularly difficult for non-English
speakers, people without computer access, and people who wish to do business in person as
we did prior to the pandemic to stay informed and participate meaningfully in these essential
discussions.
We realize COVID restrictions put a strain on the functioning of city government. While we are
frustrated, we feel there are some important actions you can take.
Specifically, we request the following action:
• Extend time to review the report. The general public needs time to access and
digest the report prior to the meeting at which the issues are discussed and
decisions might be made. The usual timeline of online posting by noon on the
Thursday prior to the meeting does not allow residents, community
organizations, service providers, clients or other impacted groups in our
Item 5 - Written Communications - Baker
community, especially non-English proficient members of our community,
enough time to process and respond. We believe two weeks after release of the report
would provide community members time for thoughtful review.
• Host a series of virtual “community listening sessions,” open for the public to
engage in dialogue with Police Chief Kennedy and Council members, in
each of the council districts. We ask the City host a series of
“Community Listening Sessions” adapted for a Zoom-type virtual
forum. Community Listening Sessions have been used successfully by the San Diego
Police Department. The current online system for providing public comments is
unsatisfactory. One-way eComments do not allow city officials or the general public to
physically hear comments during City Council meetings nor are eComments accessible
in the audio-video record available after the meetings. The public needs an audible voice
during the Council deliberations. With office closures and limited access to our elected
officials, it is necessary to expand opportunities for concerned constituents to meet and
discuss issues outside of Council meetings. As such, Community Listening Sessions are
the perfect opportunity to expand meaningful community participation.
In summary, we ask for your help to ensure inclusion of community voices in
any decisions regarding the Automated License Plate Reader program. During the
pandemic we do not want the shutdown of city office spaces and the limitations on
formats for public comment to shut us out of the governance process.
We value your partnership in serving the community and hope to hear from you at
your earliest convenience.
Sincerely yours,
Local Residents and Businesses
Alicia Riley, PhD, MA, MPH, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Allison Estrada, MD, Resident of Chula Vista District 3 (Padilla)
Ana K. Ortiz, MD, MPH, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Becky Thimm, Resident of Chula Vista District 1 (McCann)
Brenda Arnold, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Carolyn Scofield, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Cayce Smith, MD, San Diego City Council District 2
Connie Mack, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
David Harris, Resident of San Diego District 4
Garcia Law Firm, Chula Vista business in District 4 (Cardenas)
Kathy Cappos-Hardy, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Kate Bishop, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Lois Klepin, Resident of Chula Vista District 4 (Cardenas)
Luz Maria Lopez, Resident of Chula Vista District 1 (McCann)
Lynn DeHahn, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Item 5 - Written Communications - Baker
Margaret Baker, DrPH, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Monica Santos, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Meena Kaypour (USD student and concerned San Diego resident)
Nick Paul, Resident of Chula Vista District 3 (Padilla)
Patti Huffman, Resident of Chula Vista District 2 (Galvez)
Pedro Rios, Resident of Chula Vista District 4 (Cardenas)
Ricardo Medina, Resident of District 2 (Galvez), Member of the Human Relations Commission
Organization Signatories
Advancing Students Forward
Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment San Diego
Alliance San Diego
American Friends Service Committee – San Diego
Asian Solidarity Collective
Border Angels
Borderlands for Equity
Change Begins With Me (Indivisible)
Espacio Migrante
Indivisible San Diego Persist
Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans
Pillars of the Community
Rise Up San Diego
San Diego Border Dreamers
San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium
Social Justice Ministry Team of First Unitarian Universalist Church (Chula Vista & San Diego)
South Bay People Power
Tech Worker Coalition San Diego
TRUST SD Coalition
UURISE - Unitarian Universalist Refugee & Immigrant Services & Education
We The People SD
Item 5 - Written Communications - Baker