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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/04/26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments MeetingDate AgendaItem Name Comment Position 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Kathy Cappos Hardy I dont disrespect law enforcement. In fact, I have family members who have and currently serve as law enforcement officers. What I do disrespect is the movement towards the militarization of policing. Is Chula Vista now an autocratic, anti- democratic city? Do we need police officers strolling our streets with assault rifles and other military tactical gear? Do we need police officers in our community who resemble those that killed Breonna Taylor and George Floyd? This style further alienates community members who dont trust law enforcement. What happened to the idea of community policing where partnerships are formed and problem solving is used as opposed to aggressive, off-putting stances? As a life- long Chula Vistan, I dont want my tax dollars supporting a style of policing resembling something youd find in North Korea, China, or Russia. Military equipment doesnt solve problems - people do! Forming partnerships with community stakeholders has my vote! Oppose 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Elisa Hedrick As a Chula Vista resident, I strongly oppose any steps toward the militarization of police. Our community needs partnerships with police, not military-grade weapons. Oppose 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Margaret Baker As a long-time resident of Chula Vista, I have seen how over- policing, militarization, and surveillance have a disproportionate impact in our border town, especially on certain members of our community. For years the City has been quietly approving purchases of military equipment on the Council consent calendar, and accepting private donations, without much public scrutiny or oversight. This militarization of our police is the antithesis to our citys purported values and designation as a certified Welcoming City. This practice must STOP. Regulating police acquisition of military equipment is critical because, as studies show, the militarization of police departments leads to increased civilian deaths, and militarized policing teams are more often deployed in communities of color. We have a new Technology & Privacy Task Force that needs to conduct its research and community outreach BEFORE ANY CVPD surveillance policies are codified! Also, under AB 481, City Council has 180 days to vet and revise the policies and should not rubber stamp these so-called "tools" that bring harm, induce fear & waste our tax dollars. Do not approve the policy without an expanded period of robust public vetting of the policy. Oppose 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Z. Williams Without whisper of accountability, the police department has earned Chula Vista a reputation as one of the most surveilled cities with administrators who are complicit in the violation of the bodies and civil rights of those with the misfortune of encountering police. In the spirit of improvement, resist approving purchase and use of military equipment to further violate any remaining privacy. Oppose 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Dr. Norell Martínez n I challenge the CVPDs claims that this military equipment is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety. Studies show that Police militarization fails to keep officers safe. This equipment is most often deployed against people of color, poor people and politically active communities. I know a person who is now permanently disabled because a police officer used one of these "non-lethal" weapons against her at a peaceful protest. We should no longer allow the PD free rein with our Citys coffers to build up this arsenal of so-called tools that are used against our community. We need to scrutinize each type of equipment for its use and impact. Until the City holds the police accountable, we will continue to see our city in the headlines as the most surveilled city and complicit in violating civil rights by using so-called less lethal weapons to fire on peaceful protesters. Do not approve this policy as written! Use this funding instead to uphold goodness in the world: house the homeless, open mental health clinics, build community centers! Oppose 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Adriana Jasso Dear Chula Vista City Council, I am writing to express my opposition for the Chula Vista Police Department to acquire additional military equipment. The Chula Vista Police Department and the City Council both have a lot of explaining to do to the larger community on the use of technology and data sharing with federal agencies. The idea that a Department that refuses to be fully transparent and accountable to ALL members of our community seeks out additional military equipment should make this City Council ask what protocols and mechanisms will be in place to authorize the use of such equipment? The City Council should stand in opposition to this acquisition and develop proper methods and protocols that include community input. Oppose 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Monica Hernandez "As a long-time resident of San Diego's South Bay region I have experienced how over-policing, militarization, and surveillance have a disproportionate impact in our border town, especially on certain members of our community. For years the City has been quietly approving purchases of military equipment on the Council consent calendar, and accepting private donations, without much public scrutiny or oversight. This militarization of our police is the antithesis to our citys purported values and designation as a certified Welcoming City. This practice must STOP. Regulating police acquisition of military equipment is critical because, as studies show, the militarization of police departments leads to increased civilian deaths, and militarized policing teams are more often deployed in communities of color. Oppose 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Pedro Rios On behalf of the American Friends Service Committee's US- Mexico Border Program, I would like to relay the following: CVPDs claims that this military equipment is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety is a false argument. Studies show that police militarization fails to keep officers safe or prevent violence or harm in communities. We should no longer allow the PD free rein with our Citys coffers to build up this arsenal of so-called tools that are used against our community. We need to scrutinize each type of equipment for its use and impact. Until the City holds the police accountable, we will continue to see our city in the headlines as the most surveilled city and complicit in violating civil rights by using so-called less lethal weapons to fire on peaceful protesters. CVPD should include patrol rifles in the military equipment policy, and the Council should send the policy back to staff to remedy this omission. Council members can also ask the Department why it is an outlier in San Diego County and the state in excluding assault rifles from its military equipment policy. Do not approve this policy as wriƩen. Oppose 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy John Lindsay- Poland AB 481 requires every police department to publish use policies for military equipment they possess, but CVPD is an outlier in San Diego County and across the state in excluding the assault rifles it possesses from the policy before you tonight. I direct a project of American Friends Service Committee that has studied military equipment owned by California law enforcement agencies. CVPD's policy manual clearly indicates that the Department issues patrol rifles which are assault rifles under California law, cited in AB 481 as a type of military equipment. The only potential justification for excluding assault rifles under AB 481 is if the Department has classified them as standard issue service weapons. Only two other police departments in the state have done this. Of 70 police departments whose policies we reviewed, only 2 others that own patrol rifles exclude them from their military equipment policies. Nearly all police departments include patrol rifles in their policies, including San Diego, National City, Carlsbad, Coronado, Escondido, Oceanside, as well as San Diego County Sheriffs Office. The two cities whose departments excluded the rifles have not yet adopted their policies. The Santa Cruz police chief recognized that issuing assault rifles as standard issue does not reflect a greater public safety need. Council members should ask the Department why it is an Oppose 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy KRISTOPHER T HENDRICKS I am writing as a long time Chula Vista resident and home owner, and I STRONGLY oppose any further transfer of existing or funding to purchase new military equipment. The CVPD is an oppressive, aggressive force that surveilles and over polices all working class people in Chula Vista but especially PoC. The militarization of our police forces must STOP now. Any member of this council that supports this will never get my vote. Do the right thing Oppose 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Sophia Rodriguez One 2011 Lenco Bearcat G2 is going to cost the city of Chula Vista $315,518.65? And another custom built vehicle is going to cost the city $406,286.24?? If building public trust is so important to the Police Department, then why is there this continued effort to use taxpayer funds to militarize itself? This is unacceptable - City Council needs to vote "No". Oppose 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Lynn DeHahn Chula Vista Should not consider use of military weapons for police work. In my 50 years as a citizen I have seen the city gorw and become a different place. We are selling out to developers and big money and government weaponry. Please slow down and look at the facts and the needs and wishes of our good citizens not big government and militaristic law enforcement.. Vote NO. Lynn DeHahn, District 2 Oppose 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Lilly Irani The presented report is incomplete and does not include some equipment usually followed by AB 481. Further, the militarization of our local police forces threatens our democracy and escalates violence in our communities. Military equipment should only be adopted with extreme care and selectivity for protecting lives, not taking them. Oppose 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Nancy Relaford Chula Vista Police officers deployed pepper balls and other less-lethal weapons against civilians in the cities of La Mesa and San Diego during the 2020 protests against police violence and the murder of George Floyd.These actions make Chula Vistas use of miltarized weapons a threat and legitimate concern for every resident of the county. I challenge the CVPDs claims that this military equipment is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety, and that the Departments proposed military equipment policy will safeguard the publics welfare, safety, civil rights and civil liberties. There is no place in a democratic society for police use of military weapons against civilians exercising their constitutional and civil rights. Studies show that Police militarization fails to keep officers safe or prevent violence or harm in communities. Regulating police acquisition of military equipment is critical for social and racial justice. The militarization of police departments leads to increased civilian deaths, and militarized policing teams are more often deployed in communiƟes of color. Chula Vista needs to scrutinize each type of equipment for its use and impact, and to ensure that mutual aid use is also covered by the policy. More community engagement is needed, as well as compliance with AB48 before proceeding. Do not approve this policy. Oppose 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Monica Santos I am a long-time resident of Chula Vista and I have seen how over-policing, militarization, and surveillance have a disproportionate impact in our border town, especially on certain members of our community. Practices of approving purchases of military equipment on the Council consent calendar, and accepting private donations, without enough public scrutiny or oversight. This militarization of our police is counter productive to our citys purported values and designation as a certified Welcoming City. This practice must STOP. Regulating police acquisition of military equipment is criƟcal. End these pracƟces and protect our ciƟzens. We have a new Technology & Privacy Task Force that needs to conduct its research and community outreach BEFORE ANY CVPD surveillance policies are codified! Also, under AB 481, City Council has 180 days to vet and revise the policies and should not rubber stamp these so-called "tools" that bring harm, induce fear & waste our tax dollars. Do not approve the policy without an expanded period of robust public vetting of the policy. Oppose 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Elijah Martinez- Jensen The increasing militarization of the Chula Vista Police Department is concerning as a resident whose family has been living here since the 1970s. The presence of the police and border patrol in Chula Vista county, and the further militarization of their departments that patrol specifically in (sub)urban communities that are made up of majority Chicanx, Latinx, Mexican, Mexican-American residents makes me question the motives behind the justification of these weapons of violence as well as how these instruments will be used. In these times of unrest and ambiguity, it is more important than ever for the Chula Vista Police Department to actively prevent further estranging themselves from the communities they claim to serve. Oppose 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Claudia I dont support the military nor support policing communities of color . Oppose 2022-04-26 Public Hearing Items - eComments 4/26/2022 17:00 Military Equipment Policy: Consideration of Approving the Chula Vista Police Departments Military Equipment Policy Frank Riley The City of Chula Vista Police force is a valuable resource in our community. The availability and possible use of military- style equipment endangerspublic safety rather than fostering it. Oppose 4/26/2022 17:00 Sewer Rates: Consider Increase to Sewer Rates and Resolution Adopting Sewer Rate Increases and Approving Other Sewer Rate Study Recommendations Dr. Norell Martínez I am disappointed and appalled that the City would consider raising Sewer rates considering that the people of Chula Vista are still recovering from the Covid crisis, people have lost their jobs and rent/mortgage rates are at an all time high! Not only that, inflation has made the cost of living go up while wages in most sectors have stayed the same. I urge the Council to consider that people all over are suffering economically and raising the sewer rate would be add more weight to our residents. Instead, please consider taxing the most wealthy of Chula Vistans or even better, funnel the exorbitant amount that the City spends on police and use those funds on the sewer to lower costs to our residents! Oppose