HomeMy WebLinkAboutHardy Brown comments for tonight's city council meeting - RedactedFrom:Hardy Brown
To:Public Comments (publiccomments@sbcity.org)
Subject:Hardy Brown comments for tonight"s city council meeting
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:43:42 PM
Attachments:Hardy remarks for city council 6 17 20.docx
Hardy Brown, Publisher Emeritus Black Voice News 6/7/20 Honorable Mayor, city council members and city management; I have been speaking before you for the past 18 months about the issues of discrimination and poor leadership in the city. I want to remind you that “Black Citizens Do Matter” and we pay our “Fair Share” of taxes that support every employee and department in the city. We are law biding and want you to do the right thing as elected officials, city manager and department chief and managers. The Mayor made this statement on June 1 2020. “The city of San Bernardino Seeks to be an ally in the fight against racial injustice and the dismantling of systemic racism”, I welcome that statement and is hoping he know what that means and is willing to correct what he finds. We have 114 years of systemic racism to correct in the police department beginning with the vacant management positions. It is my understanding from your website, you have promoted one Hispanic, to Captain and a Black to Lieutenant, replacing the white female assigned to the Western District Command. Since I have not received any public announcement on this, my question; is this correct? You also have some positions open in the police department and you are recruiting for a City Manager, so you have an opportunity to put some actions to your words of tackling systemic racism and discrimination in the city, I am willing to consult with you on how to dismantle institutionalized discrimination that comes from unaware staff members.
Are you going to take action to reform our city and police department, while consulting
with citizens that live in the city limits to assist in selecting a Chief and City Manager.
93% of our police officers live out side of the city while taken 63% over $80 million
($80,164,900) out of the budget. All of that money leaves the city. 71% of the other city
employees live outside the city as well. None of them pay taxes or utility tax that you
want me to pay. An economic study needs to be undertaken on the impact of this issue.
The median income of our citizens is under $40 thousand per year well below the county
and state median income.
We have a serious problem and you as elected officials must address them now.