HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-20-2021_Open Session_General Public Comments_Brown, Hardy_any links sanitizedHardy Brown
1/20/21
909-384-5208 for recording message by 4PM, you have 3 minute s.
I hope all of you had happy holidays that were filled with all of your prayers and
wishes were met. And my congratulations to this new leadership sitting on the
council to address the people needs. I might add it also a new day in Washington
with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Having said that we still have some unfinished business that you need to address.
You still have an Executive Police Staff that is comprised of five males that do not
reflect the demographics of the city. I noticed on the police department webpage it
list McBride as Chief and Green as Assistant Chief but it did not say when that
happened. I did seek clarification from the city manager and he said they are still
interim in those positions.
I am suggesting you evaluate Reforming the Public Safety Commission and give it
more responsibility and authority.
I am also suggesting that you review the police department in these areas; diversity
of staff, staffing patterns in the community, police pay as related to other Inland
Empire Police Departments, comparison of crime rates as related to the salaries that
we pay them. I read an article that our city has the highest crime rate in California.
To me it say’s something is wrong and you the council need to fix it.
In my opinion we cannot have good economic development until we correct this
negative image with high crime, employee lawsuits against one another and no
employment for Blacks and a promotional system that is not inclusive of Blacks. Add
to that a Pay to Play system for political candidates.
We have a new city manager and a new council in a new year that is ripe
for change from the horrible year that has laid open racism in our
society with COVID 19 and the police killing of George Floyd. This year
we saw how abuse of power and corruption in the Republican Party led
to an attempted overthrow of our government.
There is hope still for us, if you, as policy makers and management staff
decide to be inclusive and just in your decision making with
employment and granting contracts to all citizens.
Thank you.