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Good afternoon, everyone.

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This is Council Member Dustin Hillis. I'm Chair of the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee.

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Thank you for joining us this afternoon for our committee meeting.

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I've been joined by, to my right, Council Member and our Vice-Chair, Byron Amos.

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To my immediate left, Council Member Norwood, followed by Council Member Boone.

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And as for constitutive quorum, I will make a motion to approve the agenda.

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Is there a second? Second by Council Member Amos. Please prepare the vote.

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The vote is open.

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Please vote.

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Vote is closed.

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Four yeas, zero nays. The adoption and agenda has been approved. I will make a motion to

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approve the meetings of the prior meetings. Is there a second? Second by Council Member

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Norwood. Please prepare the vote. The vote is open.

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The vote is closed.

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Four yeas, zero nays, the minutes have been approved.

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Before we move to public comment, we do have a communication that we have to take first to be respectful of someone's time,

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and that is item 22c5135, item number 100 communications, if you could read that.

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A communication from Pierre Gaither, Executive Director of the Atlanta Board of Education,

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submitting the appointment of Chief Ronald Applin to serve as a member of the Public Safety Commission.

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Chief Applin, come to the podium and tell us a little bit about yourself and your willingness to serve.

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Good afternoon. I am Ronald Applin, the Chief of Police for Atlanta Public Schools.

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I was born and raised in Atlanta. I grew up in Southwest Atlanta.

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I went to school in Atlanta.

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I went to Charles Lincoln Harper High School.

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I graduated from there.

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I attended Mercer University.

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I got my bachelor's degree.

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I attended Troy University,

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which had a campus here in Atlanta.

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I got my master's degree.

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Started on my PhD in criminal justice.

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Got to dissertation and I got this job.

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Didn't get a chance to finish it,

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but we'll get back to that.

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I've been in law enforcement since 1989.

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I worked for the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.

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served in several capacities there.

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My last position before I retired was the commander of the law enforcement division.

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I left there. I spent a little time stayed in law enforcement doing a lot of things with instructing and teaching.

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I got started with this position in 2016 and I've been there ever since then.

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It's been the best job I've had in the 32 years in law enforcement.

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Thank you, Chief. I'll make a motion to approve. Is there a second? Second by Councilmember Boone. Please prepare the vote.

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The vote is open.

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The vote is closed.

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4-Yay, 0-Nays. The item is favorable. Thank you, Chief. This will move on to the Committee on Council and then the Full Council, but you do not need to reappear.

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You will hear from our Municipal Clerk's office once this is confirmed.

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Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

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This time we have been joined by our Mayor, Honorable Andre Dickens and would like to speak to the committee.

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Mayor Dickens, welcome.

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Good afternoon. Thank you, Council Member Hillers. Thank you, members of the City Council and the one or two people that applauded.

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Thank you for this opportunity to speak directly to the City Council and directly to the Public Safety Committee.

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I am here because I take public safety very seriously.

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Rather than do a press conference to talk about public safety and talk about all things, I decided to talk to my colleagues, talk directly to you and also talk directly with the public in this process.

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As you know, for years I sat beside you all right here in this seat, so I understand the challenges and dilemmas and the options that you weigh each and every day

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as you go about doing the great work of a city council person of this city.

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And I wanted to just share with you a lot of what's all happening,

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and then later, of course, during your committee meeting,

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Deputy Chief Peake will give you your briefing that he does every two weeks

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along with Chief Interim Chief Sheerbaum.

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So thus far, we have hired over 100 police officers this year

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and 155 of those, 155 individuals are in training right now towards our 250 gold.

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The homicide clearance rate in the city of Atlanta is 64%.

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The national average is 54%.

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And this weekend, we had a number of incidents that we want to talk directly about.

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All summer, we've had a good summer.

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A good summer at our parks.

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parks. It was a safe place to be. We opened all 12 swimming pools and made them free for

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the whole summer. We've had events after events after events. We've had midnight basketball.

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We've had police athletic league at Promise. We had a lot going on in our parks. But this

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week, as Councilmember Boone knows, last week on Tuesday, a murder happened in Wilson

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a mill park, the park that we shared as the kids growing up, and then yesterday at Dumb

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Bar we had essentially a mass shooting where six individuals were shot, two are now deceased

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and that happened at a city park on a Sunday. That is alarming and disturbing. We have hosted

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several large scale events in our city parks without incident and we know a lot of

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our parks are being used daily for a number of great activities day and night and we have

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world class parks and we have a new commissioner of parks and recreation that has taken us

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to even higher heights. We've installed cameras in the parks and we've tied those

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cameras to our real time crime fighting center so that we get on time updates. We

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We also are allocating today.

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You all will see and comment and vote on legislation to allocate $750,000 for post-certified officers

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to work in our city parks.

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So this is on top of our summer safety plan where we had officers in our parks.

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We are now adding that to, that was just an implementation by the administration,

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But this is now putting $750,000 towards post-certified individuals to work in our parks to further keep our parks safe

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because we want those to be safe havens and active places for community.

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So just go through the data, the numbers.

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In 2021, we had 57 part one crimes by this time.

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Now we've had 49 at parks and that's a 14% reduction year-to-date in crimes at parks.

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And I wanted to now go down the path of talking about youth, which is very near and dear to

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my heart and a very important part of all of our activity sets from moving Atlanta forward

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and also for public safety.

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The city's results from the summer youth engagement, the employment program, you will get those

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results as the summer is just now ending, but it's been a huge success and from programs

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like Midnight Basketball.

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But since I'm talking specifically to the Public Safety Committee, I wanted to

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just tell you what youth activities have not occurred in our city due to us making sure

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that we had them on a positive path. In 2021, last year, there were 102 youth juvenile arrests.

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This year, only 80. That's a reduction of 22 percent in youth-related crime in our

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city this year today. In 2021, just in June and July, and those are the months with

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youth are generally out of school. So in June and July last year, 34. This year, 23.

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That's a 32% reduction. We tie those things to the activities that we've done

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and with the community. The various things that we've done, like at Promise Center,

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Midnight Basketball, summer employment for the youth, and our water sales,

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that we've tried to reduce as much as possible and push them into meaningful,

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helpful activities that has resulted in this reduction in arrests and crime by youth.

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APD has seen a significant reduction in the calls for service regarding water sales in

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both the year-to-date and in the summer months.

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The reduction for this year held through August 1, there were 929 last year, 929 calls

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talking about water sales. We call them water boys, but a lot of them are adults or boys men.

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929 last year, 651 this year. That's a 35% reduction. In 2021, in just June and July, we had 327 calls for service.

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This year, 229. That's a 32.3% reduction. And that's just in June and July.

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So what we are putting in place, ladies and gentlemen, is working.

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It's working. We said that we had to have a balanced approach to crime,

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a balanced approach to public safety. We wanted to make sure that we had people

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give them opportunities, and that's what we did with the youth in this city.

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And when we do it for this city, pretty much we're doing it for the whole region.

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Because the individuals that come into our city to sell water or to do whatever,

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However, they may not be an APS student, Chief Appling.

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They are coming because the opportunity is in Atlanta.

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But what we've done together is reduce crime and arrest for those youth because of putting

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them on the right path.

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We are arresting individuals that won't comply and we are sending the youth to services

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that they need to be able to get into the proper position and we're talking to parents

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about all of the activities that we have for their youth to be on the right path.

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Today, I want to now talk squarely and straightforward about ACDC,

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the Atlanta Detention Center.

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Over the course of the last week, several members of the City Council,

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many of you took a tour of ACDC,

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and some of you have taken tours in years past,

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and then also you took tours of the Fulton County Jail this last week,

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and even some today.

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It is evident that there is a humanitarian need when you walk through that facility.

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We're not in the jailing business. That is not what Mayor Dickens wants to be in.

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I do not want to be in the jailing business. The City of Atlanta has the aforementioned things that we are focused on.

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However, when confronted with hundreds of men sleeping on the floor throughout the hallways,

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the humanitarian response to that is to do something.

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Do something immediately.

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We are not in the jailing business.

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I do not want to be in the jailing business for long.

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That is my personal constitution and that is what I'm bringing to this administration.

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But nonetheless,

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we find ourselves where we are today.

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There are severe penalties for any extension beyond the four-year extension that you see in the documentation that we provided today.

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We've baked into this ordinance, into this offer, four years and no more.

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Extreme penalties if anyone needs to stay any longer than that.

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If they want anyone to stay any longer than that, we will be out of the gelling business immediately.

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Revenue from that agreement will be used to fund our diversion and wraparound services, drug addiction, mental health, housing insecurity, homelessness, and, of course, youth services and the general administration of the facility.

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There is no question, again, that I draw circles and I don't draw lines.

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I am trying to help us serve our population, all of our population, in this region.

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Within this ACDC circle, there is a line that must be drawn, though.

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And that line is where the responsibility is for overcrowding.

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And that overcrowding is a county issue.

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It's a county issue.

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It's Fulton County's issue.

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The vision for repurposing ACDC has been set.

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I have heard from all 15 of our council members and the council president,

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and the agreement is reflective of what we all want to see.

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So the reason for 700 beds is that this is a humanitarian need.

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I came into this conversation with much less than 700 beds.

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Through conversations with you all, I got to 700 beds.

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This is because that's the need. I want it to be much less than that.

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But of course the need has pushed us to where we find ourselves with a situation where there's women,

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250, actually 300 women, more than 250 that that facility should have, 300 women on the south side,

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and now hundreds of individuals on the floor at Rice Street.

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More than 80% of the individuals at Fulton County's Rice Street facility are from Atlanta.

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The crimes occurred in the city of Atlanta.

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80% of the individuals that are at Wright Street,

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the incident happened inside of our city limits.

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So regardless of what they may or may not have done,

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they are still human beings,

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and this requires a humanitarian response.

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And our more obligation is for everyone's health

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and well-being regardless of the choices they may or may not have made.

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So now, once this is in place, should the council pass it, then we begin the process of having individuals come into ACDC at the same time we start the process of putting out an RFI, a request for your inquiries, request for individuals to companies to say, put their plans together for what the future of ACDC can be.

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imagining from the documents that we've already put together in the past,

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start putting together the process for the financing of it,

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the architecture of it, the construction of it, and the operation of it.

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That is not a tomorrow turnkey operation.

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That takes time. That takes planning.

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That takes just as much planning as it would for us to build a new city hall,

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to build a new park. It doesn't happen in a week. It takes time.

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So therefore, this RFI gives us the opportunity to gain more community input, gain more city

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council input, and to go out there and present in four years, once we cut off this process

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of having inmates at ACDC, then we turn ourselves into what the next future is, which is not

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with us in the jailing business.

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Now, I know there's, after that, there's an additional piece of legislation as a

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councilmember waits walks in this is about her legislation so it is my

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understanding that there are some additional legislation that's being

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introduced by our great councilmember that serves in the seat that I served in

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councilmember waits and what I say is we've had a great conversation about

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it and I am interested and encouraged by what she suggested however we have

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to wait have this process take place first for that process to take place

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because if we're looking for the RFI we want to make sure that we get the full

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everything that we can having her input in it your input in it all of the

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things that we want for the go-forward plan for ACDC takes that into

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consideration and so I think her legislation is a smart piece of

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legislation I think that this comes first then that therefore you have

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the steps in the right order that we carry ourselves forward now moving

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Moving on, there are too many illegal guns on our streets.

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You know there are too many illegal guns when some individuals, well, everybody's talking

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about how many illegal guns there are.

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An overwhelming majority of homicides in Atlanta are linked to gangs, drugs, and the

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use of illegally held firearms.

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crimes. The vast majority of the perpetrators are repeat offenders. And so that's why we

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stood up the repeat offender tracking unit. So let's talk about crime in general in the

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city of Atlanta. Because when you read the news, when you watch the news, read the news

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and get your social media, you would think that everything is on fire. We are down

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in every category over the last 28-day period.

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We have had a three-week decline in crime.

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The One Safe City Plan is a whole-of-government

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approach to public safety in Atlanta.

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And we just launched a new website, OneSafeCity.com.

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So everyone listening can stay up-to-date on what we're doing to keep Atlanta safe,

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and the results of our efforts are on that website so far.

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OneSafeCity.com. So my message to the residents of Atlanta and the visitors is clear. Our city

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is open for business and enjoyment. You and your families are safe in Atlanta and we are

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working across our government and our communities to invest in our policing and non-policing

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initiatives to protect and promote the quality of life in our city. I also have a clear

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message for those who want to perpetrate a crime in our city. If you pull a gun in this

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town, you are going to jail.

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We got a 64% clearance rate in our city.

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I'm really, really hopeful, and it's better than the national average, but it's my hope it gets even higher.

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You pull a gun in this town, you go to jail.

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If you're a gang leader, you will be caught and you will be held accountable.

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And finally, if you're carrying an illegal firearm, you will face the consequences.

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So far this year, we've seized thousands of illegal firearms already this year.

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And that continues. We find them over and over and over again.

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And those are the same guns that are used in robberies, burglaries, shootings, aggravated assaults, and also homicides.

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us. So we know who our adversary is. It's gangs, it's guns, it's illegal firearms, and

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it's repeat offenders. Violent repeat offenders. When argument happens, people are choosing

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guns instead of their words to solve these problems. Anger and a gun is a bad combination

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right now, all across America. Anger and a gun has led to people killing their

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their loved ones, their family members, their friends. We even had a senior high

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rise, a senior citizen killed the least in our office agent, then went across the

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street and killed himself.

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So we have a lot of resources in this city right now.

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Our Office of Violence Reduction is at our disposal, Ms. Jack Cuell Clemens. We

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have clergy that is willing to talk to every community member, every

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non-profit organization, how we can engage on de-escalation, on conflict resolution.

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Because most of the crimes that we're seeing that are leading to homicides, a lot of them

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are the inability for people to resolve their conflicts.

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But when we talk about these other property crimes, we are talking about violent repeat

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offenders.

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So modern, effective policing, repeat offender tracking unit, the summer safety plan,

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The summer heat wave, which you guys get reports on, that we are, I mean, a whole lot of guns and a lot of drugs are being captured because of that.

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We got mounted patrols, fuses, the Connect Atlanta camera network, public safety training center, community-based policing, supporting police personnel, hiring 250 officers,

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providers, providing raises and bonuses to retain all of our public safety staff and good

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police leadership, those are the things that we've been using to reduce crime in our city.

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The non-police interventions, we have violence reduction initiatives, diversion programs,

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the nightlife division that we've stood up, and our nightlife advisory council, midnight

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basketball, the light of the night campaign. We're now at almost a halfway mark on all

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of the 10,000 cameras there are many lights that we're installing.

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The Ad Promise Centers, housing interventions like what we're doing at placing people from

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Forest Cove into safe and secure housing, summer youth employment program, our reentry

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job programs.

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And just last week I visited the ATF, the Atlanta field office for the alcohol, tobacco

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and firearms, and I met with their special agent in charge.

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We also started Atlanta Fulton County court watch.

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We've been aggressive against gangs, and we have good state and federal partnerships.

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Together, the community is empowered to help us.

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That's where the violence reduction comes from.

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The engagement with the nightlife and our Atlanta court watch.

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We've had the world's largest 10K, peace tree road race, go down without incident.

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Three days of jazz fest, 70,000 people in our city park, no issue.

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Our West Side Park, our Cook Park, these parks, all these activities are going on without

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issue.

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Restaurants and people are going places each and every day being safe.

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We are on our way to making sure we prove to everyone that we are a safe city.

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One to one and a half million people go to Linux and Phil's Plaza every single month

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and we haven't had one violent incident in 2022 at those places.

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Over and over again, where large gatherings are, we are safe.

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So what we saw yesterday was a lot of things that I wish we did not have in this city.

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But I also want to make sure when they put a microphone in your face

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and try to scare you in them believing that this is an unsafe city,

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the fortitude of a council member and the administration knows the difference.

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Now, the last couple of things I'll talk about is nuisance properties.

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Nuisance properties must be resolved.

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And those are not just bars and nightclubs.

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It could be any person at any place that this place feels unsafe.

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In fact, we're also seeing results from our nightlife, our nightlife division,

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our nightlife advisory council.

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We have held two quarterly meetings, our training days already,

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and we've had other meetings with the nightlife team,

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about three of them over the last three weeks,

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to make sure we talk about nightlife and ways to improve it.

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Communications with our nightlife leaders have gone a very long way.

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Now that we have all the right departments at the table, including police, fire, the solicitor's office, planning, watershed and others,

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we're able to address some of the bad actors much more quickly than we were just a half year ago.

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So we now know how to differentiate and how to make sure that bad actors become good actors

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or bad actors that want to stay bad actors or eliminated from being able to have the

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permission to operate in our city. It is not a right. It is a permission. That's what

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a permit is. And so the good actors can continue to operate. And so the solicitor's office

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continues to bring charges against problematic properties and either the property owners

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are kicking the tenants out and locking up their doors or we are locking their

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doors for them.

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We want to make sure that everyone have safe experiences at our restaurants, at our bars,

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at our clubs, at our gas stations, convenience stores, nuisance properties.

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It's not just nightlife.

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It's any nuisance property.

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So I'm agnostic to whatever you guys choose.

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You do two incidents in 24 months, that's your decision.

302
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We can talk about it with the committee, with the team of people at the Nightlife

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Nightlife Advisory Council. If it's four in 24 months, if it's three in 18 months, all

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of those are up for discussion. And the Nightlife Advisory Committee, they are going to meet

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on Thursday and have 100% attendance. And the Nightlife Advisory team, by the way,

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is everybody from operators like Live Nation to Blue Flame, operators as well as promoters,

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as well as lawyers, as well as individuals that are property owners, all of them

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or a part of the Nightlife Advisory Council, but again, this nuisance property legislation

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that I think that you guys have before you today that from what I can tell in that ordinance,

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you're talking about nuisance properties, not just nightlife.

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And so I came here in support of y'all making sure that you work together with the advisory

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council, the advisory team, they're going to meet on Thursday, and you guys work

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out. Two in 24, three in 18, those are the, that's where government gets to make the difference

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in how we communicate with the public and understand what's the best. But what we do want is to

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make sure that operators operate the right way and that bad actors get dealt with in

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a way that either makes them become good actors or they act as somebody else's jurisdiction

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and not ours.

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So, I'll pause there and just say thank you to my colleagues. Again, I wanted to go

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over public safety. Mr. Hillers, Chairman Hillers, you and I both have served on public safety for

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many years. When I was a city council member and I had the honor and privilege to serve as the

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chairman in 2017 and I didn't want to do a press conference or anything where I'm talking to

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folks and you're not in the room. I wanted to make sure I talked to the city council about

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all the things that's going on.

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And also, I know I have friends, neighbors, colleagues,

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and folks that, and community members that are in this room,

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and they have concerns and input on all of it.

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And my team that's behind me,

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everybody from the COO, the chief of staff,

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the senior advisor to police officials,

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to nightlife coordinators,

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to the filming and entertainment office,

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to deputy COOs, to all the above, police, fire.

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We stand here with you.

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We stand with the citizens of Atlanta and we plan to continue to get it right as you've seen those numbers go down

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We we want to continue in that path and that trajectory today. You have some pieces of legislation before you the council

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You have an awesome role to play

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My administration has voiced our support of the ones that we want to see move forward today

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And the ones that we want more time to discuss. We've shared those with you as well

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We hope you work with us on this. Thank you so much council members. I'm available for questions

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Thank You mayor Dickens anyone council member Boone also as the mayor acknowledged we have been joined by a council member waits a

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00:54:37,580 --> 00:54:39,000
member of this committee and then also

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Councilmember Antonia Lewis

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Yes, mr. Mayor. Thank you so much for your support

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during the incident at Wilson Mill Park and

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And I want to publicly thank the chief of police for coming out walking with the neighbors and talking with them.

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Within 24 hours, he was on the ground.

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Ms. Burks, Mr. Otta, thank you all also for your concern.

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And it's unfortunate that that happened in Southwest Atlanta.

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That's a very quiet park and we look forward to working with you all so that that park can return to safety again

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Thank you for your support for that community. Thank you

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00:55:25,540 --> 00:55:26,320
councilmember bone

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Councilmember whites

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Thank you, mr. Chairman

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Mr.. Mayor, thank you so much for taking the time out of your calendar to join us as you know

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We have met and discussed our concerns with respect to the jail issue and I think that

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We know where we both stand on that, but with respect to the nuisance law, I originally

357
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was a signer on this particular piece of legislation for the same reasons that you have eloquently

358
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spoke of today.

359
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And I think the headlines in the news speak to the fact that we need to do something.

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The phone calls that I have received, and I'm pretty sure most of us in the room

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have received, are with respect to properties that are located in districts that are

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or pro-development, meaning they feel that they have been somehow harassed by individuals

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who are utilizing this as a tool to put them out of business.

364
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So I'm not here to speak to whether or not that is true or not.

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But for me, that gives me pause in terms of making sure that this legislation does not

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have unintended consequences.

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So I won't be labor because I know people are waiting for public comment, but I will

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say this.

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I believe that there was a mugging in Lenox Square Mall this weekend.

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And my feeling is that when it comes to Lenox Square Mall,

371
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they're not going to be treated as a bad actor,

372
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meaning they or a business that is operating,

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and things around them happen.

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I did need the collapse,

375
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because the mayor also understands both sides of the issue.

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But this is a complex situation,

377
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and what I believe is that we need to figure out

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how we protect those small mom-and-pop business owners,

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because my feeling is that this particular tool may be weaponized

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against them and they don't have the high-powered attorneys to protect themselves and so for

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that reason, so I am a no only for that reason, but I will say to you for that reason, I also

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00:57:14,580 --> 00:57:18,520
signed on because I agree with you that we have some very serious challenges and your

383
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presence here means a lot to me today.

384
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Thank you.

385
00:57:20,980 --> 00:57:21,280
Thank you.

386
00:57:21,720 --> 00:57:28,400
Thank you, Council Member Ways for all of that because I value your input and that's

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why we meet and share ideas often and so to go to all of that.

388
00:57:34,320 --> 00:57:38,500
So specifically, it's nuisance properties, it's not just nightlife.

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In fact, our nightlife activities, since we put in place the nightlife division,

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we've gone out and done a number of assessments of properties north, south, east and west,

391
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gone to these establishments, helped them with their safety plans,

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helped them look at their lighting, their cameras, what are their de-escalation procedures?

393
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What are their procedures if a mass shooting occurs?

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Many of them have been grateful for the assistance of police and fire

395
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and knowledgeable subject matter experts coming in there

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and helping them fortify their places of business so that people can enjoy them,

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but go home safe.

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And a lot of times they're thinking about the patrons, but also their staff.

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They're thinking about how to do, you know, how to manage all of that.

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And so I'm happy with the progress of the nightlife division because we've seen a

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significant reduction in crimes that have occurred at nightlife, not with

402
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standing one or two very notable incidents that have happened, but we

403
00:58:40,660 --> 00:58:46,080
went about 45 to 60 days without one incident happening at our nightlife

404
00:58:46,080 --> 00:58:49,920
establishments. I'm proud of that. That's not meaning that we're coming to

405
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penalize that. We're coming to lock arms and partner with that.

406
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So

407
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This is the right direction.

408
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They're showing up to the training day to get training on how to work with neighborhoods

409
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because that's also part of the training is neighborhoods call and say you're too noisy.

410
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How to deal with that?

411
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Neighborhoods call and say, can you use the patio?

412
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Can you not?

413
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All those things, we're helping nightlife establishments in that regard.

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And also how to protect your property with APD or with private security.

415
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What is the right number of people for your configuration?

416
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All that is in the works to be a partner with nightlife, and that partnering has led to a reduction in crimes at nightlife establishments.

417
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I stand here saying we are on the right path.

418
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Nuisance properties are every type of property, as you mentioned.

419
00:59:41,940 --> 00:59:53,100
If Linux Mall has 50 incidents or 40 incidents or 2 and 24 months, as you would suggest, whatever you come up with as the rule, that rule is established for every operator.

420
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And so does the appeals process and the I would say the restoration process it is

421
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:04,660
Not to simply lock you up and throw away the keys, so to speak, to counsel your business.

422
01:00:05,280 --> 01:00:14,420
It is to make sure that if you are not in compliance with the rules, you have to set aside time to get into compliance with the rules.

423
01:00:14,740 --> 01:00:17,980
That could be a shutdown for X number of days that we all should discuss.

424
01:00:18,140 --> 01:00:20,660
That's the work of the council and the administration.

425
01:00:21,140 --> 01:00:24,580
Is it 30 days? Is it 10 days? Is it 45 days?

426
01:00:24,580 --> 01:00:28,980
That is the work of us to decide how long you need to sit down

427
01:00:28,980 --> 01:00:31,840
because people are dying in your facility

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01:00:31,840 --> 01:00:34,260
or people are getting shot in your facility.

429
01:00:34,460 --> 01:00:37,420
That is called decency and respect for victims.

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01:00:38,860 --> 01:00:42,480
Conversation throughout this public safety committee

431
01:00:43,120 --> 01:00:45,400
has to use the word victim every now and then.

432
01:00:46,280 --> 01:00:48,060
There is a such thing as a victim.

433
01:00:49,060 --> 01:00:51,880
And so a victim that happens twice in a month

434
01:00:51,880 --> 01:00:55,680
or twice, whatever number we come up with, they have rights. They need to see justice

435
01:00:55,680 --> 01:01:01,700
occur too. And so when we see a bad actor, whether it's Linux or not, whether it's name

436
01:01:01,700 --> 01:01:06,580
your favorite hotel that may have something going on and something happened, they have

437
01:01:06,580 --> 01:01:12,960
to come sit before a body and explain themselves and say, what is their way to get back

438
01:01:12,960 --> 01:01:19,440
on track? That's what my understanding of your legislation is, right? So with that,

439
01:01:19,440 --> 01:01:25,380
it's not to hurt mom and pops and keep the non-mom and pops going it is a

440
01:01:25,380 --> 01:01:31,120
process and so if the Chevron in District 12 continues to have shootings at

441
01:01:31,120 --> 01:01:36,920
it I don't care who owns it it's time out for that Chevron because there's a

442
01:01:36,920 --> 01:01:41,940
victim on the other end council member waits right and there are people who

443
01:01:41,940 --> 01:01:47,120
are victims because they feel unsafe going to that Chevron so you

444
01:01:47,120 --> 01:01:50,600
victimized what you got shot of you victimized because you live in a food

445
01:01:50,600 --> 01:01:53,780
desert you can't go to the Chevron because folks getting shot. I don't care if you're a

446
01:01:53,780 --> 01:01:58,340
mom-pop or a conglomerate. The truth of the matter is in our city it got to stop.

447
01:02:00,930 --> 01:02:04,190
That's how we vote. We vote on stopping things that we don't want in this

448
01:02:04,190 --> 01:02:04,370
city.

449
01:02:07,660 --> 01:02:11,940
We don't do that. Figure to which way the wind blows. We got to stop

450
01:02:12,400 --> 01:02:17,420
foolishness in our city. So if it's a Chevron that's owned by 10 or if it's

451
01:02:17,420 --> 01:02:24,660
a Chevron on by one, I don't care. If a grandma got shot there, my first month on the job

452
01:02:25,200 --> 01:02:28,940
and somebody gets shot there this month, I think the council got something to say about

453
01:02:28,940 --> 01:02:30,760
that. Or should.

454
01:02:32,820 --> 01:02:37,120
And then we got to sit them down and talk to that operator. And they

455
01:02:37,120 --> 01:02:41,540
stop for a few, how many days we come up with? That's my answer.

456
01:02:44,640 --> 01:02:45,240
Council Member Lewis.

457
01:02:48,940 --> 01:02:50,920
Thank you again, Mayor. I'm not on this

458
01:02:50,920 --> 01:02:55,200
committee, but I thought it was important to be here today just as you did, so I

459
01:02:55,200 --> 01:02:56,100
appreciate you for coming.

460
01:02:58,300 --> 01:03:00,560
Thank you for coming to speak to Council. I appreciate

461
01:03:00,560 --> 01:03:05,880
you for drawing circles. I always tell you you draw circles, but I'm a person

462
01:03:05,880 --> 01:03:10,260
who draw half circles, right? I haven't gotten there yet. I'm I haven't aged to

463
01:03:10,260 --> 01:03:14,460
the point where I draw full circles yet, right, around the lines. So you move

464
01:03:14,460 --> 01:03:17,340
in good faith and always tell people you're a deacon. I always say he's a

465
01:03:17,340 --> 01:03:19,480
So you've got to remember that portion, right?

466
01:03:20,820 --> 01:03:27,520
But when we're moving with, you have a well-developed plan to move out of the jail lease in four years.

467
01:03:28,220 --> 01:03:32,240
Last week when I met with the sheriff, his plan was not the same.

468
01:03:32,820 --> 01:03:35,960
And so I want to see the sheriff move out of the jail.

469
01:03:36,060 --> 01:03:40,200
He won't, the same way, the same kind of plan as you have to move in.

470
01:03:40,280 --> 01:03:41,360
He has a plan to ramp up.

471
01:03:41,720 --> 01:03:44,160
Like he won't just put 700 people in the jail overnight.

472
01:03:44,520 --> 01:03:45,760
He's going to get there over time.

473
01:03:45,760 --> 01:03:50,320
He won't just put all of his sheriffs in that jail overnight. He's gonna get there over time

474
01:03:50,320 --> 01:03:57,060
I want to see if it's a one-year plan to move to 700 beds. I want to see a one-year plan to move out

475
01:03:57,640 --> 01:04:00,960
I want to see that same intention up front

476
01:04:00,960 --> 01:04:04,580
And so that's why I would like more time on that jail

477
01:04:04,580 --> 01:04:09,940
Because once again, I know you move in good faith and I always make sure I say you're a deacon

478
01:04:11,400 --> 01:04:17,400
But I know I want to see the same type of intention to move into the jail to get to 700.

479
01:04:17,720 --> 01:04:20,620
I want to see him move down to zero in the same exact way.

480
01:04:20,960 --> 01:04:24,800
I want to see that same plan on date, you know, before I give a vote.

481
01:04:24,900 --> 01:04:27,740
Like you would, engineer Deacon Mayor.

482
01:04:28,080 --> 01:04:28,480
Thank you.

483
01:04:28,600 --> 01:04:29,100
Thank you.

484
01:04:29,880 --> 01:04:41,240
Mr. Lewis, you are astute and, you know, a great person that bring in the whole picture into play a lot of times.

485
01:04:41,240 --> 01:04:43,060
you do that well, and I appreciate you for that.

486
01:04:44,400 --> 01:04:49,940
So one clear statement, ain't no sheriff of the city of Atlanta.

487
01:04:51,440 --> 01:04:53,760
We got a chief, we have a mayor.

488
01:04:54,780 --> 01:05:02,000
So that's Sheriff, where his thoughts are, he can share them with you, he can highlight

489
01:05:02,000 --> 01:05:08,920
them to you, he can put them on the news, but we make the decisions around here, full

490
01:05:08,920 --> 01:05:09,180
stop.

491
01:05:09,180 --> 01:05:20,990
He couldn't get to 700 like that. He's got a higher staff to be able to manage 700 people.

492
01:05:21,910 --> 01:05:28,270
So to get to 700, you have to hire, you have to manage, so it is a ramp up.

493
01:05:29,170 --> 01:05:35,130
And so the first phase, and Ms. Burks behind me can make sure I'm right,

494
01:05:35,130 --> 01:05:40,990
the 250 women that are down, well it's actually 300 now, so you start moving,

495
01:05:41,270 --> 01:05:48,130
so you ramp up and then ramp down is according to how well we are going to

496
01:05:48,130 --> 01:05:54,590
require them to improve their full criminal justice process. There's a

497
01:05:54,590 --> 01:05:59,370
solicitor, there's a district attorney, and there are judges. People should be

498
01:05:59,370 --> 01:06:04,110
moving through these processes a lot faster so that we don't have

499
01:06:04,110 --> 01:06:10,670
individuals in the jail for years on years on years waiting trial. That in and

500
01:06:10,670 --> 01:06:17,430
of itself is why we have an overcrowding issue. It ain't our fault, but it is our

501
01:06:17,430 --> 01:06:22,670
problem. We can't shirk away from the problem just because it's not our fault.

502
01:06:23,290 --> 01:06:28,010
The more we keep thinking that they tell us what to do, that's not how that's

503
01:06:28,010 --> 01:06:31,970
all. What we're putting inside of this is a conversation about in four

504
01:06:31,970 --> 01:06:39,550
years they resolve that issue of the the judges which we need to talk about and

505
01:06:39,550 --> 01:06:45,150
how many cases they can see in a year and that's a that that we're starting to

506
01:06:45,150 --> 01:06:49,150
force that hand I just wanted to make that clear and I even want you to go

507
01:06:49,150 --> 01:06:53,770
there for us to detail see I appreciate you for drawing a little far

508
01:06:53,770 --> 01:06:58,570
but everybody needs to know you gave us you you talk your plan what you just

509
01:06:58,570 --> 01:07:01,550
gave was part of what I wanted to hear about how we get out of there

510
01:07:01,550 --> 01:07:06,510
because you know just ramping up cases as well like like even though I said

511
01:07:06,510 --> 01:07:10,530
something about the sheriff it's his job to find beds for folks that are

512
01:07:10,530 --> 01:07:15,790
sleeping on the floor right I got friends sleeping on the floor and so when

513
01:07:15,790 --> 01:07:19,990
I saw those crates and I saw folks sleeping in those crates and I was able

514
01:07:19,990 --> 01:07:25,690
to go to ACDC and I seen the difference I mean I just want to make sure that

515
01:07:25,690 --> 01:07:30,570
the sheriff understands your vision because I'm team you right I just want

516
01:07:30,570 --> 01:07:32,330
to make sure that happens. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you.

517
01:07:34,390 --> 01:07:36,070
Okay. Any other council members?

518
01:07:38,090 --> 01:07:43,890
Mayor, thank you. I will just briefly speak on the nuisance ordinance. That was my legislation

519
01:07:43,890 --> 01:07:51,070
that I worked with your administration, Mr. Donald on. So I appreciate that. And similar

520
01:07:51,070 --> 01:07:56,970
to your point, my goal in that and my hope is I don't want this city to shut down

521
01:07:56,970 --> 01:08:03,790
anyone because I want them to work with us to better their problems that are

522
01:08:03,790 --> 01:08:09,270
contributing to crime. Just as an example yesterday, I've reached out to you. I

523
01:08:09,270 --> 01:08:15,410
reached out to an owner of a multifamily property because I was

524
01:08:15,410 --> 01:08:18,570
concerned about crime. They had a homicide and had multiple part one

525
01:08:18,570 --> 01:08:23,770
crimes in their community that's been open less than eight months. So we're

526
01:08:23,770 --> 01:08:27,870
We're working to set up a meeting with them to see how we can help and how they can help

527
01:08:27,870 --> 01:08:28,870
their situation.

528
01:08:29,690 --> 01:08:31,730
So the goal is to not shut down anyone.

529
01:08:32,610 --> 01:08:36,090
The city has already shut down six businesses without this ordinance.

530
01:08:36,530 --> 01:08:40,710
We'll continue to work that path with the bad actors who do not want to work with

531
01:08:40,710 --> 01:08:40,850
us.

532
01:08:41,130 --> 01:08:47,030
So I just wanted to give that two cents in and thank you again for coming to address

533
01:08:47,030 --> 01:08:47,830
the Public Safety Committee.

534
01:08:49,110 --> 01:08:50,670
Thank you, Mr. Hillers.

535
01:08:51,150 --> 01:08:52,750
And I'll get out of your way.

536
01:08:52,750 --> 01:08:56,310
I did want to just say one, we have the Nightlife Advisory Council.

537
01:08:57,370 --> 01:09:02,170
A lot of those individuals are folks that you can reach out to and talk to.

538
01:09:02,370 --> 01:09:07,910
They are meeting on Thursday and would be happy to have your input on that.

539
01:09:08,610 --> 01:09:14,750
They are going to help come up with ideas with you guys on timelines and number of dates,

540
01:09:15,710 --> 01:09:21,970
how many within a certain period of time and then what's the correction process,

541
01:09:21,970 --> 01:09:30,290
the curing process and so you know but also be reminded that you all along with

542
01:09:30,290 --> 01:09:34,130
us put twenty million dollars in the hands of small businesses plus ten

543
01:09:34,130 --> 01:09:38,330
million dollars for the resurgence grant plus more and more money from this

544
01:09:38,330 --> 01:09:42,610
administration for small businesses over and over again we're showing our

545
01:09:42,610 --> 01:09:46,170
commitment as a previous small business owner of a retail location I

546
01:09:46,170 --> 01:09:50,930
understand the challenges of being a small business owner but also that

547
01:09:50,930 --> 01:09:56,330
through our support financially and in West Atlanta and others, we have support for them.

548
01:09:57,110 --> 01:10:01,810
But as far as nuisances are concerned, that's a problem for all of us if they don't get into

549
01:10:01,810 --> 01:10:05,490
right standing, no matter if they're small, medium or large.

550
01:10:05,950 --> 01:10:12,890
We want to make sure that people operate with their permit, permission that is granted

551
01:10:13,710 --> 01:10:18,050
that they operate at the standard that every citizen deserves.

552
01:10:18,810 --> 01:10:19,630
So thank you all.

553
01:10:19,630 --> 01:10:25,730
take care thank you Mayor Dickens and on the point of the just quick

554
01:10:28,640 --> 01:10:29,880
on the point

555
01:10:29,880 --> 01:10:32,720
of the nuisance legislation just wanted to let people know if there's anyone

556
01:10:32,720 --> 01:10:37,320
here to comment the intent of myself as the author is to hold that

557
01:10:37,320 --> 01:10:42,000
legislation pending the meeting of the nightlife advisory council that Mayor

558
01:10:42,000 --> 01:10:48,200
Dickens mentioned so that is going to be held today so at this point I will

559
01:10:48,200 --> 01:10:51,080
first recognize we've been joined by councilmember Michael Gilliam Bond

560
01:10:51,080 --> 01:10:56,640
Welcome. And now we will move on to public comment and I will first call up

561
01:10:56,640 --> 01:10:58,800
Fulton County Commissioner Natalie Hall.

562
01:11:13,470 --> 01:11:17,550
Good afternoon. I'm a little bit hoarse

563
01:11:17,550 --> 01:11:23,230
and I can't speak as loud as the mayor but I hope everyone can hear me clearly.

564
01:11:25,090 --> 01:11:30,830
Thank you Mayor Dickens for drawing those circles of inclusion. That's one

565
01:11:30,830 --> 01:11:37,050
One of the reasons why I'm here today and thank you to the Atlanta City Council for

566
01:11:37,050 --> 01:11:42,930
allowing me to speak directly following the Mayor and his words of encouragement.

567
01:11:43,650 --> 01:11:50,510
I'm your Fulton County Commissioner of District 4, Natalie Hall, the Fearless Four, and with

568
01:11:50,510 --> 01:11:58,910
me today I have Michael Schoatz, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Fulton County Sheriff

569
01:11:58,910 --> 01:12:03,510
Patrick Pat LeBotte and my Chief of Staff, Anita Harris.

570
01:12:07,450 --> 01:12:09,470
So there are two reasons why

571
01:12:09,470 --> 01:12:18,170
I'm here today. One is because of the ordinance that was introduced by, I don't see him, Michael

572
01:12:19,090 --> 01:12:26,170
Julian Bond. And the second is the resolution introduced by Keisha Sean Waits. And I'm

573
01:12:26,170 --> 01:12:31,270
here to tell you that we need both of them. And the reason why we need both of them

574
01:12:31,270 --> 01:12:38,370
is because of the overcrowding in the Fulton County jail. As a mother of two adult sons,

575
01:12:40,150 --> 01:12:46,290
and many of us who are parents know that we never want to get that phone call that our

576
01:12:46,290 --> 01:12:52,170
child is being taken to the Fulton County jail. And for those of us who have loved

577
01:12:52,170 --> 01:12:58,090
ones who live in Fulton County, you never want to get that call that a loved one is

578
01:12:58,090 --> 01:13:06,030
in the Fulton County jail. But even beyond that, because of the conditions within the

579
01:13:06,030 --> 01:13:11,910
Fulton County jail, you don't want to ever have any loved one or yourself be locked up

580
01:13:11,910 --> 01:13:18,910
in the Fulton County jail. It is an inhumane environment. The overcrowding is just only

581
01:13:18,910 --> 01:13:26,050
one part of it. The jail is old. If you walk, many of you walk through the jail,

582
01:13:26,050 --> 01:13:33,190
I was told that the sheriff actually had you tour the jail and you were able to see these conditions.

583
01:13:33,510 --> 01:13:40,330
It is horrific and I don't care if somebody is in the jail locked up.

584
01:13:40,450 --> 01:13:43,170
They should still be treated humanely.

585
01:13:43,190 --> 01:13:45,750
They should still be treated as a human being.

586
01:13:48,850 --> 01:13:52,610
So the current conditions in the jail are indecent.

587
01:13:52,610 --> 01:14:04,470
As you know, we have a mental ward in the jail which is separate from the main population,

588
01:14:04,950 --> 01:14:10,370
the general population, but the general population is just as bad because we don't have enough

589
01:14:10,370 --> 01:14:17,470
room for all of those who are diagnosed by the psychiatrist and psychologist as needing

590
01:14:17,470 --> 01:14:19,810
to be in the mental ward of the jail.

591
01:14:19,810 --> 01:14:27,250
And let's just address this 350 number because I keep hearing this number of 350.

592
01:14:28,550 --> 01:14:36,590
Well, that 350 number comes from the number of misdemeanors that are in the jail.

593
01:14:37,350 --> 01:14:40,810
And let me just break that 350 number down.

594
01:14:41,730 --> 01:14:48,030
None of those 350 misdemeanors can be released out onto the street

595
01:14:48,030 --> 01:14:57,430
because 252 of them have additional charges that keep them in the jail.

596
01:14:58,030 --> 01:14:59,670
134 of them.

597
01:15:00,340 --> 01:15:13,140
Have mental issues. And then there are those that the judges sentenced and said no, they cannot be released from the jail because of the things that they have done.

598
01:15:13,360 --> 01:15:21,720
So we're not holding anyone in the jail that isn't supposed to be there. So I want to make that very clear.

599
01:15:23,240 --> 01:15:31,300
Now, as far as council member waits, council member bond, your ordinance, your resolution,

600
01:15:31,780 --> 01:15:33,440
I agree with both of them.

601
01:15:34,220 --> 01:15:36,480
But we need the 700 beds.

602
01:15:37,240 --> 01:15:39,120
We have people sleeping in boats.

603
01:15:39,820 --> 01:15:45,880
We have things going on in the jail that by law I cannot even express to you publicly.

604
01:15:45,880 --> 01:15:55,400
publicly. I cannot even show you publicly by law. And this is the reason that we need

605
01:15:55,400 --> 01:16:04,720
the 700 beds. Now someone said earlier something about decreasing the number of beds that we

606
01:16:05,220 --> 01:16:12,340
lease from you from ACDC. That can happen because the Board of Commissioners approved

607
01:16:12,340 --> 01:16:18,400
a feasibility study for us to know how much would it cost and what would it take

608
01:16:18,400 --> 01:16:26,280
for us to renovate the current jail or what would it cost for us to build a new

609
01:16:26,280 --> 01:16:31,760
jail. And once we get that at the end of the year we'll be able to make a

610
01:16:31,760 --> 01:16:37,780
decision on how to move forward. We are going to make sure that we have a

611
01:16:37,780 --> 01:16:44,720
jail that is clean, that provides adequate services and programs so that people can leave

612
01:16:44,720 --> 01:16:46,440
that jail successfully.

613
01:16:47,180 --> 01:16:49,760
Not to continue, not for reentry.

614
01:16:50,600 --> 01:16:54,060
We are going to make sure that pre-arrest diversion works.

615
01:16:54,860 --> 01:17:01,340
I believe in that center, that John Robert Lewis Center for Equity, I believe in that.

616
01:17:01,740 --> 01:17:04,220
And as a commissioner, I've always fought for that.

617
01:17:04,220 --> 01:17:13,220
Devin Barrington Ward, I saw you here somewhere. Are you behind me now? Devin

618
01:17:13,220 --> 01:17:24,040
has met with me and Zochi Brevera and Marilyn Nguyen and so many others for

619
01:17:24,040 --> 01:17:28,820
the past five years that I've been commissioner and then before that with

620
01:17:28,820 --> 01:17:36,440
the late County Commissioner, Joan P. Garner, who I was Chief of Staff to for the six years

621
01:17:36,440 --> 01:17:43,360
that she was in this seat, and we have discussed pre-arrest diversion on many occasions. We

622
01:17:43,360 --> 01:17:51,700
have expressed our support and that we are thinking the same. We need to provide wraparound

623
01:17:51,700 --> 01:17:56,980
services for people. People should not be locked up in jail just because they have

624
01:17:56,980 --> 01:18:04,040
mental and behavioral health issues and to our residents please please stop

625
01:18:04,040 --> 01:18:08,620
being angry with the mayor and the members of the Atlanta City Council for

626
01:18:08,620 --> 01:18:13,100
not providing you with health and human services it is not their

627
01:18:13,100 --> 01:18:20,660
responsibility by law by law the state mandates the county Fulton County to

628
01:18:20,660 --> 01:18:26,400
provide health and human services and believe you me we get millions and

629
01:18:26,400 --> 01:18:32,820
millions of federal and state dollars to do so and that is why Fulton County is

630
01:18:32,820 --> 01:18:37,660
known as having the best programs and services in the state of Georgia better

631
01:18:37,660 --> 01:18:44,440
than any county in this state and so the collaboration is key that is why I'm

632
01:18:44,440 --> 01:18:50,200
here that is why I've talked to you I've talked to pretty much everyone on

633
01:18:50,200 --> 01:18:55,660
this this council because collaboration between Fulton County and the city of

634
01:18:55,660 --> 01:19:02,600
Atlanta is a must because we have the services and programs that you're all looking for in

635
01:19:02,600 --> 01:19:10,160
your communities to ensure that you're successful, the youth are successful, seniors, low-income

636
01:19:10,160 --> 01:19:17,340
families, yes, we have housing, we have a workforce development department that provides

637
01:19:17,340 --> 01:19:24,340
jobs and jobs training, we have Fulton Fresh which helps with those food deserts

638
01:19:24,340 --> 01:19:27,380
And yes, for those of you who think

639
01:19:27,380 --> 01:19:29,800
that I don't have food deserts in my district

640
01:19:29,800 --> 01:19:33,120
just because I serve the city of Atlanta,

641
01:19:33,680 --> 01:19:36,840
I do have food deserts.

642
01:19:36,840 --> 01:19:39,840
That is any community that doesn't have

643
01:19:39,840 --> 01:19:42,600
a fresh produce grocery store

644
01:19:42,600 --> 01:19:45,100
within a one mile radius of their home.

645
01:19:45,320 --> 01:19:46,980
And there are many of them.

646
01:19:47,880 --> 01:19:52,460
So today I am pleading with you and I'm begging you.

647
01:19:52,460 --> 01:20:02,880
As the Mayor said, for a humanitarian response, that you all will come together and offer the

648
01:20:02,880 --> 01:20:09,280
beds that we need to relieve the crowding and the inhumane conditions in the jail, but

649
01:20:09,280 --> 01:20:13,140
to also work toward creating that center of equity.

650
01:20:13,560 --> 01:20:19,880
And we would love to be a partner with you to ensure that those services and programs

651
01:20:19,880 --> 01:20:20,820
are provided.

652
01:20:20,820 --> 01:20:30,660
And let's save some money. Why in the world would we double dip in our money and have you provide services and programs that we're mandated by the state to provide anyway?

653
01:20:31,540 --> 01:20:37,940
Save that money and give back to the community where the money belongs is their money.

654
01:20:38,600 --> 01:20:42,480
But we have to work together. We have to collaborate. We have to communicate.

655
01:20:42,980 --> 01:20:46,200
And I look forward to speaking with you in executive session.

656
01:20:46,740 --> 01:20:52,800
Thank you so much and thank you for your humanitarian response in advance.

657
01:20:54,180 --> 01:20:54,920
Thank you.

658
01:20:55,300 --> 01:20:59,340
Thank you, Commissioner Hall. I'm just a correction to my previous statement.

659
01:21:00,200 --> 01:21:05,400
Commissioner Hall's comments fall under section 2-105 of our city code,

660
01:21:05,460 --> 01:21:07,720
which is statements by elected officials in the award of 10 minutes.

661
01:21:08,600 --> 01:21:11,680
So next we will be moving to our public comment agenda.

662
01:21:12,540 --> 01:21:14,000
Thank you again, Commissioner Hall.

663
01:21:14,000 --> 01:21:14,920
public

664
01:21:16,960 --> 01:21:19,100
comment first we have Sarah Kim.

665
01:21:29,500 --> 01:21:33,200
Hello, Sarah Kim here from Rbar ATL on

666
01:21:33,200 --> 01:21:38,340
Edgewood Avenue. Thank you all for yet another opportunity to speak. I would like

667
01:21:38,340 --> 01:21:41,740
to use this time to elaborate further on the few points I had raised last week.

668
01:21:42,340 --> 01:21:45,460
I urge the council members here to please take the time into consideration

669
01:21:45,460 --> 01:21:50,400
prior to making our decisions. First, the wording of this ordinance has

670
01:21:50,400 --> 01:21:53,840
been crafted to place the entirety of blame for rising crime on the backs

671
01:21:53,840 --> 01:21:58,200
of business owners and community leaders, when in fact we've pleaded with the city for years

672
01:21:58,200 --> 01:22:03,860
to reduce crime and give support for better-patriot experiences. One proposed remedy among many

673
01:22:03,860 --> 01:22:08,820
had been to create a pedestrian-only zone, aka an official nightlife district, similar

674
01:22:08,820 --> 01:22:13,580
to what we had been implemented successfully in other major cities. As such, this ordinance

675
01:22:13,580 --> 01:22:17,300
has been worded in a way that misleads the public and ignores the many years of

676
01:22:17,300 --> 01:22:21,720
pleading and requests for assistance from businesses to the city that have gone unanswered.

677
01:22:21,720 --> 01:22:27,260
Second, the apparent existence of a hidden watch list and nuisance list is alarming and

678
01:22:27,260 --> 01:22:27,680
concerning.

679
01:22:28,280 --> 01:22:32,900
It seems to imply an unwillingness to work with businesses fairly and without favoritism

680
01:22:32,900 --> 01:22:34,720
to large corporations and chains.

681
01:22:35,440 --> 01:22:39,740
Without these secret lists being made accessible to the public and updated at least weekly,

682
01:22:40,180 --> 01:22:43,180
how do you expect to demonstrate proper accountability and due process?

683
01:22:44,000 --> 01:22:47,520
This would at least mitigate the risk of the bad actors slipping through as a result

684
01:22:47,520 --> 01:22:49,580
of racism, corruption, and other biases.

685
01:22:50,160 --> 01:22:55,020
The same time this also gives responsible parties the opportunity to proactively address their issues.

686
01:22:55,780 --> 01:23:01,400
Third, this one size fits all punishment that the ordinance seeks to use is so drastic and crude

687
01:23:01,400 --> 01:23:06,500
that it seems to consider all violations the same with zero context to extenuating circumstance.

688
01:23:07,100 --> 01:23:12,980
Can the city council members please take the time to consider and implement a sliding scale system with more nuance?

689
01:23:13,720 --> 01:23:16,660
Since this ordinance seems to be handing the city a very big hammer,

690
01:23:16,660 --> 01:23:20,120
I'm deeply worried that all the small businesses will just start looking like nails.

691
01:23:21,540 --> 01:23:24,280
Fourth, at what point has the business done enough?

692
01:23:24,960 --> 01:23:31,780
I understand that to define this standard, excuse me, at what point has the business done enough?

693
01:23:31,980 --> 01:23:35,820
I understand that this may be hard to determine, but this ordinance fails to appreciate

694
01:23:35,820 --> 01:23:39,660
that most businesses are victims of the city's rising crimes themselves.

695
01:23:40,420 --> 01:23:42,740
Perhaps some businesses are indeed not doing enough,

696
01:23:42,740 --> 01:23:49,380
But that city needs to define that standard and hold to it in order for a fair social contract to take place between the city

697
01:23:49,380 --> 01:23:51,020
And it's many hard-working business owners

698
01:23:51,020 --> 01:23:57,840
Right now businesses are just left holding the bag every single time whether we did enough or not whether the crime was enough or

699
01:23:57,840 --> 01:23:59,520
Whether the crime was our fault or not

700
01:23:59,980 --> 01:24:05,880
Can we agree that a business should not be held accountable for violence that can't be directly and reasonably traced to it?

701
01:24:06,200 --> 01:24:10,640
Just because it's the easy thing to do does not mean that it should be done when public safety and people's

702
01:24:10,640 --> 01:24:12,540
livelihoods are both on the line.

703
01:24:13,440 --> 01:24:15,360
Fifth, I learned at the last public safety meeting

704
01:24:15,360 --> 01:24:17,200
that the solicitor's office will perform

705
01:24:17,200 --> 01:24:18,900
a thorough investigation to determine

706
01:24:18,900 --> 01:24:21,280
if a property meets this nuisance requirements.

707
01:24:21,920 --> 01:24:23,560
With that said, when is the last time

708
01:24:23,560 --> 01:24:25,580
any of those officials walked or patronized

709
01:24:25,580 --> 01:24:27,840
any of the city's multiple nightlife areas

710
01:24:27,840 --> 01:24:29,480
after midnight on a Saturday night?

711
01:24:30,260 --> 01:24:31,100
I question how.

712
01:24:31,640 --> 01:24:32,660
With their lack of experience

713
01:24:32,660 --> 01:24:33,960
of Atlanta's nightlife culture,

714
01:24:34,260 --> 01:24:36,140
we can expect them to fairly and thoroughly

715
01:24:36,140 --> 01:24:37,920
understand and judge these cases.

716
01:24:38,020 --> 01:24:38,600
Thank you, Thomas Expar.

717
01:24:38,600 --> 01:24:43,210
Next is Brother Anthony Muhammad.

718
01:25:07,740 --> 01:25:12,800
My heart holds health as shade, as shade, and as shade.

719
01:25:14,000 --> 01:25:17,040
I am, Brother Anthony Muhammad. I am a spiritual man.

720
01:25:17,960 --> 01:25:21,000
I do know more, believe in religion.

721
01:25:22,100 --> 01:25:24,340
I have no need for religion simply said,

722
01:25:24,740 --> 01:25:29,720
not one person in your book of the Bible, in all 66 books.

723
01:25:29,720 --> 01:25:35,800
Not one person was born from a woman who could not, not one.

724
01:25:36,400 --> 01:25:41,520
I come here today to applaud the mayor.

725
01:25:42,340 --> 01:25:47,020
As I was watching Georgia games, it said that the city council, along with the mayor, contemplated

726
01:25:47,740 --> 01:25:54,920
a line of jail during this time of emergency with Fulton County to make room for those dark

727
01:25:54,920 --> 01:25:58,320
people, majority people in jail in the state of Georgia.

728
01:25:58,320 --> 01:26:04,580
judge the fourth largest institution of dark people in the United States of America.

729
01:26:05,400 --> 01:26:11,600
But I ask this, why is it, as I heard Ms. Caronza, Caronza Howard-Rabb make a comment,

730
01:26:12,800 --> 01:26:14,140
let's be human.

731
01:26:14,960 --> 01:26:18,860
We are the most warrior people on earth, dark people.

732
01:26:19,620 --> 01:26:25,160
We have an ancestry that was people able to do telepathology.

733
01:26:25,160 --> 01:26:27,840
They were able to breathe underwater.

734
01:26:28,640 --> 01:26:37,660
They created the civilization of all the earth, and here in 2022, we are the last person on

735
01:26:37,660 --> 01:26:39,960
earth to have access to economic empowerment.

736
01:26:40,920 --> 01:26:49,380
If you recall Queen Elizabeth in 1952 when you was installed, you was installed and you

737
01:26:49,380 --> 01:26:56,140
He was given a right to empower over 90 percent of the dark people, economic empowerment only

738
01:26:56,140 --> 01:26:56,420
hurt.

739
01:26:57,060 --> 01:26:58,760
I was born in 1952.

740
01:26:59,580 --> 01:27:04,160
So I'm asking you members of this council, let's look towards the people that you say,

741
01:27:04,800 --> 01:27:07,880
oh, nobody, never been nobody.

742
01:27:08,540 --> 01:27:11,720
Do you know you're looking at a wire, you're saying, because I'm dark.

743
01:27:12,480 --> 01:27:13,980
I'm what you put up under that airplane.

744
01:27:14,540 --> 01:27:17,460
I'm the greatest conductor of energy in the world, right?

745
01:27:17,980 --> 01:27:18,540
What is energy?

746
01:27:18,540 --> 01:27:25,140
99.99% are weak, unless the 1% is physical matter.

747
01:27:25,440 --> 01:27:26,820
But I call on the ancestor.

748
01:27:27,400 --> 01:27:29,140
I call on the father to

749
01:27:31,670 --> 01:27:34,490
teach my soul consciousness every day.

750
01:27:35,650 --> 01:27:39,650
I want you to know our people have to wake up to the knowledge they are the power.

751
01:27:39,870 --> 01:27:46,090
You have a 360 degrees access to power, but you've got to be told that you've got

752
01:27:46,090 --> 01:27:51,050
know your ancestors and know how they were working in unison with the Mataq principles.

753
01:27:52,690 --> 01:27:58,130
Mataq principles represent balance in the universe, but you can't continue to go along

754
01:27:58,130 --> 01:28:02,850
with this made up world, and everything you want to do, you can do it.

755
01:28:03,810 --> 01:28:06,650
And I'm going to end it with this, please.

756
01:28:07,270 --> 01:28:08,450
I have problem with the chief.

757
01:28:09,070 --> 01:28:14,150
I have problem with my neighborhood because of dog not being on a lease.

758
01:28:14,150 --> 01:28:18,250
Thank you. Your time has expired. Oh, thank you for telling me my time to say I missed it

759
01:28:20,420 --> 01:28:25,880
So I appreciate you joined by council member buck tiari. I greet you as I come awesome. I'm a Laker

760
01:28:26,880 --> 01:28:31,120
May I make your hotel next speaker is Lauren Knight. Good

761
01:28:40,950 --> 01:28:44,790
afternoon. I would like to delegate my time to Sarah Kim. Thank you

762
01:28:48,490 --> 01:28:52,710
Fifth I learned in the last public safety meeting that the solicitor's office will perform a thorough

763
01:28:52,710 --> 01:28:55,830
Investigation to determine if a property meets the nuisance requirements

764
01:28:55,830 --> 01:28:59,750
With that said, when is the last time any of those officials walked or patronized any

765
01:28:59,750 --> 01:29:03,010
of the city's multiple nightlife areas after midnight on a Saturday night?

766
01:29:03,730 --> 01:29:07,430
A question how, with their lack of experience of Atlanta nightlife culture, we can expect

767
01:29:07,430 --> 01:29:10,390
them to fairly and thoroughly understand and judge these cases.

768
01:29:11,050 --> 01:29:13,550
I am worried that they will unduly fear what they do not understand.

769
01:29:14,410 --> 01:29:18,110
Six, can we count on the solicitor's office to keep that same energy towards

770
01:29:18,110 --> 01:29:21,650
investigating the many illegal street food and alcohol vendors that are active

771
01:29:21,650 --> 01:29:22,290
around the city?

772
01:29:22,290 --> 01:29:26,570
Can we agree that these illegal street vendors are a public nuisance and getting them off

773
01:29:26,570 --> 01:29:29,370
the street can offer an immediate positive impact on public safety?

774
01:29:29,950 --> 01:29:33,850
Why target brick and mortar businesses who have gone through the permitting and the

775
01:29:33,850 --> 01:29:37,550
steps when there are so many irresponsible actors with zero training, accountability

776
01:29:37,550 --> 01:29:41,250
and no oversight offering questionable food and alcohol to the public?

777
01:29:42,270 --> 01:29:46,030
Seventh, since this ordinance is pushing the responsibility of public safety within

778
01:29:46,030 --> 01:29:50,550
four feet, including on public sidewalks and streets, to private businesses, how

779
01:29:50,550 --> 01:29:55,050
How will code enforcement identify and distinguish when the city has failed its own public safety

780
01:29:55,050 --> 01:29:58,130
responsibility beyond the four feet when an incident happens?

781
01:29:58,930 --> 01:29:59,970
How exactly does this address the problem?

782
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:03,880
We address the issues of loiterers, the illegal street vendors, large gatherings, car clubs,

783
01:30:04,000 --> 01:30:08,880
and other bad actors who operate beyond the forefeet while their activities might or might

784
01:30:08,880 --> 01:30:14,280
not encroach this imaginary forefoot boundary. If unruly customers are kicked out of establishments

785
01:30:14,280 --> 01:30:17,940
but they stay outside in loiter, what do you officially recommend businesses to do?

786
01:30:18,380 --> 01:30:22,360
If they're angry enough to go back to their car parked on a city street to retrieve a

787
01:30:22,360 --> 01:30:26,680
weapon, how is that the responsibility of the business? At what point can we all

788
01:30:26,680 --> 01:30:31,540
agreed that the lack of APD street presence and foot patrols has failed to deter crime.

789
01:30:32,420 --> 01:30:37,780
Eighth, this ordinance will only increase the use and importance of off-duty cops as

790
01:30:37,780 --> 01:30:42,040
security for private businesses. This is not only expensive for businesses, but a problematic

791
01:30:42,040 --> 01:30:47,440
trend overall. Let alone our own 35 percent rate of success when hiring off-duty officers,

792
01:30:47,840 --> 01:30:52,220
what more do you expect and de facto force businesses to do in order to uphold an

793
01:30:52,220 --> 01:30:54,360
an arbitrary standard of quasi-public safety.

794
01:30:55,160 --> 01:30:59,200
This ordinance will only accelerate the use of off-duty cops for security if only to serve

795
01:30:59,200 --> 01:31:02,380
as a safety banquet against the discriminant use of this ordinance.

796
01:31:02,920 --> 01:31:06,820
So will the city at least streamline and standardize this complicated and expensive

797
01:31:06,820 --> 01:31:10,400
process for retaining off-duty APD services?

798
01:31:11,260 --> 01:31:15,440
Ninth, what is the process for rehabilitation in the event a business is determined to

799
01:31:15,440 --> 01:31:15,900
be a nuisance?

800
01:31:16,360 --> 01:31:20,420
What type of financial support will the city provide over the 12 months and how

801
01:31:20,420 --> 01:31:21,180
will it be established?

802
01:31:21,180 --> 01:31:25,800
If the ordinance is truly focused on creating a safer and better Atlanta, it should focus

803
01:31:25,800 --> 01:31:29,680
on supporting and nurturing small business and minority-owned businesses by offering

804
01:31:29,680 --> 01:31:32,180
them recourse, alternatives, and a way forward.

805
01:31:32,900 --> 01:31:36,100
Tenth and lastly, I am a small business owner and a first-time business owner, and I do

806
01:31:36,100 --> 01:31:37,580
not own the building I am a tenant in.

807
01:31:37,980 --> 01:31:40,020
This is the case for most small businesses in the city.

808
01:31:40,260 --> 01:31:43,780
Even with the amendment to notify both the lawyer and the tenant, we can amend

809
01:31:43,780 --> 01:31:47,800
the ordinance to ensure that the landlord cannot weaponize it to threaten or even

810
01:31:47,800 --> 01:31:49,920
evict their tenants for their own financial gain.

811
01:31:49,920 --> 01:32:00,400
I would like to conclude by acknowledging how thankful I am for the opportunity to bring to you my concerns before you all and the work that the City Council has done and continues to do in their efforts to create this better and safer Atlanta.

812
01:32:01,440 --> 01:32:02,200
Thank you.

813
01:32:02,880 --> 01:32:04,260
Next is Travis Lee.

814
01:32:09,640 --> 01:32:10,280
Travis Lee.

815
01:32:16,440 --> 01:32:17,220
Chiquina Turner.

816
01:32:21,890 --> 01:32:22,670
Chiquina Turner.

817
01:32:27,280 --> 01:32:28,360
Rashad Robertson.

818
01:32:38,550 --> 01:32:44,650
Good afternoon. My name is Rashad. I'm here with Hilliard Starchy Law. I actually wanted to yield my time to Attorney Hilliard.

819
01:32:44,650 --> 01:32:45,230
Good

820
01:32:51,540 --> 01:32:56,700
afternoon Chairman Hillis, members of the committee, I'm Hakeem Hilliard with Hilliard

821
01:32:56,700 --> 01:32:57,320
Starkey Law.

822
01:32:57,500 --> 01:32:59,300
Good to be with you this afternoon.

823
01:33:00,480 --> 01:33:03,980
Appreciate the opportunity to talk about this nuisance legislation again.

824
01:33:04,800 --> 01:33:09,500
And Chairman Hillis, I think it's, appreciate your deferral of this action until the Night

825
01:33:09,500 --> 01:33:10,780
Life Committee has a chance to meet.

826
01:33:10,880 --> 01:33:13,900
I think that's the right decision and we appreciate that a great deal.

827
01:33:14,500 --> 01:33:18,360
I wanted just to share a couple of comments and I'll be brief and kind of save the

828
01:33:18,360 --> 01:33:21,480
balance for that discussion that's happening later this week.

829
01:33:22,360 --> 01:33:26,480
But I wanted to talk for a brief moment about the original ordinance

830
01:33:26,480 --> 01:33:29,780
that was adopted in March or May of 2021

831
01:33:30,360 --> 01:33:34,660
when you added these nuisance properties and establishments like this

832
01:33:34,660 --> 01:33:38,180
to the definition of nuisance in the city ordinance for the first time.

833
01:33:38,820 --> 01:33:42,560
Since that time, as has been testified to

834
01:33:42,560 --> 01:33:46,380
previously, there's been I think eight businesses that have

835
01:33:46,380 --> 01:33:51,120
been set down, pursuant to that ordinance. There's several others that are in the pipeline

836
01:33:51,120 --> 01:33:54,700
that have been served that are waiting for their hearings to take place. And then there's

837
01:33:54,700 --> 01:33:58,860
another list, I understand that is, they say it's confidential, but as prosecutors I think

838
01:33:58,860 --> 01:34:03,360
they don't want to disclose, but there's another list of businesses to be served.

839
01:34:03,540 --> 01:34:07,840
So the current ordinance appears to be working to the city satisfaction, as the mayor testified

840
01:34:07,840 --> 01:34:13,340
to earlier. And so there's a little bit of confusion as to why we are proposing

841
01:34:13,340 --> 01:34:19,060
this amendment to the ordinance that says two violent incidents in a 24-month period.

842
01:34:19,360 --> 01:34:21,900
It's not just that it's those two incidents in the 24-month period.

843
01:34:22,100 --> 01:34:25,600
It directs the court to close the business.

844
01:34:25,820 --> 01:34:29,720
So it takes all of the discretion away from the judge in evaluating these cases.

845
01:34:29,840 --> 01:34:34,340
I've sat in a couple of these nuisance hearings in the middle of the court,

846
01:34:34,440 --> 01:34:35,500
and the judge is very thoughtful.

847
01:34:35,720 --> 01:34:36,880
The prosecutors are very aggressive.

848
01:34:37,080 --> 01:34:40,520
Raines Carter has his crack top deputies prosecuting these cases,

849
01:34:40,520 --> 01:34:42,400
and the judge evaluates the evidence,

850
01:34:42,540 --> 01:34:44,260
asks questions, and makes a fair decision.

851
01:34:44,740 --> 01:34:47,320
And so it's not just that we're saying in 24 months

852
01:34:47,320 --> 01:34:49,220
that there's two violent incidents.

853
01:34:49,640 --> 01:34:51,960
The question is why is it that the ordinance

854
01:34:52,520 --> 01:34:55,500
purports to take all of the discretion away from the judge

855
01:34:55,500 --> 01:34:58,100
and just evidence of those violations themselves

856
01:34:58,980 --> 01:35:01,500
require the immediate closure of the property.

857
01:35:02,140 --> 01:35:04,620
And so it may be,

858
01:35:04,760 --> 01:35:07,540
and I think you've heard several people speak about their concerns

859
01:35:07,540 --> 01:35:12,640
about uneven enforcement of this rule. The best way to protect against uneven enforcement

860
01:35:12,640 --> 01:35:17,740
is to eliminate all the vagueness in the ordinance. And there are several questions with respect

861
01:35:17,740 --> 01:35:22,120
to the ordinance that we have. How do you get on the nuisance list? How do you abate

862
01:35:22,120 --> 01:35:26,600
the nuisance? If somebody is shot within four feet of your business as the ordinance

863
01:35:27,460 --> 01:35:30,980
contemplates, how do you determine whether it's the responsibility of the business?

864
01:35:31,440 --> 01:35:35,540
And if it does happen, how do you abate that nuisance when two unrelated people,

865
01:35:35,540 --> 01:35:39,940
unrelated to the business have a dispute within four feet of your business, how do they take

866
01:35:39,940 --> 01:35:45,780
responsibility to abate that nuisance? What is the formal notice that you get before you,

867
01:35:46,100 --> 01:35:50,540
what is the formal notice that you receive before you are served with the nuisance action,

868
01:35:50,700 --> 01:35:55,840
that you have opportunity to abate that nuisance and not be on the nuisance list?

869
01:35:56,480 --> 01:36:01,040
So there's several questions that we think could be resolved by amending this ordinance

870
01:36:01,040 --> 01:36:06,380
further and clarifying that in the law. So people that are worried about uneven

871
01:36:06,380 --> 01:36:10,640
enforcement and who have maybe been subject to uneven enforcement can feel

872
01:36:10,640 --> 01:36:14,520
more comfortable about it. I attend MPU's all over the city with businesses that

873
01:36:14,520 --> 01:36:18,320
are seeking alcohol licenses for different uses and many of them it's

874
01:36:18,320 --> 01:36:23,260
very clear that when they walk in the MPU makes a decision to deny the

875
01:36:23,260 --> 01:36:25,880
application before they hear from the applicant because they don't want that

876
01:36:25,880 --> 01:36:28,980
type of business or they want that type of applicant in their

877
01:36:28,980 --> 01:36:33,280
neighborhoods. They have a right to make that decision, but then those businesses that are

878
01:36:33,280 --> 01:36:37,440
here before you today have a right to feel a little uncomfortable about laws that are

879
01:36:37,440 --> 01:36:40,880
written that don't provide the clarity that they need to understand how it's going to

880
01:36:40,880 --> 01:36:46,400
be enforced. I appreciate the Mayor's comment that Lennox Mall will be treated just as

881
01:36:46,400 --> 01:36:50,440
all the other businesses. And if that's true, let's make it clear in the law that

882
01:36:50,440 --> 01:36:53,400
that's what's going to happen, that it doesn't matter what type of business you

883
01:36:53,400 --> 01:36:57,800
are and everybody is going to be subject to the same standard. Everybody that has

884
01:36:57,800 --> 01:37:01,960
the potential nuisance gets noticed in writing that your business is a potential nuisance

885
01:37:01,960 --> 01:37:07,760
and here are the reasons we think it's problematic and here's the time you have to abate it before

886
01:37:07,760 --> 01:37:08,940
you get on the nuisance list.

887
01:37:09,600 --> 01:37:13,860
And so I don't understand and I think a lot of the businesses here do not understand

888
01:37:13,860 --> 01:37:20,360
what the rush is to pass a law that restricts the role of the court in deciding whether

889
01:37:20,360 --> 01:37:21,560
a nuisance exists or not.

890
01:37:22,020 --> 01:37:25,300
We've been talking about nightlife but I think part of the discussion is about

891
01:37:25,300 --> 01:37:29,360
gas stations and all conclude with this and we talked about it a little last

892
01:37:29,360 --> 01:37:33,520
time. There's a lot of wisdom in the community about how to do these things.

893
01:37:33,600 --> 01:37:36,700
There's businesses that operated nightlife establishments in the city for

894
01:37:36,700 --> 01:37:40,180
more than three decades that done it successfully without incident and they

895
01:37:40,180 --> 01:37:43,520
should be a part of this conversation about how to resolve these issues. It's

896
01:37:43,520 --> 01:37:47,700
not just about punishment. It's how do you identify best practices and

897
01:37:47,700 --> 01:37:51,500
encourage that in the ordinances that you've adopted. That's true in the

898
01:37:51,500 --> 01:37:54,460
nightlife industry. We've got wisdom with us true in the gas station

899
01:37:55,080 --> 01:38:01,920
the gas station industry actually has a manual, best practices, how do you manage public safety issues at gas stations.

900
01:38:02,440 --> 01:38:09,740
And so let's talk to the folks that know it very, very well and share their comments with you so you can incorporate that into the law.

901
01:38:10,060 --> 01:38:17,460
But let's get this ordinance, give this ordinance some clarity so there's no confusion and we can eliminate the concern about uneven enforcement

902
01:38:17,460 --> 01:38:22,100
because our experiences here in this room are very different than some of the businesses

903
01:38:22,100 --> 01:38:24,440
and the experiences that they have in action.

904
01:38:24,920 --> 01:38:26,720
So I appreciate the opportunity to be here.

905
01:38:26,960 --> 01:38:29,560
Look forward to participating in the discussion on Thursday

906
01:38:29,560 --> 01:38:32,640
and inviting some of those folks there and sharing their wisdom

907
01:38:32,640 --> 01:38:34,940
and hopefully coming back to you for more conversation.

908
01:38:35,460 --> 01:38:36,260
We appreciate the time.

909
01:38:41,820 --> 01:38:43,440
Next is Donna Matthews.

910
01:38:46,940 --> 01:38:48,040
Donna Matthews.

911
01:38:53,910 --> 01:38:55,550
Next, Vincent Fort.

912
01:38:56,050 --> 01:38:56,270
Good

913
01:39:00,080 --> 01:39:00,420
afternoon.

914
01:39:00,420 --> 01:39:15,620
I'm here on an issue that some may say is a small issue, but it's a large issue to the people in my neighborhood, the people who live close to Camelton and Harbin Road.

915
01:39:16,420 --> 01:39:25,360
At that site there is a convenience store construction site. It is left open after hours and on the weekends.

916
01:39:26,100 --> 01:39:30,580
And there's nothing on Campton Road in that area but apartments with small children.

917
01:39:31,380 --> 01:39:32,920
And they walk by it every day.

918
01:39:33,260 --> 01:39:38,600
There's a 10-foot pit, there's a 10-foot pit on this construction site.

919
01:39:40,160 --> 01:39:43,460
We black children walk by it every day.

920
01:39:44,940 --> 01:39:47,620
And nothing has been done over the last several months.

921
01:39:47,880 --> 01:39:51,300
I've reached out to the fire department and the police department and they have

922
01:39:51,300 --> 01:39:52,060
done nothing.

923
01:39:52,980 --> 01:39:54,440
I've reached out to politicians.

924
01:39:54,440 --> 01:40:00,480
they have done nothing. I appreciate Councilmember Waite's responding to my

925
01:40:00,480 --> 01:40:05,240
queries last Thursday and Friday. I appreciate that. You know, a lot of

926
01:40:05,240 --> 01:40:09,980
politicians, a lot of city councilmembers and others come down to

927
01:40:09,980 --> 01:40:15,320
Greenbride, Camelton Road for ribbon-cuttings and announcements in

928
01:40:15,320 --> 01:40:20,800
Todd Hall meetings. And then when a little black child needs some help, they

929
01:40:20,800 --> 01:40:28,620
don't care. You can't find them. Don't come down there no more cutting a ribbon and don't

930
01:40:28,620 --> 01:40:35,580
take care of this because, you know, I'm a hellraiser from way back. Hello, somebody.

931
01:40:36,860 --> 01:40:39,500
And I put up a picket lining up, New York Second.

932
01:40:41,730 --> 01:40:43,910
I can assure you that the property

933
01:40:43,910 --> 01:40:53,390
owner, that the property owner, the applicant, the liquor store lawyer, the zoning lawyer,

934
01:40:53,650 --> 01:40:58,650
I can assure you that when they leave that location, they don't come nowhere in their

935
01:40:58,650 --> 01:41:05,830
Camperton Road. They're going north, west, south, wherever they can go. But care about

936
01:41:05,830 --> 01:41:11,210
children. I know when I was eight, nine, ten years old, I got into construction

937
01:41:11,210 --> 01:41:20,550
sites. I got into warehouses, had no business being there, young, didn't know

938
01:41:20,550 --> 01:41:26,070
better. So I'm just asking you, I don't know how City Hall runs, but there used to

939
01:41:26,070 --> 01:41:31,070
be a time when a council member say something, the staff would run down

940
01:41:31,070 --> 01:41:40,490
there and stand in front of the location. Now, the staff run to join. You know, so I have

941
01:41:40,490 --> 01:41:42,110
some real concerns about that.

942
01:41:45,200 --> 01:41:49,640
Ultimately, y'all don't work for property owners or licensees

943
01:41:49,640 --> 01:41:57,480
or lawyers, zoning lawyers or licensed liquor license applicants. You work for who? The

944
01:41:57,480 --> 01:42:05,560
people. And I would hope because I'm going to give you another few days. I'm going to

945
01:42:05,560 --> 01:42:10,600
give you another few days and then we're going to have to escalate. Because you got

946
01:42:10,600 --> 01:42:14,880
to, if this was somewhere else in the city, that place would have been closed

947
01:42:14,880 --> 01:42:22,520
months ago. I'm just appalled that the fire marshal and the fire department and

948
01:42:22,520 --> 01:42:26,540
the police, you had about 12 police down here a minute ago. Send some of the

949
01:42:26,540 --> 01:42:31,860
police down to Camelton and Harbin. Safest place in the city was right here at one o'clock.

950
01:42:33,240 --> 01:42:41,220
Let's make Camelton Road safe. Don't come down there, showboating. The other comment

951
01:42:41,220 --> 01:42:47,860
I wanted to make was about nuisances. Now I ain't going to speak for against the nuisance

952
01:42:47,860 --> 01:42:51,660
bill because I don't know enough about it. What I do know is that some of y'all are

953
01:42:51,660 --> 01:42:57,820
proposing to help out some of the worst nuisances in the city. That's Strip

954
01:42:57,820 --> 01:43:04,040
Clubs. If you know the history, if you've been around for as long as I've been

955
01:43:04,040 --> 01:43:09,300
10, 20, 30, 40 years, you know that the worst corruption in this city, police

956
01:43:09,300 --> 01:43:15,420
corruption in this city, came out of Strip Clubs. Murders, child prostitution.

957
01:43:16,580 --> 01:43:25,600
There's a reason police are prohibited from working at strip clubs, because don't tell

958
01:43:25,600 --> 01:43:26,900
me you're going to keep them on the outside.

959
01:43:27,980 --> 01:43:32,300
It's a matter of who writes that check that that police officer, they should work for

960
01:43:32,300 --> 01:43:35,460
the city and the city only when it comes to strip clubs.

961
01:43:35,520 --> 01:43:42,860
They can have other jobs, but to have a police officer getting paid, you think that

962
01:43:42,860 --> 01:43:49,000
arson this weekend at the strip club you think that was coincidental you think

963
01:43:49,000 --> 01:43:55,480
that was somebody smoking in the bed no I learned years ago they cast something

964
01:43:55,480 --> 01:43:59,680
at the strip clubs called firemen you know what a fireman is at strip club

965
01:43:59,680 --> 01:44:04,980
somebody they let sleep overnight in the strip club so nobody will burn it

966
01:44:04,980 --> 01:44:11,500
up. If you look in the records, strip clubs have been bird every all the time.

967
01:44:13,520 --> 01:44:14,660
So to even

968
01:44:14,660 --> 01:44:21,040
imagine having police officers in strip clubs is, you talk about a nuisance. I don't know

969
01:44:21,040 --> 01:44:28,400
nothing about the nuisances these folks talk about. But I know what's been the shooting

970
01:44:28,400 --> 01:44:33,140
and cutting that go on in strip clubs. So I would hope that you would reconsider.

971
01:44:33,140 --> 01:44:37,000
I don't know. Maybe it's past. I haven't been following it close enough.

972
01:44:38,060 --> 01:44:40,780
I haven't been following it close enough. So I don't know.

973
01:44:41,040 --> 01:44:44,600
Have y'all already passed that? So let them please.

974
01:44:45,100 --> 01:44:49,320
Don't do it. Because who remembers the dirty three murder?

975
01:44:50,140 --> 01:44:53,500
The dirty three cops. Y'all don't remember?

976
01:44:53,980 --> 01:44:55,900
I know you do. You owe like me.

977
01:44:58,780 --> 01:44:59,860
They went and killed

978
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:07,660
The strip club owner. They went and killed the strip club owner to try to rob him. This is

979
01:45:07,660 --> 01:45:13,160
just beyond belief. Talk about nuisance, then. You got a nuisance coming if you do that. And

980
01:45:13,160 --> 01:45:20,480
lastly, about the jail. I'm not as informed, and I apologize, informed about the jail situation.

981
01:45:21,380 --> 01:45:27,120
I will be brought up with you, but I do know one thing. I do know this. Keep the promises

982
01:45:27,120 --> 01:45:34,040
promises you make to the people. Keep the promises you make. Don't treat the people like they

983
01:45:34,040 --> 01:45:40,020
stupid. People ain't stupid. They see when you tell a lie and they see when you tell

984
01:45:40,020 --> 01:45:47,160
the truth. So, you know, all the presentations at this microphone for 30 minutes talking

985
01:45:47,160 --> 01:45:52,560
about, you know, I don't want to hear that. Just keep your promises to the people.

986
01:45:52,560 --> 01:46:02,040
people should at least expect that from you. So I appreciate you so much. I've got three

987
01:46:02,040 --> 01:46:06,980
minutes left. I'll come back and say, use the rest some other time. Thank you, God bless

988
01:46:06,980 --> 01:46:07,260
you.

989
01:46:12,040 --> 01:46:12,920
Janette Jackson?

990
01:46:20,550 --> 01:46:25,770
Hello. My name is Janette Jackson and I'm here. I'm not feeling very well, but I'm

991
01:46:25,770 --> 01:46:29,790
here for you to hear my daughter's name, which is Elani Lenore. She's been missing

992
01:46:29,790 --> 01:46:38,050
for nine days and I know where she was taken from, which is building 1660 Peachtree luxury

993
01:46:38,050 --> 01:46:43,890
apartments. The police, I'm here really because I want to speak to the police department,

994
01:46:44,450 --> 01:46:50,910
Atlanta police department that has done almost nothing in communication and transparency.

995
01:46:51,830 --> 01:46:58,370
I'm here to thank Mrs. Boom, Councilman Boom, thank you for showing me some kind

996
01:46:58,370 --> 01:47:04,110
of compassion and caring. I'm here to address that the police need some more training in

997
01:47:04,110 --> 01:47:11,810
how they deal with people who are hurting because I was turned away and I'm pleading

998
01:47:11,810 --> 01:47:18,150
that my daughter is missing and I have no answers until I got on TV. I shouldn't have

999
01:47:18,150 --> 01:47:24,230
to use all the resources and do all the grass roots. We are human beings. You should

1000
01:47:24,230 --> 01:47:32,250
care about us. But she is a little brown girl in the inner city having a good time. In Midtown

1001
01:47:32,250 --> 01:47:35,050
she was taken. In Midtown.

1002
01:47:37,110 --> 01:47:42,370
And I'm upset and appalled that after I'm on the TV now you

1003
01:47:42,370 --> 01:47:48,870
want to reach out to me and give me some trash. There is a video with my daughter going

1004
01:47:48,870 --> 01:47:54,790
into this location and I have been asking for, I have the right to know what happened

1005
01:47:54,790 --> 01:47:59,570
into my daughter. I knew who she was with. I know the three people. I talked to them.

1006
01:48:00,330 --> 01:48:06,990
And there is she's been abducted. She's not missing. She wouldn't leave. I knew all that

1007
01:48:06,990 --> 01:48:13,490
she was and all that she is and all that you will try to say she was. Nobody deserves

1008
01:48:13,490 --> 01:48:20,970
to disappear and you do not care. And Atlanta police department has not been transparent

1009
01:48:20,970 --> 01:48:25,930
and forthcoming until the news came and they still haven't given me an answer

1010
01:48:25,930 --> 01:48:31,730
about that video and I am not going to spend the time saying what was said to

1011
01:48:31,730 --> 01:48:38,630
me because it's not pretty it's not what I won't want the snapshot here but I am

1012
01:48:38,630 --> 01:48:43,770
saying that these police officers need to be trained from sergeants to

1013
01:48:43,770 --> 01:48:48,930
lieutenants all the way up and I heard the mayor talking then do your

1014
01:48:48,930 --> 01:48:55,050
job, force their hand to do the right things in this community because she's not the only

1015
01:48:55,050 --> 01:49:00,070
brown girl that's missing. She just happens to have parents that care about her and we're

1016
01:49:00,070 --> 01:49:05,550
not going to stop fighting to find her. So don't forget my daughter's name is Alani

1017
01:49:05,550 --> 01:49:10,230
Lenore and that I will not stop and I will be visiting each and every one of you knocking

1018
01:49:10,230 --> 01:49:15,210
and making you keep saying her name because she's been abducted.

1019
01:49:20,650 --> 01:49:21,790
Vincent Harper.

1020
01:49:27,340 --> 01:49:28,920
I hear my time to do one move.

1021
01:49:32,460 --> 01:49:36,320
Chairperson, I have about nine minutes. I have myself

1022
01:49:36,320 --> 01:49:40,280
I signed in and Lance Irvin and pre-gain.

1023
01:49:41,400 --> 01:49:44,120
Who is the second person dedicating their time to you?

1024
01:49:44,420 --> 01:49:47,360
Lance Irvin and the gentleman from pre-gain.

1025
01:49:49,200 --> 01:49:51,480
Okay. Thank you.

1026
01:49:53,500 --> 01:49:57,740
I would like to speak to start out with

1027
01:49:58,880 --> 01:50:01,780
what former Senates and Fort said about the strip clubs.

1028
01:50:03,740 --> 01:50:06,060
When he said that those are white strip clubs owner,

1029
01:50:06,160 --> 01:50:09,280
I don't think many people who are not from Atlanta are young people where,

1030
01:50:10,260 --> 01:50:12,500
Tony Olula, I don't know if you're young, I don't know if you even know this man.

1031
01:50:13,420 --> 01:50:17,640
Just in the 60s, a black cop, black cops were not allowed

1032
01:50:17,640 --> 01:50:20,920
to even carry weapons. They had to get dressed

1033
01:50:21,860 --> 01:50:25,580
on bank hit at the Boys and Girls Club. They couldn't get dressed with the other white cops.

1034
01:50:25,580 --> 01:50:31,740
So black cops were not even allowed in the strip clubs on Vincent Ford, so they couldn't protect them

1035
01:50:31,740 --> 01:50:39,580
So any violence or carousal going on was white strip clubs owners back in the day because black people couldn't even get a license in the city of Atlanta

1036
01:50:39,580 --> 01:50:41,420
Let that be clear

1037
01:50:42,260 --> 01:50:44,380
Second thing when it come to the jails

1038
01:50:46,140 --> 01:50:47,700
So one thing happened

1039
01:50:48,260 --> 01:50:50,340
I'm in Atlanta where Maynard Jackson was

1040
01:50:51,000 --> 01:50:56,640
mirror. It was a different time, white versus black. So Maynard had to

1041
01:50:56,640 --> 01:51:00,260
galvanize, everybody had to go with Maynard. Where Maynard left, it was Andy

1042
01:51:00,260 --> 01:51:04,260
Turner and so on and so on. But what happened was there was not enough voter

1043
01:51:04,260 --> 01:51:10,180
education. People don't understand how politics work. So the sheriff, LaBotte

1044
01:51:10,180 --> 01:51:15,240
has nothing to do with people getting locked up. Your judges and the DA's office

1045
01:51:15,240 --> 01:51:20,920
had something to do with mental, people getting locked up over there. The sheriff, only the

1046
01:51:20,920 --> 01:51:27,160
sheriff is saying, hey, we need extra bed because people are living in humane condition. We need

1047
01:51:27,160 --> 01:51:31,900
this space. So whatever promises are made, I'm not here to talk about that. But let's be clear,

1048
01:51:32,320 --> 01:51:38,420
we need those beds and we need that jail. So whatever anything else going on, the city of

1049
01:51:38,420 --> 01:51:42,780
Atlanta and the western Atlanta owned no property to donate this space and create

1050
01:51:42,780 --> 01:51:47,020
whatever everybody else is arguing about. But people are living in humane

1051
01:51:47,020 --> 01:51:52,520
condition because the overcrowding is of jails. You have one judge seeing 49 people.

1052
01:51:52,780 --> 01:51:56,360
You got another judge seeing 200 cases. Y'all need to get on them judges over there who

1053
01:51:56,360 --> 01:51:59,180
not still know people to get them out of them jails. That's the overcrowding

1054
01:51:59,180 --> 01:52:03,580
problem. It ain't the sheriff's job. The sheriff's job is saying, hey listen, I

1055
01:52:03,580 --> 01:52:08,900
recognize a problem. I need your help City of Atlanta. Now back to this

1056
01:52:08,900 --> 01:52:09,620
nuisance thing.

1057
01:52:12,090 --> 01:52:17,490
Like a attorney here said, we do need to define that. And my problem is

1058
01:52:17,490 --> 01:52:22,630
Atlanta, this go talk with Mayor and everybody up here. The problem we have in Atlanta is

1059
01:52:22,630 --> 01:52:29,530
we are too clickish. We are too clickish. Councilman Boone represent on Wilsonville

1060
01:52:29,530 --> 01:52:32,550
Park so that's near and dear to her. Her and the Mayor grew up playing over there.

1061
01:52:33,010 --> 01:52:37,230
If something happened over there, it's going to get hot ticketed quick. A.D. William

1062
01:52:37,230 --> 01:52:40,530
where I'm from, born home, something happened, and a damn thing will happen over there.

1063
01:52:40,750 --> 01:52:44,010
Because ain't nobody going to call and escalate the situation and care about the little black

1064
01:52:44,010 --> 01:52:47,190
boys over there in the bank here at this street, let's just be clear.

1065
01:52:47,970 --> 01:52:50,890
And that nuisance beer has to be clear, because guess what?

1066
01:52:51,230 --> 01:52:54,930
We know y'all are not going to bring off the blanks down here in Mr. Burnett Market

1067
01:52:54,930 --> 01:52:58,070
that something happened, because they are billionaires in this city.

1068
01:52:58,490 --> 01:53:01,630
I understand that they get a special phone called to the mirror.

1069
01:53:01,810 --> 01:53:01,990
Guess what?

1070
01:53:02,070 --> 01:53:02,950
He's going to answer that phone.

1071
01:53:03,650 --> 01:53:05,390
And one of y'all can answer that phone, too.

1072
01:53:05,390 --> 01:53:09,750
But the local business owner, who may need a little help that don't know y'all,

1073
01:53:10,150 --> 01:53:11,310
phone call won't get answered.

1074
01:53:11,610 --> 01:53:16,350
So it's the first thing we got to stop in Atlanta is who we do it for and why we do it for.

1075
01:53:16,610 --> 01:53:18,630
We understand a lot of these people donated campaigns.

1076
01:53:19,410 --> 01:53:21,710
Now I'm saying there's some leeway in there, we understand that.

1077
01:53:22,030 --> 01:53:25,190
But to change Atlanta, we have to stop that.

1078
01:53:25,390 --> 01:53:28,810
And we have to stop splitting hairs between black and white.

1079
01:53:28,970 --> 01:53:32,110
That's the younger generation because they don't live in a racist society.

1080
01:53:32,110 --> 01:53:39,830
Um, as anybody who 40 years and older I'm from bank here. So by the time I grew up white flight had already taken place out of Atlanta

1081
01:53:39,830 --> 01:53:44,270
I didn't see a white person in Atlanta bank it until I went to Cumberland mall or Linux

1082
01:53:44,950 --> 01:53:48,570
I just didn't grow up with it. So that so guess what? Um, it's no wood

1083
01:53:48,570 --> 01:53:51,990
I don't have a problem with white folks because I didn't grow up in that time

1084
01:53:51,990 --> 01:53:55,830
So I could stand on my ground and say mirror know what I support you you look me in my face and say

1085
01:53:55,830 --> 01:54:01,150
Hey, the one I want to help you up your nose and your people I can go for that because I don't have that

1086
01:54:01,150 --> 01:54:04,750
the young people don't have that. It's the older folks like Vincent Ford and

1087
01:54:04,750 --> 01:54:09,110
everybody else who want to continue to divide. We can't have that Atlanta if we're

1088
01:54:09,110 --> 01:54:12,730
gonna move forward. But when you get up here and speak about the strip club we

1089
01:54:12,730 --> 01:54:17,350
can't do that Mr. Ford. That's dividing though. That's dividing my friend. But

1090
01:54:17,350 --> 01:54:21,710
when you do that you divide though. But when you do that you divide though. And I

1091
01:54:21,710 --> 01:54:24,950
stand on it but you divide when you say strip club though.

1092
01:54:27,390 --> 01:54:29,030
Listen listen so

1093
01:54:29,030 --> 01:54:33,290
So like I said, we have to move forward in Atlanta and stop the division.

1094
01:54:34,490 --> 01:54:38,510
Like he said, if you're going to say something to people, stand on it, don't back away from

1095
01:54:38,510 --> 01:54:38,770
it.

1096
01:54:38,830 --> 01:54:40,010
Don't get up here and do that.

1097
01:54:40,350 --> 01:54:43,550
But we have to stop this in Atlanta and order to move forward.

1098
01:54:44,010 --> 01:54:46,190
It has to be some realness and all that fake stuff.

1099
01:54:46,530 --> 01:54:50,390
Y'all got to stop double talking and saying one thing and don't want to stand on it

1100
01:54:50,390 --> 01:54:51,310
because the mirror get up here.

1101
01:54:51,690 --> 01:54:52,430
He from Atlanta.

1102
01:54:53,370 --> 01:54:54,590
He has to do better.

1103
01:54:55,490 --> 01:54:58,110
His team, half his team is born and raised in Atlanta.

1104
01:54:58,110 --> 01:55:02,230
We have to do better. We've had nothing but black mirrors in Atlanta since 74.

1105
01:55:02,890 --> 01:55:06,650
Ain't no way Atlanta should be number one in America for income inequality.

1106
01:55:07,210 --> 01:55:07,590
You know what I'm saying?

1107
01:55:07,710 --> 01:55:11,550
When all we had was a majority black city council and a black mayor, there's no way.

1108
01:55:12,450 --> 01:55:15,570
Your daddy fought hard for this. Your daddy fought hard for this.

1109
01:55:15,770 --> 01:55:19,430
There's no way. There's no way. We gotta just stop that.

1110
01:55:19,690 --> 01:55:22,430
It's a simple fix. Y'all got the money.

1111
01:55:23,330 --> 01:55:24,810
We the people need help.

1112
01:55:24,810 --> 01:55:25,710
You know what I'm saying?

1113
01:55:25,810 --> 01:55:28,650
We got a lot of billionaires, 100 millionaires that live in the city of Atlanta.

1114
01:55:29,090 --> 01:55:32,810
We can get things funded that we want to when you want to get something funded in your

1115
01:55:32,810 --> 01:55:33,150
district.

1116
01:55:33,410 --> 01:55:33,830
It happens.

1117
01:55:34,310 --> 01:55:38,190
If the mayor wants something funded, and we got to stop, and there's another narrative

1118
01:55:38,190 --> 01:55:40,730
that we got to stop believing.

1119
01:55:42,110 --> 01:55:46,810
No mayor, no police chief, no police department stop crying in no city.

1120
01:55:47,270 --> 01:55:51,430
It happens from people in the community like myself who born and raised here, who

1121
01:55:51,430 --> 01:55:53,990
plead with young folks and say, hey man, don't you do that?

1122
01:55:53,990 --> 01:55:59,050
Hey man, don't you do that? You know what I'm saying? This man here from Cleveland Ave.

1123
01:55:59,370 --> 01:56:03,530
Can you imagine the conversation this man have all night long trying to help these young folks?

1124
01:56:04,150 --> 01:56:07,130
You know what I'm saying? We got a young guy from Oakland City, a little baby,

1125
01:56:07,290 --> 01:56:10,870
that bought out the whole West End Mall, you know what I'm saying?

1126
01:56:10,990 --> 01:56:14,290
The school supplies for the whole city of Atlanta.

1127
01:56:14,670 --> 01:56:16,990
He did that because he can afford to and he'd give a damn.

1128
01:56:17,430 --> 01:56:20,170
Nobody else, he didn't wait for nobody else to help him.

1129
01:56:20,170 --> 01:56:24,190
So true leadership is when you want to do something it can happen

1130
01:56:24,190 --> 01:56:29,110
Wait, no I'm saying when you get out here and you ask them put those people to vote for you give you money campaign

1131
01:56:29,110 --> 01:56:35,430
Man, you say everything in the world. You say everything in the world. You did met some y'all darn. They'll cry

1132
01:56:35,890 --> 01:56:39,810
But when you get up here, they got a big you to do us, right?

1133
01:56:40,590 --> 01:56:44,190
No, man. And like you said that nuisance gotta be clear

1134
01:56:44,190 --> 01:56:46,110
It has to be clear and mr.

1135
01:56:46,110 --> 01:56:49,850
arrange you got a reputation of being hard and doing the right thing so I'm

1136
01:56:49,850 --> 01:56:53,670
not worried about that because everybody said your reputation precedes you

1137
01:56:53,670 --> 01:56:58,170
everybody said you hard and you do the right thing but we have to do the right

1138
01:56:58,170 --> 01:57:03,030
thing and we have some things from the nightclub owner that we asking and

1139
01:57:03,030 --> 01:57:07,990
majority and we can sit down and talk about it is hey once you've had the

1140
01:57:07,990 --> 01:57:11,970
conversation with nightclub owners you asked them do they're supposed to do

1141
01:57:11,970 --> 01:57:13,250
we asking for a fine.

1142
01:57:15,640 --> 01:57:18,860
If something has happened inside that nightclub after that first fine,

1143
01:57:19,300 --> 01:57:25,720
hey, maybe seven days closure. Hey, if it's a second, third time, hey, maybe 14 days closure.

1144
01:57:26,100 --> 01:57:29,040
We don't ever want to get to the point of shutting them down unless there's probably

1145
01:57:29,040 --> 01:57:34,480
a fourth instance. And we're talking about, we're not even saying a murder. We just

1146
01:57:34,480 --> 01:57:39,900
saying situation that happened inside the nightclub. And there's a third party that

1147
01:57:39,900 --> 01:57:45,340
And I think the police department, a good friend over here, Peter Ammon is working with,

1148
01:57:46,600 --> 01:57:52,520
that would take the ownership from the nightclubs is the third party that wants to hire the

1149
01:57:52,520 --> 01:57:57,620
APD, the same rate from the nightclub, but they take the ownership and the blame from

1150
01:57:57,620 --> 01:58:01,960
the nightclub on if you hire the third party who's contracting with APD.

1151
01:58:02,160 --> 01:58:07,220
There's only four black companies in the whole state of Georgia that have state security

1152
01:58:07,220 --> 01:58:12,480
license with the yellow card all the rest of them is have LLCs so the nightclub

1153
01:58:12,480 --> 01:58:16,980
was saying hey that helps us out a lot if we can contract with this third party

1154
01:58:16,980 --> 01:58:21,760
company on who the city have made get a $10 million insurance policy let them

1155
01:58:21,760 --> 01:58:27,460
hire APD directly so therefore if something do happens the nightclub owner

1156
01:58:27,460 --> 01:58:33,420
are held blameless it's on the third-party APD or Petlabot Sheriff they

1157
01:58:33,420 --> 01:58:41,060
want to help in and start helping because guess what 9-1-1 is down. APD is saying hey we

1158
01:58:41,060 --> 01:58:45,260
having a hard trouble coming. If it was an APD officer or something happened he or she

1159
01:58:45,260 --> 01:58:50,480
have to call for backup but guess what? Fourth account of sheriff can take you directly to

1160
01:58:50,480 --> 01:58:55,920
right street. You don't have to call 9-1-1 you go straight to right street but it alleviates

1161
01:58:55,920 --> 01:59:01,760
the blame on the nightclub owners if the third party which APD have already approved

1162
01:59:01,760 --> 01:59:09,380
hires APD, hires to share deputies, something do happen, the nightclub owners

1163
01:59:09,380 --> 01:59:12,640
are not held blamed. So that's the main thing that we need to focus on, the

1164
01:59:12,640 --> 01:59:16,640
taking a blame away from the nightclub owners and just putting a blame on where

1165
01:59:16,640 --> 01:59:21,820
it is because every city in America is facing crime right now. So please we

1166
01:59:21,820 --> 01:59:25,760
ask y'all, we humbly ask y'all, you know what I'm saying, to this take

1167
01:59:25,760 --> 01:59:29,440
consideration of those things that we're asking this fair for everybody.

1168
01:59:29,440 --> 01:59:35,080
Everybody, like the mayor said, there's nightclub owners, Linux, George Don, World Congress Center, etc. Thank you.

1169
01:59:35,960 --> 01:59:37,300
Next is Doc Allen.

1170
01:59:48,080 --> 01:59:56,460
Good afternoon, council. It's kind of disturbing because a week ago this time I was speaking in front of you.

1171
01:59:56,840 --> 01:59:59,880
We was talking about nuisance and the nightlife.

1172
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:04,840
It hides the problem in the city of Atlanta. I really didn't know what to say this morning,

1173
02:00:05,080 --> 02:00:10,060
but it's an extremely difficult conversation I have to have with my 11-year-old daughter

1174
02:00:12,000 --> 02:00:18,640
because in her eyes, and she's very coherent of what's going on, in her eyes it says you

1175
02:00:18,640 --> 02:00:25,380
guys are attacking the nightlife division. And she wakes up, she watches the news every

1176
02:00:25,380 --> 02:00:30,780
day so as taking her to school this morning her question to me was how could

1177
02:00:30,780 --> 02:00:37,580
they attack you guys when I watched the news every day and it was a kid killed

1178
02:00:37,580 --> 02:00:43,640
yesterday and it was a kid killed the day before it's been a murder in this

1179
02:00:43,640 --> 02:00:48,920
city for the last seven days and no one has attended nightlife so it's an

1180
02:00:48,920 --> 02:00:54,560
extremely difficult conversation I have to have with her about things

1181
02:00:54,560 --> 02:01:01,560
happen and sometimes you just have to let it play out to the way it is. Ms.

1182
02:01:01,660 --> 02:01:08,060
Waites, I appreciate you dissecting the situation was going on and it's a

1183
02:01:08,720 --> 02:01:15,140
good I appreciate that. The first thing I want to speak on is I speak on facts. I

1184
02:01:15,140 --> 02:01:23,800
speak on numbers. So I want to speak on the fact of what you talked about. How

1185
02:01:23,800 --> 02:01:32,610
How do you police the other entities in these cities as Lennox and such as other places?

1186
02:01:32,970 --> 02:01:35,270
Let me give you a couple things I did.

1187
02:01:35,370 --> 02:01:38,050
I pulled an open records report in the city of Atlanta.

1188
02:01:38,410 --> 02:01:39,310
Let me tell you what's going on.

1189
02:01:40,710 --> 02:01:45,650
So the nuisance is that they're doing a lot of the black businesses are being targeted.

1190
02:01:46,410 --> 02:01:51,090
And it's kind of, it's good that I see Lieutenant Carter in here today because he's

1191
02:01:51,090 --> 02:01:52,010
over the permits division.

1192
02:01:52,010 --> 02:01:55,770
Let me give you a few instances, and I'm going to speak on.

1193
02:01:57,490 --> 02:02:00,150
Zari is a restaurant in the city of Atlanta.

1194
02:02:00,730 --> 02:02:02,330
They received the citation one night.

1195
02:02:04,130 --> 02:02:06,010
They've been to due cause on the citation.

1196
02:02:07,110 --> 02:02:11,110
Another business on Roswell Road, not going to name it, predominantly white business,

1197
02:02:11,750 --> 02:02:17,330
received the same citation the same night, hasn't been to due cause at all.

1198
02:02:18,490 --> 02:02:19,410
Nothing has happened.

1199
02:02:19,850 --> 02:02:20,650
I'm going to get even bigger.

1200
02:02:20,650 --> 02:02:25,710
When we talk about these corporations, and that's why I appreciated what you said earlier,

1201
02:02:26,250 --> 02:02:35,910
these corporations, February 2022 Whole Foods received a citation for serving alcohol to

1202
02:02:35,910 --> 02:02:37,090
an underage minor.

1203
02:02:40,230 --> 02:02:41,410
Open records, pull it up.

1204
02:02:43,130 --> 02:02:44,130
Let's get even better.

1205
02:02:45,290 --> 02:02:47,210
You have two years to serve at Duke Halls.

1206
02:02:47,950 --> 02:02:55,110
Two years ago, 2020, Whole Foods sold alcohol to an underage miner.

1207
02:02:56,730 --> 02:02:58,410
Nothing has happened to Whole Foods.

1208
02:03:01,040 --> 02:03:04,780
That's the conversations we need to be having, instead of targeting these black businesses.

1209
02:03:05,560 --> 02:03:10,380
You put people in these permits departments, such as Lieutenant Carter, he goes around

1210
02:03:11,000 --> 02:03:12,240
targeting the black businesses.

1211
02:03:12,760 --> 02:03:14,660
He's not going to, he's on the hot seat right now.

1212
02:03:14,820 --> 02:03:15,920
He don't want to be on the hot seat.

1213
02:03:16,520 --> 02:03:17,080
All start.

1214
02:03:17,080 --> 02:03:19,220
I stood outside of one of my establishments.

1215
02:03:20,400 --> 02:03:21,600
They came to the establishment.

1216
02:03:22,220 --> 02:03:25,560
I was arrested because it was too many people on the sidewalk.

1217
02:03:26,160 --> 02:03:28,200
I say, listen, I can't control the sidewalk.

1218
02:03:28,340 --> 02:03:29,020
That's the city of Atlanta.

1219
02:03:29,200 --> 02:03:30,020
That's a public easement.

1220
02:03:30,720 --> 02:03:34,440
What you can do is you can come inside and see if I'm over capacity.

1221
02:03:35,020 --> 02:03:37,200
They went inside, wasn't over capacity.

1222
02:03:37,580 --> 02:03:39,720
They said, well, there's too many people in front of your establishment.

1223
02:03:40,280 --> 02:03:41,020
Took me to jail.

1224
02:03:41,780 --> 02:03:42,620
They said, what you going to do?

1225
02:03:42,740 --> 02:03:43,640
Close it down and go to jail.

1226
02:03:43,720 --> 02:03:46,740
I said, well, I can't tell these people I hear what to do.

1227
02:03:46,740 --> 02:03:48,320
So I guess I got to go to jail tonight.

1228
02:03:49,140 --> 02:03:53,860
That shouldn't be a decision I have to make as a taxpayer citizen in this city.

1229
02:03:54,820 --> 02:03:57,360
You know, I've heard a lot of things about.

1230
02:03:58,300 --> 02:04:03,080
It's been problems going on or things going on in this city.

1231
02:04:04,260 --> 02:04:09,120
It's been problems and crime going on in this city for the last 10, 15 years.

1232
02:04:10,060 --> 02:04:12,340
It wasn't an issue until it got the bucket.

1233
02:04:13,700 --> 02:04:16,780
When they got the bucket, now it's a problem.

1234
02:04:17,680 --> 02:04:20,200
And Ms. Norwood, I'm not attacking your district. Guess what?

1235
02:04:21,120 --> 02:04:24,940
I live in your district. My home is only your district.

1236
02:04:25,640 --> 02:04:29,660
1.7 million. I live in your district. I didn't move out once the crime got bad.

1237
02:04:30,080 --> 02:04:31,360
I stayed there. I stuck with you.

1238
02:04:32,200 --> 02:04:36,000
Your time has well expired. I thought this was the previous timer, but this is your timer.

1239
02:04:37,380 --> 02:04:38,680
He's yielding his time to me.

1240
02:04:39,780 --> 02:04:41,080
Well, I need to know that beforehand.

1241
02:04:41,080 --> 02:04:44,600
hand. Alright if you look at this. So who is yielding? Freaky turn.

1242
02:04:48,580 --> 02:04:50,660
So let's do

1243
02:04:50,660 --> 02:04:50,920
this.

1244
02:04:53,320 --> 02:04:56,620
Everybody on this committee instead of, I'm not asking you guys to kill the

1245
02:04:56,620 --> 02:05:00,740
bill. That's the first thing. What I'm asking you to do is just let us be a

1246
02:05:00,740 --> 02:05:06,560
part of the conversation collectively. You have a nightlife division that has

1247
02:05:06,560 --> 02:05:10,960
been allotted by the city. Y'all have people in place that from the city of

1248
02:05:10,960 --> 02:05:13,080
Atlanta is making decisions on the nightlife.

1249
02:05:13,880 --> 02:05:16,240
That's not fair to us.

1250
02:05:16,980 --> 02:05:18,920
Let some people that are part of the nightlife

1251
02:05:18,920 --> 02:05:21,160
make those decisions and try to help you guys.

1252
02:05:21,980 --> 02:05:23,220
None of those people are club owners.

1253
02:05:23,400 --> 02:05:24,480
None of those people are operators.

1254
02:05:25,340 --> 02:05:25,980
None of those people.

1255
02:05:26,740 --> 02:05:29,820
Get some reform into the group.

1256
02:05:30,620 --> 02:05:31,880
Let us help you guys.

1257
02:05:32,600 --> 02:05:34,160
We're not asking you to kill the bill.

1258
02:05:34,300 --> 02:05:35,880
Just let us be a part of the conversation.

1259
02:05:36,920 --> 02:05:37,640
That's all.

1260
02:05:38,500 --> 02:05:40,040
Let's collectively figure this out.

1261
02:05:41,860 --> 02:05:48,680
But personally, I can say, and anybody that's on this district, and they know me, personally

1262
02:05:48,680 --> 02:05:55,020
whenever I've got a call, whether it's been back to school, Christmas, Turkey Drive, whatever

1263
02:05:55,020 --> 02:06:00,000
it's been, I personally pulled up with whatever.

1264
02:06:00,860 --> 02:06:04,240
I haven't sent nobody, I haven't done anything other than that.

1265
02:06:04,780 --> 02:06:06,600
Man, my 11-year-old daughter, we pulled up.

1266
02:06:06,600 --> 02:06:07,860
But we stood up.

1267
02:06:08,060 --> 02:06:09,000
We passed out toys.

1268
02:06:10,620 --> 02:06:15,260
So instead of pushing them back against the nightlife, push forward and help.

1269
02:06:16,600 --> 02:06:17,660
Let us help you guys.

1270
02:06:18,780 --> 02:06:25,480
And you know, I do want to speak on one issue that is kind of, and I know we have some

1271
02:06:26,000 --> 02:06:31,520
honorable APD officers in here, but this issue bothers me a lot because the administration

1272
02:06:31,520 --> 02:06:36,680
has dangled the carrot of, we will let, you know, officers work at the strip clubs.

1273
02:06:38,300 --> 02:06:42,180
The issue with, and I'm quite sure all of you are familiar with, and there's an elephant

1274
02:06:42,180 --> 02:06:44,800
in the room, don't nobody want to talk about it, but I'm going to talk about it.

1275
02:06:45,280 --> 02:06:49,740
The issue with Atlanta Police Department not working at strip clubs is because we had,

1276
02:06:49,920 --> 02:06:55,560
as Mr. Fort said, it was some dirty cops that were working at the strip clubs that

1277
02:06:55,560 --> 02:06:57,840
were following people home robbing them.

1278
02:07:00,210 --> 02:07:04,630
And it didn't become an issue until somebody white got killed.

1279
02:07:06,390 --> 02:07:09,810
So once somebody white got killed, they said,

1280
02:07:09,890 --> 02:07:11,710
no, y'all can't work at strip clubs anymore.

1281
02:07:11,930 --> 02:07:13,370
That's unfair to all the businesses.

1282
02:07:14,010 --> 02:07:17,670
The businesses hired the police department to protect their business.

1283
02:07:18,610 --> 02:07:23,670
Those dirty dishonorable cops, they're the one that made it a problem for the businesses.

1284
02:07:24,390 --> 02:07:26,510
So that was stripped away from the businesses.

1285
02:07:26,790 --> 02:07:27,690
It shouldn't be like that.

1286
02:07:28,230 --> 02:07:33,250
Those cops, I'm quite sure they serve their time to do whatever, but you can't penalize

1287
02:07:33,250 --> 02:07:35,850
the businesses for what a dirty cop did.

1288
02:07:37,620 --> 02:07:41,580
But it's the black eye that the Atlanta Police Department will have to forever live with.

1289
02:07:42,780 --> 02:07:48,480
And we shouldn't be, as business owners, held accountable for that at all.

1290
02:07:49,140 --> 02:07:50,660
They should be willing to work with us.

1291
02:07:51,660 --> 02:07:52,840
That's nothing we did wrong.

1292
02:07:53,580 --> 02:07:54,780
We asked for their assistance.

1293
02:07:55,100 --> 02:07:55,460
Thank you.

1294
02:07:55,540 --> 02:07:56,080
Your time's expired.

1295
02:07:56,440 --> 02:07:57,640
And they went outside the guidelines.

1296
02:07:57,640 --> 02:07:58,020
last.

1297
02:08:03,480 --> 02:08:05,700
Someone needs to tell me that not a council member.

1298
02:08:10,480 --> 02:08:11,620
Let me just be brief. I

1299
02:08:11,620 --> 02:08:15,560
don't need much longer. No, you have any more yield of time. Yes, sir. Tell me your

1300
02:08:15,560 --> 02:08:15,680
name.

1301
02:08:29,020 --> 02:08:30,080
So what's

1302
02:08:35,300 --> 02:08:35,720
the first name?

1303
02:08:39,160 --> 02:08:40,020
Did you sign the sheet?

1304
02:08:46,880 --> 02:08:47,880
I asked about 30 more

1305
02:08:47,880 --> 02:08:52,680
seconds. It did not be how you asked. So I say to this, Mr. Hillis, and I've

1306
02:08:52,680 --> 02:08:56,840
always pushed back against you. You know, we have a very big project in

1307
02:08:56,840 --> 02:09:02,540
your district. I asked that instead of us being, you know, on the opposing

1308
02:09:03,320 --> 02:09:09,420
When I try to West Side open up, which will be next month, I ask you to be there with me and cut the ribbon.

1309
02:09:09,960 --> 02:09:15,800
You've got 143 homes that will be allotted to the affordable community.

1310
02:09:16,260 --> 02:09:18,420
You should be there. I want you there.

1311
02:09:18,920 --> 02:09:24,040
So I'm asking you to let's not oppose each other. Let's work together as allies.

1312
02:09:24,300 --> 02:09:25,500
That benefits your community.

1313
02:09:26,140 --> 02:09:29,280
And that money for those affordable homes that came from the nightlife.

1314
02:09:29,280 --> 02:09:34,340
This is not a nuisance or whatever we took like as I explained before we took

1315
02:09:34,340 --> 02:09:39,220
back we took the money back we gave back to the community so I ask that you be

1316
02:09:39,220 --> 02:09:42,520
respectfully there when we cut that ribbon and let's work together as we

1317
02:09:42,520 --> 02:09:48,240
always have don't push back on us let's work together I'm extending all of

1318
02:09:48,240 --> 02:09:52,400
branch to everybody out here let's collectively work together I appreciate

1319
02:09:52,400 --> 02:09:53,480
y'all enjoy out there

1320
02:10:03,880 --> 02:10:05,920
Daniel O'Toole

1321
02:10:20,410 --> 02:10:23,290
councilmember we have a noted Atlanta

1322
02:10:23,290 --> 02:10:27,950
architect here who has a meeting to get to. Can I swap speaking spaces with him?

1323
02:10:28,090 --> 02:10:35,170
I have six minutes. He has nine. Can he speak now? Bill Day St. Aubin. What is it?

1324
02:10:35,370 --> 02:10:39,670
Just a second. What are we doing here? Can he speak now? And I'll speak when he's

1325
02:10:39,670 --> 02:10:44,890
on when his time. What is your name? Dan O'Toole. Daniel O'Toole. I need his

1326
02:10:44,890 --> 02:10:50,530
name as well. Bill D. St. Aubin on the list. Bill D. St. Aubin. He's on the

1327
02:10:50,530 --> 02:10:54,150
list a little further down. And he had nine minutes.

1328
02:10:55,450 --> 02:10:57,910
I'm not seeing anyone who's allocated time.

1329
02:10:59,350 --> 02:11:01,810
He signed in, and then

1330
02:11:03,050 --> 02:11:05,370
the allocated time came from

1331
02:11:10,340 --> 02:11:12,620
Greg Bonner, Gerard Maddox,

1332
02:11:13,040 --> 02:11:15,300
or Jaquiella Rouse.

1333
02:11:17,720 --> 02:11:18,740
They signed in right after me.

1334
02:11:23,870 --> 02:11:26,530
Go ahead. Thank you. He's got nine minutes.

1335
02:11:26,530 --> 02:11:27,190
I

1336
02:11:29,970 --> 02:11:33,450
apologize, my last name is Complex, it's D. St. Aubin.

1337
02:11:34,270 --> 02:11:36,330
I work for a seismor group.

1338
02:11:36,870 --> 02:11:43,270
We run an architectural and planning firm that's been involved in Atlanta for 40 years.

1339
02:11:43,910 --> 02:11:50,230
And it's an honor to speak here, and really it's a key show's legislation that brought

1340
02:11:50,230 --> 02:11:50,690
me here.

1341
02:11:50,890 --> 02:11:54,350
But hearing the speakers ahead of time and knowing the mayor a bit, it's really

1342
02:11:54,350 --> 02:11:58,850
I'd like to draw a circle around both those legislations and make them happen at once.

1343
02:11:59,210 --> 02:12:03,490
I think Natalie Hall said a lot of what I was interested in saying, but I'll speak from

1344
02:12:03,490 --> 02:12:05,990
an architect's point of view.

1345
02:12:06,870 --> 02:12:13,410
Also as a person, 30 years ago I worked for a firm that did prisons all over the country.

1346
02:12:14,810 --> 02:12:20,790
It was Fab, Ross International, work for CESA Alexander, and it kind of always took

1347
02:12:20,790 --> 02:12:27,530
me back when I drive around the country or drive around this region and look at Gwinnett

1348
02:12:27,530 --> 02:12:32,190
County and the tallest building in Gwinnett County was a jail. What does that say if you

1349
02:12:32,190 --> 02:12:36,210
came from another country or another world and came and visited, what does that say about

1350
02:12:36,210 --> 02:12:41,550
our society that the tallest building is a jail? And I saw that in DeKalb County,

1351
02:12:41,630 --> 02:12:45,390
I saw that all over the country. For my work, I made a lot of money doing prisons.

1352
02:12:46,730 --> 02:12:49,510
I'll work for them any more, I'll work for a firm that builds towns and cities

1353
02:12:49,510 --> 02:12:53,390
in places people love to live and I'm now the CEO of that company.

1354
02:12:54,290 --> 02:13:01,750
And I was fortunate enough to go on the link trip three times in a row.

1355
02:13:02,030 --> 02:13:04,870
I don't think I deserved any of those, but I learned a lot.

1356
02:13:05,090 --> 02:13:08,090
And the last one was in Austin, Texas.

1357
02:13:08,450 --> 02:13:14,750
And Austin, Texas was speaking to, the mayor of Austin was speaking to 120 leaders from

1358
02:13:14,750 --> 02:13:15,050
Atlanta.

1359
02:13:15,550 --> 02:13:16,710
And he could talk about anything.

1360
02:13:16,710 --> 02:13:20,910
here he is talking about his great city to another great city and he chooses to

1361
02:13:20,910 --> 02:13:25,010
talk about the homeless situation he said get your get your hands around it

1362
02:13:25,010 --> 02:13:29,590
before it's too late I've been to Portland in Seattle it's it's huge as

1363
02:13:29,590 --> 02:13:33,890
your city becomes a technology city as incomes go up people can't afford

1364
02:13:35,570 --> 02:13:41,170
housing and we've also I went from that to an AA conference in Chicago where

1365
02:13:41,170 --> 02:13:46,730
where I spent all morning learning about what they were doing at Bellevue in New York.

1366
02:13:47,310 --> 02:13:53,590
300,000 square foot used to be a mental health institution, and they're transforming it into

1367
02:13:54,210 --> 02:13:58,430
a facility just like Keisha's been describing, and they say it'll be the largest shelter

1368
02:13:58,430 --> 02:14:04,350
in the world. Well, the jail's bigger than that. And Alina, in my experience, especially

1369
02:14:04,350 --> 02:14:07,690
She's coming from the background of Seesaw, Alexander.

1370
02:14:08,030 --> 02:14:13,470
Elena's always led the American a lot of ways.

1371
02:14:14,170 --> 02:14:17,270
And I think back about the last civil rights movement,

1372
02:14:17,430 --> 02:14:18,950
some of the leadership Elena has done.

1373
02:14:19,350 --> 02:14:21,610
And I think you have another opportunity here

1374
02:14:22,150 --> 02:14:26,650
to do that with how you treat that jail facility,

1375
02:14:26,890 --> 02:14:28,950
how you transform it into a beacon of hope

1376
02:14:30,010 --> 02:14:31,970
for a lot of people that really need it.

1377
02:14:32,790 --> 02:14:38,150
And it was really the narrative that the mayor of Austin said just kind of hit it home.

1378
02:14:38,410 --> 02:14:43,010
You know, in Austin they were locking up people because they couldn't afford a home.

1379
02:14:43,410 --> 02:14:45,950
And they didn't have anywhere to stay. They didn't have family.

1380
02:14:46,490 --> 02:14:50,110
And that was just law. You know, you can't afford a home. You're going to get locked up.

1381
02:14:50,230 --> 02:14:51,710
You know, because you're sleeping on the bench.

1382
02:14:52,190 --> 02:14:57,410
So they decriminalized that. And we did decriminalize a lot of things in our society, which we probably should.

1383
02:14:57,410 --> 02:14:59,850
And, but.

1384
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:05,980
That hasn't solved the problem. So people like my church and other church, I could relate because

1385
02:15:05,980 --> 02:15:11,280
we would put backpacks together and give it to homeless people. People were giving them

1386
02:15:11,280 --> 02:15:16,680
tents in Austin. They are giving the homeless people tents and all this beautiful riverfront

1387
02:15:16,680 --> 02:15:23,640
along Austin, which I really like, became tent city. And so the governor stepped in

1388
02:15:23,640 --> 02:15:27,240
and said, we're not going to allow tent city. So they made that illegal and then

1389
02:15:27,240 --> 02:15:34,540
And he gave them seven acres away from downtown, and it turned into a really big mess.

1390
02:15:35,020 --> 02:15:36,740
And they worked through it.

1391
02:15:38,000 --> 02:15:40,100
They have a huge budget that's dealing with that.

1392
02:15:40,320 --> 02:15:46,880
They went from like 50,000 a year to 7 million a year and four years trying to deal with

1393
02:15:46,880 --> 02:15:47,500
the situation.

1394
02:15:48,440 --> 02:15:55,620
And I think what I've seen Keisha described and the vision she described with the John

1395
02:15:55,620 --> 02:16:01,040
Lewis Center for Equity could really be a model that you can export all around the country.

1396
02:16:01,780 --> 02:16:06,900
And I think Atlanta should lead. I think this is a great opportunity. Now, let me talk practically

1397
02:16:06,900 --> 02:16:13,340
about as an architect. Our firm is known. There's a lot of different kinds of architects.

1398
02:16:14,020 --> 02:16:20,180
Some do hotels, some do office buildings. We do a lot of planning with the capital

1399
02:16:20,180 --> 02:16:23,440
P. When the Olympics came to Atlanta, we were honored. We master planned all

1400
02:16:23,440 --> 02:16:28,300
the Olympic venues. So I understand exactly, and the mayor and I both went to

1401
02:16:28,300 --> 02:16:31,580
tech, but I understand what he was saying. It's going to take some time. It's a

1402
02:16:31,580 --> 02:16:35,620
three-year process to really figure out what to do at that building. It involves a

1403
02:16:35,620 --> 02:16:39,680
lot of stakeholders, a lot of consensus building, a lot of analysis of the

1404
02:16:39,680 --> 02:16:44,020
condition of that building. And at the same time, Fulton County has an issue

1405
02:16:45,220 --> 02:16:49,260
with the jail. So I think you could combine those two things, but start

1406
02:16:49,260 --> 02:16:51,640
right from the beginning with the combination so you can build the

1407
02:16:51,640 --> 02:16:54,340
long-term vision and become that beacon of hope.

1408
02:16:55,100 --> 02:16:56,680
I have looked at it a little bit.

1409
02:16:56,800 --> 02:16:59,540
I got a tour of the staff at your jail.

1410
02:16:59,800 --> 02:17:00,420
It's amazing.

1411
02:17:01,940 --> 02:17:04,580
I met, I think it was Lieutenant Michael Holmes,

1412
02:17:05,580 --> 02:17:11,000
and he said, you know, the people that get locked up here

1413
02:17:11,620 --> 02:17:13,460
come back just to be rescued.

1414
02:17:14,440 --> 02:17:17,140
Because then you can just see them come back to life

1415
02:17:17,140 --> 02:17:18,880
once they've gotten water and get back

1416
02:17:18,880 --> 02:17:20,280
on their medication and stuff.

1417
02:17:22,300 --> 02:17:27,200
And what if you were proactive about all that and had a facility that could really help people and give them a handout.

1418
02:17:28,100 --> 02:17:38,840
It is complicated. I design a lot of courthouses. You've got to separate uses. You've got to make sure you don't lose any certifications for what you're trying to do in that building.

1419
02:17:39,040 --> 02:17:47,370
So it's not a quick process to try to figure this out. But a lot of ways you do that when I design courthouses, you do it separate circulation systems.

1420
02:17:47,370 --> 02:17:52,790
systems. You might have to add different circulation systems to it. When I say that, elevators,

1421
02:17:54,950 --> 02:18:01,430
it's a complex undertaking, but I've toured the whole building and I could see it. I mean,

1422
02:18:01,490 --> 02:18:06,590
I could just see that that would be an amazing opportunity for the city of Atlanta to kind

1423
02:18:06,590 --> 02:18:14,450
of lead again as we kind of transform our society from lock everybody up to help everybody

1424
02:18:14,450 --> 02:18:19,610
out that's that's all I really I know I got two more minutes but I'm not really

1425
02:18:19,610 --> 02:18:25,470
a speaker I don't know what else to say the truth I think it's a great

1426
02:18:25,470 --> 02:18:31,310
opportunity to get great leaders here that want to do something and I'm in

1427
02:18:31,310 --> 02:18:37,460
full support of what you know the two are trying to do to counter thank you

1428
02:18:38,160 --> 02:18:38,960
Daniel tool

1429
02:18:45,710 --> 02:18:51,090
good afternoon council members new time I'm sorry who did

1430
02:18:51,090 --> 02:18:52,410
you indicate was yielding you time?

1431
02:18:55,490 --> 02:18:59,010
Signed in right after me it was I

1432
02:19:01,290 --> 02:19:01,610
think

1433
02:19:02,470 --> 02:19:04,570
Jaquiella Rouse. She present?

1434
02:19:06,710 --> 02:19:10,370
Maybe not. Can I get the remainder of bills time?

1435
02:19:11,650 --> 02:19:15,990
You have six minutes. Thank you. Well first of all council members I apologize

1436
02:19:15,990 --> 02:19:20,730
for the confusion earlier thank you for the accommodation. I'm here because I'm

1437
02:19:20,730 --> 02:19:26,830
I'm afraid you're about to make a 1.1 billion dollar mistake, which I will explain in just a minute.

1438
02:19:27,390 --> 02:19:32,630
Last week, council members Bond and Waites introduced papers governing what's to become of the Detention Center,

1439
02:19:33,390 --> 02:19:38,190
with both proposals offering temporary short-term housing to Fulton County.

1440
02:19:39,730 --> 02:19:47,090
Immediately following that meeting, Mayor Dickens issued a press release stating that he'll be requesting ideas for what to do after that ends.

1441
02:19:47,090 --> 02:19:51,230
Now, I find that a little odd because Councilman Dickens submitted the paper

1442
02:19:51,230 --> 02:19:58,230
creating the ACDC Task Force, and that group spent $150,000 studying this

1443
02:19:58,230 --> 02:20:02,590
and creating a 110-page report outlining exactly what to do with the building.

1444
02:20:02,990 --> 02:20:08,430
In addition to that, over 160 stakeholders throughout Fulton, Atlanta,

1445
02:20:08,850 --> 02:20:12,070
and surrounding counties have been working on this issue,

1446
02:20:12,170 --> 02:20:13,830
and they pretty much have it squared away.

1447
02:20:13,830 --> 02:20:18,030
The work to convert that building has been done. It's done.

1448
02:20:18,590 --> 02:20:23,570
We have architects here that designed all 29 venues of the Centennial Olympics

1449
02:20:24,790 --> 02:20:28,570
willing to work on this. We're ready for this building.

1450
02:20:28,810 --> 02:20:31,250
Atlanta residents want and need this building.

1451
02:20:32,330 --> 02:20:39,490
Now, I stand here to urge you to combine the papers that both Council Member Bond and Council Member Waits submitted.

1452
02:20:41,550 --> 02:20:47,170
in order to provide that temporary housing that Fulton County needs, but then also tie

1453
02:20:47,170 --> 02:20:52,410
it to converting the building to the John Lewis Center for Equity with all the services

1454
02:20:52,410 --> 02:20:55,250
that we need in that combined building.

1455
02:20:57,680 --> 02:21:00,440
Now where did that $1.1 billion come from?

1456
02:21:01,140 --> 02:21:08,000
CVS Health has indicated that they're willing to create a job training facility training

1457
02:21:08,000 --> 02:21:14,960
center right in the building. And with that facility, they would train over 6,000 Atlantans

1458
02:21:14,960 --> 02:21:21,340
a year and then slot them into jobs within the CVS Health Network. If you just take the

1459
02:21:21,340 --> 02:21:28,320
average or even a below average wage from that, 6,000 residents times 15 bucks an hour

1460
02:21:28,320 --> 02:21:36,020
times a full year, that's $183 million a year for every graduating class going through

1461
02:21:36,580 --> 02:21:40,540
in terms of wages, that every year this project is delayed,

1462
02:21:40,780 --> 02:21:44,940
that's another $183 million that residents

1463
02:21:44,940 --> 02:21:47,680
are missing out on, Atlanta residents are missing out on.

1464
02:21:48,180 --> 02:21:50,060
Now, Mayor Dickens was here earlier,

1465
02:21:50,400 --> 02:21:53,620
and he said he doesn't want to be in the jail business,

1466
02:21:53,820 --> 02:21:55,460
and he wants to give people opportunity.

1467
02:21:56,420 --> 02:21:59,220
How can you give, like, this is an amazing opportunity

1468
02:21:59,220 --> 02:22:03,560
to give Atlanta residents, and as Bill was mentioning

1469
02:22:03,560 --> 02:22:07,980
about the homeless issue. One of the best ways to solve the homeless issue is to get

1470
02:22:07,980 --> 02:22:14,220
people trained and put them in jobs. And we have corporate sponsors and partners that

1471
02:22:14,220 --> 02:22:19,280
are super excited about this, and they want to get to work as soon as possible. In addition

1472
02:22:19,280 --> 02:22:24,880
to CVS, some of those other stakeholders include Grady Health, who need temporary occupancy

1473
02:22:24,880 --> 02:22:31,920
rooms to get people out of beds that they can't discharge, because for whatever reason

1474
02:22:31,920 --> 02:22:33,300
and they can't just discharge them to the street

1475
02:22:33,300 --> 02:22:34,240
with no home to go to.

1476
02:22:34,620 --> 02:22:37,480
We can create hotel-style rooms that they can use

1477
02:22:37,480 --> 02:22:39,180
which will free up space in Grady.

1478
02:22:40,760 --> 02:22:44,760
Emory is one of the partners who is interested in this

1479
02:22:44,760 --> 02:22:49,180
along with the Georgia Justice Project, PAD and others

1480
02:22:49,180 --> 02:22:51,700
and they have put thousands of hours into this already.

1481
02:22:52,340 --> 02:22:54,780
So it would be a complete slap in their face

1482
02:22:54,780 --> 02:22:56,880
to put more poor people in jail

1483
02:22:57,380 --> 02:22:59,980
without directly tying it to creating

1484
02:22:59,980 --> 02:23:03,600
a public services building, namely the John Lewis Center for Equity.

1485
02:23:05,460 --> 02:23:08,180
Now, you know, we, again,

1486
02:23:08,320 --> 02:23:12,020
every year that this is delayed is $183 million in wages

1487
02:23:12,020 --> 02:23:15,880
that are lost to people who need this, so I encourage you

1488
02:23:15,880 --> 02:23:19,800
create a work group, combine these papers, reduce the

1489
02:23:20,480 --> 02:23:24,120
intergovernmental agreement to three years instead of four, because that's about the amount of

1490
02:23:24,120 --> 02:23:27,920
time it will take the work group to finish parceling out the building,

1491
02:23:27,920 --> 02:23:30,440
getting construction drawings, getting bidding, doing all that.

1492
02:23:31,100 --> 02:23:35,080
In that time we can be helping Fulton County with their overcrowding issue,

1493
02:23:35,380 --> 02:23:41,260
but we can also be creating the services that would keep people from going to jail in the first place

1494
02:23:41,260 --> 02:23:44,500
and the services that would get those people out of jail once they're there.

1495
02:23:44,920 --> 02:23:46,840
There's a number of people in jail that are just there

1496
02:23:46,840 --> 02:23:50,380
because they are waiting for substance abuse training programs.

1497
02:23:50,700 --> 02:23:51,320
They're not available.

1498
02:23:51,700 --> 02:23:54,440
If they were in that building, they wouldn't be in jail anymore.

1499
02:23:56,820 --> 02:23:57,460
So,

1500
02:23:59,860 --> 02:24:02,740
again, I encourage you to combine those bills.

1501
02:24:03,340 --> 02:24:09,320
And if we had this building, that would be a national model for the rest of the country

1502
02:24:09,320 --> 02:24:16,420
in what to do to have all these services under one roof, including, you know,

1503
02:24:16,500 --> 02:24:26,820
Warrant Clearing Center, temporary housing, drunk tank and all the...

1504
02:24:26,820 --> 02:24:34,940
Again, we would be a national model, and Atlanta should, quite frankly, be a national model for the rest of the country on a number of different issues.

1505
02:24:42,190 --> 02:24:49,430
So the Mayor also mentioned, or maybe Mrs. Hall, that 80% of the people on Rice Street come from Atlanta.

1506
02:24:49,650 --> 02:24:53,430
So Fulton's overcrowding issue is really Atlanta's overcrowding issue.

1507
02:24:54,030 --> 02:25:00,190
The true humanitarian response, sorry, I'll finish up, would be to create this building,

1508
02:25:00,470 --> 02:25:04,410
have the jail space, but have this building so that you get people out there in the services

1509
02:25:04,410 --> 02:25:04,790
they need.

1510
02:25:05,050 --> 02:25:05,750
Thank you very much.

1511
02:25:08,650 --> 02:25:09,610
Next is Hon.

1512
02:25:09,690 --> 02:25:09,910
Jordan.

1513
02:25:20,910 --> 02:25:22,950
Give me honor to the spirit of God, everyone that's here.

1514
02:25:24,070 --> 02:25:27,290
He that leadeth in the captivity shall go in the captivity.

1515
02:25:28,270 --> 02:25:31,150
He that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.

1516
02:25:31,150 --> 02:25:35,670
Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints, Revelation 13-10.

1517
02:25:36,630 --> 02:25:40,310
When you seek to bring someone into captivity, you shall go into captivity.

1518
02:25:40,970 --> 02:25:42,070
And God don't lie.

1519
02:25:43,050 --> 02:25:47,910
When you lead a person into captivity, then you shall be led into captivity, James Griff.

1520
02:25:48,670 --> 02:25:50,230
This promotes death for you.

1521
02:25:51,750 --> 02:25:58,170
This evil people would refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of

1522
02:25:58,170 --> 02:26:03,690
their heart, and walk after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, should even

1523
02:26:03,690 --> 02:26:08,990
be as the girdle, which is good for nothing Jeremiah 13, chapter 10, 1.

1524
02:26:10,170 --> 02:26:14,830
The lesson of the message is the same as the girdle, was marred.

1525
02:26:15,270 --> 02:26:19,150
So God will more wound Judah's pride.

1526
02:26:19,770 --> 02:26:21,570
Do you want Judah to wound your pride?

1527
02:26:22,930 --> 02:26:28,430
And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.

1528
02:26:29,370 --> 02:26:36,570
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we, an incorruptible crown.

1529
02:26:37,190 --> 02:26:39,290
1 Corinthians 9, chapter 20, verse 1.

1530
02:26:40,310 --> 02:26:45,390
But the lowly need to be encouraged that they are exalted before God,

1531
02:26:46,170 --> 02:26:50,290
whereas the exalted need to hear a message of humiliation.

1532
02:26:50,290 --> 02:26:54,710
Jesus says to rock me, it's as for death.

1533
02:26:55,870 --> 02:27:01,870
Hell and destruction are never four, so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

1534
02:27:02,470 --> 02:27:08,330
Proverbs 27, chapter 20 and 1, the tall of the miser is futile,

1535
02:27:08,530 --> 02:27:10,970
especially when he calls only for himself.

1536
02:27:12,050 --> 02:27:14,590
Those who seek to destroy ask for destruction.

1537
02:27:14,590 --> 02:27:20,190
The law was created to treat one another justly investigator Jackson.

1538
02:27:22,230 --> 02:27:29,750
I had a vision of what Christ would do, to fight for me, but called on Jesus Christ when

1539
02:27:29,750 --> 02:27:34,370
you get in that trouble, because you know your deeds, your unrighteous deeds.

1540
02:27:40,920 --> 02:27:41,900
David Jaffer?

1541
02:27:48,950 --> 02:27:49,870
David Jaffer.

1542
02:27:52,430 --> 02:27:52,970
Ron Shaqir.

1543
02:27:56,680 --> 02:27:57,260
Good afternoon.

1544
02:27:57,620 --> 02:27:58,660
Ron Shaqir and I have

1545
02:28:00,710 --> 02:28:04,070
his amputee and he had to make a little adjustment and he

1546
02:28:04,070 --> 02:28:06,990
haven't got back yet. I hope I can have his minutes. He's been here sitting in

1547
02:28:06,990 --> 02:28:14,480
the corner. He's been seeing them all day. I just want to say that I came here to

1548
02:28:14,480 --> 02:28:23,160
talk about public safety. An importance of public safety is rooted in solid

1549
02:28:25,520 --> 02:28:26,480
stable communities.

1550
02:28:28,640 --> 02:28:32,480
And when a child can't count on their mother or their

1551
02:28:32,480 --> 02:28:35,920
father for a home sweet home.

1552
02:28:37,960 --> 02:28:41,380
They're going to be some broken pieces.

1553
02:28:43,850 --> 02:28:45,570
And hearing the last

1554
02:28:45,570 --> 02:28:55,930
two conversations about repurposing this jail, it draw me near to his subject where he spoke

1555
02:28:55,930 --> 02:29:03,890
of other parts of the country where people was given tents by cities to live on. This

1556
02:29:03,890 --> 02:29:09,930
This is going on throughout the country. Do Atlanta want to give tents for people to live

1557
02:29:09,930 --> 02:29:18,110
on? For sure, I think that we should have a place when people are arrested. But the biggest

1558
02:29:18,110 --> 02:29:25,130
crime that has happened in Atlanta is legislators ignoring

1559
02:29:27,820 --> 02:29:33,510
the displacement of people who come

1560
02:29:33,510 --> 02:29:38,350
to the city who came to the city under the leadership of people who love this city, who

1561
02:29:38,350 --> 02:29:43,230
happen to be African-Americans like Maynard Jackson, where Atlanta was a place that was

1562
02:29:43,230 --> 02:29:48,530
attracting African-Americans because they felt something that was going on good here.

1563
02:29:49,990 --> 02:29:53,030
But for us to ignore gentrification and displacement,

1564
02:29:55,470 --> 02:29:57,310
every piece of policy that

1565
02:29:57,310 --> 02:29:58,950
come out of your legislators.

1566
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:08,480
From this city council, Mr. Hillis, it should measure the impact of the displacement in the

1567
02:30:08,480 --> 02:30:13,780
reorganization of this city of Atlanta. And I would hope that we would do that and be very

1568
02:30:13,780 --> 02:30:22,620
serious and purposeful of doing it. Because right now, we have had most elected officials

1569
02:30:22,620 --> 02:30:27,020
who have come from public schools, most of them from Atlanta public schools in recent

1570
02:30:27,020 --> 02:30:34,420
in history, but the housing in the communities are under attack, and that attack is causing

1571
02:30:34,420 --> 02:30:40,960
people to be displaced in this city, and I think that we should not allow that to happen,

1572
02:30:41,400 --> 02:30:47,780
and that is the biggest crime, because for sure the public housing was a place of refuge

1573
02:30:48,120 --> 02:30:54,100
that gave people in this city a place to start in safe environments, and they produced

1574
02:30:54,100 --> 02:30:56,380
and became a part of a good culture.

1575
02:30:57,620 --> 02:31:02,460
And I think that we should look seriously about the housing that the gentleman just spoke of

1576
02:31:02,900 --> 02:31:05,760
and try to do something to make that happen.

1577
02:31:06,140 --> 02:31:12,700
But for sure, we don't need to fake ourselves out and think that we can push people out of public housing

1578
02:31:12,700 --> 02:31:20,280
and at the same time create something in the private market where we know, like Ford's Grove,

1579
02:31:20,280 --> 02:31:25,840
can be turned down. That can be turned up and turned down. Are you going to

1580
02:31:25,840 --> 02:31:30,320
recognize the gentleman as an amputee who had to make an adjustment? They cannot

1581
02:31:30,320 --> 02:31:34,160
allocate time. Say again? If they're not present they cannot allocate their time.

1582
02:31:34,320 --> 02:31:37,480
Thank you. Well I would just hope that you can run the meeting a little bit

1583
02:31:37,480 --> 02:31:41,940
better because people have stayed here a long time and some people are sick and

1584
02:31:41,940 --> 02:31:46,860
they cannot just stay here and hopefully we can be here meet your

1585
02:31:46,860 --> 02:31:50,280
requirements next time. Thank you. Eric Terrell.

1586
02:31:55,810 --> 02:31:56,450
Mark Spencer.

1587
02:32:04,430 --> 02:32:07,770
Hello. My name is Dr. Mark Spencer. I work

1588
02:32:07,770 --> 02:32:12,750
for Emory and Grady and I'm here on behalf of my colleagues. I bought you a letter signed by 300

1589
02:32:13,410 --> 02:32:18,030
healthcare workers in just the past five days growing every day. These include primary care

1590
02:32:18,030 --> 02:32:24,050
doctors like myself, experts in public health, mental health, addiction, and so much more.

1591
02:32:24,050 --> 02:32:29,810
I'll also email it to you so you can access the links for data and for those of you who

1592
02:32:29,810 --> 02:32:32,670
don't plan to read it, the summary is pretty simple.

1593
02:32:33,350 --> 02:32:39,670
What you're doing in proposing to lease ACDC to Fulton County will undermine both public

1594
02:32:39,670 --> 02:32:43,130
safety and public health and make our work harder, not easier.

1595
02:32:43,830 --> 02:32:45,810
I want to address what the mayor said earlier.

1596
02:32:46,630 --> 02:32:51,530
To be clear, to lease a jail is to very much so be in the jailing business.

1597
02:32:51,530 --> 02:32:58,910
If you can get on the phone with the Sheriff and the DA and the courts at Fulton County to discuss the jail space,

1598
02:32:59,050 --> 02:33:04,350
you can get on the phone with them to demand they solve the crisis they created by their addiction to punishment.

1599
02:33:05,210 --> 02:33:12,710
Overcrowding is not new nor unsolvable. Fulton County needs zero beds and zero days to address their overcrowding issue.

1600
02:33:13,750 --> 02:33:15,750
The Mayor mentioned humanitarian crisis.

1601
02:33:16,630 --> 02:33:21,050
What of the humanitarian crisis of incarcerating mentally ill patients?

1602
02:33:21,590 --> 02:33:23,430
Of incarcerating people for drug use?

1603
02:33:24,070 --> 02:33:31,250
Of fighting a drug war despite 50 years of evidence stating how harmful it is that kills more than the drugs kill themselves?

1604
02:33:32,110 --> 02:33:33,930
Of incarcerating for crimes of poverty?

1605
02:33:34,490 --> 02:33:36,930
The ongoing crisis of wealth-based detention?

1606
02:33:37,510 --> 02:33:41,890
The crisis of diversion-eligible people being ignored and stuck in cages?

1607
02:33:41,890 --> 02:33:48,230
What of the humanitarian crisis of affordable housing, of underfunded schools, of underfunded

1608
02:33:48,230 --> 02:33:53,530
and short-staffed hospitals and health departments, of extreme and growing wealth inequality in

1609
02:33:53,530 --> 02:33:53,930
this city?

1610
02:33:54,870 --> 02:34:00,250
To talk of humanitarianism in terms of only the number of cages for human beings is quite

1611
02:34:00,250 --> 02:34:00,650
something.

1612
02:34:01,470 --> 02:34:03,950
Demanding punishment is not the same as accountability.

1613
02:34:05,150 --> 02:34:07,290
My colleagues and I care deeply about safety.

1614
02:34:07,290 --> 02:34:12,850
safety. Safety and health are deeply intertwined, and 80% of health outcomes for everyone in

1615
02:34:12,850 --> 02:34:18,610
the city is determined right here by policies you make. Your choices for public safety are

1616
02:34:18,610 --> 02:34:23,630
not more or less jail space, but are instead limitless. It's your lack of extensive funding

1617
02:34:23,630 --> 02:34:28,970
of alternatives that's holding you back. The mayor's words might sound good, but

1618
02:34:28,970 --> 02:34:33,010
this might as well have been the 1970s. If you watched the speeches of Maynard Jackson,

1619
02:34:33,010 --> 02:34:34,690
He said the exact same things.

1620
02:34:35,570 --> 02:34:38,330
Tough on crime rhetoric is just that, rhetoric.

1621
02:34:39,070 --> 02:34:43,870
We have 50 years of evidence of the ineffectiveness of more police, more jail cells,

1622
02:34:44,990 --> 02:34:46,770
identifying that as public safety.

1623
02:34:47,150 --> 02:34:48,490
This tonal vision will get us nowhere.

1624
02:34:49,210 --> 02:34:51,990
Police and incarceration got us here and it will not get us out.

1625
02:34:52,890 --> 02:34:58,170
My colleagues and I will meet with you anytime to discuss evidence-based public safety measures.

1626
02:34:58,810 --> 02:35:03,330
We want all of our jobs to be made easier and more importantly communities to be safe and healthier.

1627
02:35:03,990 --> 02:35:10,390
We will not support policies that will lead our patients to experience preventable suffering and premature death.

1628
02:35:10,890 --> 02:35:11,190
Thank you.

1629
02:35:13,610 --> 02:35:15,810
I'll leave this here for you and also email.

1630
02:35:18,720 --> 02:35:19,460
Ann Coons.

1631
02:35:28,820 --> 02:35:30,800
I yield my time to Devin Franklin.

1632
02:35:32,180 --> 02:35:36,040
He can get one additional minute, but he is already at nine minutes.

1633
02:35:36,660 --> 02:35:36,740
So,

1634
02:35:39,240 --> 02:35:42,540
Devin Franklin, you have nine minutes.

1635
02:36:00,520 --> 02:36:08,100
I just have to go. It's already confusing enough with all the yield of time that wasn't documented, so I'll just have to go in order. So as Devin Franklin here,

1636
02:36:12,260 --> 02:36:12,960
nine minutes.

1637
02:36:14,020 --> 02:36:19,920
She was first on the sign-up, so I'm not sure what word you have.

1638
02:36:20,440 --> 02:36:20,960
What is your name?

1639
02:36:21,240 --> 02:36:21,800
Tiffany Roberts.

1640
02:36:22,620 --> 02:36:23,820
Okay, you have nine minutes.

1641
02:36:38,260 --> 02:36:38,720
These masks.

1642
02:36:39,940 --> 02:36:41,020
Okay, so good afternoon.

1643
02:36:41,220 --> 02:36:42,280
My name is Tiffany Roberts.

1644
02:36:42,640 --> 02:36:45,640
I am the Public Policy Director at the Southern Center for Human Rights.

1645
02:36:46,140 --> 02:36:51,280
We are a non-profit law firm committed to decriminalizing race and poverty in the Deep South.

1646
02:36:52,620 --> 02:36:55,520
And this is the first time I've been before this body in person.

1647
02:36:55,520 --> 02:37:01,240
since before the pandemic and I have left public comment for you all while you

1648
02:37:01,240 --> 02:37:06,520
were meeting in a virtual setting but I am very disappointed to be here today to

1649
02:37:06,520 --> 02:37:10,500
speak to you about the Intergovernmental Agreement that is proposed between the

1650
02:37:10,500 --> 02:37:14,820
City of Atlanta, Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff. I'm disappointed

1651
02:37:14,820 --> 02:37:20,400
because what it what it demonstrates to us as people who have been willing

1652
02:37:20,400 --> 02:37:23,800
partners to the City of Atlanta and Fulton County what it demonstrates

1653
02:37:23,800 --> 02:37:30,060
rights to those of us who have spent over a decade studying and working on this issue

1654
02:37:30,060 --> 02:37:35,560
and hundreds of hours working with this city on this issue is that you are committed to

1655
02:37:35,560 --> 02:37:45,360
enabling Fulton County's pathological abuses of human rights and overcrowding. The county

1656
02:37:45,360 --> 02:37:51,560
does not take jail depopulation seriously. Dr. King is often quoted as saying justice

1657
02:37:51,560 --> 02:37:59,020
is not justice denied. Unfortunately, today I'm before you because it is very clear that

1658
02:37:59,020 --> 02:38:05,720
there are members of this council who very much intend for justice delayed to come to

1659
02:38:05,720 --> 02:38:06,060
denial.

1660
02:38:08,200 --> 02:38:12,680
I would like to spend some time reminding you that Council Member Bond was

1661
02:38:12,680 --> 02:38:17,060
the only no vote on creating the Task Force to reimagine the Atlanta City Detention

1662
02:38:17,060 --> 02:38:21,820
Center. And I say that not to call a Council Member Bond, but to name that many people

1663
02:38:21,820 --> 02:38:26,760
who are still on council today were in favor of the work that we did on behalf of the city

1664
02:38:26,760 --> 02:38:27,480
and our community.

1665
02:38:28,440 --> 02:38:34,700
After that legislation passed, my dearly departed comrade, friend, sister, Marissa McCall-Dotson

1666
02:38:34,700 --> 02:38:39,460
and I served on that task force alongside our then executive director, Sarah Tatanji.

1667
02:38:40,140 --> 02:38:45,240
We worked with the city law department and others to draft recommendations around policy,

1668
02:38:45,500 --> 02:38:48,380
how the already small jail population could be even lower.

1669
02:38:48,380 --> 02:38:54,300
Other working groups worked on architecture and programs, hundreds of hours in this city

1670
02:38:54,300 --> 02:38:59,680
service because we were in fact in our community service, thousands of minutes away from our

1671
02:38:59,680 --> 02:39:04,280
families because we believed that we were building something that would benefit all

1672
02:39:04,280 --> 02:39:09,380
of our progeny, millions of moments when we could have been doing anything else.

1673
02:39:10,280 --> 02:39:15,140
Because the beacon of light coming from Maryland wind and women on the rise was too bright

1674
02:39:15,140 --> 02:39:16,200
for us to ignore.

1675
02:39:17,480 --> 02:39:21,380
We heard the mayor say a lot of things and take credit for a lot of things, but what

1676
02:39:21,380 --> 02:39:26,460
I found really interesting is that the city takes credit whenever something positive happens

1677
02:39:26,460 --> 02:39:33,460
and never gives community credit, but when we are in a bad way, you blame your constituents.

1678
02:39:35,140 --> 02:39:38,300
We never say thank you to community for stepping up.

1679
02:39:38,540 --> 02:39:42,180
We told you all in the beginning of the pandemic that you would see crime go down

1680
02:39:42,180 --> 02:39:45,860
as people became employed, housed, and cared for.

1681
02:39:46,140 --> 02:39:48,760
We told you that national experts were telling you

1682
02:39:49,520 --> 02:39:52,860
not to act rashly during this crime wave

1683
02:39:53,280 --> 02:39:55,960
because the pandemic had an impact on gun violence.

1684
02:39:56,620 --> 02:39:58,940
I even did the welcome at St. Luke's Episcopal Church

1685
02:39:58,940 --> 02:40:02,400
on behalf of my church at a forum about gun violence

1686
02:40:02,400 --> 02:40:03,420
as a public health crisis,

1687
02:40:03,580 --> 02:40:05,240
and then Mayor Bedickens vowed

1688
02:40:05,240 --> 02:40:08,180
to take the public health approach to curing gun violence.

1689
02:40:08,840 --> 02:40:10,760
But right now we're asking to give Fulton County

1690
02:40:10,760 --> 02:40:13,380
a blank check for more years.

1691
02:40:13,760 --> 02:40:16,420
Four years at once, past Mayor Dickens' first term,

1692
02:40:17,000 --> 02:40:19,120
gives Patrick LaBotte a blank check,

1693
02:40:19,600 --> 02:40:21,780
and I want to go into the language of the agreement

1694
02:40:21,780 --> 02:40:24,160
that I have, and perhaps it's been amended

1695
02:40:24,160 --> 02:40:26,460
since I laid eyes on it, but if it hasn't,

1696
02:40:26,540 --> 02:40:30,140
I want to enumerate for you all of the problems

1697
02:40:30,140 --> 02:40:33,040
that we found beyond the carceral footprint

1698
02:40:33,040 --> 02:40:35,600
that you are enabling Fulton County to have.

1699
02:40:35,960 --> 02:40:38,880
You'll also hear from my impact litigation director

1700
02:40:38,880 --> 02:40:43,980
at Southern Center and several others who have been at Southern Center long enough to

1701
02:40:43,980 --> 02:40:49,700
see Fulton County's habit of using the City of Atlanta's jail and other facilities in the

1702
02:40:49,700 --> 02:40:57,360
Metro to compensate for their unwillingness and inability to effectively partner to depopulate

1703
02:40:57,360 --> 02:41:04,140
their jail. It's important for us to understand that the talking points about sleeping on

1704
02:41:04,140 --> 02:41:09,760
boats are talking points that we raised time and time again. In fact, in the beginning of

1705
02:41:09,760 --> 02:41:14,820
the pandemic, we pulled together national organizations who were willing to bail people

1706
02:41:14,820 --> 02:41:20,200
out of Fulton County who cannot afford their bail. Those efforts were thwarted by members,

1707
02:41:20,700 --> 02:41:26,640
people who are employed by and elected in Fulton County. We have always been there.

1708
02:41:27,520 --> 02:41:32,640
We have been there for the children who were incarcerated. We have been there.

1709
02:41:32,640 --> 02:41:37,000
We have been there for the people sleeping in boats because it is us who visits them.

1710
02:41:37,440 --> 02:41:41,680
We don't rely on talking only to the jailer. We talk to the jailed.

1711
02:41:42,520 --> 02:41:46,380
And what I heard Mayor Dickens talk about over and over again is the way you government

1712
02:41:46,380 --> 02:41:51,260
actors are talking to each other. I have not heard one talking point lifting up the

1713
02:41:51,260 --> 02:41:55,380
necessity of speaking with subject matter experts because we're going to be serious.

1714
02:41:56,100 --> 02:42:01,880
Your understanding of criminal legal process is superficial and unsophisticated.

1715
02:42:05,390 --> 02:42:09,610
I'm going to go through some points about this intergovernmental agreement that are really, really concerning.

1716
02:42:09,930 --> 02:42:14,010
First, it gives Sheriff LeBotte full discretion to define overcapacity.

1717
02:42:14,630 --> 02:42:15,290
What does that mean?

1718
02:42:15,750 --> 02:42:19,870
That means if he says Fulton County is not overcrowded until it reaches 3,200,

1719
02:42:20,250 --> 02:42:25,070
then you're going to have a 3,200 person jail and 700 people at ACDC.

1720
02:42:25,670 --> 02:42:27,610
One month he could say it's 3,000.

1721
02:42:27,850 --> 02:42:29,570
The next month he could say it's 2,000.

1722
02:42:29,570 --> 02:42:37,700
That is in the letter, that is within the four corners of your document as needed basis

1723
02:42:37,700 --> 02:42:39,440
is defined by Patrick LeBott.

1724
02:42:40,100 --> 02:42:44,120
The agreement also de-prioritizes the most overcrowded facility.

1725
02:42:44,280 --> 02:42:46,780
You say you're concerned about what's happening on Rice Street.

1726
02:42:47,200 --> 02:42:50,500
I was a public defender, I stayed at Rice Street until two o'clock in the morning visiting

1727
02:42:50,500 --> 02:42:51,160
my clients.

1728
02:42:51,460 --> 02:42:52,340
I am not unfamiliar.

1729
02:42:53,220 --> 02:42:58,620
I visited at the overflow facilities like Bellwood was even there once when the locks

1730
02:42:58,620 --> 02:42:59,440
stopped working.

1731
02:42:59,440 --> 02:43:03,180
I stayed put and talked to my client, I wasn't afraid of them, right?

1732
02:43:03,480 --> 02:43:08,440
So we also understand how to treat people who mainly and not stoke fear in order to

1733
02:43:08,440 --> 02:43:12,580
perpetuate the remnants of child slavery, which is in fact what we are doing when we

1734
02:43:12,580 --> 02:43:15,400
are increasing an incarceration footprint.

1735
02:43:16,740 --> 02:43:23,040
Article five of this provision only allows the sheriff, the unilateral authority to

1736
02:43:23,040 --> 02:43:24,140
terminate the agreement.

1737
02:43:25,020 --> 02:43:27,820
He can do it for any reason or no reason at all.

1738
02:43:27,820 --> 02:43:34,860
The City of Atlanta under this agreement can only terminate this IGA if Fulton County doesn't pay.

1739
02:43:35,520 --> 02:43:40,940
So if a Fulton County employee who you are shipping in without even looking at their personnel records or their disciplinary history,

1740
02:43:41,380 --> 02:43:46,200
if they were to rape or assault someone in ACDC, that is not cause under this agreement.

1741
02:43:46,840 --> 02:43:52,380
If they were to commit any act leaving the City of Atlanta open to liability, that is not for cause under this agreement.

1742
02:43:52,380 --> 02:44:08,720
You have absolutely no authority to terminate this agreement and have not included any periodic reviews of the performance of this agreement through the four-year term to give taxpayers, advocates, families of incarcerated people.

1743
02:44:08,920 --> 02:44:14,480
You have not provided any pathways to evaluate this agreement for community.

1744
02:44:15,180 --> 02:44:21,060
It also requires the City of Atlanta to warrant that Fulton will be able to provide services

1745
02:44:21,060 --> 02:44:25,660
in ACDC, but does not mark what the requirements of those services are.

1746
02:44:25,920 --> 02:44:26,660
We don't even know.

1747
02:44:27,300 --> 02:44:29,520
I have colleagues who have worked in Fulton County for a long time.

1748
02:44:29,920 --> 02:44:32,820
A lot of those services that they say they offer, we are not aware of.

1749
02:44:34,540 --> 02:44:40,080
If you do not know what they currently do, how can you assess the feasibility of

1750
02:44:40,080 --> 02:44:40,580
this agreement?

1751
02:44:41,080 --> 02:44:46,400
If you don't know the space required to operate these things, how can you say that there will

1752
02:44:46,400 --> 02:44:47,800
be any revenue generated?

1753
02:44:48,100 --> 02:44:53,540
Because $50 to us sounds like a pretty low ball figure based on what we know about national

1754
02:44:53,540 --> 02:44:56,700
trends when it comes to what it costs to incarcerate a person per night.

1755
02:44:57,180 --> 02:44:59,960
And the other thing that I'll note is that this...

1756
02:45:19,600 --> 02:45:29,980
So what we'd like to present to you today is the Southern Center for Human Rights, is the long history that Fulton has of this kind of malfeasance, and the way that the city of Atlanta has an age gap.

1757
02:45:29,980 --> 02:45:34,360
Yes, Council Member Bond, to see a problem and do nothing is a sin.

1758
02:45:34,580 --> 02:45:42,060
But the larger sin is to see mass incarceration growing, to spread misinformation, and then expect for us to do nothing.

1759
02:45:42,380 --> 02:45:43,260
Thank you very much.

1760
02:45:47,100 --> 02:45:47,980
Devin Franklin,

1761
02:45:50,300 --> 02:45:51,000
Council Member Bond.

1762
02:45:54,820 --> 02:46:00,220
Thank you. I just wanted to respond and I appreciate your comments and the work that you've done over the years.

1763
02:46:00,220 --> 02:46:07,260
but about my vote about the panel that was in panel to study what to do with the jail.

1764
02:46:07,980 --> 02:46:14,920
I learned in January of 2018 that one of the first actions of the Bottoms Administration

1765
02:46:14,920 --> 02:46:21,380
was to do an analysis internally in the mayor's office of what to do with that facility.

1766
02:46:22,100 --> 02:46:25,400
That was headed by former planning commissioner Tim Keen.

1767
02:46:25,400 --> 02:46:37,420
He came back and reported to the mayor that they couldn't do anything with that facility unless they spent an estimated $120 million to refurbish it.

1768
02:46:37,840 --> 02:46:49,180
If you recall the work that you and other citizens did and the four recommendations that you had, the fourth recommendation came back with a similar number to repurpose that facility.

1769
02:46:49,180 --> 02:47:08,220
Having that knowledge six months later when the mayor surprised all of us who were serving with her that she wanted to move forward, I felt that the effort to impanel citizens to have them study something that they already knew the result of was insidious.

1770
02:47:08,640 --> 02:47:11,620
And I decided not to vote to support it.

1771
02:47:14,010 --> 02:47:15,010
Am I to respond?

1772
02:47:16,370 --> 02:47:17,870
I don't necessarily need to.

1773
02:47:17,870 --> 02:47:27,090
Okay. There are several recommendations regarding what could happen, including raising, right, building satellites.

1774
02:47:27,670 --> 02:47:29,190
Tens of millions of dollars.

1775
02:47:29,590 --> 02:47:33,910
This failing to act on this will cost us tens of millions of dollars. I can guarantee you that.

1776
02:47:34,710 --> 02:47:44,590
Oh, yeah. We don't agree with decriminalization. We don't disagree, rather, on having diversion programs.

1777
02:47:45,270 --> 02:47:49,490
what I've always disagreed with is doing it in that particular building.

1778
02:47:49,930 --> 02:47:54,650
The city of Atlanta has hundreds of thousands of empty space.

1779
02:47:55,410 --> 02:47:59,470
That persons who want to provide programs, much like Pat has done,

1780
02:48:00,150 --> 02:48:04,850
could have been providing programs four years ago, up till now, and still can do it.

1781
02:48:05,450 --> 02:48:07,330
So we're not in disagreement with that.

1782
02:48:08,290 --> 02:48:12,950
It costs taxpayers, if we listen to the proposals that have been introduced

1783
02:48:12,950 --> 02:48:19,370
by the architects and others. It'll cost us $120 million a minimum to turn that building

1784
02:48:19,370 --> 02:48:27,210
into anything else. I appreciate the symbolism, but there's empty space if people want to

1785
02:48:27,210 --> 02:48:33,550
provide services today for folks to divert them from the criminal justice system or

1786
02:48:33,550 --> 02:48:36,970
to provide services or to partner. That's all I'm saying.

1787
02:48:38,650 --> 02:48:41,410
I think your next is Devin Franklin who has nine minutes.

1788
02:48:42,990 --> 02:48:43,390
I

1789
02:48:47,840 --> 02:48:50,400
think I was next following Tiffany on the sign up sheet.

1790
02:48:50,400 --> 02:48:51,160
I have a list here.

1791
02:48:51,600 --> 02:48:51,760
Okay.

1792
02:48:51,800 --> 02:48:52,200
It changes.

1793
02:48:52,560 --> 02:48:53,780
People yield time to each other.

1794
02:48:53,920 --> 02:48:54,400
People leave.

1795
02:48:54,660 --> 02:48:55,780
People come and go.

1796
02:48:55,940 --> 02:48:59,260
I was standing by the sign that was Remlin in line so I know she signed up before.

1797
02:49:00,220 --> 02:49:01,580
I'm not saying she's done on the list.

1798
02:49:01,680 --> 02:49:03,080
I'm just going by the list I have.

1799
02:49:03,500 --> 02:49:04,760
And I would prefer to go in order.

1800
02:49:06,120 --> 02:49:10,340
With all due respect, I'm saying that the order that we signed up in, the actual order.

1801
02:49:10,340 --> 02:49:14,440
Well, there's different lists that are generated from, we have different lists that people sign up on.

1802
02:49:15,660 --> 02:49:19,720
But again, state your name and you can go.

1803
02:49:20,320 --> 02:49:22,940
So y'all can just run the meeting. So whoever's next.

1804
02:49:25,190 --> 02:49:29,070
Just before I begin, Caitlin Barnes ceded time to me.

1805
02:49:29,710 --> 02:49:30,690
Do you have that on the list?

1806
02:49:30,730 --> 02:49:31,130
What is your name?

1807
02:49:31,530 --> 02:49:34,850
Christina Remlin. That's R-E-M-L-I-N.

1808
02:49:35,350 --> 02:49:36,230
Yeah, you have six minutes.

1809
02:49:36,650 --> 02:49:37,290
Okay, thank you.

1810
02:49:38,490 --> 02:49:39,990
My name is Christina Remlin.

1811
02:49:40,210 --> 02:49:40,630
She hers.

1812
02:49:40,930 --> 02:49:43,910
I'm the Director of Impact Litigation for the Southern Center for Human Rights.

1813
02:49:45,570 --> 02:49:46,550
I'm from Atlanta.

1814
02:49:47,250 --> 02:49:48,990
I'm a District 5 constituent.

1815
02:49:49,370 --> 02:49:50,890
It's really nice to be before you all.

1816
02:49:50,950 --> 02:49:53,210
I'm a proud product of our public school system here.

1817
02:49:53,970 --> 02:49:59,670
I'm honored to speak today about the litigation history that we've brought in close partnership

1818
02:49:59,670 --> 02:50:08,410
with our clients for unfortunately 28 years addressing problems inside of Fulton County's

1819
02:50:08,410 --> 02:50:14,050
jails. We have always cared about the people in Fulton County's jails and we've worked in

1820
02:50:14,050 --> 02:50:20,530
partnership with them. Acquiring the South Fulton Jail was supposed to help with overcrowding,

1821
02:50:20,870 --> 02:50:26,770
but instead it invited a new lawsuit. Now Fulton is again trying with the ACDC.

1822
02:50:26,770 --> 02:50:30,430
The time is right for solutions, not more bed-filling.

1823
02:50:31,610 --> 02:50:38,570
In 1994, we joined a lawsuit, Stinson v. the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, and

1824
02:50:38,570 --> 02:50:44,430
made the case that overcrowding and poor conditions were the result of too many people

1825
02:50:44,430 --> 02:50:50,490
of limited means charged with minor crimes waiting to go to court to resolve their

1826
02:50:50,490 --> 02:50:50,810
case.

1827
02:50:51,730 --> 02:50:52,490
It sounds familiar.

1828
02:50:52,490 --> 02:50:59,970
At that time, Fulton County paid appointed lawyers $50 per case to represent people charged with misdemeanors.

1829
02:51:00,370 --> 02:51:05,650
Their representation did not even begin until the defendant was brought from jail to court.

1830
02:51:06,430 --> 02:51:12,290
Every incentive was provided to encourage the accused to plead guilty to get out of jail and go home.

1831
02:51:13,130 --> 02:51:19,570
Routinely, these people spent more time languishing in horrible conditions in the jail waiting for court

1832
02:51:19,570 --> 02:51:21,730
then they would have been sentenced to serve.

1833
02:51:23,130 --> 02:51:26,170
We settled that case with a consent order in 1999,

1834
02:51:27,330 --> 02:51:29,490
which required Fulton County to ensure

1835
02:51:29,490 --> 02:51:32,570
that people received legal advice within three days of arrest,

1836
02:51:32,850 --> 02:51:36,310
to provide adequate resources to the public defender program,

1837
02:51:36,710 --> 02:51:39,130
and to make good faith efforts to ensure

1838
02:51:39,130 --> 02:51:42,310
that the defender's offices had more manageable caseloads.

1839
02:51:43,550 --> 02:51:45,930
This settlement and other pressure from the Southern Center

1840
02:51:45,930 --> 02:51:47,510
and advocates across the state

1841
02:51:47,510 --> 02:51:51,050
field the creation of the first statewide public defender system in Georgia.

1842
02:51:53,070 --> 02:52:00,350
But following the Stinson settlement, almost immediately we brought another case because

1843
02:52:00,350 --> 02:52:03,670
of the conditions that were so horrifying inside the Fulton County Jail.

1844
02:52:04,410 --> 02:52:11,450
In 1999, Foster versus Fulton County, we sued, honored to represent a class of people

1845
02:52:11,450 --> 02:52:13,370
inside who are HIV positive.

1846
02:52:13,370 --> 02:52:21,860
The case targeted the complete lack of appropriate treatment of their physical health needs,

1847
02:52:22,400 --> 02:52:27,880
and resulted in a consent decree for preliminary injunctive relief entered a week after the

1848
02:52:27,880 --> 02:52:30,180
case was filed in 1999.

1849
02:52:31,920 --> 02:52:36,600
The result of that consent decree led to the replacement of the jails for profit medical

1850
02:52:36,600 --> 02:52:41,980
provider with one that offered HIV specialists, effective medications, and improved medical

1851
02:52:41,980 --> 02:52:42,360
care.

1852
02:52:42,360 --> 02:52:48,020
and all that the outcome in that case was life-saving the effort to monitor that

1853
02:52:48,020 --> 02:52:54,560
case revealed an unfathomable level of county-sanctioned indifference to human

1854
02:52:54,560 --> 02:53:00,620
suffering inside. The court-appointed expert in Correctional Medicine revealed

1855
02:53:00,620 --> 02:53:06,360
hundreds of people languishing in the jail again with minor charges for weeks

1856
02:53:06,360 --> 02:53:11,680
or months before ever making a court appearance or meeting an attorney. US

1857
02:53:11,680 --> 02:53:18,280
This district court, Marvin Shube, oversaw the release of nearly 200 people who had served

1858
02:53:18,280 --> 02:53:21,900
more time waiting for their court hearing than they would have served if convicted of

1859
02:53:21,900 --> 02:53:22,740
their alleged crimes.

1860
02:53:23,900 --> 02:53:28,080
In connection with the monitoring of that consent decree and settlement agreement, it became

1861
02:53:28,080 --> 02:53:35,960
clear that the culture, the jail allowed created systemic inhumane conditions affecting

1862
02:53:35,960 --> 02:53:41,220
all of the people inside there, not just the class of HIV positive people at issue

1863
02:53:41,220 --> 02:53:47,920
in our suit. As a result, in 2004, the Southern Center filed another class action complaint

1864
02:53:47,920 --> 02:53:53,100
on behalf of people detained there. The Harper v. Bennett case grew out of the horrifying

1865
02:53:53,100 --> 02:53:59,040
conditions exposed and allowed by the jail staff and their leadership exposed during

1866
02:53:59,040 --> 02:54:04,100
the monitoring of the foster case. That litigation, again, was resolved by a consent

1867
02:54:04,100 --> 02:54:11,880
entered into in December of 2005, but we spent the following decade monitoring the

1868
02:54:11,880 --> 02:54:16,440
terms of that consent order and trying to get the conditions on the inside to

1869
02:54:16,620 --> 02:54:20,560
improve in close partnership with our clients and partners who were

1870
02:54:20,560 --> 02:54:24,900
experiencing the most direct consequences of those horrifying abuses.

1871
02:54:25,920 --> 02:54:29,640
The consent order addressed understaffing, overcrowding, sanitation,

1872
02:54:29,640 --> 02:54:32,700
maintenance of the jails, failing physical plant,

1873
02:54:33,360 --> 02:54:35,440
medical, mental health care, and other issues.

1874
02:54:36,340 --> 02:54:40,060
It was terminated in May of 2015 over our objections,

1875
02:54:40,760 --> 02:54:43,580
despite the evidence that we provided at the time

1876
02:54:43,580 --> 02:54:46,220
of ongoing violence and deplorable conditions.

1877
02:54:47,680 --> 02:54:50,780
And just four years after, in 2019,

1878
02:54:51,520 --> 02:54:54,260
the Southern Center, along with the Georgia Advocacy Office,

1879
02:54:54,760 --> 02:54:57,260
and again, our very worthy clients,

1880
02:54:57,260 --> 02:55:02,060
filed another suit regarding the South Fulton Jail challenging their

1881
02:55:02,060 --> 02:55:06,900
practices of subjecting women experiencing psychiatric disabilities to

1882
02:55:06,900 --> 02:55:11,220
long-term isolation and solitary confinement cells into plurable

1883
02:55:11,220 --> 02:55:15,920
conditions and discriminating against women by denying those found

1884
02:55:15,920 --> 02:55:21,060
incompetent to stay in trial the same kinds of programs and services as men

1885
02:55:21,060 --> 02:55:25,760
receive. The South Fulton Jail's abusive solitary confinement and

1886
02:55:25,760 --> 02:55:31,220
extreme long-term isolation practices were an unconstitutional violation of

1887
02:55:31,220 --> 02:55:36,520
our clients' rights, particularly acute for people with mental health

1888
02:55:36,520 --> 02:55:40,580
challenges, but tantamount to psychological torture for anyone.

1889
02:55:41,560 --> 02:55:45,400
Following a four-day preliminary injunction hearing, Judge William Ray

1890
02:55:45,400 --> 02:55:50,380
granted our preliminary injunction and called the conditions repulsive and

1891
02:55:50,380 --> 02:55:54,420
remarked that the people who ran the jail really ought to have a hard time

1892
02:55:54,420 --> 02:55:55,180
I'm sleeping at night.

1893
02:55:56,120 --> 02:55:58,860
This suit is still pending in the monitoring phase.

1894
02:55:59,940 --> 02:56:03,900
In sum, for the last 28 years,

1895
02:56:04,220 --> 02:56:06,700
we have a history of bringing these suits.

1896
02:56:07,280 --> 02:56:10,340
The answer now is for actual solutions that are needed,

1897
02:56:10,540 --> 02:56:11,360
not more bedfilling.

1898
02:56:20,940 --> 02:56:21,740
Good afternoon.

1899
02:56:22,140 --> 02:56:23,900
My name's Mary Sydney Harbert

1900
02:56:23,900 --> 02:56:27,460
and Joya Thornton has seated her time to me.

1901
02:56:29,440 --> 02:56:30,000
Thank you.

1902
02:56:34,390 --> 02:56:36,190
Hello, those of you up there.

1903
02:56:39,330 --> 02:56:44,270
As I said, my name is Mary Sidney Harbert and I'm the Operations Manager for the Southern

1904
02:56:44,270 --> 02:56:45,290
Center for Human Rights.

1905
02:56:45,770 --> 02:56:51,750
I began working at Southern Center in 2002 as an investigator and I served in that role

1906
02:56:51,750 --> 02:56:52,790
for 15 years.

1907
02:56:53,470 --> 02:56:59,010
My work as an investigator spanned the end of the foster case, the entirety of the

1908
02:56:59,010 --> 02:57:03,850
Harper case, and the beginning of the current litigation at the South Fulton Jail.

1909
02:57:03,850 --> 02:57:08,290
So put another way, I've spent 13 of my 15 years as an investigator

1910
02:57:08,850 --> 02:57:13,270
confronting and working to eliminate human rights abuses in Fulton jails.

1911
02:57:14,090 --> 02:57:18,130
During that time, Fulton County spent about $1 billion

1912
02:57:19,410 --> 02:57:21,850
attempting to relieve overcrowding,

1913
02:57:22,270 --> 02:57:26,230
increase staffing and inhumane conditions under court order.

1914
02:57:26,870 --> 02:57:31,970
Essentially Fulton County has played a very expensive game of whack-a-mole

1915
02:57:31,970 --> 02:57:34,830
And now they are coming to you for help.

1916
02:57:35,770 --> 02:57:37,610
Let me just provide some details.

1917
02:57:38,590 --> 02:57:48,690
Under the consent order entered in 2006, Fulton County paid $55 million on repairs to the facility that took more than three years.

1918
02:57:50,030 --> 02:57:54,990
At the end of that project, the cell door locks in all the housing units still did not work.

1919
02:57:56,210 --> 02:58:02,250
To relieve overcrowding over the next six years, Fulton's share of signed contracts with Metro

1920
02:58:02,250 --> 02:58:09,290
Atlanta counties of Douglas, Gwinnett, Hall, Polk, Cobb to Cabb, City of Atlanta, and then the

1921
02:58:09,290 --> 02:58:15,110
distant Pelham City Jail in Mitchell County as well as the Cobb County Jail, excuse me, Cook

1922
02:58:15,110 --> 02:58:23,110
County Jail in Adel to hold people who would not fit in the Fulton County Jail. Between

1923
02:58:23,110 --> 02:58:29,710
In 2007 and 2012, it cost the Fulton Sheriff $49 million to outsource these people.

1924
02:58:30,930 --> 02:58:33,770
That's a horrible way of describing the situation.

1925
02:58:34,190 --> 02:58:36,770
We don't really outsource people, but I'll

1926
02:58:39,270 --> 02:58:39,630
move on.

1927
02:58:40,230 --> 02:58:45,370
Efforts to reduce the jail population over those six years did bear some fruit.

1928
02:58:46,370 --> 02:58:51,330
And in 2013, Fulton County did not fund the Sheriff to outsource any more people.

1929
02:58:51,330 --> 02:58:56,670
and everyone who had been detained in other jurisdictions were returned to Fulton County

1930
02:58:56,670 --> 02:59:02,350
Jail. The sheriff moved the women to the Union City Jail under a long-term lease agreement

1931
02:59:02,350 --> 02:59:10,910
and the population was reduced to 2357 with the use of various court programs, programs

1932
02:59:10,910 --> 02:59:16,910
that received additional funding from the county. For example, $250,000 went toward

1933
02:59:16,910 --> 02:59:18,010
accountability courts.

1934
02:59:20,190 --> 02:59:27,550
$650,000 went to the district attorney. $250,000 went to a jail reentry

1935
02:59:27,550 --> 02:59:31,990
program. $495,000 went to the superior court.

1936
02:59:35,160 --> 02:59:39,340
Finally, after 10 years and $4.7 million dollars

1937
02:59:39,340 --> 02:59:44,620
and I'm throwing lots of figures out, the cell locks and all of the housing units

1938
02:59:44,620 --> 02:59:51,860
were finally replaced. And the county moved to terminate the lawsuit. The sheriff didn't

1939
02:59:51,860 --> 02:59:57,100
join the motion to terminate the lawsuit and said, actually, the jail is still chronically

1940
02:59:57,100 --> 02:59:59,680
understaffed. And they were concerned.

1941
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:06,180
That if the county got out of the lawsuit, that there would be no more money to pay for the staffing at the jail.

1942
03:00:08,140 --> 03:00:16,160
He went on, the sheriff went on to say that while the jail is no longer overcrowded, because all the women had been moved to a least jail in Union City,

1943
03:00:16,740 --> 03:00:25,640
that the move, quote, created a need for staffing, in addition to the need created by the county's refusal to fund positions needed at the main jail.

1944
03:00:25,640 --> 03:00:32,400
A situation that creates an unsafe atmosphere for the inmates and the sheriff's employees, quote.

1945
03:00:33,260 --> 03:00:39,600
The only way the sheriff came close to having enough staff was to pay overtime to work extra shifts.

1946
03:00:40,560 --> 03:00:50,240
In the first quarter of 2015 alone, the sheriff paid $663,644 on overtime staffing,

1947
03:00:50,480 --> 03:00:53,960
and that didn't even reach compliance with the consent order.

1948
03:00:55,260 --> 03:01:00,480
I saw the impacts of the inadequate staffing whenever I went to the Fulton Jail.

1949
03:01:00,720 --> 03:01:05,880
During those visits I heard of countless missed court dates, missed doctor's appointments,

1950
03:01:06,500 --> 03:01:13,960
missed medication grounds, missed legal visits, missed meals, mail, church services.

1951
03:01:14,600 --> 03:01:20,020
Nearly all activities ground to a halt for a time people were locked in their cells

1952
03:01:20,020 --> 03:01:25,020
20 hours a day and served meals in their cells, denied phone calls, regular showers,

1953
03:01:25,300 --> 03:01:27,560
or exercised because there wasn't enough staff.

1954
03:01:30,310 --> 03:01:32,430
Even the sheriff did his own internal staffing

1955
03:01:32,430 --> 03:01:35,810
study and found that they didn't have enough staff.

1956
03:01:39,680 --> 03:01:41,700
While I began documenting evidence

1957
03:01:41,700 --> 03:01:48,220
in 2002, the foster case was just ending. It was clear where things were already headed.

1958
03:01:49,900 --> 03:01:55,780
As Christina mentioned, the last court monitor's report for the case was used as evidence in

1959
03:01:55,780 --> 03:01:57,940
the complaint for the next case that was filed.

1960
03:01:58,520 --> 03:02:04,200
And when that case was terminated, the sheriff was already citing why the court should remain

1961
03:02:04,200 --> 03:02:05,900
and provide oversight.

1962
03:02:06,760 --> 03:02:11,160
We were already receiving complaints from women in the South Fulton Jail almost immediately.

1963
03:02:13,860 --> 03:02:17,440
I've seen what happens when the county tries to band aid the problems without

1964
03:02:17,440 --> 03:02:21,860
getting to the heart of its wounds and I've recounted to you all what I've

1965
03:02:21,860 --> 03:02:26,200
witnessed during my 13 years investigating conditions in Fulton's

1966
03:02:26,200 --> 03:02:31,600
jails. Endless spending, failed attempts to adapt staffing levels to overpopulation,

1967
03:02:32,180 --> 03:02:36,240
outsourcing people away from their families and lawyers, and a sheriff's

1968
03:02:36,240 --> 03:02:40,320
office that didn't think it could protect people absent a court order. So

1969
03:02:40,320 --> 03:02:44,800
today I am forecasting what is to come. Should the City of Atlanta enter

1970
03:02:44,800 --> 03:02:49,460
into a lease agreement with Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff. One billion

1971
03:02:49,460 --> 03:02:55,400
dollars spent and they are back where they started. If you enable the county with a lease,

1972
03:02:56,140 --> 03:03:02,020
the true solutions will be delayed. That is why the city needs to commit itself to

1973
03:03:02,020 --> 03:03:08,640
the only evidence-based decarceration effort it's not yet tried, route addressing wellness

1974
03:03:08,640 --> 03:03:13,620
center that the city's been researching for several years. Thank you very much.

1975
03:03:13,620 --> 03:03:14,540
My

1976
03:03:27,880 --> 03:03:31,640
name is Caitlin Childs and Victor, I'm sorry, I don't know your last name.

1977
03:03:32,380 --> 03:03:33,160
You have six minutes.

1978
03:03:33,480 --> 03:03:36,000
Deadler is ceding time to me.

1979
03:03:38,800 --> 03:03:40,520
My name is Caitlin Childs.

1980
03:03:40,580 --> 03:03:45,140
I'm a resident of the city of Atlanta and a senior investigator at the Southern Center for Human Rights.

1981
03:03:45,680 --> 03:03:50,080
I have served as the investigator on the South Holton Jail Litigation since 2019.

1982
03:03:50,860 --> 03:03:56,680
I have had the privilege of meeting with and hearing the stories of hundreds of individuals who have been detained

1983
03:03:56,680 --> 03:04:00,320
and continue to be detained at the jail in Union City.

1984
03:04:01,020 --> 03:04:03,560
City officials have claimed that moving people

1985
03:04:03,560 --> 03:04:07,700
from Union City to ACDC will address inhumane conditions

1986
03:04:07,700 --> 03:04:09,440
in existing county jails.

1987
03:04:09,920 --> 03:04:11,640
I wanna make it crystal clear

1988
03:04:11,940 --> 03:04:13,900
that the constitutional violations

1989
03:04:14,320 --> 03:04:15,860
that led to this litigation

1990
03:04:16,100 --> 03:04:18,520
were not about the location of our clients.

1991
03:04:18,880 --> 03:04:22,120
They were about the unlawful and unconstitutional

1992
03:04:22,120 --> 03:04:24,860
practices of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.

1993
03:04:24,860 --> 03:04:29,860
office, the same sheriff's office that will continue to be responsible for their custody

1994
03:04:29,860 --> 03:04:33,260
and care even if they are housed in ACDC.

1995
03:04:34,040 --> 03:04:39,040
I want you to hear some of our clients' own testimony and statements in this case.

1996
03:04:39,880 --> 03:04:46,120
MJ, a 20-year-old woman with mental illness, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass

1997
03:04:46,120 --> 03:04:48,460
for failing to leave the West End Mall.

1998
03:04:49,000 --> 03:04:53,240
She was homeless at the time and could not afford her $500 bond.

1999
03:04:53,980 --> 03:05:00,320
MJ was kept in her cell 23 to 24 hours a day during her incarceration.

2000
03:05:00,760 --> 03:05:06,260
MJ said, quote, the isolation at this jail has made me very depressed.

2001
03:05:06,780 --> 03:05:07,940
It has made me suicidal.

2002
03:05:08,860 --> 03:05:10,460
I felt like harming myself.

2003
03:05:11,020 --> 03:05:13,160
I tried to hang myself with a sheet.

2004
03:05:13,760 --> 03:05:16,320
The police found me with a sheet around my neck.

2005
03:05:16,800 --> 03:05:20,720
I had been taken to the suicide cell at Rice Street more than once.

2006
03:05:20,720 --> 03:05:24,480
There, I was put in a suicide cell naked and alone.

2007
03:05:24,940 --> 03:05:27,320
I was in that cell for three to four days.

2008
03:05:28,080 --> 03:05:35,780
Or SHP, a woman in her late 30s diagnosed with bipolar, complex PTSD, and generalized

2009
03:05:35,780 --> 03:05:41,360
anxiety, was arrested when she refused to leave the Salvation Army, where she was

2010
03:05:41,360 --> 03:05:45,920
seeking shelter, but did not have $10 to pay for a place to sleep.

2011
03:05:45,920 --> 03:05:54,120
She spent 159 days in jail and was only allowed out of her cell a handful of times.

2012
03:05:54,560 --> 03:06:02,400
She was never offered recreation time outside and was only permitted to shower twice in 159 days.

2013
03:06:02,860 --> 03:06:07,060
She was forced to wear the same filthy clothing for months on end

2014
03:06:07,060 --> 03:06:12,320
and was not provided with basic hygiene products or adequate supplies of toilet paper,

2015
03:06:12,740 --> 03:06:15,360
nor was she provided with her mental health medication.

2016
03:06:15,360 --> 03:06:18,120
despite repeatedly asking for it.

2017
03:06:18,660 --> 03:06:19,640
She said, quote,

2018
03:06:20,280 --> 03:06:22,660
being locked in a cell all day and night

2019
03:06:22,660 --> 03:06:24,740
caused my mind to break down.

2020
03:06:25,260 --> 03:06:26,540
After a month or so,

2021
03:06:26,720 --> 03:06:28,460
I started to have hallucinations,

2022
03:06:28,900 --> 03:06:31,500
something that has never happened to me in my life.

2023
03:06:31,980 --> 03:06:33,360
I remember that the walls

2024
03:06:33,360 --> 03:06:35,080
started to look like they were moving.

2025
03:06:35,680 --> 03:06:37,000
On overcast days,

2026
03:06:37,160 --> 03:06:40,160
when the small frosted windows let in little light,

2027
03:06:40,500 --> 03:06:42,780
the days and nights seemed to blend together.

2028
03:06:42,780 --> 03:06:47,060
I became incredibly anxious, defeated, and in despair.

2029
03:06:47,820 --> 03:06:51,200
This was all made worse by the fact that I had no idea

2030
03:06:51,200 --> 03:06:53,400
when I would be released.

2031
03:06:53,860 --> 03:06:56,920
I began to think I would be locked in that cell forever.

2032
03:06:57,660 --> 03:07:00,980
I have never been so psychologically ill as I was

2033
03:07:00,980 --> 03:07:05,440
after about a month of being locked in an isolation cell in this jail.

2034
03:07:06,600 --> 03:07:09,340
Eventually she was transferred to Georgia Regional

2035
03:07:09,340 --> 03:07:12,580
where she received treatment, including her medications,

2036
03:07:13,000 --> 03:07:14,180
and started to feel better.

2037
03:07:14,680 --> 03:07:17,400
She returned to the jail six to eight weeks later,

2038
03:07:17,760 --> 03:07:19,400
was finally able to go to court,

2039
03:07:19,840 --> 03:07:22,920
and chose to plead guilty to avoid being returned

2040
03:07:22,920 --> 03:07:24,960
to the jail and to that cell.

2041
03:07:25,460 --> 03:07:27,620
She received a sentence of time served.

2042
03:07:28,260 --> 03:07:30,100
After her release, she said, quote,

2043
03:07:30,580 --> 03:07:32,680
the time I spent in the South Fulton jail

2044
03:07:32,680 --> 03:07:35,160
was the most disorienting and frightening period

2045
03:07:35,160 --> 03:07:36,000
in my life.

2046
03:07:36,400 --> 03:07:38,800
To this day, I cannot talk about my time

2047
03:07:38,800 --> 03:07:44,300
in the jail without breaking down. I'm receiving weekly counseling, trauma therapy, to help

2048
03:07:44,300 --> 03:07:50,580
me put this experience behind me. Or SP, a woman with schizophrenia who was initially

2049
03:07:50,580 --> 03:07:55,240
taken to Grady for inpatient treatment before she was transported to the jail, where she

2050
03:07:55,240 --> 03:08:02,100
spent 23 to 24 hours a day alone in the cell without any therapeutic services. Quote,

2051
03:08:02,220 --> 03:08:06,080
I have a very difficult time coping in the mental health pods. I've felt suicidal

2052
03:08:06,080 --> 03:08:11,060
many times and have had many episodes. I've been placed on Suicide Watch about

2053
03:08:11,060 --> 03:08:16,020
every week to two weeks. When describing Suicide Watch, she said, quote,

2054
03:08:16,220 --> 03:08:20,640
being on Suicide Watch is a horrible experience. When it happens, I'm usually

2055
03:08:20,640 --> 03:08:25,560
forced to go naked into a nasty and completely empty concrete room. The room

2056
03:08:25,560 --> 03:08:29,260
has a hole in the floor. I'm supposed to use the hole in the floor to relieve

2057
03:08:29,260 --> 03:08:34,200
myself. It is extremely cold in that room. They leave you in there for days

2058
03:08:34,200 --> 03:08:40,840
sometimes, naked and shivering cold. Or AS, who is just 17 at the time, has

2059
03:08:40,840 --> 03:08:45,340
multiple psychiatric disabilities and was incarcerated shortly after being

2060
03:08:45,340 --> 03:08:49,560
released from a residential treatment program with no community services in

2061
03:08:49,560 --> 03:08:55,120
place. Quote, being locked in my cell all day is extremely stressful and makes

2062
03:08:55,120 --> 03:08:59,580
me feel angry and lonely. When you sit in a concrete room all by yourself all

2063
03:08:59,580 --> 03:09:03,060
day, it feels like you have been kidnapped. I do not get to use the

2064
03:09:03,060 --> 03:09:05,760
a phone very often to call my mother or family

2065
03:09:05,760 --> 03:09:07,620
and it makes me feel sad and angry.

2066
03:09:08,180 --> 03:09:11,380
AS was placed on Suicide Watch at Rice Street

2067
03:09:11,380 --> 03:09:14,720
approximately 10 times in a five month period.

2068
03:09:15,400 --> 03:09:17,340
Quote, I often hurt myself in ways

2069
03:09:17,340 --> 03:09:19,580
that I know may seriously injure or kill me.

2070
03:09:19,940 --> 03:09:23,000
I do not wanna take my life, but I am always so lonely

2071
03:09:23,000 --> 03:09:25,500
and going to Suicide Watch is the only way

2072
03:09:25,500 --> 03:09:27,920
I know how to get in a room around other people.

2073
03:09:28,740 --> 03:09:31,540
Simply changing the location of where these folks

2074
03:09:31,540 --> 03:09:36,420
or jailed will have no impact on the horrors that you just heard our clients describe.

2075
03:09:37,120 --> 03:09:41,760
Community-based interventions on the front end that actually address root causes and

2076
03:09:41,760 --> 03:09:46,740
prevent incarceration, such as those that would be provided by a Center for Health and Wellness,

2077
03:09:47,000 --> 03:09:48,800
are the best solution to these problems.

2078
03:09:49,480 --> 03:09:55,540
If we truly care about the people incarcerated in Fulton County, we cannot simply hand over

2079
03:09:55,540 --> 03:10:00,780
yet another jail for Fulton County to fill with our most vulnerable community members.

2080
03:10:00,780 --> 03:10:01,600
Thank you.

2081
03:10:08,780 --> 03:10:13,300
My name is Hannah Riley, and my time was seated by Dominique Grant, I believe.

2082
03:10:14,380 --> 03:10:15,000
You have six minutes.

2083
03:10:16,280 --> 03:10:18,040
Good afternoon, committee members.

2084
03:10:18,660 --> 03:10:25,460
My name is Hannah Riley, and I am the director of communications at the Southern Center for Human Rights and a resident of Midtown.

2085
03:10:26,520 --> 03:10:34,200
It's my understanding that the people I stand before today are perhaps more accustomed to speaking with the jailers and not with the jailed.

2086
03:10:34,200 --> 03:10:40,200
This is problematic for a few reasons, including the reality that the experience of having lived,

2087
03:10:40,700 --> 03:10:46,480
however temporarily, in one of the Fulton County jail facilities is a very common one for your constituents.

2088
03:10:47,680 --> 03:10:52,340
In fact, the Fulton County jail system holds so many people in its facilities that,

2089
03:10:52,900 --> 03:10:59,160
if it were a town instead of a jail, its population would consistently rank in the top half of Georgia cities.

2090
03:11:00,080 --> 03:11:05,100
You've heard my colleagues talk about our office's nearly three-decade history of litigation.

2091
03:11:05,900 --> 03:11:09,540
You've heard the words of people formerly incarcerated in the jails.

2092
03:11:10,640 --> 03:11:15,440
Despite some patchwork improvements to the county jails for facilities, the conditions

2093
03:11:15,440 --> 03:11:20,680
today are not dissimilar from the conditions that federal courts found, these are quotes,

2094
03:11:20,680 --> 03:11:29,660
deplorable in 2000, totally unacceptable in 2002, a crisis in 2011, a significant

2095
03:11:29,660 --> 03:11:37,880
threat of serious harm in 2013, or repulsive in 2019, or what the AJC called

2096
03:11:37,880 --> 03:11:45,520
a dilapidating warehouse of bodies in 1998, a disgrace in 2006, or filthy and

2097
03:11:45,520 --> 03:11:52,840
dangerous in 2012. These buildings, to state the very obvious, are full of people, many

2098
03:11:52,840 --> 03:11:58,340
of whom are your constituents. I want to make sure that today we talk about them and

2099
03:11:58,340 --> 03:12:03,180
we lift up the ways in which they have resisted and organized and cared for one another.

2100
03:12:04,100 --> 03:12:08,820
The ways that they have attempted, literally for decades, to make the Fulton County Jail

2101
03:12:08,820 --> 03:12:14,620
a less torturous place to live. I could spend much more than the time that I have

2102
03:12:14,620 --> 03:12:18,580
allotted going through that rich history of resistance that has come out of the

2103
03:12:18,580 --> 03:12:26,300
hellish jails run by Fulton County. Here are just a few examples. In 1980, 17

2104
03:12:26,300 --> 03:12:30,820
people caged at the old Jefferson Street jail filed a lawsuit, handwritten,

2105
03:12:31,500 --> 03:12:35,640
that raised the alarm on what they were being subjected to, including traumatic

2106
03:12:35,640 --> 03:12:40,400
and unnecessary anal cavity searches, cells that regularly flooded with

2107
03:12:40,400 --> 03:12:45,340
sewage, non-existent medical care, and denial of access to the law library.

2108
03:12:46,740 --> 03:12:52,480
In April of 1981, conditions of overcrowding at the jail became so disastrous that people

2109
03:12:52,480 --> 03:12:54,540
incarcerated there held a press conference.

2110
03:12:55,460 --> 03:13:00,280
They described, among other things, tripping over bodies on the floor in an attempt to

2111
03:13:00,280 --> 03:13:01,800
reach the one available toilet.

2112
03:13:02,820 --> 03:13:08,080
In 1982, people incarcerated in the jail filed the first class action lawsuit against

2113
03:13:08,080 --> 03:13:15,140
the facility, alleging racist abuse from staff, racial segregation of the jail, denial of medical

2114
03:13:15,140 --> 03:13:20,900
care and access to the law library and more. As I'm sure some of you know, one of the very

2115
03:13:20,900 --> 03:13:26,900
facilities we've been discussing, the Rice Street Jail, was built in 1988 as a direct

2116
03:13:26,900 --> 03:13:33,180
result of organizing and agitation and eventual litigation brought by people caged in the

2117
03:13:33,180 --> 03:13:40,640
jail. In 1994 a man named Sam Stinson filed a pro se case in federal court

2118
03:13:40,640 --> 03:13:44,900
against the Fulton County Commission because he had been held in the jail for

2119
03:13:44,900 --> 03:13:48,540
four months without speaking to an attorney or an investigator about his

2120
03:13:48,540 --> 03:13:54,940
case. In 1998 my office received a letter from an HIV positive man at the

2121
03:13:54,940 --> 03:13:59,480
Fulton County Jail named Ruben Foster who described horrendous living

2122
03:13:59,480 --> 03:14:04,200
conditions, and a doctor who would read to people from the Bible and tell them they were

2123
03:14:04,200 --> 03:14:07,180
sinners instead of giving them their life-saving medications.

2124
03:14:08,320 --> 03:14:14,200
In 2008, people incarcerated at the jail filed a pro se lawsuit challenging the unnecessary

2125
03:14:14,200 --> 03:14:17,980
and traumatic strip searches they were constantly subjected to.

2126
03:14:18,720 --> 03:14:24,880
In 2014, people incarcerated in the jail sued Fulton County successfully after hundreds

2127
03:14:24,880 --> 03:14:29,100
of people were caged for as long as five days beyond their scheduled release dates.

2128
03:14:30,600 --> 03:14:35,860
Perhaps you've all been told that the Fulton jail facilities are uniquely dangerous in this moment

2129
03:14:35,860 --> 03:14:42,140
thereby justifying this lease, but history reminds us that these problems are anything but new,

2130
03:14:42,560 --> 03:14:47,700
that a new lease will solve nothing, and that the only solution is decarceration.

2131
03:14:48,920 --> 03:14:53,880
The lawsuits and articles and consent decrees and so on that have had the greatest impact

2132
03:14:53,880 --> 03:14:59,340
on conditions inside the jails have come about as a result of the resistance and determination.

2133
03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:07,040
of those inside. This kind of resistance takes bravery, risking retaliation, which could

2134
03:15:07,040 --> 03:15:13,280
come in the form of prolonged solitary confinement, risking the ire of their jailers, some of whom

2135
03:15:13,280 --> 03:15:18,300
have already shown their willingness to use violence against the people in their care. These

2136
03:15:18,300 --> 03:15:23,720
are acts of bravery, and to best honor them, Fulton should be shrinking the number of people

2137
03:15:23,720 --> 03:15:27,820
they cage pre-trial, not expanding it on Atlanta's watch.

2138
03:15:28,540 --> 03:15:29,000
Thank you.

2139
03:15:39,920 --> 03:15:40,660
Devin Franklin.

2140
03:15:41,280 --> 03:15:46,160
I had time earlier to see this to me by Anna Coon that I believe you acknowledged.

2141
03:15:46,960 --> 03:15:47,220
Mr. Franklin.

2142
03:15:47,500 --> 03:15:47,940
Thank you.

2143
03:15:55,340 --> 03:15:59,840
Last week, I had occasion to actually catch the news.

2144
03:16:00,080 --> 03:16:05,480
I don't watch it as often, but I knew there would be a story on it that I wanted

2145
03:16:05,480 --> 03:16:06,060
to hear about.

2146
03:16:06,060 --> 03:16:15,100
And in this particular story, Councilman Bond, you made some comments related to the proposed

2147
03:16:15,100 --> 03:16:16,180
lease of ACDC.

2148
03:16:18,200 --> 03:16:27,220
And you essentially tried to articulate that the lease of the ACDC facility to Fulton

2149
03:16:27,220 --> 03:16:32,400
County was a humanitarian response to a humanitarian issue.

2150
03:16:35,960 --> 03:16:36,600
Thank you.

2151
03:16:36,600 --> 03:16:37,260
I

2152
03:16:40,910 --> 03:16:47,850
immediately kind of questioned the humanitarian nature of continuance of

2153
03:16:47,850 --> 03:16:57,210
caged people who were in jail for offenses that did not quite measure up to

2154
03:16:57,210 --> 03:17:01,550
what you described as very dangerous crimes and I was curious as to why you

2155
03:17:01,550 --> 03:17:05,430
would use that language and I know that although I in Southern Center do

2156
03:17:05,430 --> 03:17:13,030
not adhere to the pejorative framing of people and their identity based on what they're charged.

2157
03:17:13,830 --> 03:17:19,310
I know that it's really easy to get public sentiment to think that. It's okay to lock

2158
03:17:19,310 --> 03:17:23,470
up people for certain reasons. But when we know the true reasons that people are locked

2159
03:17:23,470 --> 03:17:26,230
up, it doesn't quite hit the same way.

2160
03:17:29,570 --> 03:17:31,470
The comments that you made that day were

2161
03:17:31,470 --> 03:17:37,370
premised on two false beliefs. One that overcrowding of Fortin County is because

2162
03:17:37,370 --> 03:17:41,430
of the number of persons currently incarcerated being charged with these very dangerous crimes

2163
03:17:41,430 --> 03:17:47,270
you described them. And two, that one can claim to be acting from a moral high ground,

2164
03:17:47,750 --> 03:17:51,710
to be acting out of an obligation to, in your words, ameliorate the condition of human

2165
03:17:51,710 --> 03:17:58,830
beings while also profiting off of the occasion as this IGA agreement would contemplate.

2166
03:18:00,670 --> 03:18:06,170
In my several comments to this council and to the full council before, I've heard

2167
03:18:06,170 --> 03:18:11,010
some people today make reference to the number of people about 300 at the last time that I

2168
03:18:11,010 --> 03:18:19,850
was in the middle of my research who were in custody for misdemeanors or non-complex

2169
03:18:19,850 --> 03:18:24,850
felony offenses as defined by Fulton County. And again, that is a distinction made by

2170
03:18:24,850 --> 03:18:29,130
the county and not one that I personally subscribe to. But I understand that by the definitions

2171
03:18:29,810 --> 03:18:34,530
that we are working under and the definitions that we are being given that these charges

2172
03:18:34,530 --> 03:18:38,150
are not what we would describe as very dangerous crimes.

2173
03:18:41,170 --> 03:18:46,850
The last time I spoke, and I was again just partially through my research of the persons who were in custody,

2174
03:18:47,850 --> 03:18:50,070
it was about 300. I completed that research.

2175
03:18:51,030 --> 03:18:51,550
I'm

2176
03:18:54,880 --> 03:18:57,780
happy to meet with you and sit with you all to

2177
03:19:00,210 --> 03:19:03,450
discuss the cases of the more than 650 people

2178
03:19:03,450 --> 03:19:09,890
who are incarcerated for non-complex offenses and misdemeanors in Fulton County Jail.

2179
03:19:09,890 --> 03:19:17,350
And what I mean by that are charges such as those that we would contemplate would be resolved

2180
03:19:17,350 --> 03:19:23,030
if they had a wellness center or equity center to begin receiving treatment, charges such

2181
03:19:23,030 --> 03:19:29,750
as possession of small amounts of drugs, death by shoplifting, criminal trespass, criminal

2182
03:19:29,750 --> 03:19:30,910
damage, those kinds of things.

2183
03:19:35,980 --> 03:19:41,760
Without a consideration of what a person is charged for, so it could be a non-compliance

2184
03:19:41,760 --> 03:19:50,320
charge and one you would even describe is very dangerous. There are nearly 630 people who

2185
03:19:50,320 --> 03:19:55,940
have received bonds. That means that there are factual allegations that their criminal

2186
03:19:55,940 --> 03:20:00,040
histories have been assessed by a judge, arguments have been made by prosecutors and

2187
03:20:00,040 --> 03:20:03,140
defense counsel, and judges have granted bonds to people.

2188
03:20:06,520 --> 03:20:07,500
But these people have not

2189
03:20:07,500 --> 03:20:13,160
been able to make those bonds. 600 people are sitting in jail not because of their

2190
03:20:13,160 --> 03:20:18,420
their alleged risk or their alleged dangerousness. They are sitting in Fulton

2191
03:20:18,420 --> 03:20:24,140
County jail facilities because they are too poor to purchase their release. They

2192
03:20:24,140 --> 03:20:26,020
are too indigent to secure their freedom.

2193
03:20:30,860 --> 03:20:34,460
These numbers are current as of July

2194
03:20:34,460 --> 03:20:39,720
20th. This is a snapshot of what the jail look like on that day. I don't know

2195
03:20:39,720 --> 03:20:45,220
what the exact numbers are today, but I do understand that the Commissioner,

2196
03:20:47,300 --> 03:20:47,300
I

2197
03:20:47,300 --> 03:20:52,040
came in earlier today and she had some numbers and I hope that she would be as open with her

2198
03:20:52,040 --> 03:20:56,800
books as I tend to be with mine and that my research is completed and I'll be requesting

2199
03:20:56,800 --> 03:21:02,140
those records and hoping to sit down with you and her and anyone else to discuss what

2200
03:21:02,140 --> 03:21:09,980
can actually be done about relocating, not being an option, but releasing people who

2201
03:21:09,980 --> 03:21:12,560
otherwise would have their freedoms but for being too poor.

2202
03:21:21,860 --> 03:21:26,640
Additionally, out of the 3,000 people that were in jail as of July 20th,

2203
03:21:29,130 --> 03:21:32,350
I learned that

2204
03:21:32,350 --> 03:21:39,710
about a third of those people, 1,095 in fact, were sitting in jail unindicted.

2205
03:21:42,620 --> 03:21:45,980
If you don't quite understand what that means, that means they're sitting in jail actually

2206
03:21:45,980 --> 03:21:47,400
waiting to be formally charged.

2207
03:21:48,440 --> 03:21:53,640
Over a third of the population of the persons in Fulton County custody are not in a position

2208
03:21:53,640 --> 03:21:59,680
to bargain about their case. They're not in a position to seek a plea deal, receive diversion,

2209
03:22:00,640 --> 03:22:06,960
go to trial, because the prosecutor has not said that they are ready to go forward with the case.

2210
03:22:08,100 --> 03:22:11,480
These are people who have spent months, weeks, sometimes even years.

2211
03:22:12,700 --> 03:22:17,480
In my 12 years of experience as a public defender, I regularly receive cases for

2212
03:22:17,480 --> 03:22:21,700
people who have sat over a year, sometimes two years before being indicted.

2213
03:22:21,700 --> 03:22:28,920
There are management issues within the case structure and the case system in

2214
03:22:28,920 --> 03:22:33,320
Fulton County courts. The burden should not be borne by those persons who are

2215
03:22:33,320 --> 03:22:38,840
incarcerated. Everything should be done by this body and its capacity and its

2216
03:22:38,840 --> 03:22:45,800
strength and honor to alleviate the conditions that deny them their due

2217
03:22:45,800 --> 03:22:52,980
process and their freedom of liberty. Again, I have data, I've completed that

2218
03:22:52,980 --> 03:22:59,940
it's like I can talk to you all in more about what I intend on doing. So, Cosman Bond, Cosman

2219
03:22:59,940 --> 03:23:10,240
Norwood, Cosman Hillis, Cosman Juan, Cosman Amos, I will be emailing you all. I hope to

2220
03:23:10,240 --> 03:23:18,420
receive responses and I hope to have meaningful, genuine conversation about actual options

2221
03:23:18,420 --> 03:23:30,200
that respect the humanity of human beings and don't see further caging as the only humanitarian response to forces over crowding.

2222
03:23:33,060 --> 03:23:35,580
I see the remaining amount of my time to James Woodall.

2223
03:23:41,620 --> 03:23:42,540
Thank you, Mr. Bond.

2224
03:23:45,290 --> 03:23:53,570
And for those that don't know, when you're called out by name, you get the opportunity to respond because during public comment, council is designed to just listen.

2225
03:23:53,870 --> 03:23:56,510
If you could, just blend into your mic a little bit. I can barely hear you.

2226
03:23:56,510 --> 03:24:02,590
Yeah, just because I was explaining to the public that when a member is called out by

2227
03:24:02,590 --> 03:24:04,890
name, they have the opportunity to respond.

2228
03:24:05,130 --> 03:24:08,970
Most of the time we don't because we're here to sit and listen to the public.

2229
03:24:09,130 --> 03:24:14,230
But since you called my name out on a particular issue, I'm going to take the opportunity to respond.

2230
03:24:14,790 --> 03:24:18,330
First, I'll say, of course, I'll meet with you anytime you like that we could schedule.

2231
03:24:18,730 --> 03:24:22,530
I'm more than happy to talk about the conditions at the Fulton County Jail.

2232
03:24:22,530 --> 03:24:29,690
Just suppose what we do with our own facility and how do we ameliorate the situation for our citizens who are

2233
03:24:29,690 --> 03:24:32,830
Contained therein and I can give you my number now

2234
03:24:33,450 --> 03:24:34,030
my

2235
03:24:34,650 --> 03:24:37,410
personal my city cell phone is 404

2236
03:24:39,070 --> 03:24:39,750
274

2237
03:24:40,690 --> 03:24:42,690
81 11 my

2238
03:24:45,570 --> 03:24:46,890
personal cell phone

2239
03:24:47,650 --> 03:24:50,130
The bat phone is six seven eight

2240
03:24:50,870 --> 03:24:52,270
eight eight six

2241
03:24:53,090 --> 03:24:54,390
two two eight six

2242
03:24:54,390 --> 03:25:11,220
My home phone, yes I still have one, is 404-589-1452 and of course my office is 404-330-6770.

2243
03:25:11,820 --> 03:25:18,400
Just to short to a response to you, those who are charged with the seven deadly sins

2244
03:25:18,400 --> 03:25:21,500
in Georgia are considered dangerous crimes.

2245
03:25:21,500 --> 03:25:34,260
And so those persons, as I was trained in corrections in August of 1989, correction officers have the responsibility to three C's, care, custody, and control.

2246
03:25:34,920 --> 03:25:46,300
And so you have to take care of an individual who's held within the facility, not only protect them from others but, you know, protect others from them.

2247
03:25:46,300 --> 03:26:02,340
You have to control the population there within the facility, making sure that people are housed correctly underneath whether it's a demographic housing, a medical housing, mental health housing, and you have to control that population.

2248
03:26:02,520 --> 03:26:15,220
You've got to have them in a situation where the other two factors don't come into play to harm the individuals, and I will submit to you in my response to you that that is not the case in Fulton County.

2249
03:26:15,220 --> 03:26:20,380
You and your colleagues have done an excellent job making the case for this contract here today

2250
03:26:20,380 --> 03:26:25,620
to help to ameliorate and relieve the overcrowding at the Fulton County Jail.

2251
03:26:26,240 --> 03:26:32,400
Sheriff Labotte is not the previous sheriffs that have served and have been subject to the lawsuits

2252
03:26:32,400 --> 03:26:35,880
that you all have so expertly explained.

2253
03:26:36,320 --> 03:26:39,840
Was he not part of the same types of lawsuit as Chief Jeller at City of Atlanta?

2254
03:26:39,960 --> 03:26:42,140
I didn't interrupt you at all when you were speaking,

2255
03:26:42,140 --> 03:26:44,860
and I hope that you would give me the same courtesy.

2256
03:26:45,880 --> 03:26:46,460
Is that all right?

2257
03:26:47,080 --> 03:26:48,020
Yeah, I ask my question afterwards.

2258
03:26:48,320 --> 03:26:48,620
Thank you.

2259
03:26:49,000 --> 03:26:49,360
I appreciate it.

2260
03:26:49,380 --> 03:26:54,300
And so he is not the sheriff that was subject to those losses,

2261
03:26:54,800 --> 03:26:58,960
and one of the things your group's presentations were also missing

2262
03:26:58,960 --> 03:27:03,320
was the political dynamic that none of those previous sheriffs

2263
03:27:03,320 --> 03:27:07,940
have the ability to raise the funds to ameliorate the problems

2264
03:27:07,940 --> 03:27:10,300
that have faced the Fulton County Jail.

2265
03:27:10,300 --> 03:27:15,760
That constitutional authority, of course, rests with the Board of Commissioners.

2266
03:27:16,220 --> 03:27:21,320
And so if the Board of Commissioners is not willing to fit the bill for the sheriff,

2267
03:27:21,780 --> 03:27:28,540
the sheriff very well can't address those concerns, at least not in a financial capacity.

2268
03:27:29,520 --> 03:27:33,020
I have worked in corrections for four and a half years.

2269
03:27:33,580 --> 03:27:39,120
I was present when the Atlantis, the ACDC was under construction.

2270
03:27:39,120 --> 03:27:41,860
And I know why it was under construction.

2271
03:27:42,460 --> 03:27:53,560
Because the jail that is now the Gateway Center for homelessness in Atlanta was the jail that I worked at.

2272
03:27:54,080 --> 03:27:56,880
It was designed to hold 400 individuals.

2273
03:27:57,460 --> 03:28:00,280
We had an average daily population of about 1,600.

2274
03:28:01,300 --> 03:28:04,060
I worked the morning watch on that shift.

2275
03:28:04,540 --> 03:28:06,220
I was the classification officer.

2276
03:28:06,220 --> 03:28:12,200
So it was my job to interview every inmate that was going to be housed, discern whether

2277
03:28:12,200 --> 03:28:17,200
or not they were mentally ill, whether they had communicable disease, you know, male,

2278
03:28:17,380 --> 03:28:19,960
female, gender neutral, what have you.

2279
03:28:20,340 --> 03:28:21,240
That was my job.

2280
03:28:21,820 --> 03:28:27,240
And I assigned people based on that underneath those circumstances.

2281
03:28:28,100 --> 03:28:34,360
Because we had an average daily population of about 1,600 inmates, that was the cost

2282
03:28:34,360 --> 03:28:39,620
for the building of ACDC. It wasn't the Olympics, it wasn't to drive homeless people out from

2283
03:28:39,620 --> 03:28:44,620
downtown, none of that. It was to accommodate that so that we wouldn't get sued, the city

2284
03:28:44,620 --> 03:28:51,540
of Atlanta, for having an overpopulated space. The gentleman, the architects mentioned,

2285
03:28:51,820 --> 03:28:56,600
no, sorry, the doctor mentioned Maynard Jackson and I want to rehab Maynard's reputation

2286
03:28:56,600 --> 03:29:02,800
for a minute. He and Michael Lomax, who was chair of Fulton County, actually worked

2287
03:29:02,800 --> 03:29:08,740
an efficient agreement between the city of Atlanta and Fulton County to help to

2288
03:29:08,740 --> 03:29:14,900
ameliorate the overcrowding of the Fulton County jail back in the 80s. That

2289
03:29:14,900 --> 03:29:19,780
agreement stayed until Mayor Franklin was mayor and was she dissolved it for

2290
03:29:19,780 --> 03:29:25,480
financial reasons because the city was on its heels after the bubble burst in a

2291
03:29:25,480 --> 03:29:30,640
real estate market and that of course exacerbated the already deplorable

2292
03:29:30,640 --> 03:29:36,460
conditions that you also particularly outlined that was going on at Fulton County.

2293
03:29:37,140 --> 03:29:41,360
And I believe that the city of Atlanta, given the fact that,

2294
03:29:41,780 --> 03:29:45,560
this is what I want to say about the architect, I'm glad that he acknowledged

2295
03:29:45,560 --> 03:29:50,080
that the overcrowding at Fulton County is really Atlanta's problem.

2296
03:29:50,640 --> 03:29:58,180
And it is. In my philosophy, as I was raised as a activist and as a politician here,

2297
03:29:58,180 --> 03:29:59,760
is that all governments

2298
03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:05,800
That overlap as the governments have an obligation to one another, particularly when you serve

2299
03:30:05,800 --> 03:30:11,800
the same constituency. Almost 90 percent of Atlanta's in Fulton County. At any given moment,

2300
03:30:12,260 --> 03:30:19,820
the majority of persons held there on cases, and it goes up and down. It's a wave roughly

2301
03:30:19,820 --> 03:30:25,120
from about 60 to about 90 percent are there as a result of the work of the Atlanta Police

2302
03:30:25,120 --> 03:30:31,680
department on cases. And so Atlanta contributes greatly to the conditions at

2303
03:30:31,680 --> 03:30:36,960
Fulton County by way of the operation of our police department. And so I think it

2304
03:30:36,960 --> 03:30:42,160
is a moral obligation that we do something about the crowding at the

2305
03:30:42,160 --> 03:30:47,460
facility. If I had it my way I wouldn't charge them $50 an inmate. I'd give

2306
03:30:47,460 --> 03:30:51,580
them the building for a dollar and I'd ask the sheriff to take on our

2307
03:30:51,580 --> 03:30:57,100
corrections responsibilities, because I know the difference. As long as we have a police

2308
03:30:57,100 --> 03:31:02,980
department in Atlanta, we're going to have a need for jail space and detention space,

2309
03:31:03,680 --> 03:31:09,700
because there are those who are going to need to be arrested, unfortunately. And so this

2310
03:31:09,700 --> 03:31:16,500
agreement I think is a good step in helping to take some of that burden off of Fulton

2311
03:31:16,500 --> 03:31:21,900
County, having worked in the old jail, that ACDC, but what is now the Gateway Center,

2312
03:31:22,320 --> 03:31:28,040
that was four times overcrowded, I saw those same kind of conditions that exist in the

2313
03:31:28,040 --> 03:31:34,900
present Fulton County jail. I was injured on the job in that jail. I carried dead bodies

2314
03:31:35,340 --> 03:31:41,020
off of the floor out of that jail. I dealt with people with HIV, communicable disease.

2315
03:31:41,020 --> 03:31:42,540
I worked them in a health floor.

2316
03:31:42,940 --> 03:31:43,740
I'd done all of that.

2317
03:31:43,920 --> 03:31:50,240
I went to Grady, the lobby, when the new members go to tour the new jail.

2318
03:31:51,000 --> 03:31:56,860
The name on the lobby over there at ACDC is named for a man who had AIDS.

2319
03:31:57,620 --> 03:31:59,780
HIV was dying in a cell.

2320
03:32:00,720 --> 03:32:05,920
And the supervisor wouldn't allow then officer Ball to call an ambulance.

2321
03:32:05,920 --> 03:32:12,560
He went into a quad and called an ambulance from the payphone to get this man some medical attention.

2322
03:32:13,120 --> 03:32:15,640
I rode in the ambulance with him over to the greater hospital.

2323
03:32:15,740 --> 03:32:18,200
Now the lobby over there, the new jail is named after him.

2324
03:32:19,540 --> 03:32:24,040
And he smelled like a corpse. He barely made it over there before he died.

2325
03:32:24,520 --> 03:32:30,860
So I'm very well versed on how human beings ought to be treated in a corrections facility.

2326
03:32:30,860 --> 03:32:32,160
I saw it firsthand.

2327
03:32:32,820 --> 03:32:40,980
I worked at SHIFT 11-7, which was the lowest populated SHIFT as far as officers were concerned,

2328
03:32:41,180 --> 03:32:45,520
but it was the busiest and most dangerous SHIFT for four and a half years.

2329
03:32:45,660 --> 03:32:47,440
I worked the entire time on morning watch.

2330
03:32:48,020 --> 03:32:54,260
So I'm very familiar with the conditions and toured last year when the City Council

2331
03:32:54,820 --> 03:32:57,060
voted to do this a year ago.

2332
03:32:57,940 --> 03:33:02,960
When we went and saw the condition of people sleeping on the floor stacked on top of each

2333
03:33:02,960 --> 03:33:03,200
other.

2334
03:33:03,980 --> 03:33:05,900
Now I believe that I believe in accountability.

2335
03:33:06,760 --> 03:33:08,520
I believe Fulton County ought to be accountable.

2336
03:33:09,000 --> 03:33:14,100
I believe they ought to build another jail, but I also believe that one more minute of

2337
03:33:14,100 --> 03:33:19,420
any person that sleeps on that floor, when we've got a big empty building right across

2338
03:33:19,420 --> 03:33:25,440
the street two miles away, and we don't do anything about it, as I said, is sinned.

2339
03:33:25,440 --> 03:33:32,620
When we had our previous executive officer of the city speak in tandem for folks on the

2340
03:33:32,620 --> 03:33:39,300
border, 5,000 miles away and say, hey, those conditions are inhuman, and we ought to do

2341
03:33:39,300 --> 03:33:40,140
something about it.

2342
03:33:40,640 --> 03:33:47,560
And we're a mile and a half from Rice Street, and there was silence, and obfuscation, and

2343
03:33:47,560 --> 03:33:55,940
You know, and, you know, deflection and everything else, that to me didn't sit well with me.

2344
03:33:56,620 --> 03:33:58,340
So that's my position.

2345
03:33:58,640 --> 03:34:03,320
I'm sorry, you know, we'll, I think we can come to an understanding none of us wants

2346
03:34:03,320 --> 03:34:09,240
to see what's going on at Fulton County, but to stand by and do nothing is also equally

2347
03:34:09,240 --> 03:34:10,380
unacceptable to me.

2348
03:34:10,960 --> 03:34:13,980
And so since you called my name, that's my response to what you said.

2349
03:34:13,980 --> 03:34:17,940
And so thank you, Mr. Chair, for allowing me to respond.

2350
03:34:24,020 --> 03:34:24,800
Her next speaker?

2351
03:34:24,980 --> 03:34:32,840
Am I so am I clear understanding that your position is that the release of persons who

2352
03:34:32,840 --> 03:34:38,320
do not have very dangerous crimes as you described them is not something you would before?

2353
03:34:39,480 --> 03:34:40,340
Well, no.

2354
03:34:40,520 --> 03:34:45,140
I mean, if someone is charged with murder, if they're okay, so I said those crimes

2355
03:34:45,140 --> 03:34:46,180
that are not very dangerous.

2356
03:34:46,180 --> 03:34:50,680
Someone is charged with rape, and as I described to you at the beginning of my statement, I

2357
03:34:50,680 --> 03:34:55,080
said those who consider seven deadly sins, with the majority of those who are held there.

2358
03:34:55,100 --> 03:34:57,480
My question was about those who weren't considered seven deadly sins.

2359
03:34:57,480 --> 03:34:58,620
I'm not going to have it back and forth here.

2360
03:34:58,620 --> 03:34:59,720
Well, it's not a debate.

2361
03:34:59,940 --> 03:35:02,420
It was not a debate, but I have a particular question you answered.

2362
03:35:02,620 --> 03:35:04,500
I have the obligation to respond.

2363
03:35:05,180 --> 03:35:12,800
And so those who are held with dangerous crimes that are recognized by whether they're

2364
03:35:12,800 --> 03:35:18,060
seven deadly sins or what have you, they should not be released because they're

2365
03:35:18,060 --> 03:35:23,820
obvious their charges being them as a threat to the community. If they don't

2366
03:35:23,820 --> 03:35:27,420
have a bond. We're not talking about those charges. If they don't have a bond

2367
03:35:27,420 --> 03:35:32,880
that has been set they should not be released. And so but any person who

2368
03:35:32,880 --> 03:35:37,620
is over in the facility, if there are those who have bonds that are said

2369
03:35:37,620 --> 03:35:41,600
they haven't been paid, I believe it was someone attached to the organization

2370
03:35:41,600 --> 03:35:47,100
or either it was someone else here, said that there were non-profits that were available to bond people out.

2371
03:35:47,420 --> 03:35:52,180
They don't need the sheriff to do that. They don't need the county commission to do that.

2372
03:35:52,680 --> 03:35:56,100
They can organize that and go down there and bond those people out now.

2373
03:35:57,060 --> 03:35:59,680
So you're passing the stand on to non-profit?

2374
03:36:00,360 --> 03:36:01,620
Sir, Mr. Franklin, your time is extra.

2375
03:36:02,040 --> 03:36:03,960
I tend to respond to the response I was getting.

2376
03:36:04,260 --> 03:36:07,000
I gave you every number, so please give him a call.

2377
03:36:07,420 --> 03:36:09,240
I'm willing to sit down and meet with you.

2378
03:36:09,980 --> 03:36:11,420
I just sent you a text, we'll talk.

2379
03:36:12,260 --> 03:36:15,180
Well, you know, give me a text, we can call, we can sit down.

2380
03:36:15,600 --> 03:36:16,880
I'll be more than happy to do so.

2381
03:36:18,990 --> 03:36:19,530
Mr. Woodall.

2382
03:36:20,910 --> 03:36:25,490
Chairman Hill is members of this committee and to the council at large.

2383
03:36:26,530 --> 03:36:28,730
Good afternoon. My name is Reverend James, Major Woodall,

2384
03:36:28,990 --> 03:36:31,150
and I'm a policy associate at the Southern Center for Human Rights,

2385
03:36:31,710 --> 03:36:34,810
and I rise today in opposition to this lease agreement.

2386
03:36:36,070 --> 03:36:38,270
And as all of my colleagues have shared,

2387
03:36:38,270 --> 03:36:46,390
Chairman or committee, Councilmember Bonn, what we're arguing is that this is not

2388
03:36:46,390 --> 03:36:51,950
humanitarian and is for a number of reasons. One, people are currently in these

2389
03:36:51,950 --> 03:36:55,830
conditions that we've been talking about that span the course of generations. This

2390
03:36:55,830 --> 03:37:01,830
is not in a real sense a new issue and as we've talked about and discussed

2391
03:37:01,830 --> 03:37:06,790
about the priority of transfer and the standards of evaluation of who would

2392
03:37:06,790 --> 03:37:07,330
to be transferred.

2393
03:37:08,410 --> 03:37:10,930
The people that we heard, one of our colleagues,

2394
03:37:11,130 --> 03:37:12,950
Caitlin Childs, mentioned, those people

2395
03:37:12,950 --> 03:37:15,850
would not be transferred under this proposal.

2396
03:37:16,730 --> 03:37:18,430
And I want to spend a little bit of time

2397
03:37:18,430 --> 03:37:21,170
talking about the collaboration between

2398
03:37:21,170 --> 03:37:23,270
Fullerton County and the city of Atlanta.

2399
03:37:23,590 --> 03:37:25,270
One, the timeline of the center

2400
03:37:25,810 --> 03:37:27,250
being repurposed isn't clear.

2401
03:37:27,910 --> 03:37:30,570
And so if we were to say four years down the line,

2402
03:37:30,650 --> 03:37:33,370
we would be able to see this made into fruition.

2403
03:37:33,370 --> 03:37:36,370
The reality is it is not clear in the legislation.

2404
03:37:37,090 --> 03:37:38,850
The dates are not included.

2405
03:37:39,650 --> 03:37:47,330
And in the spirit of transparency, member Bond, you said that there's other spaces within the city of Atlanta that we could use.

2406
03:37:48,310 --> 03:37:56,590
To my knowledge, I don't recall any legislation being put forth in such fashion that would make that reality similar to this.

2407
03:37:56,590 --> 03:38:11,410
And so we see efforts to continue to use mass incarceration as you called it, the sin, the sin I recall in the scripture that God would ask Moses to address in four simple words, he says, let my people go.

2408
03:38:12,210 --> 03:38:19,530
He didn't say, let's find a way to make this work, what Pharaoh was doing. He said, just simply let my people go.

2409
03:38:19,530 --> 03:38:25,890
And that's what we're asking this commission, I mean, this council to consider, is to let

2410
03:38:25,890 --> 03:38:26,570
the people go.

2411
03:38:27,250 --> 03:38:34,070
And I also want to speak about this timeline because it is apparent to me as someone who

2412
03:38:34,070 --> 03:38:39,050
works at the Georgia General Assembly, and remember, wait, you may recall this some

2413
03:38:39,050 --> 03:38:44,850
time ago, is that there are efforts currently to make every single felony offense in Georgia's

2414
03:38:44,850 --> 03:38:51,770
cold bill restricted, meaning this is not going to be resolved. We say we open the jail

2415
03:38:51,770 --> 03:38:55,910
and 700 beds will be added while I guarantee you when the Georgia General Assembly, which

2416
03:38:55,910 --> 03:39:01,470
is led by Republicans, makes every single felony offense, which we have over 600 on

2417
03:39:01,470 --> 03:39:07,890
the books, every single felony offense requires a bond. Imagine what crisis we'll be in

2418
03:39:07,890 --> 03:39:12,670
in four years. And so what we're saying is there's things happening that are beyond

2419
03:39:12,670 --> 03:39:18,230
the control of the Lennon City Council that we may not have control over. I get it. But

2420
03:39:18,230 --> 03:39:24,950
as we work every single day, this is not going to solve the problem. This is not a humanitarian

2421
03:39:24,950 --> 03:39:31,870
response. This will only lead to more incarceration. This will only lead to more sin. This will

2422
03:39:31,870 --> 03:39:37,790
only lead to more disease and destruction. And so I'll also say this. This is not

2423
03:39:37,790 --> 03:39:42,630
Not an immediate response either, because in the agreement, there's no start date.

2424
03:39:43,410 --> 03:39:49,950
We don't know when staff will be on board and hired and allowed to be prepared to serve

2425
03:39:49,950 --> 03:39:50,630
our community.

2426
03:39:51,830 --> 03:39:56,470
There's nothing in there, and then there's zero evidence that proves that this effort

2427
03:39:56,470 --> 03:39:57,770
will be effective at all.

2428
03:39:58,310 --> 03:40:03,370
And so to suggest that this is the or a solution is just simply misleading and

2429
03:40:03,370 --> 03:40:03,810
it's wrong.

2430
03:40:04,590 --> 03:40:06,530
Granted, we all support public safety.

2431
03:40:07,110 --> 03:40:13,830
I've lived in this community my entire life, in Inglis Avenue, and so I get the concern

2432
03:40:13,830 --> 03:40:18,110
of being able to live in a community that you feel safe, but what we're saying is the

2433
03:40:18,110 --> 03:40:20,830
data, the research that we've all used.

2434
03:40:21,090 --> 03:40:25,050
I've used it at the George General Assembly, and it worked, and it's concerning to me

2435
03:40:25,050 --> 03:40:29,310
that we come to the LNC to counsel with people that we've supported who have ignored

2436
03:40:29,310 --> 03:40:32,450
the data, the research, the work that's been done for generations.

2437
03:40:32,910 --> 03:40:33,650
I'm new to the game.

2438
03:40:34,190 --> 03:40:39,010
There's people who have been leading the effort long before I ever was a part of it.

2439
03:40:39,610 --> 03:40:43,130
And so all I'll say, yeah, he's seated the balance of his time.

2440
03:40:44,210 --> 03:40:45,390
He can't do that legally.

2441
03:40:45,670 --> 03:40:46,350
All right. Thank you, sir.

2442
03:40:47,050 --> 03:40:53,990
Well, I'll just close and say we ask that you work with us to actually do the work.

2443
03:40:54,850 --> 03:40:59,670
And the platitudes and the posturing, that's not what we're here for.

2444
03:40:59,670 --> 03:41:03,650
And so we want to, and I thank you for giving us your information because we're going to

2445
03:41:03,650 --> 03:41:05,650
use it to work together on this issue.

2446
03:41:06,210 --> 03:41:07,150
Thank you, Mr. Pudall.

2447
03:41:07,890 --> 03:41:08,310
Mr. Bond?

2448
03:41:10,710 --> 03:41:11,590
Just a quick response.

2449
03:41:11,870 --> 03:41:16,670
When I was describing in space, I was making a comparison to the work that Pat has done.

2450
03:41:17,510 --> 03:41:22,210
Pat didn't wait for the jail to be sold or closed to do anything else.

2451
03:41:22,910 --> 03:41:23,770
They jumped in.

2452
03:41:24,090 --> 03:41:25,210
They reached out to the administration.

2453
03:41:25,210 --> 03:41:31,530
I think it's three administrations, Reed, Bottoms, now Dickens, and they have engaged

2454
03:41:31,530 --> 03:41:32,250
their program.

2455
03:41:32,470 --> 03:41:33,490
They've said it to work.

2456
03:41:34,050 --> 03:41:38,690
There are people who are part of the coalition that have represented, at least when they've

2457
03:41:38,690 --> 03:41:43,090
talked to me, that they say, well, let's defund the jail, let's close the jail, and

2458
03:41:43,090 --> 03:41:45,610
then use that money to do something else.

2459
03:41:46,130 --> 03:41:51,250
What I'm suggesting is that if the need is so great, if their ability is so good,

2460
03:41:51,250 --> 03:41:55,750
Why don't they follow the example of PAD and begin their programs now?

2461
03:41:56,270 --> 03:42:01,110
We have many recreation facilities around the city that are empty.

2462
03:42:01,590 --> 03:42:02,850
They're in need of programming.

2463
03:42:03,350 --> 03:42:04,370
They've got space.

2464
03:42:05,010 --> 03:42:10,630
They could be active now in helping to divert people from, you know,

2465
03:42:10,970 --> 03:42:12,670
getting into trouble or life of crime.

2466
03:42:13,090 --> 03:42:15,290
And that was my point about that.

2467
03:42:16,150 --> 03:42:16,890
That's all.

2468
03:42:16,970 --> 03:42:18,750
But I'm looking forward to talking with you.

2469
03:42:18,750 --> 03:42:22,650
Definitely, I just want to make mention that Pat is not in support of this legislation for

2470
03:42:22,650 --> 03:42:26,950
that very reason, that the work needs to be done now, and we agree, and so rather than

2471
03:42:26,950 --> 03:42:31,610
waiting four years to start that conversation, it's going to take some time to get that repurposing

2472
03:42:31,610 --> 03:42:39,510
done, and so we're willing to work on that issue, but to suggest that this is going

2473
03:42:39,510 --> 03:42:42,070
to happen tomorrow is just misleading, this is not.

2474
03:42:42,630 --> 03:42:46,130
And so that transfer place, I mean, takes time, the evaluation of who gets transferred

2475
03:42:46,130 --> 03:42:50,050
for it takes time, and at the same time there is work being done.

2476
03:42:50,270 --> 03:42:53,610
So what we're just simply saying is this is not going to get us to where we're wanting

2477
03:42:53,610 --> 03:42:54,210
to go together.

2478
03:42:55,010 --> 03:42:58,710
And so what we're trying to do is propose alternative solutions that will address it

2479
03:42:58,710 --> 03:43:02,350
in the time frame that we know needs to be experienced.

2480
03:43:02,850 --> 03:43:05,050
I think you're missing my point about PAD.

2481
03:43:05,470 --> 03:43:10,830
Right now PAD is paid out of the general fund, out of taxpayer funded money.

2482
03:43:11,410 --> 03:43:13,010
And so I'm not talking about that.

2483
03:43:13,010 --> 03:43:16,810
But what I'm saying is that PAD started several years ago.

2484
03:43:17,270 --> 03:43:18,770
They put their program in place.

2485
03:43:19,190 --> 03:43:23,410
There are those who are part of the coalition that say that they'll do a program one day

2486
03:43:23,410 --> 03:43:25,550
once X amount of things happen.

2487
03:43:26,030 --> 03:43:31,270
What I'm suggesting is that if they want to do programs, why not start their program

2488
03:43:31,270 --> 03:43:31,670
now?

2489
03:43:32,530 --> 03:43:32,570
Okay?

2490
03:43:33,330 --> 03:43:37,230
Ahead of whatever happens with the jail or whatever happens with Fulton County.

2491
03:43:37,230 --> 03:43:43,690
If they say they've got a program of diverting people from winding up in the criminal justice

2492
03:43:43,690 --> 03:43:49,390
system, the city of Atlanta has plenty of space in the recreation centers around and every

2493
03:43:49,390 --> 03:43:51,910
corner of the city that are empty.

2494
03:43:52,670 --> 03:43:55,350
Why not get involved and do it now?

2495
03:43:56,430 --> 03:43:58,090
And that work is being done.

2496
03:43:58,350 --> 03:43:58,770
Right now.

2497
03:43:59,430 --> 03:44:01,730
I think that's what we're saying is the work is being done right now.

2498
03:44:01,970 --> 03:44:04,610
So I don't see any active programs.

2499
03:44:04,730 --> 03:44:05,710
Go and finish up Mr. Bond.

2500
03:44:05,710 --> 03:44:08,490
You know, we'll talk, you know, we can talk.

2501
03:44:14,180 --> 03:44:15,320
Seconds to the citizen authority.

2502
03:44:16,060 --> 03:44:18,540
Have Stephanie Diaz listed?

2503
03:44:23,410 --> 03:44:26,130
I yield my time to Mr. Devon Barrington Ward.

2504
03:44:26,270 --> 03:44:28,270
He's at his maximum amount of time of 10 minutes.

2505
03:44:28,590 --> 03:44:31,090
So if you'd like to speak, you may, or Mr. Ward,

2506
03:44:31,170 --> 03:44:31,750
you have 10 minutes.

2507
03:44:32,110 --> 03:44:32,290
OK.

2508
03:44:33,930 --> 03:44:34,470
Thank you.

2509
03:44:36,240 --> 03:44:38,040
First, I'd like to thank my colleagues

2510
03:44:38,040 --> 03:44:40,220
at the Southern Center for Human Rights

2511
03:44:40,220 --> 03:44:43,060
for coming today with the facts, coming today

2512
03:44:43,060 --> 03:44:45,440
with truth, coming today with that fire.

2513
03:44:45,440 --> 03:44:51,900
You all stand in the legacy of Marissa Dotson and I'm proud to stand alongside y'all

2514
03:44:53,440 --> 03:44:59,980
My name is Devin Barrington Ward. I'm a proud member of communities over cages ATL and a member of the town

2515
03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:05,720
I'm going to ask for us to reimagine the Atlanta City Detention Center. When speaking in support

2516
03:45:05,720 --> 03:45:11,380
of transforming this center into the John Lewis Center for Equity, Wellness, and Freedom, I

2517
03:45:11,380 --> 03:45:16,320
think it's appropriate to bring the words of John Lewis into the space. A former councilmember

2518
03:45:16,320 --> 03:45:23,720
here, our beloved civil rights leader and former congressman. He said that even though the

2519
03:45:23,720 --> 03:45:31,320
truth. Can't be denied or erased. It can be systematically obscured, strategically misinterpreted

2520
03:45:31,320 --> 03:45:36,800
and hidden from mainstream comprehension. I don't think there's another quote from the

2521
03:45:36,800 --> 03:45:42,720
congressman that really sums up what is happening here. We have folks on this council that are

2522
03:45:42,720 --> 03:45:48,680
intentionally misrepresenting the facts that are trying to obscure what is actually happening

2523
03:45:48,680 --> 03:45:51,160
at ACDC and Rice Street.

2524
03:45:51,960 --> 03:45:54,100
So the question that I have for folks is today,

2525
03:45:54,540 --> 03:45:56,860
what is it that this city is intentionally hiding

2526
03:45:56,860 --> 03:45:58,780
from the public's mainstream comprehension?

2527
03:45:59,380 --> 03:46:00,420
Well, I have some answers.

2528
03:46:00,960 --> 03:46:03,440
The first thing that we are hiding is that the city of Atlanta

2529
03:46:03,440 --> 03:46:06,460
really has no real plan for proactive public safety.

2530
03:46:07,160 --> 03:46:08,800
And we continue to see that.

2531
03:46:09,200 --> 03:46:10,820
We had a mayor come at this podium

2532
03:46:10,820 --> 03:46:13,960
and brag about crime statistics that are going down over three weeks.

2533
03:46:14,320 --> 03:46:15,420
I live in Dixie Hills.

2534
03:46:15,560 --> 03:46:17,160
My neighbors don't feel safe.

2535
03:46:17,160 --> 03:46:23,340
The other thing that we're hiding is that the fact that the police cannot keep us safe.

2536
03:46:23,440 --> 03:46:27,780
We had four shootings this weekend, and what did the police do?

2537
03:46:27,960 --> 03:46:30,340
They responded after the fact.

2538
03:46:31,100 --> 03:46:36,140
Where was the proactive implementation from this city to prevent these types of harms

2539
03:46:36,140 --> 03:46:37,580
from happening to our residents?

2540
03:46:38,720 --> 03:46:43,980
What we're hiding from the public's comprehension is that the mayor has shown a preference for

2541
03:46:43,980 --> 03:46:49,060
for backroom deals with the sheriff rather than meeting with the community who helped

2542
03:46:49,060 --> 03:46:54,340
write the legislation he sponsored as a member of council. And the other thing that's very

2543
03:46:54,340 --> 03:47:00,180
interesting with this whole debate is that Fulton County was overcrowded when the legislation

2544
03:47:00,180 --> 03:47:06,600
was introduced. Fulton County was overcrowded when council member Hillis, when other members

2545
03:47:06,600 --> 03:47:12,860
of this body voted for that legislation and it passed with 11 votes. What is

2546
03:47:12,860 --> 03:47:18,820
What's also being hidden from the public's comprehension is that this proposal by the

2547
03:47:18,820 --> 03:47:23,200
mayor and the sheriff, there is no guarantees that there won't be a continuance.

2548
03:47:23,400 --> 03:47:24,380
Let's be clear.

2549
03:47:24,640 --> 03:47:27,900
If the sheriff is allowed in this building, he will never leave.

2550
03:47:28,500 --> 03:47:30,760
He views this as his own personal building.

2551
03:47:31,260 --> 03:47:36,240
There is ego that is attached to it because members of this community did the hard

2552
03:47:36,240 --> 03:47:41,400
organizing work to depopulate that jail, and there was no longer a need for him.

2553
03:47:42,800 --> 03:47:51,280
What we are hiding from the public's conscience is that we pay lip service, and we make businesses

2554
03:47:51,280 --> 03:47:54,500
the scapegoat for our public safety issues here in the city of Atlanta.

2555
03:47:55,200 --> 03:47:58,500
Our public safety issues are not grounded in a few nightclubs.

2556
03:47:58,880 --> 03:48:03,060
Our public safety issues are grounded in the fact that no one has really offered

2557
03:48:03,060 --> 03:48:08,080
a real strategy for how we get to the root cause of crime in this city which is poverty.

2558
03:48:11,390 --> 03:48:15,230
The other thing that we are hiding from the mainstream comprehension of the public

2559
03:48:15,890 --> 03:48:22,690
is that overcrowding is not new. I am 32 years old. Fulton County was overcrowded when I was in

2560
03:48:22,690 --> 03:48:28,690
middle school. When are we going to actually systemically address this issue and stop kicking

2561
03:48:28,690 --> 03:48:34,370
the can down the road? You know one of the things that I have concluded through this whole

2562
03:48:34,370 --> 03:48:40,830
processes is that some of the people that we love in this building, people who have murals

2563
03:48:40,830 --> 03:48:48,270
and portraits, folks like Dr. King, Frederick Douglass, John Lewis, I really believe though

2564
03:48:48,270 --> 03:48:54,210
that if Dr. King was alive today, many of you all would be in opposition to him. And

2565
03:48:54,210 --> 03:48:58,830
the reason I believe that is because there are some folks who have shown that you don't

2566
03:48:58,830 --> 03:49:06,030
like when the public peacefully protests when we show our disagreement with your public policy

2567
03:49:06,030 --> 03:49:10,470
it is viewed as disrespect rather than a part of the democratic process.

2568
03:49:11,710 --> 03:49:18,050
What has been really offensive to me is how council members have tried to lecture me about

2569
03:49:18,050 --> 03:49:19,330
the conditions at Rice Street.

2570
03:49:19,970 --> 03:49:25,670
I've been in Rice Street, not on a tour, I was there as an inmate with our beloved

2571
03:49:25,670 --> 03:49:30,370
Congresswoman Nakima Williams when we were arrested in 2018 for peacefully

2572
03:49:30,370 --> 03:49:35,730
protesting the mismanagement of the election by the Republicans. I don't

2573
03:49:35,730 --> 03:49:39,830
need anyone to lecture me about the conditions of Fulton County. I was on

2574
03:49:39,830 --> 03:49:43,850
those floors. I don't need anyone to lecture me about the conditions of

2575
03:49:43,850 --> 03:49:49,550
public safety on the West Side. I have been a victim of crime and so with

2576
03:49:49,550 --> 03:49:54,790
having holding that duality I can still come up here and demand that we

2577
03:49:54,790 --> 03:50:00,290
adhere to what we had originally agreed to. What the mayor put his name on when

2578
03:50:00,290 --> 03:50:04,910
he was a council member back in 2019. What many of you all who were a part of

2579
03:50:04,910 --> 03:50:06,510
that council voted for.

2580
03:50:08,920 --> 03:50:12,400
We're about to consider a lease that has no review, no

2581
03:50:12,400 --> 03:50:16,780
oversight, no terms that are favorable to the City of Atlanta. You all are

2582
03:50:16,780 --> 03:50:22,860
opening yourself up to so much liability. It financially from a business

2583
03:50:22,860 --> 03:50:30,780
perspective does not make sense. And so if you won't listen to the lawyers, if you won't listen to

2584
03:50:30,780 --> 03:50:36,420
the doctors, if you won't listen to the public, if you won't listen to the civil rights leaders,

2585
03:50:37,000 --> 03:50:40,680
if you won't listen to some of your own colleagues, if you won't listen to the votes

2586
03:50:40,680 --> 03:50:45,080
that you all made a few years ago, then who will you listen to? Well maybe you'll listen

2587
03:50:45,080 --> 03:50:50,620
to the sheriff who said with his own words at the Fulton County Commission meeting that if

2588
03:50:50,620 --> 03:50:55,980
If we got ACDC tomorrow, it would not fix Fulton County's problems.

2589
03:50:56,560 --> 03:50:58,100
So what are we even talking about?

2590
03:50:58,560 --> 03:51:03,180
So if you won't listen to any of those people, at least listen to the sheriff who has also

2591
03:51:03,180 --> 03:51:05,920
concluded that ACDC is a path to nowhere.

2592
03:51:07,400 --> 03:51:09,500
And so I'd like to close with this.

2593
03:51:10,600 --> 03:51:13,340
What side of history will you all be on?

2594
03:51:14,140 --> 03:51:15,940
I know I'm going to be on the right side of history.

2595
03:51:16,200 --> 03:51:16,940
Where y'all going to be?

2596
03:51:19,060 --> 03:51:24,160
I would offer you the invitation to be on that right side of history because we will

2597
03:51:24,160 --> 03:51:24,580
be right.

2598
03:51:25,040 --> 03:51:28,260
We have always been right because we have a pulse of the people.

2599
03:51:28,600 --> 03:51:31,860
We talk to the folks who are incarcerated in that facility.

2600
03:51:32,200 --> 03:51:35,260
We are the folks who have been incarcerated in that facility.

2601
03:51:35,780 --> 03:51:37,320
We are the subject matter experts.

2602
03:51:37,620 --> 03:51:39,200
We are the checks and the balance.

2603
03:51:40,400 --> 03:51:44,140
John Lewis also said that every generation leaves behind a legacy.

2604
03:51:44,140 --> 03:51:51,960
legacy. What that legacy will be is determined by the people of this generation. And so what

2605
03:51:51,960 --> 03:51:55,400
legacy do you want to leave behind? Thank you.

2606
03:51:59,520 --> 03:52:01,160
If that concludes our public comment,

2607
03:52:08,570 --> 03:52:10,050
I can't hear you come up to the mic.

2608
03:52:11,450 --> 03:52:17,310
Excuse me. I had yielded my time, but you advised that Mr. Barrington Ward had already

2609
03:52:17,310 --> 03:52:25,650
in a lot of time. Is it okay if I am I able to say something? I will give you

2610
03:52:25,650 --> 03:52:31,690
two minutes not technically but go ahead. Thank you. Hi I'm Stephanie Diaz and I

2611
03:52:31,690 --> 03:52:36,530
come to you as a community member and a member of the Fulton County Crisis

2612
03:52:36,530 --> 03:52:43,790
Coalition and we have written something to share. The Fulton Crisis Care

2613
03:52:43,790 --> 03:52:49,310
Our coalition advocates for better services for people experiencing mental health crisis

2614
03:52:49,310 --> 03:52:51,710
and those seeking to support them.

2615
03:52:52,530 --> 03:52:58,670
Among us are people who are directly impacted, crisis care workers, community advocates,

2616
03:52:59,570 --> 03:53:03,930
who have all navigated enormous gaps in the local crisis care system.

2617
03:53:04,510 --> 03:53:09,370
We along with mental health professionals, practitioners and people in mental health

2618
03:53:09,370 --> 03:53:19,030
recovery in our broader Atlanta community are here to ask you to oppose the proposed lease

2619
03:53:19,390 --> 03:53:21,650
of the Atlanta City Detention Center.

2620
03:53:22,610 --> 03:53:28,830
Many of us have worked inside detention centers or experienced incarceration, the overuse

2621
03:53:28,830 --> 03:53:34,410
of our local jails to address mental health concerns and broader behavioral health and

2622
03:53:34,410 --> 03:53:40,250
issues such as the lack of mental health services and the inaccessibility of

2623
03:53:40,250 --> 03:53:45,530
supportive housing for people who experience mental illness. This is a

2624
03:53:45,530 --> 03:53:51,310
Georgia norm that must change. We know that the needs of people with mental

2625
03:53:51,310 --> 03:53:56,390
health concerns are not being adequately addressed in these facilities and

2626
03:53:56,390 --> 03:54:01,410
instead are exacerbated and often lead to preventable deaths.

2627
03:54:08,110 --> 03:54:08,850
An estimated

2628
03:54:08,850 --> 03:54:14,990
60 to 80 percent of individuals incarcerated at Fulton County Jail suffer from a mental

2629
03:54:14,990 --> 03:54:20,610
health concern and one-third of all people incarcerated at Fulton County Jail receive

2630
03:54:20,610 --> 03:54:23,010
some type of psychotropic medication.

2631
03:54:25,800 --> 03:54:30,700
So in closing we will also be providing this letter

2632
03:54:30,700 --> 03:54:37,520
and writing to you all to consider and read further along with the research attached to it.

2633
03:54:37,520 --> 03:54:38,740
Thank you for your time.

2634
03:54:39,620 --> 03:54:40,420
Thank you.

2635
03:54:41,000 --> 03:54:42,140
And that concludes public comment.

2636
03:54:43,420 --> 03:54:47,580
Before we move on to our presentations from our senior departments,

2637
03:54:47,860 --> 03:54:53,740
I do want to take one item under resolutions first,

2638
03:54:54,300 --> 03:54:59,980
because the sponsor is here with us and has somewhere else to be.

2639
03:55:00,640 --> 03:55:07,460
So, with no objection, I will handle, we will handle 22R4030, which is item number six under resolutions.

2640
03:55:07,760 --> 03:55:08,520
Read that in, please.

2641
03:55:13,690 --> 03:55:31,750
A resolution by Councilmember Alex I to amend Resolution 21R3040 pursuant to wish the City of Atlanta Alcohol Technical Advisory Group, ATAC3, was established to conduct a review and to identify recommendations for changes to the City of Atlanta's alcohol beverage licensing process.

2642
03:55:31,750 --> 03:55:37,150
In order to amend the ATAC-3 meeting location requirements and the knowledge of the return

2643
03:55:37,150 --> 03:55:42,370
to in-person meetings, to extend the time by which ATAC-3 must complete its review and

2644
03:55:42,370 --> 03:55:47,510
recommendations such that it shall be within 12 months of its first meeting and for other

2645
03:55:47,510 --> 03:55:47,890
purposes.

2646
03:55:48,510 --> 03:55:50,570
Council Member Juan, thank you for joining us today.

2647
03:55:50,830 --> 03:55:54,450
Thank you Chair Hillis and thank you my colleagues and members of the Public Safety Committee.

2648
03:55:56,090 --> 03:55:59,930
Thank you for the indulgence of letting me speak and kind of crash your party today.

2649
03:55:59,930 --> 03:56:03,950
I wanted to ask for your support of this resolution.

2650
03:56:04,890 --> 03:56:07,750
What it does is, as you know, ATAC 3 has been working all year

2651
03:56:07,750 --> 03:56:11,130
in terms of looking at and making proposed recommendations

2652
03:56:11,860 --> 03:56:15,550
to our alcohol code to support both communities

2653
03:56:15,550 --> 03:56:17,950
as well as license holders and industry.

2654
03:56:18,930 --> 03:56:22,590
Work is progressing well, but the committee has asked for more time.

2655
03:56:23,170 --> 03:56:27,530
There was a natural time limit and sunset in the original legislation

2656
03:56:27,530 --> 03:56:31,830
that Mr. Bond had put together, and we're asking just for an extension of that.

2657
03:56:32,270 --> 03:56:35,470
And while we're amending the paper, the law department has asked us to include a provision

2658
03:56:35,470 --> 03:56:40,650
in there that allows for remote meetings in the event that we go back into that state.

2659
03:56:41,170 --> 03:56:45,650
I have spoken with the author just to let him know about this in advance of today's meeting.

2660
03:56:45,970 --> 03:56:57,510
I'll entertain any questions, but I, again, ask for your support for this on behalf of

2661
03:57:09,220 --> 03:57:09,220
the

2662
03:57:12,260 --> 03:57:19,640
68, 0 nays that I'm as favorable. Thanks again, Councilmember one. I'll go back to presentations

2663
03:57:19,640 --> 03:57:25,020
and thank you to all of our staff and departments for sticking with us today. First up we'll

2664
03:57:25,020 --> 03:57:29,660
have Atlanta Police Department's bi-weekly report. Deputy Chief Peake.

2665
03:57:44,710 --> 03:57:49,690
Good afternoon, Chairman Hillis and all the esteemed members of the Public Safety

2666
03:57:49,690 --> 03:57:54,490
Council. We certainly thank you and always look forward to the opportunity of standing

2667
03:57:54,490 --> 03:58:00,530
in front of you and presenting our bi-weekly report as we move forward here.

2668
03:58:00,990 --> 03:58:01,110
Is

2669
03:58:13,690 --> 03:58:14,030
it here?

2670
03:58:22,040 --> 03:58:22,900
Okay, there we are.

2671
03:58:23,580 --> 03:58:30,500
So our first slide, what we find with this particular briefing here, when we look at our year-to-date

2672
03:58:30,500 --> 03:58:35,040
crimes as we want to focus naturally with the incidents that we've recently had,

2673
03:58:35,280 --> 03:58:40,840
the major focus that we've been moving forward with is gangs, illegal guns,

2674
03:58:40,840 --> 03:58:45,940
and illegal narcotics that are out on our streets with that because what we've

2675
03:58:45,940 --> 03:58:49,980
seen historically is that that has a direct impact on what happens with our

2676
03:58:49,980 --> 03:58:57,840
violent crime. So we're 4% up from this time last year, year-to-date. So as we're

2677
03:58:57,840 --> 03:59:02,400
looking at that, that's a 4% increase, but when we look at our 28%, we've had

2678
03:59:02,400 --> 03:59:07,040
a significant decrease over the 28 day and currently we're sitting at a 1%

2679
03:59:07,040 --> 03:59:11,780
decrease for that 28 day and then of course as we look at the actual current

2680
03:59:11,780 --> 03:59:18,280
week this is week 30 represented here there was a 13% increase 85 versus 75 as

2681
03:59:18,280 --> 03:59:25,180
to where we were this time last year. Additionally with those particular ones

2682
03:59:25,180 --> 03:59:30,360
what we're looking at although this covers the crime data for week 30 as we

2683
03:59:30,360 --> 03:59:35,020
look between weeks 29 through 31 we've had a significant reduction of about

2684
03:59:35,020 --> 03:59:39,920
11% with our violent crime. So we know that we are making gains in the actual

2685
03:59:39,920 --> 03:59:43,860
community as we're dealing with those issues. Doesn't mean that we still don't

2686
03:59:43,860 --> 03:59:48,020
have a lot of work to do in the streets as far as trying to partner with all of

2687
03:59:48,020 --> 03:59:51,500
the entities, particularly with the violent Reduction Task Force, as I'm

2688
03:59:51,500 --> 03:59:55,860
being instituted within the city of Atlanta, and of course then all the

2689
03:59:55,860 --> 03:59:59,920
other outside resources that we continue continually partner with.

2690
04:00:02,640 --> 04:00:09,440
We've certainly had a lot of great arrests as it pertains to that, and I know you've heard

2691
04:00:09,440 --> 04:00:14,500
and may are already speaking, state a lot of those statistics, so I don't want to be redundant.

2692
04:00:14,900 --> 04:00:20,200
But the homicide clear-up matter that we continually look at the national average is a 54 percent.

2693
04:00:20,600 --> 04:00:25,580
The city of Atlanta right now, we're sitting at 64 percent, but there are a number of

2694
04:00:25,580 --> 04:00:30,600
cases that warrants are already in place and we're either waiting to either identify or

2695
04:00:30,600 --> 04:00:35,400
locate that person or that person that's sitting in another jail and we can't clear that warrant

2696
04:00:35,400 --> 04:00:40,060
until we get them into the Fulton County justice system. So when we consider those

2697
04:00:40,060 --> 04:00:46,220
numbers, we're looking at a 94% reduction or not reduction but clearance rate for

2698
04:00:46,220 --> 04:00:51,580
our homicide number. So the men and women of the Atlanta Police Department are doing

2699
04:00:51,580 --> 04:00:53,760
trying to solve those cases.

2700
04:00:54,260 --> 04:00:56,140
Additionally, as we look at property crimes,

2701
04:00:56,280 --> 04:00:57,720
that's our number one driver.

2702
04:00:58,220 --> 04:01:01,440
Because of the numbers, when we talk about our vehicle break-ins

2703
04:01:01,440 --> 04:01:03,840
and those auto thefts,

2704
04:01:04,200 --> 04:01:06,020
shoplifting and other types of issues,

2705
04:01:06,440 --> 04:01:09,460
we're constantly working trying to drive those numbers down.

2706
04:01:09,660 --> 04:01:13,060
We're at 8% reduction for the period of week 30

2707
04:01:13,060 --> 04:01:16,340
and then a 2% up for the 28-day,

2708
04:01:17,040 --> 04:01:19,000
8% up for the year-to-date,

2709
04:01:19,000 --> 04:01:24,720
brings us a total crime number of 7% is where we are right now, which is a much better place

2710
04:01:24,720 --> 04:01:29,780
than where we were this time last year. So although that slight increase is there, those

2711
04:01:29,780 --> 04:01:34,220
numbers are really and truly been going in the right direction. So we want to continue

2712
04:01:34,220 --> 04:01:38,040
to keep our focus and ensure that we're in the right places doing the right things

2713
04:01:38,040 --> 04:01:43,080
and trying to build a partnership so that when we see things and we get that information

2714
04:01:43,080 --> 04:01:47,840
that we can act faster on it and really and truly get the people the help that's

2715
04:01:47,840 --> 04:01:52,100
need and then those that need to go to jail, then we will proceed with those particular

2716
04:01:52,100 --> 04:01:52,780
situations.

2717
04:01:54,160 --> 04:01:57,900
As we move forward, I just really want to highlight this next case here, and this was

2718
04:01:57,900 --> 04:02:03,280
a particular case where we served a search warrant in a 3,800 block of MLK, I'm sorry,

2719
04:02:03,400 --> 04:02:06,900
not MLK, Camelton Road, 318 Camelton Road.

2720
04:02:07,620 --> 04:02:12,560
In that particular one we were able to see, as you see, we took off about 159 grounds

2721
04:02:12,560 --> 04:02:17,740
of crack, 52 grams of marijuana, three assault rifles, two handguns, and made two arrests,

2722
04:02:17,840 --> 04:02:21,160
both of which had significant criminal histories.

2723
04:02:21,900 --> 04:02:25,920
The challenge with this location, just to let you know what was happening at that location,

2724
04:02:26,100 --> 04:02:30,260
we got the information and went over and started that investigation a number of months

2725
04:02:30,260 --> 04:02:30,620
ago.

2726
04:02:31,160 --> 04:02:37,360
But after serving that search warrant and clearing that particular location, probably

2727
04:02:37,360 --> 04:02:41,480
about two or three hours later, we received a shooting of a male that was shot.

2728
04:02:41,480 --> 04:02:45,600
We quickly responded back out to that location and dealt with that person.

2729
04:02:46,860 --> 04:02:50,900
Got him the medical help that he needed and tried to further his investigation.

2730
04:02:51,580 --> 04:02:58,280
We left that location probably another hour later there was another shooting that came up at the very same location.

2731
04:02:58,840 --> 04:03:04,640
So we know that it's a problem location that we're looking at it trying to really get to the root causes of what's going on.

2732
04:03:04,680 --> 04:03:08,400
But we know again narcotics is that piece that's over there.

2733
04:03:08,400 --> 04:03:12,800
And so homicide unit is really looking and trying to do all they can to bring all those

2734
04:03:12,800 --> 04:03:14,520
that are involved to justice.

2735
04:03:14,860 --> 04:03:18,840
But those are some of the things that we see when we really and truly put our units out

2736
04:03:18,840 --> 04:03:20,500
here and have such successes.

2737
04:03:21,180 --> 04:03:25,980
Additionally, just highlighting some of the work of the men and women on our crime

2738
04:03:25,980 --> 04:03:30,300
suppression unit that's really assigned to the Zone 6 unit over at Selena Butler

2739
04:03:30,300 --> 04:03:34,260
Park, really and truly over there trying to get services and get all the things

2740
04:03:34,260 --> 04:03:38,860
is needed and furthering investigations from a robbery over there while they're there to

2741
04:03:38,860 --> 04:03:43,600
hear gunshots quickly see vehicle fleeing from the area and they were able to make a

2742
04:03:43,600 --> 04:03:49,020
stop on that vehicle and inside their car again what do we see assault weapons and

2743
04:03:49,020 --> 04:03:53,480
other things of like that nature and narcotics so we know what's happening in the streets

2744
04:03:53,480 --> 04:03:56,780
we know that we have the right resources out there dealing with it is something

2745
04:03:56,780 --> 04:04:00,880
that we just have to stay focused and damn when we find those issues deliver those

2746
04:04:00,880 --> 04:04:04,480
people where they need to go to deal with whatever they're dealing with, and for those

2747
04:04:04,480 --> 04:04:08,420
that we can help, we'll help, and those that we need to move forward with the criminal justice

2748
04:04:08,420 --> 04:04:15,740
system, that's exactly what we strive to do, to make our community safe as possible, and

2749
04:04:15,740 --> 04:04:20,120
ultimately to answer the calls and the questions of our communities, because once

2750
04:04:20,120 --> 04:04:23,820
we get the calls and people are saying that they really and truly can't come outside,

2751
04:04:24,020 --> 04:04:28,260
they can't do these things, it's incumbent upon us to respond and go out and investigate

2752
04:04:28,260 --> 04:04:31,020
gate and try to restore order to that particular area.

2753
04:04:34,430 --> 04:04:36,610
Looking here at our next slide, repeat offenders.

2754
04:04:37,970 --> 04:04:40,170
As we see, there's not a whole lot of change there.

2755
04:04:40,230 --> 04:04:44,090
What we really and truly focus on is who are we dealing with when we have any particular

2756
04:04:44,090 --> 04:04:44,510
issues.

2757
04:04:44,650 --> 04:04:48,770
We know that weapon charges are the 21 percent of those cases.

2758
04:04:49,450 --> 04:04:54,130
Violent crime for this particular report out was zero, but then property crime,

2759
04:04:54,230 --> 04:04:57,550
that number is always consistently high at 37 percent.

2760
04:04:57,550 --> 04:05:00,610
So then we look at the averages of the number of people that we're dealing with.

2761
04:05:00,870 --> 04:05:04,710
49 years old is what we're dealing with with our repeat offenders.

2762
04:05:05,250 --> 04:05:09,230
We're constantly dealing with people around the 49 year old range in this particular one

2763
04:05:09,230 --> 04:05:13,430
and the number of res which are really and truly concerning, 40.

2764
04:05:14,010 --> 04:05:19,090
Now these are res very well may not be represented of a city ordinance

2765
04:05:19,090 --> 04:05:23,510
or just a simple shoplifting but it's a myriad of charges with that being narcotics.

2766
04:05:23,510 --> 04:05:27,270
A lot of it, most of the time we're looking at assaults and robberies and other types

2767
04:05:27,270 --> 04:05:31,050
of property crimes along with some violence.

2768
04:05:31,490 --> 04:05:33,410
Number of felony convictions is nine.

2769
04:05:34,070 --> 04:05:38,110
So ultimately trying to look at these cases to figure out what's happening with each

2770
04:05:38,110 --> 04:05:42,490
individual calling PAAC, calling those other resources that are out there to see what

2771
04:05:42,490 --> 04:05:47,430
we can do to try to make those people hold if we can, but again, making sure

2772
04:05:47,430 --> 04:05:51,590
that we restore justice in the communities where they are actually having the greatest

2773
04:05:51,590 --> 04:05:52,150
impact.

2774
04:05:54,420 --> 04:05:58,760
As we look at Connect-a-Lana, that's our real-time track and center Connect-a-Lana

2775
04:05:58,760 --> 04:06:02,220
trying to really and truly push the word out, continue to grow our network.

2776
04:06:02,960 --> 04:06:08,160
It's shown to be beneficial on a number of cases that we've responded to,

2777
04:06:08,600 --> 04:06:12,480
some homicide, some shootings to where we can actually get that footage,

2778
04:06:12,860 --> 04:06:15,780
really look at it and turn around and put the cases together

2779
04:06:15,780 --> 04:06:18,020
and present a case to the district attorney's office.

2780
04:06:18,380 --> 04:06:21,380
That would be compelling so that we would make sure that we would get a conviction

2781
04:06:21,380 --> 04:06:22,900
once those cases are solved.

2782
04:06:22,900 --> 04:06:28,460
Today, as we're looking at that, the registered cameras, I think we're looking at about 45,

2783
04:06:28,660 --> 04:06:31,440
43, and then the integrations are 6 to 652.

2784
04:06:31,760 --> 04:06:37,980
So that's slightly over 11,000 cases that we had, well, cameras that we've had adopted

2785
04:06:37,980 --> 04:06:39,440
into this system.

2786
04:06:39,700 --> 04:06:41,740
So the numbers are heading in the right direction.

2787
04:06:41,880 --> 04:06:45,500
We thank you for your partnerships and really pushing that information out and ask

2788
04:06:45,500 --> 04:06:47,120
that you continue to work with us.

2789
04:06:47,400 --> 04:06:51,220
We'll continue to share that information and particularly with our problem properties

2790
04:06:51,220 --> 04:06:56,580
to ensure that we go out and have conversations with those property owners, business owners

2791
04:06:56,580 --> 04:07:01,820
or whatever to see if we can certainly continue to get them to partner with us and put those

2792
04:07:01,820 --> 04:07:06,320
cameras into the feed and that will really and truly be beneficial for the City of Atlanta

2793
04:07:06,320 --> 04:07:08,780
for providing a higher level of safety.

2794
04:07:11,100 --> 04:07:16,880
And I believe if I'm not mistaken that really concludes the presentation here.

2795
04:07:17,160 --> 04:07:20,200
I don't believe there are any other slides passed there so at this particular point

2796
04:07:20,200 --> 04:07:22,760
open up the floor for any questions that you might have.

2797
04:07:33,090 --> 04:07:37,410
Thank you, Deputy Chief Peake. You mentioned the shooting over at Mechanicsville.

2798
04:07:37,550 --> 04:07:40,730
The six persons were shot and almost killed.

2799
04:07:41,110 --> 04:07:45,990
Has there been any update or has the person been caught or identified?

2800
04:07:46,530 --> 04:07:51,510
So, Humaside Unit is really and truly working those leads as fast as they can

2801
04:07:51,510 --> 04:07:55,090
and really and truly with the fine two comb, it's still an active investigation.

2802
04:07:55,350 --> 04:07:57,710
We have not brought anybody to justice at this point,

2803
04:07:57,710 --> 04:08:03,450
But we are partnering with all of those entities really working closely with Atlanta Public Schools

2804
04:08:03,450 --> 04:08:08,710
and the actual center itself to go out and do additional knocking talks

2805
04:08:08,710 --> 04:08:10,830
just to really see who's out there what's happening.

2806
04:08:11,010 --> 04:08:12,470
So it's a moving investigation.

2807
04:08:12,930 --> 04:08:14,650
Were there any cameras in the park?

2808
04:08:16,630 --> 04:08:20,290
Not specifically for my recollection of that particular part,

2809
04:08:20,310 --> 04:08:23,950
but there are some surrounding footages that we're really truly looking at

2810
04:08:23,950 --> 04:08:25,930
to see if they would be beneficial for us.

2811
04:08:25,930 --> 04:08:34,950
And just to follow up the shooting that happened over, I think they were leaving Howard's Barber Shop over there on Peter Street where the little boy got shot.

2812
04:08:35,310 --> 04:08:35,510
Yes.

2813
04:08:35,650 --> 04:08:39,070
And the head, they had gotten the headway on that.

2814
04:08:39,390 --> 04:08:49,590
Still an active investigation as well on that particular one. We were able to get the footage and I believe that was already released to the media so that we could really intrude this show and put together what happened.

2815
04:08:49,590 --> 04:08:57,090
The KUB is going back and really tracing the footsteps prior to to figure out if we can make some sense about what happens.

2816
04:08:57,270 --> 04:09:01,790
But that's the case that they have great leads and they're continuing to focus on them.

2817
04:09:02,770 --> 04:09:07,550
Now I know that when the acting chief share bond was here a couple of weeks ago,

2818
04:09:07,630 --> 04:09:09,930
and I don't want you to put words in his mouth,

2819
04:09:10,010 --> 04:09:16,790
but I know that he had talked about people kind of intervening before there's a shooting happen.

2820
04:09:16,790 --> 04:09:22,530
But I know he didn't mean for people to get in front of a shooter, but we want to continue

2821
04:09:22,530 --> 04:09:27,790
to urge people to try to help de-escalate things as much as possible.

2822
04:09:28,230 --> 04:09:29,210
Absolutely, absolutely.

2823
04:09:29,890 --> 04:09:33,670
No, by no means do we ever want anyone to put themselves in harm's way.

2824
04:09:33,810 --> 04:09:38,490
But to those extent where we have people that are out there who can be a sounding board

2825
04:09:38,490 --> 04:09:41,990
of some sort to where they can really and truly talk to people prior to things

2826
04:09:41,990 --> 04:09:46,410
escalating so high, we really and truly look forward to people having that.

2827
04:09:46,410 --> 04:09:51,110
just honest words just to say hey it's not worth it why are we having gunplay

2828
04:09:51,110 --> 04:09:55,290
because we're having a disagreement we can agree to disagree and turn around and

2829
04:09:55,290 --> 04:09:59,950
walk away today and live another day so that's certainly a concern and then

2830
04:09:59,950 --> 04:10:03,350
that's really and truly the thought process behind the violence reduction

2831
04:10:03,350 --> 04:10:07,690
program as I've had the opportunity to really go up to Baltimore and have a

2832
04:10:07,690 --> 04:10:12,470
in-depth look at that program that's exactly what's happening people who

2833
04:10:12,470 --> 04:10:17,350
are influential in the community who are having an opportunity to be out there and know that

2834
04:10:17,350 --> 04:10:21,530
there are specific things that are brewing in the community and how we're able to utilize

2835
04:10:21,530 --> 04:10:25,770
them and partner with them so that they can say, hey, it's not worth it. Let's squash

2836
04:10:25,770 --> 04:10:29,910
this and move on and everybody walk away and we don't have incidents that are going to

2837
04:10:29,910 --> 04:10:34,790
escalate to the level of gun violence. It's really and truly we have to appeal

2838
04:10:34,790 --> 04:10:39,030
to our people to make better decisions, put the guns down and, you know, if you

2839
04:10:39,030 --> 04:10:43,890
to do something which we don't condone fighting either. Just walk away if we can't have a conversation

2840
04:10:43,890 --> 04:10:50,630
and talk, then just walk away because everyone's lives are just really and truly way too valuable

2841
04:10:50,630 --> 04:10:56,030
for us just to have a simple disagreement to where we start pulling triggers and losing lives.

2842
04:10:56,190 --> 04:11:00,330
That's just really and truly. We can't continue down that road, so we look forward to those.

2843
04:11:00,770 --> 04:11:08,090
Okay, just one last point that I will withdraw. How is the recruiting of officers going at this point

2844
04:11:08,870 --> 04:11:13,050
So far everything is going well. We like the direction of where we are.

2845
04:11:13,410 --> 04:11:18,790
I am happy to report that we'll have about 16 new officers that are coming out of the academy

2846
04:11:18,790 --> 04:11:24,450
finishing up their 12-week field training this week and then will be assigned to all six precincts

2847
04:11:24,450 --> 04:11:29,130
starting August 11th, if I'm not mistaken, if that's what the Thursday's date is.

2848
04:11:29,630 --> 04:11:35,170
But to date, so as we're looking at it right now, we've hired about 107 as we're looking right here

2849
04:11:35,170 --> 04:11:40,370
and then with the fiscal year, we're really on track to continue.

2850
04:11:40,790 --> 04:11:43,710
We've sitting at about 107

2851
04:11:45,760 --> 04:11:47,480
versus 51 last year.

2852
04:11:47,840 --> 04:11:53,200
So that shows you and truly we're actually having a great number of opportunities for hiring.

2853
04:11:53,580 --> 04:11:57,820
We've had a number of events and really and truly I think the last major event we had

2854
04:11:57,820 --> 04:11:59,620
was at Lenox Mall a few weeks ago.

2855
04:12:00,900 --> 04:12:04,400
Focus was swarming people as well as our 911 center.

2856
04:12:04,400 --> 04:12:11,220
Last check, I think the numbers were somewhere around close to 100 people that we were able to process in that particular setting.

2857
04:12:11,800 --> 04:12:14,960
So those are actually certainly encouraging numbers as well.

2858
04:12:15,100 --> 04:12:21,620
As we look for the FY23, we already have 17 people which just started July 1st.

2859
04:12:21,760 --> 04:12:31,500
So looking at the onboarding of September, we plan to onboard already five people that we've already forecast because they're having to get other things

2860
04:12:31,500 --> 04:12:35,040
in order to prepare to move to Atlanta for these particular jobs.

2861
04:12:35,260 --> 04:12:40,980
But even here now, month of August while we're just in the first week, we are projecting

2862
04:12:40,980 --> 04:12:45,580
about 15 people and that number could increase based on what's happening with the data that

2863
04:12:45,580 --> 04:12:46,960
we get back with those packages.

2864
04:12:47,520 --> 04:12:52,240
So we're certainly having some success with the hiring numbers and so we're going to continue

2865
04:12:52,240 --> 04:12:57,280
to look, I think there are a number of places that we're looking for the month

2866
04:12:57,280 --> 04:13:02,240
of August to go somewhere probably about 11 or 12 different career fairs or different

2867
04:13:02,240 --> 04:13:08,360
events throughout the metro area and some that are out of state. So the focus on hiring

2868
04:13:08,360 --> 04:13:13,600
is serious and we're having a lot of success as we continue to meet with some of our surrounding

2869
04:13:13,600 --> 04:13:18,600
partners. I'm thankful that because we're really seeing a lot more interest than a

2870
04:13:18,600 --> 04:13:23,120
lot of our surrounding jurisdiction. So obviously we're doing something right.

2871
04:13:23,120 --> 04:13:26,280
Okay. That's very good. I withdraw, Mr. Chair.

2872
04:13:26,940 --> 04:13:27,680
Council Member Boone?

2873
04:13:34,700 --> 04:13:35,100
Thank you.

2874
04:13:35,140 --> 04:13:46,360
I would just like to again thank Major Jackson and Captain Claxton for being hands on last Tuesday night on Wilson Mill Road.

2875
04:13:46,420 --> 04:13:54,840
They were there personally and also returned the next day to speak with the elderly neighbors on that street. Thank you.

2876
04:13:54,840 --> 04:14:01,340
I'll certainly be sure to share that information and I know to get some other resolutions they're

2877
04:14:01,340 --> 04:14:02,260
actually meeting today.

2878
04:14:02,280 --> 04:14:07,140
They've already met it from my mistaken with the parks commissioner to really strategize

2879
04:14:07,140 --> 04:14:10,960
and do some other things so that we can ensure that we all work together and present the

2880
04:14:10,960 --> 04:14:13,860
best product we can for each one of our parks.

2881
04:14:14,120 --> 04:14:18,920
But naturally looking at that top 20 number that we had based off the data for crime

2882
04:14:18,920 --> 04:14:23,640
and what was happening, we've had significant crime reductions with those first top

2883
04:14:23,640 --> 04:14:28,720
20. However one is too many so we're still going to go and do all we can to

2884
04:14:28,720 --> 04:14:33,260
enhance all of our city parks and prioritize them so that we can get the

2885
04:14:33,260 --> 04:14:38,760
right people in place. Until then we're utilizing our mounted patrols to really

2886
04:14:38,760 --> 04:14:43,280
go out there and some of our other external units to get into those places

2887
04:14:43,280 --> 04:14:49,520
to try to provide a better buffer for safety. Thank you. Thank you Deputy

2888
04:14:49,520 --> 04:14:54,360
Chief, a few things for me. Number one, the Connect Atlanta.

2889
04:14:56,520 --> 04:14:59,680
I would like to see a little more...

2890
04:15:00,000 --> 04:15:06,020
This promotion and advertising of that, I know it has its own website, however, in my opinion,

2891
04:15:06,220 --> 04:15:11,080
it should be, you know, there should be a link to that website on APD's main page, because

2892
04:15:11,080 --> 04:15:16,400
this is a great program to get people to register and integrate their cameras, and we don't,

2893
04:15:16,740 --> 04:15:22,800
as far as I can tell, I can't find anything about the Connect Atlanta program on APD's

2894
04:15:22,800 --> 04:15:26,320
website. And like I said, it should be on the front page.

2895
04:15:28,440 --> 04:15:29,840
So I hope to see more

2896
04:15:29,840 --> 04:15:35,720
about that, promoting it, because as I said, it's a great program. Number two, I

2897
04:15:35,720 --> 04:15:40,920
know there have been a few changes at APD, including you have a new position, so

2898
04:15:40,920 --> 04:15:44,160
if you could just tell us about those. And one of those changes, of course, was

2899
04:15:44,160 --> 04:15:48,480
one that we approved in our fiscal year 23 budget, and that was bringing in a

2900
04:15:48,480 --> 04:15:52,560
chief administrative officer, Mr. Peter Amon. So, Mr. Amon, if you'd like to

2901
04:15:52,560 --> 04:15:56,360
come up after Deputy Chief Peek is through.

2902
04:15:56,580 --> 04:15:57,620
I would say introduce yourself,

2903
04:15:57,700 --> 04:15:59,440
but I'll believe most of us know you.

2904
04:15:59,680 --> 04:16:01,520
But tell us a little bit about your position

2905
04:16:01,520 --> 04:16:02,440
and what you're hoping to achieve.

2906
04:16:03,640 --> 04:16:05,100
So yes, yes, absolutely.

2907
04:16:05,300 --> 04:16:07,300
And I'll certainly yield so that Mr. Amen

2908
04:16:07,840 --> 04:16:10,920
can do his presentation as well.

2909
04:16:11,060 --> 04:16:13,460
So yes, I moved from Field Operations Division

2910
04:16:14,020 --> 04:16:15,960
back over to Community Services Division,

2911
04:16:16,220 --> 04:16:18,580
the division that I've served prior to as well.

2912
04:16:18,640 --> 04:16:20,660
I think I've served three different divisions

2913
04:16:20,660 --> 04:16:22,240
within the Atlanta Police Department.

2914
04:16:22,240 --> 04:16:27,940
community services field operations as well as criminal investigations. So, wherever, you

2915
04:16:27,940 --> 04:16:32,040
know, naturally we're trying to put people in place to where we feel as though at the

2916
04:16:32,040 --> 04:16:39,860
time of whatever is going on we can address whatever issues. Additionally, Chief Sinser,

2917
04:16:40,000 --> 04:16:44,960
we dissolved the strategy of special projects and then he's moved over to field operations

2918
04:16:44,960 --> 04:16:49,880
at this particular point in time. And so Chief Prinzena Spann also we've looked

2919
04:16:49,880 --> 04:16:58,020
and part of the units that made up her division, some of those have gone over to Chief Amon

2920
04:16:58,520 --> 04:17:03,760
as the administrative officer, so we're really and truly just trying to ensure that we align

2921
04:17:03,760 --> 04:17:07,900
the department with what we need so that we can have the great business continuity

2922
04:17:07,900 --> 04:17:12,220
piece that can always continue to move, and as we move around in the sworn positions

2923
04:17:12,220 --> 04:17:15,680
that we can be as effective as possible to do what we need to do.

2924
04:17:15,680 --> 04:17:22,280
And with that, I won't steal any more of Peter Amon's thunder.

2925
04:17:22,560 --> 04:17:26,920
We'll allow him to present so that we can all hear the great things that he has planned

2926
04:17:26,920 --> 04:17:27,740
for us as well.

2927
04:17:28,420 --> 04:17:29,020
Thank you.

2928
04:17:29,180 --> 04:17:29,640
Thank you.

2929
04:17:29,940 --> 04:17:32,280
Thank you very much for the opportunity.

2930
04:17:32,400 --> 04:17:33,200
I'll be very brief.

2931
04:17:33,840 --> 04:17:39,580
But as the Chief has mentioned on several occasions, with the approval of the Council and the

2932
04:17:39,580 --> 04:17:45,420
addition of the Chief Administrator of Officers' Position, we are trying to add functional

2933
04:17:45,420 --> 04:17:50,720
expertise and stability to the department, particularly surrounding areas such as fiscal

2934
04:17:50,720 --> 04:17:57,900
management, human resources, technology, and a number of other departments or units of the

2935
04:17:57,900 --> 04:18:04,820
department which rely heavily on process and technology. Not to exclude, however, the sworn

2936
04:18:04,820 --> 04:18:10,740
component. While we will be bringing in some additional professionals, non-sworn individuals

2937
04:18:10,740 --> 04:18:16,580
individuals into the department in these areas, we will always have a hybrid and really allow

2938
04:18:16,580 --> 04:18:21,260
for both the rotation of sworn members into some of these administrative functions perhaps

2939
04:18:21,260 --> 04:18:26,020
a little earlier on in their career to work with the functional experts and professionals

2940
04:18:26,020 --> 04:18:27,280
and non-sworn individuals.

2941
04:18:27,940 --> 04:18:33,160
But also over time provide more stability because as many of you have seen over time

2942
04:18:34,060 --> 04:18:39,440
we have a rotation of deputy chiefs and majors and captains and lieutenants which

2943
04:18:39,440 --> 04:18:45,520
which makes it difficult for areas such as HR and recruiting to really dig in and accomplish

2944
04:18:45,520 --> 04:18:46,720
what we want them to accomplish.

2945
04:18:46,980 --> 04:18:51,960
So by adding the functional expertise and the stability, we hope to really drive more

2946
04:18:51,960 --> 04:18:55,440
performance and professionalism through the department.

2947
04:18:56,040 --> 04:18:59,760
In particular, specifically, I'm looking after the areas I mentioned, fiscal management,

2948
04:19:00,200 --> 04:19:03,420
program management, which are some of our major efforts around facilities.

2949
04:19:03,960 --> 04:19:10,220
also looking into and managing code enforcement, license and permits, a fleet,

2950
04:19:10,520 --> 04:19:14,100
so that's the repair of our vehicles, and a number of other areas.

2951
04:19:14,280 --> 04:19:18,080
So, when you think of the area of the Chief Administrative Officer,

2952
04:19:18,260 --> 04:19:21,860
it really is focused on those non-sworn areas of law enforcement

2953
04:19:22,620 --> 04:19:25,700
and look forward very much to working with all of you.

2954
04:19:26,060 --> 04:19:28,580
I've had an opportunity to get to know many of you over time.

2955
04:19:28,580 --> 04:19:33,880
some I'm looking forward to get to know better, and I'll take any questions, but

2956
04:19:33,880 --> 04:19:38,540
I'm really only three weeks in, so I may not have as many answers just at

2957
04:19:38,540 --> 04:19:43,900
the moment as you might like. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Amon? Councilmember

2958
04:19:43,900 --> 04:19:48,060
Boone? I just want to welcome Mr. Amon back. Thank you so much for coming back

2959
04:19:48,060 --> 04:19:51,560
to help us out. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Vaughn.

2960
04:19:53,740 --> 04:19:54,520
Yes, I'd like to

2961
04:19:54,520 --> 04:19:58,460
piggyback on what Councilwoman Boone said. It is great to have you back,

2962
04:19:58,460 --> 04:20:07,640
and glad to see you here. I know that you will bring so much to our operations and

2963
04:20:08,340 --> 04:20:13,320
just very, very pleased to see you. Great. Thank you. Thank you so much.

2964
04:20:14,520 --> 04:20:21,260
Councilman Bramis. Yes, sir. I just want to say welcome aboard. I'm glad you're

2965
04:20:21,260 --> 04:20:26,480
here to look at the processes. Our men and women of the Police Department do a

2966
04:20:26,480 --> 04:20:31,500
spectacular job, but I think what we miss is the process of when they're out there doing

2967
04:20:31,500 --> 04:20:35,900
their job, they say, if this would have happened then that may not have happened.

2968
04:20:36,300 --> 04:20:39,680
So I'm glad and I'm hoping I'm talking to the person who's going to find that medium

2969
04:20:39,680 --> 04:20:46,120
between all the rest of the departments, sworn, not sworn, social services, everybody

2970
04:20:46,120 --> 04:20:48,420
else to make the city safer.

2971
04:20:48,820 --> 04:20:52,200
So I'm just welcome aboard and if anything I can do to help you, let me know.

2972
04:20:52,700 --> 04:20:58,660
Thank you. And that is, in fact, absolutely correct. And public safety starts with the

2973
04:20:58,660 --> 04:21:03,160
9-1-1 call center in many ways, in addition to obviously proactive policing and social

2974
04:21:03,160 --> 04:21:07,780
services and so many other things. The 9-1-1 center is another area that we're all very

2975
04:21:07,780 --> 04:21:13,080
concerned about improving our response times and our call answer times. So yes, at the

2976
04:21:13,080 --> 04:21:16,060
end of the day, it's people process and technology, but you've got to have that

2977
04:21:16,060 --> 04:21:19,700
process part right. So I'm here to help. So thank you so much.

2978
04:21:23,040 --> 04:21:27,000
Chief Peake, did you have anything else to add?

2979
04:21:27,840 --> 04:21:28,500
All right.

2980
04:21:28,520 --> 04:21:30,180
I just want to make sure before I just walk away.

2981
04:21:30,640 --> 04:21:30,980
All right.

2982
04:21:31,440 --> 04:21:32,400
I think that is it.

2983
04:21:32,720 --> 04:21:34,620
Thank you very much for the bi-weekly update.

2984
04:21:35,180 --> 04:21:35,660
Thank you.

2985
04:21:37,440 --> 04:21:41,440
Next up, we will have our Atlanta Police Department Code

2986
04:21:41,440 --> 04:21:42,660
Enforcement Quarterly Report.

2987
04:21:43,880 --> 04:21:45,320
Director Talley, welcome.

2988
04:21:46,940 --> 04:21:47,620
Thank you.

2989
04:21:47,720 --> 04:21:48,640
Good evening now.

2990
04:21:48,640 --> 04:21:54,320
My name is Daphne Tally, I'm the Director of the Atlanta Police Department Code Enforcement Section.

2991
04:21:55,020 --> 04:21:56,400
Let me click here.

2992
04:21:58,940 --> 04:22:00,160
Wait for the presentation.

2993
04:22:06,980 --> 04:22:07,420
Thank you.

2994
04:22:08,160 --> 04:22:14,660
So the last time code enforcement presented before this committee was in January earlier of this year.

2995
04:22:14,660 --> 04:22:23,060
So, today we're going to cover FY period 22, focusing on our inspections, our complaint

2996
04:22:23,060 --> 04:22:27,640
intake versus complaint resolution, which are the complaints that are filed with our

2997
04:22:27,640 --> 04:22:30,140
office versus our complied cases.

2998
04:22:30,640 --> 04:22:33,500
We'll also update you on our junk vehicle process.

2999
04:22:33,780 --> 04:22:37,420
These are the vehicles that we remove or abandoned vehicles that we removed from

3000
04:22:37,420 --> 04:22:38,240
private property.

3001
04:22:38,240 --> 04:22:44,000
compliance resolution, which is our administrative interim division, process

3002
04:22:44,000 --> 04:22:45,860
improvements, and of course our challenges.

3003
04:22:48,920 --> 04:22:52,000
So FY22 we conducted over 24,000

3004
04:22:52,000 --> 04:22:56,720
inspections. These includes our initial inspections. This is the first time that

3005
04:22:56,720 --> 04:23:01,700
code enforcement is actually accessing the property to confirm violations. Also

3006
04:23:01,700 --> 04:23:05,820
our reinspections. This is generally the second time we visited the property

3007
04:23:05,820 --> 04:23:07,680
as well as our court reinspections.

3008
04:23:07,940 --> 04:23:12,480
Court reinspections, of course, are inspected after a citation has been issued.

3009
04:23:13,020 --> 04:23:16,140
This is a 90% increase from the previous year.

3010
04:23:16,660 --> 04:23:23,280
Of course, during FY21, our inspectors were not in the field from March of 2020 through

3011
04:23:23,280 --> 04:23:24,380
July of 2020.

3012
04:23:24,960 --> 04:23:30,720
So when we returned to the office in August of 2020, we focused on our initial inspections

3013
04:23:30,720 --> 04:23:33,380
because court was closed for a period.

3014
04:23:33,380 --> 04:23:40,240
But in January of 21, we continued to do our re-inspection so that is the reason for the spike.

3015
04:23:45,460 --> 04:23:54,020
Also our compliance or the number of complaints that were filed with our office in FY22 was over 7500 complaints.

3016
04:23:54,660 --> 04:23:58,100
This was a 44% increase from the previous year.

3017
04:23:58,680 --> 04:24:07,600
27% of those complaints were proactive so that means that our inspectors continue to feel generate

3018
04:24:07,600 --> 04:24:10,100
a lot of those complaints that come in through our office.

3019
04:24:11,120 --> 04:24:13,660
Our goal each year is try to close out

3020
04:24:13,660 --> 04:24:16,040
as many complaints that are filed with our office.

3021
04:24:16,240 --> 04:24:18,980
So of course in FY21, due to the pandemic,

3022
04:24:19,060 --> 04:24:21,000
we did not close as many of those complaints

3023
04:24:21,000 --> 04:24:23,220
as we have liked, but FY22,

3024
04:24:23,360 --> 04:24:26,760
we're back up to our pre-pandemic numbers.

3025
04:24:27,280 --> 04:24:30,540
We complied about 75% of those cases

3026
04:24:30,540 --> 04:24:32,080
that were filed in FY22.

3027
04:24:35,880 --> 04:24:37,240
Our junk vehicle process,

3028
04:24:37,240 --> 04:24:40,520
This is something that we started last August of 21.

3029
04:24:41,240 --> 04:24:47,180
This process allows us to tow vehicles, abandoned vehicles from private property.

3030
04:24:47,840 --> 04:24:52,100
Since August of 2021, we've removed 58 junk vehicles.

3031
04:24:52,640 --> 04:24:56,920
564 of those vehicles that we placarded came into compliance.

3032
04:24:57,200 --> 04:25:00,300
Either they were removed or they were registered.

3033
04:25:01,140 --> 04:25:04,640
We have 44 vehicles that are pending tow.

3034
04:25:04,640 --> 04:25:10,860
Now, one of the things that we wanted to really, really bring to your attention is vehicles

3035
04:25:10,860 --> 04:25:11,940
that are parked on the street.

3036
04:25:12,080 --> 04:25:16,820
Those are vehicles that you guys would have to call or the citizens would have to dial

3037
04:25:16,820 --> 04:25:17,800
911 for.

3038
04:25:18,080 --> 04:25:22,040
If those vehicles are abandoned, APD will go out and placard those vehicles.

3039
04:25:22,200 --> 04:25:24,320
I believe their process is three to five days.

3040
04:25:24,800 --> 04:25:27,880
If those vehicles remain, they will tow those vehicles off the property.

3041
04:25:31,250 --> 04:25:32,690
Compliance resolution activity.

3042
04:25:32,690 --> 04:25:40,150
So for FY 21, I'm sorry, FY 22, we've demolished 79 properties.

3043
04:25:40,510 --> 04:25:47,470
That's 30 more properties than we did in FY 21 and 21 less properties than we did in FY 20.

3044
04:25:48,130 --> 04:25:50,430
44 properties are clean and closed.

3045
04:25:51,710 --> 04:25:55,090
76 clean and, I'm sorry, clean and cuts were done.

3046
04:25:55,550 --> 04:26:02,670
These are properties where property owners have abandoned those properties that does not need to go through any type of formal property.

3047
04:26:02,670 --> 04:26:06,970
These are properties that have overgrowth or trash and debris.

3048
04:26:07,730 --> 04:26:11,930
The city has authorization to access those properties and clean those lots.

3049
04:26:12,790 --> 04:26:16,690
That accounted for about 27% of our budget in FY22.

3050
04:26:17,050 --> 04:26:19,650
We're finding ourselves doing more and more of those.

3051
04:26:20,090 --> 04:26:27,050
We used to have a collaboration with the Department of Public Works as well as the Department of Corrections.

3052
04:26:27,050 --> 04:26:34,590
We no longer have those services, so we are electing to go out and abate those properties.

3053
04:26:35,450 --> 04:26:41,890
We have an additional 59 properties that have been awarded to a contractor, either for demolition,

3054
04:26:42,150 --> 04:26:44,310
cleaning clothes, or cleaning cuts.

3055
04:26:44,830 --> 04:26:51,090
They're an additional 92 properties that are pending demolition, meaning that we've

3056
04:26:51,090 --> 04:26:55,790
received a demolition order, and they are pending award to a city contractor.

3057
04:26:56,690 --> 04:27:04,910
There are an additional 1,386 properties that are pending some type of review, either by the administrative

3058
04:27:04,910 --> 04:27:11,430
end-run process or clean and cut by a city contractor, or through a nuisance process.

3059
04:27:15,640 --> 04:27:22,520
So some of the things that we are working on for FY22, we're looking at revising the 1987 housing code.

3060
04:27:22,520 --> 04:27:28,040
We want to bring over some of the codes from the International Property Maintenance Code.

3061
04:27:28,680 --> 04:27:34,400
A lot of the things that are in that 2018 code is kind of redundant, so we went through that code

3062
04:27:34,400 --> 04:27:39,400
and selected those things that are missing from the 1987 housing code.

3063
04:27:39,700 --> 04:27:46,340
More specifically, there is a code when it comes to transferring of ownership,

3064
04:27:46,340 --> 04:27:52,240
meaning that it is unlawful for anyone to sell a property knowing that there is a

3065
04:27:52,240 --> 04:27:55,900
code or not disclosing that there is a code violation on that property to the

3066
04:27:55,900 --> 04:28:00,600
buyer. So we want to bring that over to our code. There's some other things

3067
04:28:00,600 --> 04:28:05,160
regarding maintenance of swimming pools that's missing from the Atlanta housing

3068
04:28:05,160 --> 04:28:13,200
code that we would want to adopt and make a part of the 1987 housing code. We

3069
04:28:13,200 --> 04:28:18,840
We also dedicated a staff member to train new and existing code enforcement officers.

3070
04:28:19,240 --> 04:28:24,600
We were using our senior code enforcement officers to train our new and existing officers,

3071
04:28:25,080 --> 04:28:32,080
but dedicating that person, that one person to train those newcomers as well as those

3072
04:28:32,080 --> 04:28:42,280
existing officers cuts down on a lot of different activity that goes on out in the field.

3073
04:28:42,280 --> 04:28:44,600
so that brings some consistency to the division.

3074
04:28:47,100 --> 04:28:49,900
Also, we continue to collaborate with our partners,

3075
04:28:51,660 --> 04:28:57,540
with the City of, I'm sorry, the City Solicitor's Office regarding the priority

3076
04:28:58,340 --> 04:29:05,500
blighted properties with the council members, the problem apartment detail. We also collaborated or

3077
04:29:07,280 --> 04:29:13,720
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm a little cold today, but we also participated in the Walk with Me

3078
04:29:13,720 --> 04:29:18,040
Wednesday with Councilmember Amos's office as well as the cleanup detail with

3079
04:29:18,040 --> 04:29:19,420
the Department of Public Works.

3080
04:29:22,500 --> 04:29:26,340
We continue to collaborate with Fire Rescue

3081
04:29:26,340 --> 04:29:32,600
Division. They provide us with a copy of the fire report that actually was

3082
04:29:32,600 --> 04:29:37,720
suggested from the committee during our administrative interim work session

3083
04:29:37,720 --> 04:29:42,700
back in April. And the newest collaboration that I really wanted to

3084
04:29:42,700 --> 04:29:48,620
pointed out today is with the Fulton County Environmental Health Division, so

3085
04:29:48,620 --> 04:29:52,680
there is this email that's going around regarding the public storage that I think

3086
04:29:52,680 --> 04:29:57,940
all of you guys are on, so there is a rodent issue, a huge rodent issue, at the

3087
04:29:57,940 --> 04:29:59,980
public storage facility on how

3088
04:30:00,580 --> 04:30:05,680
And we partner with the Fulton County health division to go out and do that inspection.

3089
04:30:05,920 --> 04:30:11,140
And we're going to start doing more of that because what happens is when we get those calls

3090
04:30:11,140 --> 04:30:17,800
for those storage facilities or even those vacant lots that are overgrown,

3091
04:30:18,300 --> 04:30:23,620
Fulton County health department will go out to the property that is complaining to determine,

3092
04:30:23,800 --> 04:30:28,760
they will do an interior, I'm sorry, an exterior inspection to determine if there are any holes,

3093
04:30:28,760 --> 04:30:31,240
how the rodents are getting into that property.

3094
04:30:31,640 --> 04:30:36,680
They will also provide the rat poisoning or the rodent poisoning to the property owner

3095
04:30:36,680 --> 04:30:37,960
to put down themselves.

3096
04:30:38,220 --> 04:30:41,600
So this is a new collaboration that we're excited to be a part of.

3097
04:30:43,240 --> 04:30:51,200
Also in FY22, we started using drones to assist with code enforcement activity.

3098
04:30:51,880 --> 04:30:57,980
A lot of times we get these complaints about violations that's behind an opaque fencing

3099
04:30:57,980 --> 04:31:06,660
or a deteriorated roof, so we've been using our drones to do flyovers to confirm these

3100
04:31:06,660 --> 04:31:12,460
code violations. This is a property on Virginia Avenue that we could not really see from the

3101
04:31:12,460 --> 04:31:15,240
ground, but the drone assisted in

3102
04:31:17,540 --> 04:31:20,020
seeing those violations. This is a property on Danforth

3103
04:31:20,020 --> 04:31:25,460
Avenue. The neighbors for a long time had complained about property issues or violations

3104
04:31:25,460 --> 04:31:30,860
violations in the rear yard. We were able to use the drone to confirm that those violations

3105
04:31:30,860 --> 04:31:38,780
existed in the rear and side yard. Another example, this is on Eisenhower. Storage in

3106
04:31:38,780 --> 04:31:45,420
the rear yard also saw activity of the property owner working on cars in the backyard.

3107
04:31:49,720 --> 04:31:49,960
Two

3108
04:31:49,960 --> 04:31:56,680
challenges that we wanted to point out today is, as I stated earlier, when we returned

3109
04:31:56,680 --> 04:32:03,860
to the office in August of 2020, we focused on those initial inspections. And so we did not really

3110
04:32:03,860 --> 04:32:10,940
focus on our reinspections until January of 2021. And so that has caused a little bit of a backlog

3111
04:32:10,940 --> 04:32:15,800
with serving those criminal citations. Of course, these are the citations that we have to serve

3112
04:32:15,800 --> 04:32:21,700
personally. So we have a process server that we use as well as our police officers and code

3113
04:32:21,700 --> 04:32:26,340
enforcement officers assisting in serving those citations.

3114
04:32:26,420 --> 04:32:27,880
So we do have a little bit of a backlog

3115
04:32:27,880 --> 04:32:29,260
that we're trying to work through.

3116
04:32:29,800 --> 04:32:33,780
And of course, as with city of Atlanta,

3117
04:32:34,220 --> 04:32:36,560
all department staffing levels for us

3118
04:32:36,560 --> 04:32:38,560
are a challenge at this time.

3119
04:32:38,780 --> 04:32:40,240
We have 21 vacancies.

3120
04:32:40,720 --> 04:32:43,820
Our critical positions that we're working with HR

3121
04:32:43,820 --> 04:32:45,980
to feel as soon as we can.

3122
04:32:46,440 --> 04:32:48,880
We have a code enforcement supervisor vacancy,

3123
04:32:48,880 --> 04:32:55,500
2 code enforcement senior officers and 10 code enforcement officers that we are missing

3124
04:32:55,500 --> 04:32:55,960
currently.

3125
04:32:56,040 --> 04:32:57,880
We have 13 officers in the field.

3126
04:32:58,280 --> 04:33:04,240
Of course pre-pandemic we had 21, so we are in need of those positions.

3127
04:33:05,840 --> 04:33:11,020
And I think this concludes our presentation today.

3128
04:33:11,220 --> 04:33:15,340
I thank you for your continued support and I am available for questions at this time.

3129
04:33:16,340 --> 04:33:19,440
Thank you, Director Talley. A few questions for me.

3130
04:33:22,120 --> 04:33:25,500
So when we speak of criminal citations,

3131
04:33:26,560 --> 04:33:31,440
it says you have a process server, so I can take it. Those can be served by unsworn personnel?

3132
04:33:31,920 --> 04:33:33,540
That is correct. Yes.

3133
04:33:33,980 --> 04:33:39,340
Have we looked at either, is that, are any of your vacancies process servers, or have we looked at

3134
04:33:39,340 --> 04:33:42,340
contracting with a process serving service, or?

3135
04:33:42,340 --> 04:33:49,140
So we have. And so now that we have the new budget and so we are trying to, we've reached

3136
04:33:49,140 --> 04:33:53,320
out to some other process servers who are interested in serving citations for the City

3137
04:33:53,320 --> 04:33:57,460
of Atlanta. So there are about two or three more that we are entertaining at this time

3138
04:33:57,460 --> 04:34:00,760
and we'll be doing a solicitation through the Department of Procurement.

3139
04:34:01,160 --> 04:34:05,300
Okay. Thank you for that. And of the 21 vacancies, how many of those are actively

3140
04:34:05,300 --> 04:34:07,240
posted right now if you know that number?

3141
04:34:08,780 --> 04:34:13,340
The Code Enforcement Officer positions as well as the Code Enforcement Senior Officers.

3142
04:34:14,080 --> 04:34:18,120
And I think the Code Enforcement Supervisor position will be posted this week.

3143
04:34:18,620 --> 04:34:20,460
Okay, so how many is that total that's posted?

3144
04:34:21,080 --> 04:34:22,180
That would be 13.

3145
04:34:35,620 --> 04:34:37,500
So I kind of wanted to speak.

3146
04:34:38,020 --> 04:34:40,840
I have legislation on our agenda since you're already up here.

3147
04:34:41,720 --> 04:34:43,120
And you went over your backlog.

3148
04:34:45,060 --> 04:34:49,660
So colleagues, I have 22.0, 16.19, which is item number two on our agenda.

3149
04:34:51,040 --> 04:34:54,420
This is something that we did last term.

3150
04:34:54,820 --> 04:34:59,120
And last term we added an additional 1.5 million for code enforcement demos.

3151
04:35:00,200 --> 04:35:06,140
Assaults, given the funds available on that fund to double that to 3 million.

3152
04:35:07,200 --> 04:35:12,420
So just talk about number one, what's already in your budget in FY23 for funding.

3153
04:35:12,420 --> 04:35:19,060
addressing what you expect or have currently in CDBG money and how this $3 million would

3154
04:35:19,060 --> 04:35:27,100
assist you in addressing the backlog because even if we just count the 37 plus 92 that have

3155
04:35:27,100 --> 04:35:34,680
already been awarded or have orders, that's roughly, probably almost $4 million, if not

3156
04:35:34,680 --> 04:35:34,980
more.

3157
04:35:35,560 --> 04:35:39,820
And then we wanted to talk about the 990 that's pending in rent service, which all

3158
04:35:39,820 --> 04:35:45,660
of those will not be demolitions but that's a lot of money and so speak to us a

3159
04:35:45,660 --> 04:35:50,880
little bit about that. So for FR-23 we received two million dollars for

3160
04:35:50,880 --> 04:35:55,240
abatement projects through the general fund. Currently there's seven hundred

3161
04:35:55,240 --> 04:36:01,500
thousand dollars from CDBG for abatement projects. We've well on our

3162
04:36:01,500 --> 04:36:06,760
way to spending that. I believe the CDBG we may have about five hundred

3163
04:36:06,760 --> 04:36:18,380
$100,000 left in that. The 1387 projects that are awaiting some type of review. So if a demolition

3164
04:36:18,380 --> 04:36:25,020
project, because our current demolition contract includes as best as abatement, so the average

3165
04:36:25,020 --> 04:36:31,760
cost of a single family demolition is around $24,000. And as I stated, we're doing more

3166
04:36:31,760 --> 04:36:37,860
cleaning and cut then we are cleaning closes and so that accounted for 27% of

3167
04:36:37,860 --> 04:36:45,440
our budget. So again every house or of those 300 1386 complaints that we have

3168
04:36:45,440 --> 04:36:51,400
those are not 1386 demolitions but there is some type of abatement that

3169
04:36:51,400 --> 04:36:55,820
needs to be done to those to those properties. So that additional three

3170
04:36:55,820 --> 04:37:01,540
million will definitely assist in eliminating a lot of those projects not

3171
04:37:01,540 --> 04:37:07,420
all again the average cost of a demolition is $24,000. That's great to hear.

3172
04:37:08,460 --> 04:37:12,800
Before I yield the floor to have one more general request for all of APD so

3173
04:37:12,800 --> 04:37:19,220
Chief Peek or Mr. Aiman we haven't received one in a while but if we could

3174
04:37:19,220 --> 04:37:22,780
get an updated org chart for APD given the changes and usually that

3175
04:37:22,780 --> 04:37:25,440
includes you know the name and the contact number if we could get that

3176
04:37:25,440 --> 04:37:28,820
that'd be much appreciated. Colleagues any questions for Director

3177
04:37:28,820 --> 04:37:29,160
Dr. Talley,

3178
04:37:31,990 --> 04:37:32,650
Council Member Amos.

3179
04:37:34,610 --> 04:37:38,370
No question, just basically want to say thank you and I'm going to say it slowly because

3180
04:37:38,370 --> 04:37:42,370
I don't want people to think that you did not do it anyway, but every time I have sent

3181
04:37:42,370 --> 04:37:47,770
your e-mail, someone from your office have gotten me the information that was needed.

3182
04:37:48,230 --> 04:37:52,130
And that's very helpful because now I'm able to talk to the constituent and tell

3183
04:37:52,130 --> 04:37:56,230
them that although the property seems as if nothing is happening, you have given

3184
04:37:56,230 --> 04:38:01,450
me dates, time, citations, court numbers, everything we needed to make that constituent

3185
04:38:01,450 --> 04:38:04,650
feel better, so just thank you for that. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome.

3186
04:38:05,190 --> 04:38:09,810
Council Member Boone. Yes, Director Talley, do you have any information on the

3187
04:38:09,810 --> 04:38:15,610
property on Bakers Ferry Road? Yes. So and thank you for sending that

3188
04:38:15,610 --> 04:38:21,170
information to us. So the one property that you identified, there are actually

3189
04:38:21,170 --> 04:38:27,010
three properties and they're owned by family members. And so we sent code

3190
04:38:27,010 --> 04:38:32,850
enforcement officers as well as sworn officers out there on Friday and spoke to the tenants.

3191
04:38:33,070 --> 04:38:38,830
I think there's a father, a couple of brothers, sisters that all live in those properties.

3192
04:38:39,570 --> 04:38:41,570
And so they were to go back out today.

3193
04:38:41,710 --> 04:38:46,270
I've not received an update because they were going to issue citations because they

3194
04:38:46,270 --> 04:38:50,270
were giving us misinformation, but once they came back in and we did the research,

3195
04:38:50,270 --> 04:38:51,830
we saw that they're all related.

3196
04:38:52,250 --> 04:38:54,550
And so we'll be issuing citations for those properties.

3197
04:38:54,550 --> 04:38:57,250
We found several code violations out there on Friday.

3198
04:39:00,880 --> 04:39:08,360
The altercation at Wilson Mill Park apparently started at one of those homes where they congregate

3199
04:39:08,360 --> 04:39:11,940
and have parties in the yard daily on bakers.

3200
04:39:12,240 --> 04:39:14,780
It's across from 3798 Bakers Ferry.

3201
04:39:15,400 --> 04:39:15,640
Right.

3202
04:39:16,000 --> 04:39:20,180
So the sworn officer that we sent out there with the code enforcement officer was very

3203
04:39:20,180 --> 04:39:22,200
familiar with the property.

3204
04:39:22,600 --> 04:39:26,740
So he was going back out there again today with them to issue those citations for

3205
04:39:26,740 --> 04:39:27,460
those code violations.

3206
04:39:29,810 --> 04:39:32,370
Any other questions, comments for Director Talley?

3207
04:39:34,640 --> 04:39:36,060
All right, thank you so much. Thank you.

3208
04:39:38,500 --> 04:39:41,380
Next we will have our quarterly update from our

3209
04:39:41,380 --> 04:39:44,460
City Solicitor's Office, Solicitor Carter.

3210
04:39:52,970 --> 04:39:55,310
Good evening Chairman Hillis and all members

3211
04:39:55,310 --> 04:40:00,450
of the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee. I am Rains Carter, City Solicitor.

3212
04:40:01,070 --> 04:40:07,350
I am joined today by Deputy Solicitor Erica Smith and thank you as always for this

3213
04:40:07,350 --> 04:40:14,890
opportunity to give you an update on our activities for this quarter for FY 22.

3214
04:40:19,130 --> 04:40:25,910
Today we will go over record restriction. We would also talk about our participation

3215
04:40:26,690 --> 04:40:33,170
with APD in the new recruit training. So we're very very much in line with getting these officers

3216
04:40:33,170 --> 04:40:38,670
up to speed so they can get out and protect us as soon as possible. And of course we'll be

3217
04:40:38,670 --> 04:40:43,670
talking about the nuisance properties initiative, our collaboration with our

3218
04:40:43,670 --> 04:40:47,950
district attorney's office, and our community prosecution and outreach.

3219
04:40:50,940 --> 04:40:52,040
As I

3220
04:40:52,040 --> 04:40:56,460
always talk about record restriction, what I've added this time is just to

3221
04:40:56,460 --> 04:41:02,540
give you a little bit of a handoff on the restriction process. Most people

3222
04:41:02,540 --> 04:41:07,540
call it expungement. Of course it was changed by state law, by the

3223
04:41:07,540 --> 04:41:16,240
legislature, and so anyone arrested before July 1st, 2013, have to complete an application

3224
04:41:16,240 --> 04:41:25,080
with the arresting agency, APD, or other agencies. If it is after July 1st, 2013, we have set

3225
04:41:25,080 --> 04:41:30,800
up a process, and thank you for the support you all have given us on this, where you

3226
04:41:30,800 --> 04:41:36,700
You can complete your form directly online with the City of Atlanta Solicitor's Office

3227
04:41:37,100 --> 04:41:38,780
on our website.

3228
04:41:39,640 --> 04:41:47,140
And the way that process works is that the documentation is submitted, including identification

3229
04:41:47,140 --> 04:41:53,000
and then any certified disposition letter that you may receive from your court proceeding.

3230
04:41:54,000 --> 04:42:00,460
We have an attorney dedicated to that process that actually reviews the file, checks

3231
04:42:00,460 --> 04:42:06,040
the histories that are necessary and then makes a determination under the state law provisions

3232
04:42:06,040 --> 04:42:16,200
regarding if a person is eligible for that record restriction. Once that is submitted, it comes

3233
04:42:16,200 --> 04:42:23,560
across my desk personally to take a look at and to sign off on and we try to have these back to

3234
04:42:23,560 --> 04:42:29,780
people within four to six weeks. We're going to continue to work on that time to try to get

3235
04:42:29,780 --> 04:42:35,540
that time down a bit. But we think this is very important in terms of people having a

3236
04:42:35,540 --> 04:42:42,520
second chance to go on with their lives. And the legislature is working on some provisions

3237
04:42:42,520 --> 04:42:47,640
and I think they may come up in the next legislative session to expand those types

3238
04:42:47,640 --> 04:42:55,420
of things which can be restricted and these things are being worked on by prosecutors

3239
04:43:00,140 --> 04:43:06,680
On our next slide, I'm proud to be a part of the ongoing training sessions with the Atlanta

3240
04:43:06,680 --> 04:43:07,520
Police Department.

3241
04:43:07,740 --> 04:43:13,800
Now we've always done in-service training where we have officers that come for review

3242
04:43:13,800 --> 04:43:19,780
and updates, but this year we're particularly focusing on the new recruit training.

3243
04:43:20,180 --> 04:43:25,820
And so we have attorneys in the office, Deputy Solicitor Andrew Taylor and others.

3244
04:43:25,820 --> 04:43:31,260
They are very active in terms of going out and helping with the new recruits.

3245
04:43:31,840 --> 04:43:35,700
We've done training sessions between four to eight hours,

3246
04:43:36,140 --> 04:43:39,600
and the most recent session was held on May 4th,

3247
04:43:39,780 --> 04:43:43,160
so we will be working as we are bringing on officers.

3248
04:43:43,840 --> 04:43:46,540
Ticket writing, of course, writing the citations.

3249
04:43:47,400 --> 04:43:49,580
Effective police report writing,

3250
04:43:49,580 --> 04:43:55,580
which can be extremely critical in terms of building an evidentiary basis for cases in court.

3251
04:43:56,180 --> 04:44:01,700
We also put them through exercises with courtroom testimony and demeanor.

3252
04:44:02,180 --> 04:44:08,140
It's a lot to be a police officer, and we want to make sure that we cover all the aspects that are needed.

3253
04:44:08,640 --> 04:44:17,700
So we actually set up mock, direct, and cross-examination of questions so that they won't get rattled in court

3254
04:44:17,700 --> 04:44:20,440
and they'll be able to properly present the evidence needed.

3255
04:44:20,820 --> 04:44:24,780
And we have other types of interacting learning exercises.

3256
04:44:33,190 --> 04:44:38,770
And our next slide takes us to a nuisance property initiative,

3257
04:44:39,470 --> 04:44:44,170
and I'll ask if Deputy Solicitor Erica Smith will come forward

3258
04:44:44,170 --> 04:44:47,430
and take us through the rest of the presentation.

3259
04:44:47,810 --> 04:44:49,130
I remain here for questions,

3260
04:44:49,310 --> 04:44:51,690
and as always, it's an honor to be before each of you.

3261
04:44:55,710 --> 04:44:56,350
Good evening.

3262
04:44:56,350 --> 04:44:59,970
I'm Erica Smith, Deputy Solicitor, and I'm going to talk about the

3263
04:45:08,340 --> 04:45:15,360
We still have our bi-weekly committee meetings for our problem properties, but also if we've

3264
04:45:15,360 --> 04:45:24,760
added a layer, we actually meet with the mayor's office and the members of housing to talk about

3265
04:45:24,760 --> 04:45:28,220
on our multi-family dwellings that are problem properties.

3266
04:45:28,860 --> 04:45:33,000
We also attend weekly APD meetings, the COBRA meetings,

3267
04:45:33,160 --> 04:45:36,800
because crime statistics actually puts us in the direction

3268
04:45:36,800 --> 04:45:38,640
of what property we're gonna take in

3269
04:45:38,640 --> 04:45:41,500
or what property actually makes our list.

3270
04:45:41,920 --> 04:45:45,000
So the problem properties actually are divided

3271
04:45:45,000 --> 04:45:46,300
into three different buckets.

3272
04:45:46,640 --> 04:45:49,120
We have our nightlife problem properties

3273
04:45:49,120 --> 04:45:51,560
and those nightlife problems are the clubs,

3274
04:45:51,560 --> 04:45:59,880
bars, adult entertainment establishment, and restaurants. We have multi-family units which

3275
04:45:59,880 --> 04:46:04,400
are apartments and we have the commercial and residential properties as well. And many

3276
04:46:04,400 --> 04:46:09,400
of those commercial properties are convenience stores and gas stations. We have our next

3277
04:46:09,400 --> 04:46:14,300
upcoming nuisance hearing on next Thursday, which is August 18th.

3278
04:46:17,550 --> 04:46:18,390
In regards to the

3279
04:46:18,390 --> 04:46:21,850
multi-family dwellings, we have partnered with the Fulton County District Attorney's

3280
04:46:21,850 --> 04:46:27,290
office to form a collaboration to identify problem properties that have substandard living

3281
04:46:27,290 --> 04:46:33,770
conditions. Also, we're able to share information. Certain properties, if you have sexual offenses

3282
04:46:33,770 --> 04:46:40,630
and crimes or drug offenses, are a nuisance per se. So, if someone is arrested for a drug

3283
04:46:40,630 --> 04:46:44,750
violation, we can partner with the Fulton County District Attorney's Office to see

3284
04:46:44,750 --> 04:46:48,310
if that person was indicted and if they were convicted, because the conviction

3285
04:46:48,310 --> 04:46:56,530
will lead to the property being a nuisance per se. We also work together to work together to

3286
04:46:56,530 --> 04:47:01,810
find if there's any misconduct or criminal activity that's coming with the property owner

3287
04:47:01,810 --> 04:47:05,070
as well as the landlord of those particular properties.

3288
04:47:12,560 --> 04:47:13,980
We have been really busy this

3289
04:47:13,980 --> 04:47:19,820
quarter and over the summer. The Solicitor's Office has many partnerships that we work with

3290
04:47:19,820 --> 04:47:25,300
NPU members, the community, as well as with council members in various city departments

3291
04:47:25,300 --> 04:47:30,480
to volunteer and guest speak at several events throughout the city, including the following.

3292
04:47:30,920 --> 04:47:37,320
We had our fight against blight in action, where many of our office members participated

3293
04:47:37,320 --> 04:47:39,860
in cleanups throughout the city of Atlanta.

3294
04:47:40,360 --> 04:47:46,960
We also had on Friday, June 10th and July 15th, we had our third and our fourth senior

3295
04:47:46,960 --> 04:47:48,680
citizen public safety events.

3296
04:47:48,680 --> 04:47:54,800
And those events were hosted along with Council Member Bond and Council Member Boone.

3297
04:47:54,940 --> 04:48:00,400
So thank you all for your participation and your hosting of those events where we can talk with our seniors

3298
04:48:00,400 --> 04:48:03,620
and talk to them about crimes that are being perpetrated against them

3299
04:48:03,620 --> 04:48:06,800
and just talk to them about public safety issues.

3300
04:48:07,260 --> 04:48:13,540
Also, we've been volunteering at the Mayor's Vintnight basketball games as well as various food distributions

3301
04:48:13,540 --> 04:48:17,580
and at back-to-school events.

3302
04:48:18,900 --> 04:48:22,220
These are just a listing of all of the partnerships

3303
04:48:22,220 --> 04:48:25,000
and the events that we participated in.

3304
04:48:25,460 --> 04:48:28,880
And again, we've had various participation in food drives

3305
04:48:28,880 --> 04:48:31,040
with council member Boone, council member Bond,

3306
04:48:31,620 --> 04:48:34,600
the mayor's basketball games, midnight basketball.

3307
04:48:35,140 --> 04:48:36,980
We partnered with council member Amos

3308
04:48:36,980 --> 04:48:39,540
for his food giveaway at Rodney Cook Park.

3309
04:48:39,840 --> 04:48:42,240
We also had our fight against blight in action

3310
04:48:42,240 --> 04:48:48,300
on May 14th at C.T. Martin Recreation Center, and again our senior citizens public safety

3311
04:48:48,300 --> 04:48:53,260
events that we held on May 9th, June 10th, and June 15th.

3312
04:48:53,300 --> 04:48:59,040
And also we had a senior community health and wellness fair that was held on June 9th.

3313
04:49:01,300 --> 04:49:06,020
These are just some photos of Fight Against Blight in action where members of our office

3314
04:49:06,020 --> 04:49:12,040
volunteered to clean up various pictures of the food giveaways that we participated

3315
04:49:12,040 --> 04:49:15,980
in to help people that were having food insecurities.

3316
04:49:17,120 --> 04:49:21,420
And again, Midnight Basketball, as well as other community events

3317
04:49:21,420 --> 04:49:24,620
that the Solicitor's Office has participated in over this quarter.

3318
04:49:25,840 --> 04:49:30,180
Our partners, and it's this time if you have any questions

3319
04:49:30,180 --> 04:49:32,880
for myself or Mr. Carter, we'll be happy to answer them.

3320
04:49:35,800 --> 04:49:36,640
Thank you.

3321
04:49:37,240 --> 04:49:38,660
Mr. Carter, episode for Smith.

3322
04:49:40,320 --> 04:49:42,900
I don't know who had their hand up first, but ladies first.

3323
04:49:42,900 --> 04:49:51,940
Council Member Boone. Thank you Mr. Chair. Mr. Carter, Ms. Smith, Mr. Carter, thank you for your leadership, sir.

3324
04:49:52,720 --> 04:50:08,960
Especially you all attending our meeting with our district attorney. This issue with the nuisance properties, the negligent landlords has really, really, really taken our community by storm.

3325
04:50:08,960 --> 04:50:14,520
We did not realize how many people were living in these horrible, dreadful conditions.

3326
04:50:15,100 --> 04:50:17,940
So thank you for putting this on your priority list.

3327
04:50:18,320 --> 04:50:32,200
And also, as far as 3657 ML King Junior Drive, the SITCO, that particular gas station has really, really, really destroyed that part of the Martin Luther King Junior Drive quarter.

3328
04:50:32,480 --> 04:50:36,940
So we are looking forward to our day in court on August 18.

3329
04:50:36,940 --> 04:50:42,180
But again, your presence and your leadership, sir, we really appreciate it.

3330
04:50:42,260 --> 04:50:42,740
Thank you.

3331
04:50:42,900 --> 04:50:44,000
Thank you.

3332
04:50:44,000 --> 04:50:44,760
Council Member Barne.

3333
04:50:47,000 --> 04:50:48,060
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3334
04:50:48,680 --> 04:50:56,720
And I want to also thank both of you, Mr. Carter, Mr. Smith, for Halecari and the staff that

3335
04:50:56,720 --> 04:51:00,320
accompanied her to our food drives every Wednesday.

3336
04:51:00,320 --> 04:51:01,860
They're there without fail.

3337
04:51:02,640 --> 04:51:08,060
and they left a lot of boxes. They do a lot of blue collar work in the service of

3338
04:51:08,060 --> 04:51:14,960
Atlanta citizens and of course the senior citizen education seminars that

3339
04:51:14,960 --> 04:51:19,800
we are doing around the city are tremendously helpful for our seniors

3340
04:51:19,800 --> 04:51:24,040
and I hope it's something that once we hit, I believe we've done four so far

3341
04:51:24,040 --> 04:51:27,100
and once we hit all six zones that hopefully next year

3342
04:51:27,840 --> 04:51:30,120
There's something that we can continue.

3343
04:51:30,760 --> 04:51:37,360
So just want to give my hats off to you, along with Councilmember Boone, on the extemporaneous

3344
04:51:37,360 --> 04:51:40,800
work that you're doing outside and around your office.

3345
04:51:41,280 --> 04:51:44,000
You know, I really, really do appreciate it.

3346
04:51:49,240 --> 04:51:52,460
Do you have any other colleagues, comments, questions for the solicitor's office?

3347
04:51:54,680 --> 04:51:58,660
I think I do have one, just to follow up, I would like to,

3348
04:52:00,840 --> 04:52:01,440
I don't know, staffing

3349
04:52:01,440 --> 04:52:07,340
is an issue across all departments, but would love to again do a, what I mentioned before,

3350
04:52:07,740 --> 04:52:15,100
some corridor sweeps. I was thinking a hollow well in my district, just making sure and educating

3351
04:52:15,100 --> 04:52:21,420
people at first, giving them notices as to what is wrong, how they can improve, and then

3352
04:52:21,420 --> 04:52:27,040
following up in a month or whatever appropriate time is, because we have tire shops that

3353
04:52:27,040 --> 04:52:35,980
have mounds of scrap tires out that will eventually end up in our creeks and rivers on just a lot

3354
04:52:35,980 --> 04:52:36,580
of other issues.

3355
04:52:36,940 --> 04:52:40,420
So if we could get together on that soon, that would be great.

3356
04:52:43,780 --> 04:52:46,300
Colleagues, all right.

3357
04:52:46,560 --> 04:52:46,940
Thanks so much.

3358
04:52:48,420 --> 04:52:48,680
Thank you.

3359
04:52:48,920 --> 04:52:49,220
Thank you.

3360
04:52:49,520 --> 04:52:49,960
Thank you.

3361
04:52:52,900 --> 04:52:56,780
The Municipal Court quarterly update, Chief Judge Portis.

3362
04:53:07,940 --> 04:53:10,100
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of the committee.

3363
04:53:10,100 --> 04:53:15,120
I'm Chris Portis, the Chief Judge of the Municipal Court of Atlanta, and it is a pleasure

3364
04:53:15,120 --> 04:53:19,880
to be here this afternoon to provide our quarterly presentation.

3365
04:53:20,860 --> 04:53:22,660
This one is promised to be brief.

3366
04:53:23,320 --> 04:53:28,920
What we did want to do was provide a very quick snapshot of what the caseloads are

3367
04:53:28,920 --> 04:53:35,020
looking like as we move further into Cali New Year 2022.

3368
04:53:36,060 --> 04:53:42,320
looking at the trend of where we started in January steel trailing out of the

3369
04:53:42,320 --> 04:53:47,320
COVID volume that we were receiving and moving into the spring which you can see

3370
04:53:47,320 --> 04:53:54,540
especially once we get to April, May and June the case volume begins to

3371
04:53:54,540 --> 04:54:00,120
increase especially with the month of May in particular and that represents a

3372
04:54:00,120 --> 04:54:10,480
volume of matters that matches what it would have been in a regular year like 2019. Month

3373
04:54:10,480 --> 04:54:19,760
over month at this point we are averaging about a 33% increase over where we were a

3374
04:54:19,760 --> 04:54:27,840
year ago and especially over 2020 with the new traffic cases that are coming in. We

3375
04:54:27,840 --> 04:54:32,780
We have been able to work to get our staffing levels somewhat replenished.

3376
04:54:33,160 --> 04:54:36,720
It's almost a shield game in some respects with the number of resignations.

3377
04:54:37,160 --> 04:54:42,300
So as we hire one, we lose two, but we've been trying to keep pace with that, which

3378
04:54:42,300 --> 04:54:45,520
has allowed us to keep pace with the volume of cases.

3379
04:54:46,120 --> 04:54:54,800
Also we are back running full calendars as we have moved away from COVID into 2022,

3380
04:54:54,800 --> 04:55:01,560
which has also allowed us to not only handle the volume but also maintain the clearance

3381
04:55:01,560 --> 04:55:08,020
rate of at or above 100 percent when we factor in the number of cases that are aging that

3382
04:55:08,020 --> 04:55:11,100
are also being disposed over the new caseload.

3383
04:55:11,800 --> 04:55:15,020
Same type of metric for the criminal case count.

3384
04:55:15,720 --> 04:55:21,360
In this case demographic here takes into account all case types that are designated

3385
04:55:21,360 --> 04:55:28,460
with a CR case number, that's anything from a disorderly conduct to a drug paraphernalia

3386
04:55:28,460 --> 04:55:34,880
to even the housing and code violations that are designated with the CR case designation.

3387
04:55:35,800 --> 04:55:44,920
Looking at these numbers, these numbers are yet to return back to the levels that they were in 2019

3388
04:55:44,920 --> 04:55:49,000
and are still trending somewhat on the anemic side.

3389
04:55:49,000 --> 04:55:56,180
We have a regular flow of the run-of-the-mill basic criminal matters.

3390
04:55:56,480 --> 04:56:02,600
We are still running will behind what we typically are with the housing and code-related violations.

3391
04:56:03,300 --> 04:56:10,040
We do watch these metrics because it has a lot to do with where we actually target court resources.

3392
04:56:10,300 --> 04:56:16,700
For instance, right now there is a dedicated courtroom for housing and code, where these numbers are trending.

3393
04:56:16,700 --> 04:56:22,220
However, we're taking a look at that to see if we will be changing that, divesting that

3394
04:56:22,220 --> 04:56:24,100
subject matter across all courtrooms.

3395
04:56:24,260 --> 04:56:32,080
The numbers for 2021 and now in 2022 just don't dictate the need for a dedicated courtroom

3396
04:56:32,080 --> 04:56:33,460
at this time moving forward.

3397
04:56:33,720 --> 04:56:37,180
This is something we'll continue to watch the trend as we move through the end of

3398
04:56:37,180 --> 04:56:38,560
the year before we make that decision.

3399
04:56:39,720 --> 04:56:45,780
Looking at the failure to appear rate, there is some good news in this slide, especially

3400
04:56:45,780 --> 04:56:47,240
especially in relation to the first slide.

3401
04:56:48,160 --> 04:56:51,700
Looking at this number at the beginning of the year, it was unseasonably high, especially

3402
04:56:51,700 --> 04:56:55,240
in relation to the new caseload that we were receiving.

3403
04:56:55,760 --> 04:57:00,840
We instituted a zero-tolerance policy moving from January into February.

3404
04:57:01,160 --> 04:57:02,620
You can see that number dip down.

3405
04:57:03,240 --> 04:57:07,820
If you look at May, June, and July in particular, you see that number raised back up.

3406
04:57:07,940 --> 04:57:14,380
But remember on that first slide, we nearly tripled quadrupled the new case count.

3407
04:57:14,380 --> 04:57:19,420
So in proportion to the new cases that we're receiving, we're still trending relatively

3408
04:57:19,420 --> 04:57:26,360
seasonal on where we should be with an FDA rate, obviously 5,700 is much too high, but

3409
04:57:26,360 --> 04:57:33,380
we have instituted policy procedure on the court side that is working to reduce that

3410
04:57:33,380 --> 04:57:38,880
number and also close out those cases for individuals who do go into FDA status.

3411
04:57:39,600 --> 04:57:45,400
Just looking at where we are in particular with the FTA walk-in court, which is primarily

3412
04:57:45,910 --> 04:57:49,860
aimed at individuals whose license of going in suspension because they have missed that

3413
04:57:49,860 --> 04:57:50,520
court appearance.

3414
04:57:51,120 --> 04:57:56,500
Since we started that process in the January, early February, that is allowed us to close

3415
04:57:56,500 --> 04:57:58,520
just short of 12,000 cases.

3416
04:57:59,100 --> 04:58:04,580
It is a labor intensive operation because of the nature of those cases.

3417
04:58:04,580 --> 04:58:12,060
We will continue to operate a specialty FDA division through the end of this year to handle those cases.

3418
04:58:12,560 --> 04:58:18,940
We'll see where we are in December to see whether or not this is something that we especially do moving into January of 23,

3419
04:58:19,240 --> 04:58:21,120
or if it's something that can be phased out.

3420
04:58:21,440 --> 04:58:27,240
But we obviously keep an eye on the trend and what it means for the ageing case demographic.

3421
04:58:27,920 --> 04:58:30,240
One of the things that I told this committee in the past,

3422
04:58:30,240 --> 04:58:36,080
As we did not come out of COVID with a typical backlog, the thorn in our side coming out

3423
04:58:36,080 --> 04:58:41,040
of COVID were the number of cases that were in FTA status and wanting to get those cases

3424
04:58:41,040 --> 04:58:46,280
in resolved before they aged to a point where it was difficult to get them closed.

3425
04:58:46,800 --> 04:58:51,200
That's why this is very important to us as we move through the balance of the year.

3426
04:58:51,460 --> 04:58:56,260
Also another piece of good news about this, as we have now moved through the summer,

3427
04:58:57,060 --> 04:59:03,440
90% of the cases that are appearing on the FTA court docket now are 2022 cases, so we've

3428
04:59:03,440 --> 04:59:09,680
moved beyond the cases from 2020 and 2021 that are in FTA status. These are now cases

3429
04:59:09,680 --> 04:59:14,260
that have gone into that status and that are less than 90 days old from their initial

3430
04:59:14,260 --> 04:59:20,220
court appearance. And that is it for the quarterly presentation on the demographics,

3431
04:59:20,380 --> 04:59:23,600
and I'm happy to answer any questions that this committee may have.

3432
04:59:23,600 --> 04:59:25,440
Thank you, Chief Judge Portis.

3433
04:59:25,700 --> 04:59:27,280
Colleagues, questions, comments?

3434
04:59:27,580 --> 04:59:28,280
Council Member Bonn.

3435
04:59:31,270 --> 04:59:32,370
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3436
04:59:32,570 --> 04:59:34,590
Thank you, Chief Judge, for your presentation.

3437
04:59:35,670 --> 04:59:38,390
I know that you had issued a, I guess,

3438
04:59:38,510 --> 04:59:40,910
executive order for operations at the court,

3439
04:59:41,950 --> 04:59:43,330
including your presentation.

3440
04:59:43,630 --> 04:59:46,490
Is that part of the turnaround that we're seeing on the FTAs?

3441
04:59:46,990 --> 04:59:48,430
In part some.

3442
04:59:49,170 --> 04:59:51,650
The strict compliance with state law,

3443
04:59:51,690 --> 04:59:54,770
especially on the traffic cases for the fade to appears,

3444
04:59:54,770 --> 04:59:59,490
has been very critical, but also following the Atlanta Ordinance

3445
05:00:00,000 --> 05:00:05,300
Anyone who's already out on bond, who fails to appear, that bond is subject to be revoked

3446
05:00:05,300 --> 05:00:10,080
as well as we've worked with APD to make sure that we can get warrants up for those individuals

3447
05:00:10,720 --> 05:00:16,660
immediately. So if you have been arrested previously on your case and then you fail to appear,

3448
05:00:17,200 --> 05:00:22,520
the judge handling that case issues that warrant, we've worked with APD to also get

3449
05:00:22,520 --> 05:00:27,780
those fast-tracked on GCICs so that we can get you back into the system, get you back

3450
05:00:27,780 --> 05:00:33,940
answer in that charge and we can also see that you are already out on a bond that you

3451
05:00:33,940 --> 05:00:39,760
did not come back to court on. Follow up with a couple of the conversations that you and

3452
05:00:39,760 --> 05:00:44,720
I had end of the spring and I think this will be some welcome news to you in particular.

3453
05:00:45,560 --> 05:00:50,060
What we've been doing since we've talked is working to ramp up what you formerly

3454
05:00:50,060 --> 05:00:57,000
knew as our pre-trial services department. We have field some key positions and we're

3455
05:00:57,000 --> 05:01:02,680
going to be working with corrections so that fingers crossed as we move into the end of

3456
05:01:02,680 --> 05:01:08,460
this month starting in September, the pre-trial services department will be re-engaged with

3457
05:01:09,000 --> 05:01:13,260
reviewing individuals and their eligibility for signature bonds to make sure that more

3458
05:01:13,260 --> 05:01:17,840
individuals not only have access, but the proper cases, proper information is looked

3459
05:01:17,840 --> 05:01:20,800
at and vetted before an individual is released.

3460
05:01:20,800 --> 05:01:26,340
We've heard a lot of concern from corrections in trying to effectuate that process.

3461
05:01:27,200 --> 05:01:28,760
The House, do we do this?

3462
05:01:29,240 --> 05:01:35,040
What information do we need to take into account beyond the four corners of a citation?

3463
05:01:35,580 --> 05:01:39,800
And we're looking to supplement some of the work that they're doing in an effort

3464
05:01:39,800 --> 05:01:41,680
to aid in public safety in general.

3465
05:01:41,880 --> 05:01:48,480
So I keep you posted, but I'm looking towards a soft launch at the end of this month,

3466
05:01:48,480 --> 05:01:51,440
full engagement at the beginning of September.

3467
05:01:51,980 --> 05:01:56,960
It's going to be a tough revamp because this is a 24-hour operation, as you can imagine.

3468
05:01:57,480 --> 05:02:02,520
Keeping staff and the times that we are in now has just been more than a notion.

3469
05:02:02,900 --> 05:02:06,520
So we're hoping that we'll be able to maintain the crew that we have,

3470
05:02:06,780 --> 05:02:09,760
been able to hire and train, get them mobilized,

3471
05:02:10,100 --> 05:02:15,020
and bring back a very needed component to that evaluation.

3472
05:02:15,020 --> 05:02:21,780
No, that is very good news. Will that require legislation from us or is it something you

3473
05:02:21,780 --> 05:02:22,520
all working out?

3474
05:02:22,680 --> 05:02:29,660
Right now it won't, but I keep you posted on how it operates and if we need any assistance

3475
05:02:29,660 --> 05:02:35,320
on that front, but I'm expecting that this should be a pretty seamless integration and

3476
05:02:35,320 --> 05:02:37,200
it should help make a major difference.

3477
05:02:37,680 --> 05:02:42,660
So that will, I guess, address the question between, I know they said that the jail

3478
05:02:42,660 --> 05:02:48,340
system wasn't talked to the court system, so this is making those connections again

3479
05:02:48,340 --> 05:02:48,800
directly.

3480
05:02:49,160 --> 05:02:49,320
Right.

3481
05:02:49,720 --> 05:02:57,000
And you know from experience that you can desire to have a magic program that's going

3482
05:02:57,000 --> 05:03:03,260
to set off a red light or a green light, but the information concerning the individuals

3483
05:03:03,260 --> 05:03:06,420
has to be reviewed every case, every instance.

3484
05:03:06,880 --> 05:03:11,560
If that wasn't the case, then we wouldn't be in a constant business of updating GCIC

3485
05:03:11,560 --> 05:03:17,760
for aliases, known addresses, tattoos, that type of thing, because so much change is about

3486
05:03:17,760 --> 05:03:23,500
the dynamic of an individual, especially those who get creative about how to mask identity.

3487
05:03:24,080 --> 05:03:26,220
So it's something that has to be done.

3488
05:03:26,600 --> 05:03:30,180
It's best done by someone who's trained to do it.

3489
05:03:30,460 --> 05:03:36,140
That's what we are hoping to add to this element to make sure that these cases are

3490
05:03:36,140 --> 05:03:37,600
getting the proper review that they need.

3491
05:03:38,080 --> 05:03:38,300
Okay.

3492
05:03:38,480 --> 05:03:39,360
Well, thank you very much.

3493
05:03:39,500 --> 05:03:40,140
That is good news.

3494
05:03:40,140 --> 05:03:40,600
Absolutely.

3495
05:03:40,720 --> 05:03:41,780
I withdraw, Mr. Chair.

3496
05:03:42,860 --> 05:03:47,220
Council Member Vaughn, colleagues, any other questions, comments for Chief Judge Portis?

3497
05:03:48,980 --> 05:03:51,260
Chief Judge, I did have a few items.

3498
05:03:53,140 --> 05:03:58,420
You stated that the court is back, I don't think it's at full time or some version of

3499
05:03:58,420 --> 05:03:58,640
that.

3500
05:03:59,540 --> 05:04:01,280
What's the appearance policy?

3501
05:04:01,600 --> 05:04:07,340
Does both the defendant and the victim now have to be in person at the court?

3502
05:04:07,340 --> 05:04:14,240
The appearance policy has been in person since we opened full-time back in October of 2020.

3503
05:04:14,860 --> 05:04:20,640
I think the part that you're speaking of of back full-time is we have increased the calendar capacity

3504
05:04:20,640 --> 05:04:25,200
to be reminiscent of what it was back in 2019.

3505
05:04:25,640 --> 05:04:31,100
So the traffic calendars, for instance, have max loads of 100 positions per calendar.

3506
05:04:31,100 --> 05:04:39,040
A victim or a witness is on the honor system to appear unless one of the sides subpoenas

3507
05:04:39,040 --> 05:04:45,180
them to be present in court, and that's something that either the city or the folks who are

3508
05:04:45,180 --> 05:04:50,780
representing the defense will handle if that is their prerogative in any particular case.

3509
05:04:51,360 --> 05:04:55,160
As for individual defendants, yes, it is mandatory.

3510
05:04:55,160 --> 05:05:01,760
appearance failure to appear will carry with it whatever penalty can be levied

3511
05:05:01,760 --> 05:05:06,540
for the run-of-the-mill traffic cases in most instances that starts with the

3512
05:05:06,540 --> 05:05:11,440
license suspension process for individuals who are previously out on

3513
05:05:11,440 --> 05:05:15,420
bond because they were initially arrested those individuals have to appear if

3514
05:05:15,420 --> 05:05:19,880
they do not appear a warrants issue that morning for their rest. I understood

3515
05:05:19,880 --> 05:05:20,560
So thank you for that.

3516
05:05:21,100 --> 05:05:24,700
And one follow-up item, he would raise this concern.

3517
05:05:25,500 --> 05:05:27,480
And the budget hearings about the upgrade

3518
05:05:27,480 --> 05:05:28,840
of the camera system in the court,

3519
05:05:28,920 --> 05:05:31,820
which we included in the FY23 budget.

3520
05:05:32,180 --> 05:05:33,700
What is, can you offer an update on that?

3521
05:05:34,160 --> 05:05:35,340
We're working on it.

3522
05:05:36,080 --> 05:05:38,780
You know, we have to get it through procurement.

3523
05:05:39,120 --> 05:05:42,380
So we have to identify, we've identified a vendor.

3524
05:05:42,860 --> 05:05:46,700
Now it is whether or not we can legally move that vehicle

3525
05:05:46,700 --> 05:05:48,100
through the procurement process.

3526
05:05:48,100 --> 05:05:50,380
So that is a work in progress.

3527
05:05:51,880 --> 05:05:52,960
Everything is a go.

3528
05:05:53,760 --> 05:05:56,900
Otherwise, the Department of Finance, the Chief Financial Officer,

3529
05:05:57,080 --> 05:06:00,340
dedicated his attention to it, made the resources available.

3530
05:06:00,820 --> 05:06:04,400
So at this point, it's a matter if we can get the contract through,

3531
05:06:04,440 --> 05:06:08,360
then we'll be able to make the purchase and that system will be upgraded.

3532
05:06:08,800 --> 05:06:13,160
We'll be better for it because it hadn't been upgraded at all

3533
05:06:13,160 --> 05:06:15,780
since it was first installed some 20 years ago.

3534
05:06:15,780 --> 05:06:24,400
I'll keep you posted on that once we're actually able to get to an implementation phase, then we'll at least know it's just a timeline at that point.

3535
05:06:24,900 --> 05:06:30,100
Okay. Thank you for that. One last check with my colleagues. Any questions, comments for our Chief Judge?

3536
05:06:31,360 --> 05:06:34,700
I thank you, Chief Judge Portis. Absolutely. Thank you. Have a good afternoon. You as well.

3537
05:06:34,700 --> 05:06:35,580
All

3538
05:06:38,650 --> 05:06:43,290
right, colleagues, we will now move to our consent agenda.

3539
05:06:44,710 --> 05:06:47,350
I will make a motion to accept all favorable claims.

3540
05:06:47,570 --> 05:06:48,670
Items 1 through 10.

3541
05:06:49,050 --> 05:06:49,610
Is there a second?

3542
05:06:50,210 --> 05:06:50,370
Second.

3543
05:06:50,670 --> 05:06:51,050
Second.

3544
05:06:51,130 --> 05:06:52,070
Second by Councilmember Norwood.

3545
05:06:52,370 --> 05:06:53,230
Please prepare the vote.

3546
05:06:55,970 --> 05:06:56,570
The vote is open.

3547
05:07:13,300 --> 05:07:14,400
Waits is aye.

3548
05:07:14,640 --> 05:07:16,520
I'm having trouble getting into the system.

3549
05:07:22,390 --> 05:07:22,910
Please vote.

3550
05:07:27,920 --> 05:07:28,580
Councilmember Rohn.

3551
05:07:33,160 --> 05:07:33,800
The vote is closed.

3552
05:07:37,280 --> 05:07:37,440
All right.

3553
05:07:37,520 --> 05:07:38,900
The 60A is at zero nays.

3554
05:07:39,720 --> 05:07:44,580
those items are favorable. I will make a motion to adverse all unfavorable claims

3555
05:07:44,580 --> 05:07:47,100
items 11-3-1-0-2. Is there a second?

3556
05:07:49,360 --> 05:07:51,860
Seconded by Council Member Amos. Please

3557
05:07:51,860 --> 05:07:53,540
prepare the vote. The vote is open.

3558
05:08:13,270 --> 05:08:14,050
Council Member Boehme.

3559
05:08:18,000 --> 05:08:18,500
The vote is closed.

3560
05:08:20,220 --> 05:08:27,540
Six yeas, zero nays. Those items are adverse. And as a follow-up, thank you

3561
05:08:27,540 --> 05:08:31,180
for the law to the law department. A number of items on the consent agenda.

3562
05:08:31,180 --> 05:08:32,640
So thanks for working through those claims.

3563
05:08:33,700 --> 05:08:38,460
Moving on to our regular agenda ordinance for second read, 22-0-13-56.

3564
05:08:39,700 --> 05:08:45,880
Adorned by Councilmember Dustin Hillis, Jason Dozier, Matt Westmoreland, Jason Winston,

3565
05:08:46,580 --> 05:08:54,400
Mary Norwood, Howard Shook, Liliana Bakhtiari, Alex Wan, Andrea Elbun, and Amir Farouki.

3566
05:08:54,400 --> 05:09:16,500
as substituted by Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee, to amend Chapter 74 Article 5, Section 74-175 of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances to authorize the Municipal Court to order the abatement of a public nuisance established as a result of violent conduct or crime during with certain properties through the immediate closure of such properties.

3567
05:09:16,500 --> 05:09:21,200
To require the municipal court to order the abatement of such a public nuisance through

3568
05:09:21,200 --> 05:09:25,380
the immediate closure of such properties where the municipal court has determined such a

3569
05:09:25,380 --> 05:09:30,700
public nuisance to have occurred twice regarding the same property within 24 months and for

3570
05:09:30,700 --> 05:09:31,280
other purposes.

3571
05:09:31,640 --> 05:09:32,320
All right.

3572
05:09:32,400 --> 05:09:37,120
And as was discussed when the mayor was with us, we want the nightlife advisory

3573
05:09:37,120 --> 05:09:42,780
council to review this and some additional conversation has while I make a motion to

3574
05:09:42,780 --> 05:09:44,160
to hold, is there a second?

3575
05:09:44,760 --> 05:09:45,920
Second by council member Norwood.

3576
05:09:46,540 --> 05:09:47,560
Please defer the vote.

3577
05:09:48,240 --> 05:09:49,300
The vote is open.

3578
05:09:54,970 --> 05:09:55,690
The vote is closed.

3579
05:09:58,840 --> 05:10:00,900
The 68-0 nays that item is held.

3580
05:10:01,600 --> 05:10:05,600
Next item is item number two, 22-0-16-19.

3581
05:10:06,540 --> 05:10:08,880
And earnest by council member Dustin Hillis,

3582
05:10:08,980 --> 05:10:10,820
authorizing the chief financial officer

3583
05:10:10,820 --> 05:10:14,900
of the city of Atlanta to amend the FY20-23 budget

3584
05:10:14,900 --> 05:10:16,900
by transferring funds from the Planning

3585
05:10:16,900 --> 05:10:18,740
Private Property Demolition Fund

3586
05:10:18,740 --> 05:10:22,900
and adding funds to the Atlanta Police Department private property demolition

3587
05:10:22,900 --> 05:10:27,080
fund in the amount of three million dollars and zero cents for the purpose

3588
05:10:27,080 --> 05:10:30,860
of providing funding for the performance for the performance of the

3589
05:10:30,860 --> 05:10:34,320
in-rem demolition of the lapidated structures and for other purposes.

3590
05:10:34,500 --> 05:10:38,780
There is a substitute Mr. Chair it does not change the caption. Yes we do have

3591
05:10:38,780 --> 05:10:42,320
a substitute so I'll just add some missing account number so I'll make a

3592
05:10:42,320 --> 05:10:48,960
motion to substitute, is there a second? Second by Council Member Norwood, please

3593
05:10:48,960 --> 05:10:51,560
approve the vote. The vote is open.

3594
05:10:57,840 --> 05:10:58,540
The vote is closed.

3595
05:11:00,060 --> 05:11:04,160
680 nays that substitute is before us. I'll make a motion to approve a

3596
05:11:04,160 --> 05:11:09,380
substituted, is there a second? Second by Council Member Amos, please

3597
05:11:09,380 --> 05:11:11,700
prepare the vote. The vote is open.

3598
05:11:14,920 --> 05:11:15,500
The vote is closed.

3599
05:11:15,500 --> 05:11:23,220
Yays at zero nays that item is favorable on substitute. Item number 3, 22-0-16-24.

3600
05:11:23,820 --> 05:11:28,680
An ordinance by Council Member Andrea Elbone to amend Chapter 10, Article 2,

3601
05:11:29,160 --> 05:11:32,900
Sections 10-92b of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances,

3602
05:11:33,340 --> 05:11:39,380
so as to provide an exemption from the distance requirements listed in Section 10-881

3603
05:11:39,380 --> 05:11:43,840
for package stores licensed to sell malt beverages and or wine

3604
05:11:43,840 --> 05:11:46,660
and foreign establishment located at 510 Fairburn Road,

3605
05:11:47,020 --> 05:11:50,460
Southwest Atlanta, Georgia, 30331, and for other purposes.

3606
05:11:52,180 --> 05:11:53,260
Motion to approve.

3607
05:11:53,480 --> 05:11:53,900
Is there a second?

3608
05:11:54,520 --> 05:11:55,760
Second by Council Member Boone.

3609
05:11:56,260 --> 05:11:57,360
Please prepare the vote.

3610
05:11:58,380 --> 05:11:59,160
The vote is open.

3611
05:12:03,460 --> 05:12:04,120
The vote is closed.

3612
05:12:06,380 --> 05:12:07,980
68, zero, nays, that item is favorable.

3613
05:12:09,440 --> 05:12:12,540
Item number four is 2201632.

3614
05:12:13,300 --> 05:12:15,840
An ordinance by Council Member Michael Julian Bond

3615
05:12:15,840 --> 05:12:18,360
to authorize the mayor or his designee

3616
05:12:18,360 --> 05:12:20,120
on behalf of the City of Atlanta, Georgia,

3617
05:12:20,500 --> 05:12:22,840
to enter into an intergovernmental agreement

3618
05:12:22,840 --> 05:12:25,860
with the Fulton County Sheriff and Fulton County, Georgia

3619
05:12:25,860 --> 05:12:29,700
for the temporary housing of adult Fulton County detainees

3620
05:12:29,700 --> 05:12:31,880
at Atlanta City Detention Center

3621
05:12:31,880 --> 05:12:33,700
in the custody of Fulton County,

3622
05:12:33,800 --> 05:12:35,220
which have been charged with

3623
05:12:35,480 --> 05:12:39,000
or convicted of violating federal, state, or local law

3624
05:12:39,000 --> 05:12:43,320
or held as a material witness on an as needed basis

3625
05:12:43,700 --> 05:12:45,900
where the number of Fulton County detainees

3626
05:12:45,900 --> 05:12:56,220
So how's an ACDC at one time shall never exceed 700 detainees for a term of a peer for it for a term of a period not to exceed

3627
05:12:56,220 --> 05:12:58,000
Four years with no renewal

3628
05:12:58,780 --> 05:13:07,900
No renewal term options with such an agreement to be revenue generating all such revenues to be deposited into the accounts listed here in and for

3629
05:13:07,900 --> 05:13:08,460
other purposes

3630
05:13:09,540 --> 05:13:14,060
So we have a substitute to correct funding streams

3631
05:13:15,900 --> 05:13:19,740
Is that correct? Yes, Mr. Chair. I'll make a motion to bring the substitute forward.

3632
05:13:20,700 --> 05:13:22,120
Second by Council Member Norwood.

3633
05:13:24,710 --> 05:13:25,470
The vote is open.

3634
05:13:35,140 --> 05:13:37,600
Please vote. The vote is closed.

3635
05:13:38,500 --> 05:13:40,640
Yeah, zero nays. The substitute is before us.

3636
05:13:43,930 --> 05:13:45,710
Motion to approve by Council Member Bond.

3637
05:13:46,650 --> 05:13:50,270
Second by Council Member Norwood. We do have some speakers.

3638
05:13:53,930 --> 05:13:55,530
Council Member Waites and then

3639
05:13:57,330 --> 05:14:03,930
Thank you so much Mr. Chair. While I again support the spirit and intent of the legislation,

3640
05:14:05,430 --> 05:14:11,310
I think the subject matter experts here today spoke to all the reasons why we should not

3641
05:14:11,310 --> 05:14:16,930
rush to enter into this agreement. I think we need more time to answer many of the

3642
05:14:16,930 --> 05:14:21,630
questions that have been asked before us. In addition to the thousands of emails

3643
05:14:21,630 --> 05:14:26,530
and phone calls that I believe each of you have also received, I think that there is a strong need

3644
05:14:26,530 --> 05:14:33,350
for a work session in addition to some type of group that would regulate the populations

3645
05:14:33,350 --> 05:14:38,370
of individuals who would go to these facilities. It has been brought to my attention by those

3646
05:14:38,370 --> 05:14:44,410
who actually serve in this area that many of the folks who are housed at the Fortin County

3647
05:14:44,410 --> 05:14:49,650
Jail Facility are actually eligible for PAD services and by that I mean these are individuals

3648
05:14:49,650 --> 05:14:54,830
individuals who are nonviolet, some of them, these are non felony issues, these are often

3649
05:14:54,830 --> 05:14:59,830
failure to appears, in addition to individuals who are waiting.

3650
05:15:00,000 --> 05:15:06,500
For specialty supportive housing, such as mental health beds, drug and alcohol treatment, or

3651
05:15:06,500 --> 05:15:13,120
either a competency evaluation. And so for this reason, I don't believe that this particular

3652
05:15:13,120 --> 05:15:18,120
piece of legislation resolves the challenges that are before us. Again, I thank you, Council

3653
05:15:18,120 --> 05:15:23,060
Member Bud, for moving and putting the legislation forward. I just believe that a work session

3654
05:15:23,060 --> 05:15:30,120
would be in order, in addition to some type of oversight committee that would vet which

3655
05:15:30,120 --> 05:15:35,720
individuals would be housed at this facility. And so, for that reason, I rise in strong opposition

3656
05:15:36,320 --> 05:15:39,960
to moving this forward today. Thank you, Council Member Boyce. Council

3657
05:15:39,960 --> 05:15:48,960
Member Block, T.R.? Thank you. So, the first one is prefaces by saying that I have a great

3658
05:15:48,960 --> 05:15:55,460
great deal of respect for our administration, for our mayor, for my colleagues that introduced

3659
05:15:55,460 --> 05:15:57,040
this legislation. I just,

3660
05:15:59,050 --> 05:16:03,390
I believe that good governance is asking a number of questions

3661
05:16:03,390 --> 05:16:08,770
before we enter into something that has been discussed at this point. I feel like for decades

3662
05:16:08,770 --> 05:16:13,730
you heard some of the folks say today that overcrowding has been an issue at Fulton County.

3663
05:16:14,630 --> 05:16:18,330
Some have said, you know, for 10 years we know it's been happening for decades,

3664
05:16:18,330 --> 05:16:20,210
for far longer than that.

3665
05:16:20,650 --> 05:16:22,550
But there are a number of questions I still do not.

3666
05:16:23,190 --> 05:16:27,010
I feel like this conversation has been entirely anecdotal,

3667
05:16:27,090 --> 05:16:28,310
and there's been no justifying data.

3668
05:16:28,810 --> 05:16:29,810
I've toured the facility.

3669
05:16:30,170 --> 05:16:32,790
I know that it's in terrible, in terrible condition.

3670
05:16:33,010 --> 05:16:33,810
I understand all that.

3671
05:16:34,470 --> 05:16:37,410
To me, that does not mean that you add more beds

3672
05:16:37,410 --> 05:16:40,810
and increase jail size to address an incarceral issue,

3673
05:16:41,370 --> 05:16:43,050
to address overincarceration.

3674
05:16:43,430 --> 05:16:45,510
Instead, I mean, I still have not seen evidence

3675
05:16:46,990 --> 05:16:51,030
provided as to how Fulton County has demonstrated that they've attempted to address overcrowding.

3676
05:16:51,450 --> 05:16:55,130
I still don't know how many cells are being leased at Cobb County and why that hasn't addressed the problem.

3677
05:16:55,690 --> 05:17:00,590
I still don't understand when people detained at Rice Street would actually be moved

3678
05:17:00,590 --> 05:17:05,810
because this IGA, after looking at it, if Rice Street is such an issue and overcrowding,

3679
05:17:05,830 --> 05:17:10,250
there is such an issue, then why is priority being given to Union City over Rice Street first?

3680
05:17:10,250 --> 05:17:13,270
I don't understand if overcrowding or rice free is such an issue.

3681
05:17:13,690 --> 05:17:15,710
Why are they not first being addressed in the IGA?

3682
05:17:16,530 --> 05:17:22,270
In addition, there are multiple other partners in metro areas that could be utilized for this partnership from Cobb,

3683
05:17:22,350 --> 05:17:24,690
Gwinnett, DeKabb, Clayton, East Point.

3684
05:17:25,370 --> 05:17:29,850
I still don't understand the full assessment of the people being incarcerated at Fulton and why.

3685
05:17:30,530 --> 05:17:35,750
How many people are being detained because they are indigent, cannot afford to pay their fines or for bonds?

3686
05:17:35,750 --> 05:17:38,490
How many homeless people cannot provide an address?

3687
05:17:38,810 --> 05:17:43,770
And so therefore, oftentimes when you're going before a judge, an address has to be provided in order for your case to be heard.

3688
05:17:44,250 --> 05:17:47,850
We know, I know that there is a backlog with judges hearing these cases.

3689
05:17:48,190 --> 05:17:51,050
I know that that's a big issue and that it is not entirely on Fulton County.

3690
05:17:51,390 --> 05:17:55,110
But these are some of the questions that have to be answered before entering into such an agreement.

3691
05:17:55,710 --> 05:18:01,750
I still don't understand how many people are incarcerated on technical violations for missing a meeting with a parole officer.

3692
05:18:02,150 --> 05:18:04,070
How many people are incarcerated for low-level offenses?

3693
05:18:04,070 --> 05:18:09,550
How many people are being held because of potential mental illness or developmental disability,

3694
05:18:09,610 --> 05:18:13,770
because I know our familiar FACES program isn't being followed to the letter of the law.

3695
05:18:14,630 --> 05:18:17,670
APD is the highest-resting agency in Fulton County,

3696
05:18:17,830 --> 05:18:23,350
and what percentage of those currently being arrested by APD are not being diverted to PAT.

3697
05:18:23,730 --> 05:18:26,590
In June, there were only 25 diversions from APD to PAT,

3698
05:18:26,710 --> 05:18:30,050
and I know that we're going to say it's because PAT is not 24-7,

3699
05:18:30,050 --> 05:18:36,650
but it seems as though to address that we shouldn't be moving towards making,

3700
05:18:36,790 --> 05:18:39,690
we should be doing exactly what Council Member Waitz has put forward in order,

3701
05:18:39,850 --> 05:18:45,750
I mean this presentation, Council Member, is beautiful and we can do both and so anyways,

3702
05:18:46,050 --> 05:18:53,330
the point is in all of this, I think that to the Council Member's point, rushing into this,

3703
05:18:53,470 --> 05:18:57,870
I mean the Justice Policy Board I think should be charged with implementing a jail review

3704
05:18:57,870 --> 05:19:03,290
committee that takes 90 days to assess the people being held so that we know who can

3705
05:19:03,290 --> 05:19:04,710
be diverted out and who can be held.

3706
05:19:05,510 --> 05:19:07,930
It's extra work, but we can do all of this.

3707
05:19:08,090 --> 05:19:11,590
I don't see why we can't, I don't understand what the rush is at this point.

3708
05:19:12,070 --> 05:19:15,950
And Justice Policy Board is co-chaired by our PSLA chair.

3709
05:19:16,590 --> 05:19:19,750
It's a perfect opportunity to take a deeper dive and to do an assessment of the people

3710
05:19:19,750 --> 05:19:26,570
being held because I do not think that we have, we still don't have data, full

3711
05:19:26,570 --> 05:19:31,150
data justifying the situation. And also for the fact that the IGA discusses going over

3712
05:19:31,150 --> 05:19:35,850
the four-year mark and the $150 that would be put up by Fulton County, I think the city

3713
05:19:35,850 --> 05:19:40,670
needs to put up matching funds because it needs to hurt us too. We need to have the

3714
05:19:40,670 --> 05:19:45,190
city will just continue making money off of incarceration, which to me is abhorrent.

3715
05:19:45,750 --> 05:19:51,430
So if to push for there to be to push for us to get out of this agreement at the

3716
05:19:51,430 --> 05:19:54,610
end of the four years, the city should also have to put up matching matching funds

3717
05:19:54,610 --> 05:19:58,330
from the general fund to ensure we actually exit this agreement if it does go forward.

3718
05:19:58,930 --> 05:19:59,850
It shouldn't just hurt Fulton.

3719
05:19:59,950 --> 05:20:00,570
It should hurt us, too.

3720
05:20:03,540 --> 05:20:04,060
So, my case.

3721
05:20:04,240 --> 05:20:05,740
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Bakhtiari, any other?

3722
05:20:06,160 --> 05:20:07,420
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Bakhtiari.

3723
05:20:09,860 --> 05:20:10,640
Just briefly,

3724
05:20:12,720 --> 05:20:18,880
just want to speak to my colleagues, and I appreciate your statements and appreciate

3725
05:20:18,880 --> 05:20:26,760
your comments, but, you know, this is going on longer than just the two weeks

3726
05:20:26,760 --> 05:20:33,120
that this legislation has been introduced, you know, a year ago, more than a year ago,

3727
05:20:33,280 --> 05:20:41,800
year and two months ago, the City Council put in a resolution requiring that if the Mayor

3728
05:20:41,800 --> 05:20:49,300
didn't come to an agreement with Fulton County about the overcrowding that the City of

3729
05:20:49,300 --> 05:20:55,840
100% contributes to that the council will act when we'd have a contract.

3730
05:20:56,820 --> 05:21:02,920
The mayor at that time asked for a couple of more weeks and nothing ever happened.

3731
05:21:03,840 --> 05:21:05,020
They didn't do anything.

3732
05:21:05,800 --> 05:21:15,300
They just let it lie while citizens of Atlanta who are accused of crimes who were arrested by APD

3733
05:21:15,860 --> 05:21:18,680
sleep on the floors and exist in abhorrent conditions.

3734
05:21:20,100 --> 05:21:22,840
Now the story of the jail is a long one.

3735
05:21:23,840 --> 05:21:26,400
The story of ACDC is a long one.

3736
05:21:27,400 --> 05:21:32,100
But as I remarked to those who made this excellent presentation today,

3737
05:21:32,740 --> 05:21:35,260
they actually made the case for why we need to do this.

3738
05:21:36,960 --> 05:21:41,140
Because past sheriffs have not been able to address the issue.

3739
05:21:41,140 --> 05:21:47,460
They do not control the budget at Fulton County, so they can't, they don't control their own budget.

3740
05:21:47,500 --> 05:21:51,060
They have to go to the commissioners to control their own budgets.

3741
05:21:51,520 --> 05:21:56,500
So it's well established that the issues at Fulton County have languished.

3742
05:21:56,800 --> 05:22:02,180
They've not been addressed effectively or they've been only addressed incompletely.

3743
05:22:03,000 --> 05:22:10,220
And so those of us who live and exist in Atlanta, which is almost 90% in Fulton County,

3744
05:22:10,840 --> 05:22:15,960
We're not getting away clean by pointing a finger at Fulton County and saying,

3745
05:22:16,040 --> 05:22:21,560
hey you need to solve this problem. We're a part of that problem. You know, we're

3746
05:22:21,560 --> 05:22:26,700
funding what goes on at Fulton County. We're represented by those past

3747
05:22:26,700 --> 05:22:31,140
commissions or have been represented by those past commissioners that did

3748
05:22:31,140 --> 05:22:37,220
nothing. And so at the end of the day it is the human element that screams

3749
05:22:37,220 --> 05:22:44,240
There's an old African proverb that says when elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers.

3750
05:22:45,540 --> 05:22:51,280
The people who are on the floor in the boats, who are in the system over there at Fulton County,

3751
05:22:51,760 --> 05:22:53,240
they are the ones who are suffering.

3752
05:22:54,300 --> 05:22:59,420
Now of course, there are only about 1,300 beds in ACDC.

3753
05:23:00,080 --> 05:23:01,800
This is about half of them.

3754
05:23:02,300 --> 05:23:04,960
This is not going to solve every problem in Fulton County.

3755
05:23:04,960 --> 05:23:12,440
But it will provide a bomb for some to get out of those conditions,

3756
05:23:12,940 --> 05:23:16,220
at least during the periods that the Fulton County can get organized.

3757
05:23:17,020 --> 05:23:24,440
They can begin to plan and build their facility that everyone now agrees that they need

3758
05:23:24,440 --> 05:23:29,480
and that the commissioners that are there today say that they're going to support.

3759
05:23:29,480 --> 05:23:39,060
And so delaying it, though there should be more conversation, we can continue to have conversations with our partners at Fulton County.

3760
05:23:39,680 --> 05:23:50,420
But we desperately need to act. We're in a position to solve a problem or solve the conditions of some at Fulton County.

3761
05:23:50,860 --> 05:23:56,580
We should immediately do that. And that's what I'm asking the committee to do today.

3762
05:23:59,040 --> 05:24:02,360
Any other speakers before I move back to Council Member Weitz?

3763
05:24:04,770 --> 05:24:05,430
Council Member Weitz.

3764
05:24:09,070 --> 05:24:11,450
Mr. Chair, I'm not going to belabor the hour tonight.

3765
05:24:12,330 --> 05:24:14,670
Again, I think many of us have made our decisions.

3766
05:24:14,970 --> 05:24:18,950
But I also think, given the financial implications of this legislation,

3767
05:24:19,210 --> 05:24:23,150
it would be important to have this legislation vetted by the Finance Committee.

3768
05:24:23,350 --> 05:24:25,070
And I'm surprised that did not happen.

3769
05:24:25,430 --> 05:24:32,310
And lastly, there are 108 sworn men and women that serve in the current Atlanta Detention Center.

3770
05:24:32,310 --> 05:24:37,870
I have not seen anything in terms of what the plans are for them and their careers given

3771
05:24:37,870 --> 05:24:39,970
the years that they've dedicated to the city of Atlanta.

3772
05:24:40,110 --> 05:24:45,070
So I would also like, hope at least, that we would be able to answer many of the questions

3773
05:24:45,650 --> 05:24:52,510
that were raised here today in terms of how we address the existing staff that serve

3774
05:24:52,510 --> 05:24:57,530
in that facility given that the facility will be leased to my understanding to Fulton

3775
05:24:57,530 --> 05:24:57,930
County.

3776
05:24:57,930 --> 05:25:02,070
and also to speak to the financial implications.

3777
05:25:02,450 --> 05:25:03,670
And so for that reason again,

3778
05:25:03,790 --> 05:25:07,670
I rise to suggest for a work session

3779
05:25:08,030 --> 05:25:09,530
to work through some of these challenges.

3780
05:25:10,050 --> 05:25:12,110
And again, it is my hope at that time

3781
05:25:12,110 --> 05:25:14,890
some of the questions that Council Member Battiari

3782
05:25:14,890 --> 05:25:17,270
has raised or concerns rather

3783
05:25:17,810 --> 05:25:19,830
that we can address those at that time.

3784
05:25:22,880 --> 05:25:24,000
Thank you, Council Member Weitz.

3785
05:25:24,220 --> 05:25:24,780
Any other speakers?

3786
05:25:27,190 --> 05:25:27,870
Council Member Battiari?

3787
05:25:29,030 --> 05:25:31,150
And I'll try to be as quick as possible.

3788
05:25:31,150 --> 05:25:34,150
Well, one, I want to say there's been a lot of words like humane thrown around.

3789
05:25:34,270 --> 05:25:38,830
I want us to address the fact that there is no such thing as humanely caging a person.

3790
05:25:39,010 --> 05:25:40,310
So, yes, there are better conditions.

3791
05:25:40,930 --> 05:25:41,530
They are not humane.

3792
05:25:42,650 --> 05:25:48,070
Secondly, again, I second, Council Member Waits is what she has put forth.

3793
05:25:48,530 --> 05:25:52,950
I mean, there are, as I said before, no justifying data, all anecdotal.

3794
05:25:53,110 --> 05:25:53,710
I understand.

3795
05:25:53,950 --> 05:25:54,490
I understand.

3796
05:25:54,730 --> 05:25:57,310
I understand that Rice Street is abhorrent conditions.

3797
05:25:57,510 --> 05:25:58,090
I get that.

3798
05:25:58,090 --> 05:26:04,890
But to me, a shortcut is extending and giving more beds to what is already a crisis rather

3799
05:26:04,890 --> 05:26:07,750
than properly vetting and understanding why people are being incarcerated.

3800
05:26:07,950 --> 05:26:12,490
In the first place, there is a possibility that I don't see a need to rush.

3801
05:26:12,970 --> 05:26:14,330
Three months is not four years.

3802
05:26:14,450 --> 05:26:18,970
Taking three months, Georgia Justice Project has already promised three full-time employees

3803
05:26:19,510 --> 05:26:24,050
to address this and comb through the jail's logs to find out, to address the questions

3804
05:26:24,050 --> 05:26:26,370
that I have put forth and the concerns that have been brought forth.

3805
05:26:26,370 --> 05:26:29,350
And then my constituents in my district whom I represent have brought to me.

3806
05:26:29,890 --> 05:26:37,990
So to that point I echo a work session and also confused as to why this was not dual referred.

3807
05:26:38,390 --> 05:26:40,590
But I yield my time. Thank you.

3808
05:26:43,290 --> 05:26:44,670
Any other speakers?

3809
05:26:46,230 --> 05:26:50,950
We have a motion on the floor for approval from Councilman Revan to second my Councilman Menorwood.

3810
05:26:51,190 --> 05:26:51,790
Please prepare the vote.

3811
05:26:55,090 --> 05:26:55,770
The vote is out there.

3812
05:26:58,040 --> 05:26:58,760
The vote is closed.

3813
05:27:05,510 --> 05:27:09,070
5A is 1A. The item is favorable on substitute.

3814
05:27:11,990 --> 05:27:17,030
Next is item number 522R1425.

3815
05:27:18,150 --> 05:27:30,710
A resolution by Council Member Byron Amos authorizing the Mayor or his doesn't need to extend the term of FC-7522 inmate pharmacy services on behalf of the Department of Corrections was correct.

3816
05:27:30,710 --> 05:27:36,350
our Ex-Pharmacy Services Incorporated on a month-to-month basis effective August 11,

3817
05:27:36,770 --> 05:27:42,850
2022 and continuing on a monthly basis for a period not to exceed 12 months, in and

3818
05:27:42,850 --> 05:27:49,070
amount not to exceed $350,000 and zero cents. All calls shall be charged to and

3819
05:27:49,070 --> 05:27:53,470
paid from the accounts listed herein and for other purposes. There is a

3820
05:27:53,470 --> 05:27:57,930
request to file this paper. Yes, my understanding. Department of Law's request

3821
05:27:57,930 --> 05:28:02,610
to file the paper. I'll make that motion. Is there a second? Second by Councilmember Amos.

3822
05:28:02,990 --> 05:28:05,530
Please prepare the vote. The vote is open.

3823
05:28:11,070 --> 05:28:11,790
The vote is closed.

3824
05:28:14,450 --> 05:28:16,750
6 EAs, 0 Nays. That item is filed.

3825
05:28:17,690 --> 05:28:21,150
Moving on to item 7, 22 R, 4034.

3826
05:28:24,000 --> 05:28:27,240
A resolution by Councilmember Andrea L. Boone,

3827
05:28:27,540 --> 05:28:31,520
authorizing the re-employment of City of Atlanta Department of Corrections Employees,

3828
05:28:31,520 --> 05:28:38,100
Stephanie Scruggs, Revenue Collection Supervisor, under Section 3-505A of the Charter of the

3829
05:28:38,100 --> 05:28:39,880
City of Atlanta and for other purposes.

3830
05:28:43,650 --> 05:28:45,890
Motion to approve by Council Member Boone.

3831
05:28:46,050 --> 05:28:46,430
Is there a second?

3832
05:28:47,630 --> 05:28:48,850
Seconded by Council Member Boone.

3833
05:28:49,050 --> 05:28:49,670
Please prepare the vote.

3834
05:28:55,870 --> 05:28:56,430
The vote is open.

3835
05:28:59,430 --> 05:29:00,330
The vote is closed.

3836
05:29:02,030 --> 05:29:03,090
Six-eight-zero nays.

3837
05:29:03,230 --> 05:29:03,910
That item is favorable.

3838
05:29:04,870 --> 05:29:06,530
We're going to item number eight.

3839
05:29:07,650 --> 05:29:14,990
A resolution by Councilmembers Antonio Lewis, Jason H. Winston, Jason Dozier, and Liliana

3840
05:29:14,990 --> 05:29:20,270
Battiari encouraging youth entrepreneurship by requesting that the mayor or his designee

3841
05:29:20,270 --> 05:29:25,870
review existing regulations requiring any licensing, permitting, or payment of fees

3842
05:29:25,870 --> 05:29:31,710
for youth under the age of 14 and a half to legally operate a temporary vending

3843
05:29:31,710 --> 05:29:37,350
stand on private property to report findings and recommendations, removing burdensome requirements

3844
05:29:37,350 --> 05:29:42,190
to the City of Atlanta, to the City Council within 30 days and for other purposes.

3845
05:29:44,410 --> 05:29:45,030
Motion to approve.

3846
05:29:45,190 --> 05:29:45,570
Is there a second?

3847
05:29:46,210 --> 05:29:46,710
Seconded.

3848
05:29:46,890 --> 05:29:46,990
Seconded.

3849
05:29:47,050 --> 05:29:47,110
Second.

3850
05:29:47,110 --> 05:29:47,130
Second.

3851
05:29:47,230 --> 05:29:47,290
Second.

3852
05:29:47,290 --> 05:29:48,330
please refer the vote.

3853
05:29:51,870 --> 05:29:52,770
The vote is open.

3854
05:29:58,530 --> 05:29:59,110
Please vote.

3855
05:30:01,810 --> 05:30:02,650
Vote is closed.

3856
05:30:06,740 --> 05:30:09,500
5BAs, zero nays, that item is favorable.

3857
05:30:15,790 --> 05:30:19,430
Moving on to item 9, 22R4039.

3858
05:30:20,090 --> 05:30:35,390
A resolution by council members Antonio Lewis, Keisha, Sean Waits, Michael Julian Bond, Jason H. Winston, Jason Dozier, Andrea L. Boone, and Marcy Collier-Overstreet, requesting that during the 2023 session of the

3859
05:30:35,390 --> 05:30:40,730
General, Georgia General Assembly, the General Assembly that local governments including counties

3860
05:30:40,730 --> 05:30:46,910
and municipalities with the specific authority to utilize their police powers in order to

3861
05:30:46,910 --> 05:30:52,210
enact regulations of retail gas stations, service stations and convenience stores to

3862
05:30:52,210 --> 05:30:56,830
require installation of surveillance cameras and to require integration of cameras to

3863
05:30:56,830 --> 05:31:01,070
the local police departments, public safety program networks and for other purposes.

3864
05:31:02,190 --> 05:31:03,530
A commotion to approve.

3865
05:31:03,670 --> 05:31:04,190
Is there a second?

3866
05:31:04,910 --> 05:31:06,230
Second by Council Member Boone.

3867
05:31:08,440 --> 05:31:09,320
The vote is open.

3868
05:31:13,410 --> 05:31:14,330
The vote is closed.

3869
05:31:16,700 --> 05:31:17,700
5, 8, 0, nays.

3870
05:31:17,920 --> 05:31:18,600
Item is favorable.

3871
05:31:19,180 --> 05:31:21,960
Item number 10, 22R, 4043.

3872
05:31:22,700 --> 05:31:24,620
A resolution by Council Member Keisha,

3873
05:31:25,120 --> 05:31:27,300
Sean Waits, requiring the City of Atlanta

3874
05:31:27,300 --> 05:31:29,540
to commission an independent appraisal

3875
05:31:29,540 --> 05:31:31,440
of the Atlanta City Detention Center

3876
05:31:31,440 --> 05:31:33,800
to determine the true market value of the building

3877
05:31:33,800 --> 05:31:36,340
and property in order to make informed decisions

3878
05:31:36,340 --> 05:31:40,960
regarding the highest and best use of the asset and funds allocated to

3879
05:31:40,960 --> 05:31:45,640
operations at the site and to identify funding for the creation of a Center for

3880
05:31:45,640 --> 05:31:50,560
Equity as suggested in the final feasibility report of the reimagining

3881
05:31:50,560 --> 05:31:55,020
ACDC task force and for other purposes. Waits.

3882
05:31:57,430 --> 05:31:58,890
Motion approved by Councilmember

3883
05:31:58,890 --> 05:31:59,770
Waits. Is there a second?

3884
05:32:05,180 --> 05:32:09,540
Second by Councilmember Amos. Please refer to the vote.

3885
05:32:09,540 --> 05:32:10,400
The vote is open.

3886
05:32:14,920 --> 05:32:15,800
The vote is closed.

3887
05:32:23,710 --> 05:32:25,290
Three A's, three abstentions.

3888
05:32:26,750 --> 05:32:31,420
Autumn has failed for lack of four votes.

3889
05:32:34,100 --> 05:32:35,860
I will make a motion to, what is your pleasure?

3890
05:32:36,120 --> 05:32:38,140
First, Council Member Wates, I'll make a motion to hold.

3891
05:32:40,050 --> 05:32:41,490
I'd like to speak to the bill, sir.

3892
05:32:41,830 --> 05:32:42,430
Okay, go ahead.

3893
05:32:42,870 --> 05:32:43,070
I

3894
05:32:46,040 --> 05:32:52,080
think given the value of the asset that we're debating today,

3895
05:32:52,280 --> 05:32:56,320
I think it's worth the public's time to have a conversation surrounding

3896
05:32:56,320 --> 05:33:01,720
what the building is actually worth and to have a conversation surrounding its best use.

3897
05:33:02,840 --> 05:33:09,320
And so aside from Council Member Bunn's legislation, which I support the spirit and intent, I

3898
05:33:09,320 --> 05:33:13,920
think it's reckless and irresponsible to not have a conversation surrounding what the actual

3899
05:33:13,920 --> 05:33:20,080
commodity is worth with respect to value and its best use, which is what this particular

3900
05:33:20,080 --> 05:33:21,540
piece of legislation does.

3901
05:33:21,540 --> 05:33:26,820
because it doesn't have anything to do with policy or use of the building for an equity

3902
05:33:26,820 --> 05:33:29,640
center or anything of that nature, or leasing the space, if you will.

3903
05:33:30,040 --> 05:33:37,160
But I do believe that it is reasonable to make an assessment, or at least have determined,

3904
05:33:37,440 --> 05:33:42,200
what this actual piece of property is valued at today, given the market.

3905
05:33:42,820 --> 05:33:43,320
Thank you, sir.

3906
05:33:43,820 --> 05:33:44,760
Thank you, Mr. Waitson.

3907
05:33:44,840 --> 05:33:48,300
I was just reminded that it's automatically held since there was a lack of four votes.

3908
05:33:48,460 --> 05:33:48,800
Yes, sir.

3909
05:33:48,800 --> 05:33:54,080
Moves us to item number 1122R4044.

3910
05:33:54,680 --> 05:33:58,320
Mr. Chair, there is an amendment that will remove one of the sponsors.

3911
05:33:59,360 --> 05:34:00,040
Okay.

3912
05:34:00,460 --> 05:34:05,100
A resolution by a resolution by Council Member Keisha,

3913
05:34:05,480 --> 05:34:10,780
Sean Waite, authorizing the mayor or his doesn't need to repurpose the Atlanta City Detention Center

3914
05:34:10,780 --> 05:34:15,500
into a separate diversion and crisis support center to include mental health,

3915
05:34:15,500 --> 05:34:20,260
drug alcohol treatment services, space for nonprofit service providers,

3916
05:34:20,820 --> 05:34:24,660
space for a warrant clearing center, space for job training facilities,

3917
05:34:25,140 --> 05:34:29,540
low barrier sheltering, and all for transitional housing,

3918
05:34:29,760 --> 05:34:34,140
and to name the center, the John Robert Lewis Center for Equity and for Other Purposes.

3919
05:34:34,600 --> 05:34:35,320
Thank you.

3920
05:34:35,440 --> 05:34:41,180
And that amendment is to remove co-sponsor Antonio Brown or excuse me, Antonio Lewis.

3921
05:34:41,180 --> 05:34:44,520
I will make that motion to amend.

3922
05:34:44,740 --> 05:34:45,280
Is there a second?

3923
05:34:46,180 --> 05:34:46,440
Second.

3924
05:34:46,620 --> 05:34:47,940
Second by Council Member Norwood.

3925
05:34:50,490 --> 05:34:50,950
Please move the vote.

3926
05:34:50,950 --> 05:34:51,490
The vote is open.

3927
05:34:57,810 --> 05:34:58,570
The vote is closed.

3928
05:35:00,960 --> 05:35:01,820
Five ayes.

3929
05:35:02,540 --> 05:35:03,200
One nay.

3930
05:35:04,480 --> 05:35:05,520
It is amended.

3931
05:35:05,720 --> 05:35:07,720
And before us, Council Member Wates.

3932
05:35:12,480 --> 05:35:17,400
So this piece of legislation actually has a conversation surrounding what happens after

3933
05:35:17,400 --> 05:35:20,720
the lease agreement that's been approved here today.

3934
05:35:20,720 --> 05:35:26,160
And it's my belief that if there's any sincerity with respect to the administration,

3935
05:35:26,560 --> 05:35:30,820
then certainly we would have a discussion surrounding what happens next.

3936
05:35:31,220 --> 05:35:35,980
And I think to wait a period of four years to have that conversation

3937
05:35:35,980 --> 05:35:40,040
or any period of time, again, would not be in the best interest of the individuals

3938
05:35:40,040 --> 05:35:44,080
that we speak that we are interested in serving today.

3939
05:35:44,160 --> 05:35:49,260
And so for that reason, I ask for your favorable support to repurpose this facility

3940
05:35:50,180 --> 05:35:54,480
into the previous legislation that's been supported

3941
05:35:54,480 --> 05:35:55,820
by our previous administrations,

3942
05:35:55,860 --> 05:35:58,140
including the mayor of the city

3943
05:35:58,140 --> 05:35:59,860
who previously held the post-3 seats.

3944
05:35:59,980 --> 05:36:02,160
So for that reason, I ask for your favorable support.

3945
05:36:02,520 --> 05:36:02,860
Thank you.

3946
05:36:04,870 --> 05:36:05,310
All right.

3947
05:36:05,690 --> 05:36:06,350
Any other comments?

3948
05:36:06,950 --> 05:36:08,490
Do you want to come back to Council Member Bonn?

3949
05:36:12,920 --> 05:36:14,540
Well, I'm just going to speak brief.

3950
05:36:14,720 --> 05:36:17,220
I've mentioned this in my comments earlier today,

3951
05:36:17,740 --> 05:36:20,360
but the previous administration has already studied

3952
05:36:20,940 --> 05:36:22,440
what would happen with this building.

3953
05:36:22,440 --> 05:36:30,740
They estimated in January of 2018 that it would take $120 million to convert this building

3954
05:36:30,740 --> 05:36:31,900
into anything else.

3955
05:36:32,720 --> 05:36:38,220
They set up citizens on a mission to fail with a steady group six months later.

3956
05:36:39,040 --> 05:36:44,100
Those citizens came back with four recommendations to turn this building into anything else.

3957
05:36:44,100 --> 05:36:53,120
each one ever increasingly back up to $120 million for any type of revisions.

3958
05:36:53,580 --> 05:36:57,320
It was built to be a jail. It's a jail.

3959
05:36:58,220 --> 05:37:02,240
And I understand the symbolism of trying to convert it.

3960
05:37:02,320 --> 05:37:07,060
That idea came from New York when they had the hurricane in New York

3961
05:37:07,060 --> 05:37:09,940
and it damaged the women's prison in New York.

3962
05:37:09,940 --> 05:37:18,540
But that building was deemed, you couldn't put human beings in that building anymore because of the damage.

3963
05:37:19,440 --> 05:37:25,840
But then New York turned that building into something else, some type of service center.

3964
05:37:26,260 --> 05:37:29,160
But New York still turned around and built four more jails.

3965
05:37:30,840 --> 05:37:38,980
As long as the Atlanta Police Department exists, we're going to have a need for a jail.

3966
05:37:39,740 --> 05:37:49,360
The re-demonstration did a study on and calculated how many arrests are made by a standing police force.

3967
05:37:49,560 --> 05:37:52,020
And at that time it was 1,500 officers.

3968
05:37:52,940 --> 05:37:59,140
This current mayor's goal is to bring on 300, 250 by the end of the year.

3969
05:38:00,260 --> 05:38:08,160
Experts have said within the last 20 years that we really need over 2,300 police officers.

3970
05:38:08,160 --> 05:38:15,720
If we don't at least avail ourselves of some of the space that we already own,

3971
05:38:16,880 --> 05:38:21,020
if we get to the goal of hiring 2,000 police officers again,

3972
05:38:22,240 --> 05:38:31,780
we'll go from owning our own facility and saving money to having to pay someone else to hold our arrestees.

3973
05:38:31,780 --> 05:38:46,420
And you don't want a sheriff of a county being responsible to hold all those detainees because a sheriff could refuse to take our municipal arrestees.

3974
05:38:46,860 --> 05:38:55,640
And if they refuse to take our municipal arrestees, that means that every person who gets arrested in our jurisdiction gets a state charge.

3975
05:38:57,800 --> 05:39:02,680
So, I'm not going to vote against you, I'm going to abstain, you know, but I just want

3976
05:39:02,680 --> 05:39:08,160
to put it out there that when people think that Atlanta could quote-unquote go out of

3977
05:39:08,160 --> 05:39:12,540
the jail business, I mean, unless you're going to go out of the police business, you

3978
05:39:12,540 --> 05:39:14,060
know, that's just never going to happen.

3979
05:39:14,900 --> 05:39:21,160
And you know, you have a jail, you know, in much the same logic that you have a fire

3980
05:39:21,160 --> 05:39:21,600
station.

3981
05:39:22,180 --> 05:39:27,700
You know, we have the lowest fire rate in the history of the city of Atlanta.

3982
05:39:28,260 --> 05:39:32,640
You have fire stations just in case, you know, there's a fire or emergency.

3983
05:39:33,560 --> 05:39:35,380
The jail follows the same logic.

3984
05:39:35,960 --> 05:39:38,900
You have a place to detain people who break the law.

3985
05:39:39,520 --> 05:39:43,300
It goes subject to the jurisdiction of the court just in case.

3986
05:39:43,920 --> 05:39:45,500
And, you know, you're going to have police.

3987
05:39:45,640 --> 05:39:46,460
They're going to arrest people.

3988
05:39:47,400 --> 05:39:50,000
You know, you can always have to have some place to put them.

3989
05:39:51,540 --> 05:39:57,000
Council Member Bond, any others before we go back to Council Member Wates?

3990
05:39:58,380 --> 05:40:04,240
I will speak, and then we'll get to Council Member Wates, but I supported

3991
05:40:06,320 --> 05:40:08,300
the intent of the legislation,

3992
05:40:08,380 --> 05:40:16,720
but I don't support much to the Council Member Bond's points converting a jail into this type of facility.

3993
05:40:17,720 --> 05:40:22,680
We're doing that somewhere right now with, you know, the Justice Policy Board was mentioned

3994
05:40:22,680 --> 05:40:27,200
earlier, which I co-chair with Judge McBurney, the Portland County Superior Court.

3995
05:40:28,300 --> 05:40:33,380
But it's my belief that, you know, as a council member, Bond stated, the city is always

3996
05:40:33,380 --> 05:40:34,740
going to need a jail.

3997
05:40:35,600 --> 05:40:42,920
And number two, our former planning commissioner, Keen, evaluated this facility because what

3998
05:40:42,920 --> 05:40:46,840
What could it be repurposed for, and the conclusion was it could be a jail.

3999
05:40:49,860 --> 05:40:55,840
Councilmember Weitz and I visited with the Justice Policy Board, Tucson, and they built

4000
05:40:55,840 --> 05:40:59,700
an awesome facility, which I would love to have here in Atlanta, for these services,

4001
05:40:59,880 --> 05:41:05,560
but they issued a bond for that, so many hundreds of millions of dollars of a facility,

4002
05:41:06,240 --> 05:41:11,220
and that's what these services and these people that need those services deserve

4003
05:41:11,220 --> 05:41:16,260
is their own facility that's built specifically for them because most of the

4004
05:41:16,260 --> 05:41:22,000
people that this type institution would serve as people that have been in this

4005
05:41:22,000 --> 05:41:26,600
jail before and I just feel that that's you know there's some stigma tied to

4006
05:41:26,600 --> 05:41:29,500
that when they're going back into the facility that jailed them and they're

4007
05:41:29,500 --> 05:41:34,760
supposed to get you know helpful services there so definitely support

4008
05:41:34,760 --> 05:41:38,640
again the chair of the Justice Policy Board has been the chair of this

4009
05:41:38,640 --> 05:41:43,380
committee and support these services and expanding those services, but I want to move in a direction

4010
05:41:43,820 --> 05:41:51,440
of working with Fulton County to look into building our own facility dedicated to these

4011
05:41:51,440 --> 05:41:53,700
very special and needed services.

4012
05:41:54,640 --> 05:41:54,880
Thank you.

4013
05:41:55,280 --> 05:41:56,200
Councilmember Waitz, back to you.

4014
05:41:59,530 --> 05:42:00,650
Thank you again, Mr. Chair.

4015
05:42:00,790 --> 05:42:05,050
Final thought, I think that the whole purpose of the Equity Center is to address some

4016
05:42:05,050 --> 05:42:08,350
of the needs that create and lead to violent crime.

4017
05:42:08,350 --> 05:42:12,070
And I think this particular proposal will lead in that direction.

4018
05:42:12,230 --> 05:42:13,990
And finally, I want to speak to the funding piece.

4019
05:42:14,530 --> 05:42:19,910
We've had a number of businesses and corporations that have signed on that agree that locking

4020
05:42:19,910 --> 05:42:23,430
up and detaining people clearly is not working, nor is it effective.

4021
05:42:24,070 --> 05:42:26,970
And lastly, Mr. Chair, I want to call a point of order.

4022
05:42:27,230 --> 05:42:32,930
I remember very early on trying to abstain from several pieces of legislation to which

4023
05:42:32,930 --> 05:42:34,850
I was advised that that was not possible.

4024
05:42:34,850 --> 05:42:39,990
So, can you explain to me the process for abstaining with respect to a vote?

4025
05:42:40,650 --> 05:42:45,290
In committee, you can abstain for anything you want to and not have to give a reason for it.

4026
05:42:45,310 --> 05:42:53,470
If you abstain in full counsel, you have to have either a personal tie or a financial tie to the legislation

4027
05:42:53,470 --> 05:42:55,830
to be able to abstain and you have to fill out a form for that.

4028
05:42:55,930 --> 05:43:00,050
But in committee, you can abstain for anything for any reason and not state that reason.

4029
05:43:00,350 --> 05:43:00,910
Thank you, sir.

4030
05:43:02,290 --> 05:43:04,710
Any other questions or comments, Council Member Amos?

4031
05:43:05,670 --> 05:43:10,470
I just want to speak to the legislation and be clear so there's no mismessages.

4032
05:43:10,730 --> 05:43:19,890
I believe the City of Atlanta needed jail, but I also believe in this legislation and this legislation, I believe, starts a conversation,

4033
05:43:20,430 --> 05:43:22,950
a conversation that we can attempt to find money.

4034
05:43:23,030 --> 05:43:26,290
I know it'll be massive, but it at least starts a conversation.

4035
05:43:26,290 --> 05:43:32,050
So I will be supporting this, but I want to be clear, and I even asked the sponsor of this legislation.

4036
05:43:32,770 --> 05:43:42,130
At the end of the day, will there still be some type of detention space in this building that we're envisioning for these services?

4037
05:43:42,590 --> 05:43:44,390
So I just want to put that on the record.

4038
05:43:44,570 --> 05:43:48,410
So I see different votes taking place, so my constituents will be clear where I stand.

4039
05:43:49,070 --> 05:43:49,850
So I just want to say that.

4040
05:43:50,410 --> 05:43:51,630
Thank you, Council Member Ramis.

4041
05:43:52,050 --> 05:43:52,730
Council Member Baum.

4042
05:43:52,730 --> 05:44:00,280
And just to follow up on the point that you made and the earlier legislation about that

4043
05:44:00,280 --> 05:44:05,360
was held about the value of the building, you know, this building is used as collateral

4044
05:44:05,360 --> 05:44:06,580
for bond issuance.

4045
05:44:07,440 --> 05:44:12,220
It was used as collateral to build the police and fire headquarters.

4046
05:44:12,840 --> 05:44:21,460
So there is a path to flow to bond to build a facility to have these services.

4047
05:44:21,460 --> 05:44:27,460
I've said from day one when the conversation came up to convert the jail to something else

4048
05:44:27,920 --> 05:44:29,640
that I support all those services.

4049
05:44:30,260 --> 05:44:31,740
I support that mission.

4050
05:44:32,320 --> 05:44:34,840
I just don't support it at the jail.

4051
05:44:35,780 --> 05:44:39,140
And so, I mean, there is a way to float a bond.

4052
05:44:39,300 --> 05:44:44,700
I think it's called, what is it, the public safety, there's a commission that we appoint

4053
05:44:44,700 --> 05:44:45,320
people to.

4054
05:44:45,320 --> 05:44:54,840
is an authority that oversees and issues the bonds that built the Atlanta, the fire and

4055
05:44:54,840 --> 05:44:55,580
police headquarters.

4056
05:44:55,580 --> 05:44:59,180
And I think they're going to be a part of the bond issuance for the

4057
05:45:00,000 --> 05:45:05,500
The training center down on Key Road. So there is a path to build a facility through a public

4058
05:45:05,500 --> 05:45:11,900
bond using those buildings, this building in particular, as collateral. And of course you'd

4059
05:45:11,900 --> 05:45:15,980
have to know the value of it to use it as collateral.

4060
05:45:17,520 --> 05:45:18,960
All right, any other questions or comments?

4061
05:45:22,530 --> 05:45:24,310
All right, we have a motion to approve on

4062
05:45:24,310 --> 05:45:29,900
the floor made by councilmember Boates and I believe it was seconded by councilmember

4063
05:45:29,900 --> 05:45:31,760
Amos. Is that correct Council Member Amos?

4064
05:45:36,140 --> 05:45:38,960
Please refer the vote. The vote is open.

4065
05:45:47,360 --> 05:45:47,960
The vote is closed.

4066
05:45:51,540 --> 05:45:56,580
Motion is not carried. Two yeas, one nay, three abstentions. That item will be held automatically

4067
05:45:56,580 --> 05:45:57,020
in committee.

4068
05:46:00,610 --> 05:46:04,590
Next is 22R4045, item number 12.

4069
05:46:09,280 --> 05:46:12,180
A resolution by Council Member Dustin Hillis

4070
05:46:12,180 --> 05:46:18,940
amending resolution 21R3869 adopted by the Atlanta City Council on October 4th, 2021,

4071
05:46:19,560 --> 05:46:25,000
establishing the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center Community Stakeholder Advisory Committee

4072
05:46:25,000 --> 05:46:31,280
to amend the manner in which members may be appointed to the committee to allow for future appointees to be submitted

4073
05:46:31,280 --> 05:46:36,820
in the form of a communication and confirmed by the Atlanta City Council and for other purposes.

4074
05:46:37,620 --> 05:46:44,200
Thank you, colleagues. This is just a paper to make it easier to appoint members of this committee by doing it

4075
05:46:44,200 --> 05:46:46,600
as a communication sort of an ordinance,

4076
05:46:47,160 --> 05:46:48,280
so I'll make a motion to approve.

4077
05:46:49,460 --> 05:46:51,500
Second by Council Member Norwood, please prepare the vote.

4078
05:46:52,660 --> 05:46:53,380
The vote is open.

4079
05:46:59,600 --> 05:47:00,260
The vote is closed.

4080
05:47:01,100 --> 05:47:01,820
The A-0 nays.

4081
05:47:01,940 --> 05:47:02,680
That item is favorable.

4082
05:47:04,420 --> 05:47:08,760
Moving on to item 1322R4148.

4083
05:47:09,500 --> 05:47:12,120
A resolution by Public Safety and Legal Administration

4084
05:47:12,120 --> 05:47:14,960
Committee authorizing the mayor or his designee

4085
05:47:14,960 --> 05:47:16,360
on behalf of the city of Atlanta

4086
05:47:16,360 --> 05:47:24,800
to enter into an agreement for IFB S120215 on-call post-certified officers with

4087
05:47:24,800 --> 05:47:30,120
Cloverhurst, Aaron, JV, and Metropolitan Security Associates on behalf of the

4088
05:47:30,120 --> 05:47:35,100
Department of Parks and Recreation in an amount not to exceed $750,000 and

4089
05:47:35,100 --> 05:47:37,340
zero cents annually and for other purposes.

4090
05:47:37,740 --> 05:47:41,800
A motion to approve. Is there a second? Seconded by Councilmember Boone. Please

4091
05:47:42,300 --> 05:47:42,740
Mr.

4092
05:47:58,570 --> 05:48:00,650
Chair, we need to make a motion to hold this paper.

4093
05:48:01,330 --> 05:48:04,510
There is supposed to be an IPRO attached to it.

4094
05:48:06,010 --> 05:48:07,050
Okay. I'll

4095
05:48:11,180 --> 05:48:12,100
make a motion to hold there.

4096
05:48:13,860 --> 05:48:14,300
Second.

4097
05:48:16,750 --> 05:48:18,170
Second by Council Member Bonn.

4098
05:48:18,910 --> 05:48:20,070
Please refer to the vote to hold.

4099
05:48:26,920 --> 05:48:27,520
The vote is open.

4100
05:48:29,740 --> 05:48:30,420
The vote is closed.

4101
05:48:32,160 --> 05:48:33,960
The A0 and A0 is held.

4102
05:48:35,100 --> 05:48:38,300
We will take items 14 through 18

4103
05:48:38,300 --> 05:48:42,720
And item number 20 has a block as their settlements.

4104
05:48:43,580 --> 05:48:54,840
A resolution by Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee authorizing the settlement of all claims against a defendant city of Atlanta in the case of Eddie Hewley versus city of Atlanta.

4105
05:48:54,840 --> 05:48:59,820
Civil Action File Number 2021-CV348903,

4106
05:49:00,140 --> 05:49:02,720
pending in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia

4107
05:49:02,720 --> 05:49:06,820
in the amount of $22,500 and zero cents,

4108
05:49:07,400 --> 05:49:09,720
authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to

4109
05:49:09,720 --> 05:49:11,900
and paid from the accounts listed herein,

4110
05:49:12,420 --> 05:49:14,080
authorizing the Chief Financial Officer

4111
05:49:14,080 --> 05:49:15,580
to distribute the settlement amount

4112
05:49:15,580 --> 05:49:16,700
and for other purposes.

4113
05:49:17,800 --> 05:49:19,200
A resolution by Public Safety

4114
05:49:19,200 --> 05:49:20,920
and Legal Administration Committee,

4115
05:49:21,300 --> 05:49:23,240
authorizing the settlement of all claims

4116
05:49:23,240 --> 05:49:28,820
against Defendant in the case of Sandra Lanier and James Lanier versus City of Atlanta Civil

4117
05:49:28,820 --> 05:49:35,680
Action File Number 19EV001407 pending in the State of the State Court of Fulton County

4118
05:49:35,680 --> 05:49:40,840
of Georgia in the amount of $50,000 and zero cents, authorizing the settlement amount

4119
05:49:40,840 --> 05:49:45,100
to be charged to and paid from the council listed here in, authorizing the Chief Financial

4120
05:49:45,100 --> 05:49:48,440
Officer to distribute the settlement amount and for other purposes.

4121
05:49:48,440 --> 05:49:49,420
A

4122
05:49:52,400 --> 05:50:17,260
resolution by Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee authorizing the settlement of all claims against defendant in the case of Bernita Miller and Bianca Pache versus City of Atlanta City action file number 16EV002636 pending in the State Court of Fulton County of Georgia and the amount of $245,000 and zero cents, authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid from the

4123
05:50:17,260 --> 05:50:21,620
councillor sit here in, authorizing the chief financial officer to distribute the settlement

4124
05:50:21,620 --> 05:50:23,300
amount and for other purposes.

4125
05:50:24,340 --> 05:50:29,460
A resolution by Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee, authorizing the settlement of all

4126
05:50:29,460 --> 05:50:34,680
claims against defendants in the case of Carlton Scott v. City of Atlanta, civil action

4127
05:50:34,680 --> 05:50:41,060
file number 22 MS161848, pending in the Magistrate Court of Fulton County of Georgia

4128
05:50:41,060 --> 05:50:46,000
in the amount of $4,000 and zero cents, authorizing the settlement amount to be

4129
05:50:46,000 --> 05:50:49,480
charged to and paid from the count numbers listed herein,

4130
05:50:49,840 --> 05:50:51,660
authorizing the chief financial officer

4131
05:50:51,660 --> 05:50:53,300
to distribute the settlement amount

4132
05:50:53,300 --> 05:50:54,400
and for other purposes.

4133
05:50:55,560 --> 05:50:57,040
A resolution by Public Safety

4134
05:50:57,040 --> 05:50:58,540
and Legal Administration Committee,

4135
05:50:58,980 --> 05:51:00,860
authorizing the settlement of all claims

4136
05:51:00,860 --> 05:51:02,500
against defendant City of Atlanta

4137
05:51:02,500 --> 05:51:05,200
in the case of John Vera versus City of Atlanta,

4138
05:51:05,540 --> 05:51:09,320
civil action file number 19EV005750,

4139
05:51:09,840 --> 05:51:11,860
pending in the state court of Fulton County, Georgia

4140
05:51:11,860 --> 05:51:15,400
in the amount of $9,500 and zero cents.

4141
05:51:15,400 --> 05:51:20,760
authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid from the count

4142
05:51:20,760 --> 05:51:24,100
numbers listed herein, the chief financial officer to distribute the

4143
05:51:24,100 --> 05:51:25,840
settlement amount and for other purposes.

4144
05:51:28,230 --> 05:51:30,030
A resolution by Public Safety and

4145
05:51:30,030 --> 05:51:33,170
Legal Administration Committee authorizing the settlement of all claims

4146
05:51:33,170 --> 05:51:37,290
against the defendants in the case of Lewis Osborne versus City of Atlanta,

4147
05:51:37,790 --> 05:51:43,210
civil action file number 20EV002111, Fulton State Court in the

4148
05:51:43,210 --> 05:51:48,810
amount of $350,000, authorizing that amount to be paid from the count numbers listed here

4149
05:51:48,810 --> 05:51:52,730
in, authorizing the chief financial officer to distribute the total settlement amount,

4150
05:51:52,870 --> 05:51:53,990
and for other purposes.

4151
05:51:55,130 --> 05:51:56,630
Make a motion to approve those items.

4152
05:51:56,850 --> 05:51:57,290
Is there a second?

4153
05:51:58,490 --> 05:51:58,890
Second.

4154
05:51:58,990 --> 05:51:59,910
Second by Council Member Norwood.

4155
05:52:00,350 --> 05:52:00,950
Is this part of the vote?

4156
05:52:04,250 --> 05:52:04,910
The vote is open.

4157
05:52:11,110 --> 05:52:11,830
The vote is closed.

4158
05:52:14,710 --> 05:52:14,910
Okay.

4159
05:52:15,110 --> 05:52:15,470
Zero nades.

4160
05:52:15,630 --> 05:52:16,430
Those items are favorable.

4161
05:52:17,490 --> 05:52:22,390
That brings us to item 19, which is $22R4154 if you go and read that in.

4162
05:52:22,390 --> 05:52:22,910
A

4163
05:52:29,560 --> 05:52:35,120
resolution by Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee authorizing the settlement of FMLA

4164
05:52:35,120 --> 05:52:39,760
claims against the city of Atlanta in the case of Tamara Baines versus the city of Atlanta,

4165
05:52:40,100 --> 05:52:43,520
Georgia, and Robin Shahar in her individual capacity.

4166
05:52:43,860 --> 05:52:51,700
Civil action file number 119-CV00279, United States District Court, Northern District of

4167
05:52:51,700 --> 05:52:58,580
Georgia, and the amount of $65,000 authorizing said amount to be paid to and from up

4168
05:52:58,580 --> 05:53:03,140
the account numbers listed herein, authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to distribute the total

4169
05:53:03,140 --> 05:53:04,920
settlement amount and for other purposes.

4170
05:53:05,780 --> 05:53:09,360
The Department of Law has requested an executive session on this.

4171
05:53:09,740 --> 05:53:13,540
So, Ms. Robinson, number six, and if you could state the reason for an executive session.

4172
05:53:14,220 --> 05:53:21,860
Yes, the executive session is for the purpose of discussing pending litigation.

4173
05:53:23,040 --> 05:53:23,640
Thank you.

4174
05:53:23,640 --> 05:53:28,320
I'll make a motion to enter into executive session to discuss pending litigation.

4175
05:53:28,660 --> 05:53:29,300
Is there a second?

4176
05:53:30,400 --> 05:53:32,620
Second by Council Member Boone, please prepare the vote.

4177
05:53:35,010 --> 05:53:35,670
The vote is open.

4178
05:53:40,200 --> 05:53:40,880
The vote is closed.

4179
05:53:41,840 --> 05:53:46,060
680 nays, we will enter into executive session in committee room 2.

4180
05:53:46,880 --> 05:53:47,800
Is that okay? Good.

4181
05:53:49,460 --> 05:53:53,940
And given the late hour, we have coordinated dinners, box dinners,

4182
05:53:54,120 --> 05:53:57,540
so feel free to grab some food on your way to executive session.

4183
05:53:57,540 --> 05:53:58,360
Are

4184
05:54:20,310 --> 05:54:20,870
y'all finished?

4185
05:54:22,070 --> 05:54:23,610
Ah, I'm not.

4186
06:12:21,520 --> 06:12:26,320
Make a motion to come out of executive session. Is there a second? Second by Councilmember Norwood,

4187
06:12:26,400 --> 06:12:27,040
please write the vote.

4188
06:12:30,670 --> 06:12:31,290
The vote is open.

4189
06:12:43,680 --> 06:12:44,320
The vote is closed.

4190
06:12:45,640 --> 06:12:52,020
5, b, a, 0, nays. That item is approved. Colleagues, we're going to go back to the park security

4191
06:12:52,020 --> 06:12:52,540
paper.

4192
06:12:55,080 --> 06:12:59,200
You can remind me what item number that is. Item number 13.

4193
06:12:59,700 --> 06:13:05,220
Okay. I'm going to make a motion to reconsider that as we have received the IPRO report,

4194
06:13:05,220 --> 06:13:10,900
so we're going to consider it, amend, attach the I-PRO, and go from there.

4195
06:13:11,680 --> 06:13:15,220
So I'll make a motion to reconsider. Is there a second? Second by Council Member Norwood.

4196
06:13:15,220 --> 06:13:17,980
Please fire the vote. The vote is open.

4197
06:13:24,810 --> 06:13:25,430
The vote is closed.

4198
06:13:36,090 --> 06:13:45,610
Five ayes, zero nays. Item is reconsidered. And before us, I will make a motion to amend to attach the I-PRO report.

4199
06:13:47,130 --> 06:13:47,530
Second.

4200
06:13:48,130 --> 06:13:48,530
Second.

4201
06:13:48,650 --> 06:13:49,050
Second.

4202
06:13:49,130 --> 06:13:50,130
Second by Councilmember Bonn.

4203
06:13:50,230 --> 06:13:50,970
Please prepare the vote.

4204
06:13:52,050 --> 06:13:52,930
The vote is open.

4205
06:14:01,350 --> 06:14:02,030
The vote is closed.

4206
06:14:03,950 --> 06:14:05,050
5-8-0-Naze.

4207
06:14:05,310 --> 06:14:07,010
Item is amended to attach the I-PRO.

4208
06:14:07,770 --> 06:14:09,690
I'll make a motion to approve as amended.

4209
06:14:10,550 --> 06:14:11,270
Is there a second?

4210
06:14:11,670 --> 06:14:11,890
Second.

4211
06:14:12,050 --> 06:14:13,370
Second by Councilmember Norwood.

4212
06:14:13,530 --> 06:14:14,230
Please prepare the vote.

4213
06:14:15,570 --> 06:14:16,450
The vote is open.

4214
06:14:22,210 --> 06:14:22,970
The vote is closed.

4215
06:14:23,490 --> 06:14:25,970
Mr. Chair, this will also be referred to CDHS.

4216
06:14:27,550 --> 06:14:30,990
Say that one more time. This will be referred to CDHS.

4217
06:14:31,430 --> 06:14:37,970
Okay, thank you, yes. Five Y's, zero nays at item is approved as amended.

4218
06:14:38,570 --> 06:14:41,510
Was it already referred to CDHS or do we need to make that motion?

4219
06:14:42,690 --> 06:14:43,990
It was already referred. Okay.

4220
06:14:45,650 --> 06:14:48,850
Well, colleagues, I believe that completes their legislative agenda.

4221
06:14:52,010 --> 06:14:54,930
Oh, I thought we... Item number 19.

4222
06:14:54,930 --> 06:14:56,990
Okay, I thought we had already, never mind.

4223
06:14:56,990 --> 06:14:59,870
I still have to approve.

4224
06:15:00,000 --> 06:15:07,920
Move item number 19, which we had the executive session on 22R4154. Just go ahead and read that

4225
06:15:07,920 --> 06:15:09,080
back in for the record, please.

4226
06:15:09,420 --> 06:15:14,660
A resolution by public safety and legal administration committee authorizing the settlement of FMLA

4227
06:15:14,660 --> 06:15:19,420
claims against the city of Atlanta. In the case of Tamara Baines versus city of Atlanta,

4228
06:15:19,640 --> 06:15:28,140
Georgia, and Robin Shahar in her individual capacity, civil action file number 119CV00279,

4229
06:15:28,140 --> 06:15:32,200
United States District Court Northern District of Georgia in the amount of

4230
06:15:32,200 --> 06:15:37,900
$65,000 authorizing set amount to be paid from the account numbers listed herein

4231
06:15:37,900 --> 06:15:41,360
authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to distribute the total settlement

4232
06:15:41,360 --> 06:15:46,580
amount and for other purposes. Make a motion to approve, zero second. Second my

4233
06:15:46,580 --> 06:15:50,320
Councilmember Boone, please refer to the vote. The vote is open.

4234
06:15:54,990 --> 06:15:55,370
The vote is

4235
06:15:55,370 --> 06:16:01,850
closed. 580 nays, that item is favorable. Now I've carefully looked

4236
06:16:01,850 --> 06:16:06,190
over my agenda and I believe that now completes our legislative items. Anyone

4237
06:16:06,190 --> 06:16:09,550
with any general comments? Councilmember Bond.

4238
06:16:11,830 --> 06:16:14,570
Just one announcement. The Hello

4239
06:16:14,570 --> 06:16:20,470
Fresh Grab and Go this week will take place August the 10th at 3 p.m. at the

4240
06:16:20,470 --> 06:16:25,790
Harriet G. Darnell Senior Center in West Atlanta at 677

4241
06:16:25,790 --> 06:16:31,310
Fairburn Road in partnership with us will be Commissioner Natalie Hall and

4242
06:16:31,310 --> 06:16:32,710
Sheriff at LeBotte.

4243
06:16:35,510 --> 06:16:39,910
Yeah, I have a digital flyer I can send it to you. Yeah, I'll send it to you.

4244
06:16:40,330 --> 06:16:46,370
So it's no prerequisite to get the help. See you there on 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

4245
06:16:47,330 --> 06:16:54,110
Thank you, Council Member Bonn. Well that completes our committee meeting. We are adjourned by unanimous consent of members present.