1 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:44,950 Mic check. Mic check. 2 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,079 Hello. Welcome to our uh Tuesday evening 3 00:00:48,079 --> 00:00:49,760 special council meeting on youth gun 4 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:51,680 violence. We're going to kick things off 5 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:52,960 as we always do with the pledge of 6 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,039 allegiance. And uh we are grateful to 7 00:00:55,039 --> 00:00:57,920 have uh Lieutenant St. Laurent here who 8 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:15,750 will lead us in the pledge. 9 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:22,230 and justice for all. 10 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:23,840 » Thank you very much, Lieutenant. I 11 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,880 appreciate it. Uh, okay. Thank you all 12 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,119 for coming. Uh, here's a quick rundown 13 00:01:29,119 --> 00:01:31,119 and then we'll get started. So, we are 14 00:01:31,119 --> 00:01:33,759 going to hear from, uh, presenters. They 15 00:01:33,759 --> 00:01:36,320 are Lewon Police Chief uh Carly Connley, 16 00:01:36,320 --> 00:01:38,479 Andrew Scoggin County District Attorney 17 00:01:38,479 --> 00:01:40,880 Neil Mlan, Lewon High School 18 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:42,640 Superintendent Jake Langless, New 19 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:44,320 Beginnings Executive Director Chris 20 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:47,280 Bicknell, Duncan Pierre, and Christine 21 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,439 Thibo from uh the Department of 22 00:01:49,439 --> 00:01:51,759 Corrections. So, we will hear from each 23 00:01:51,759 --> 00:01:53,759 uh presenter. the chief, as you can see, 24 00:01:53,759 --> 00:01:56,399 uh will go first and then the council 25 00:01:56,399 --> 00:01:58,240 will have time for questions. Uh and 26 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,159 then we will uh work through the 27 00:02:00,159 --> 00:02:03,200 presenters and then uh I'll give uh some 28 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,520 time for the council to to weigh in with 29 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:07,439 their with their thoughts and then we 30 00:02:07,439 --> 00:02:09,520 will head to uh public comment in an 31 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,160 orderly fashion. If we can keep uh 32 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,480 chatter in the in the hall to a minimum, 33 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,000 if you need to talk, please text 34 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,160 yourselves or uh or head out to the 35 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,400 lobby. And this is also being broadcast 36 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,560 online. Uh if you miss any part of it, 37 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,280 uh you'll be able to watch it later. Uh 38 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:31,430 thank you all and uh Chief, off to you. 39 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,599 » Thank you for having me. Uh I I want to 40 00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:35,040 just start by saying thank you to 41 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,200 everybody for uh taking the time to come 42 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,200 out here this evening and and talk about 43 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:40,959 this and and hear about this. It's it's 44 00:02:40,959 --> 00:02:43,599 a pretty pretty important topic. Um so 45 00:02:43,599 --> 00:02:45,280 again, I want to say thank you for 46 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,280 taking the time out of out of your 47 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,000 summer evening to come hear about this. 48 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,959 Um, so basically what I'm going to do is 49 00:02:52,959 --> 00:02:54,239 I'm I'm just going to speak a little 50 00:02:54,239 --> 00:02:56,239 bit. I have I have a uh slideshow and 51 00:02:56,239 --> 00:02:58,239 I'm just going to go over some of the 52 00:02:58,239 --> 00:03:00,800 issues that we're seeing um what I would 53 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,120 call, you know, the boots on the ground 54 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,519 level um as far as what law enforcement 55 00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:12,949 is seeing. Um 56 00:03:12,959 --> 00:03:15,200 so the first slide you're you're going 57 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,000 to see here is um just our shooting 58 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,840 statistics. Um, we've had in 2026, we've 59 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,599 had 19 shootings. And in this slide, 60 00:03:25,599 --> 00:03:27,040 what we're looking to just show you is 61 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,200 sort of the comparison. Um, as far as 62 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,760 last year, it's actually the same as 63 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,640 last year. Um, we break it down by 64 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:37,840 month, and you can see that, um, in 65 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,519 April of this year, we really had a a 66 00:03:41,519 --> 00:03:43,280 quite a bit of an increase in our 67 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:49,670 shootings. 68 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,120 This next slide talks about um the adult 69 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,120 versus juvenile involvement in our 70 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,200 shootings. Um I I think we've been 71 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:03,200 pretty open about that. Um we've really seen a quite quite a rise in 72 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,959 shootings um involving juveniles. So in 73 00:04:06,959 --> 00:04:09,920 2026, we have had seven shootings that 74 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,560 have involved adults. Um and then we've 75 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:19,189 had 12 that have involved juveniles. 76 00:04:19,199 --> 00:04:22,320 some of the 2026 shooting statistics for 77 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,800 the PD. So, this is this is what we look 78 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,639 at when we're looking at um what 79 00:04:26,639 --> 00:04:28,560 shootings were solving, our clearance 80 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:32,720 rates um along with uh gun seizures uh 81 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,160 at the police department. So thus far in 82 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:40,240 2026 uh we have solved 13 of the 19 83 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,680 shootings which equates to 68%. 84 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,759 Um and one thing of note for that 85 00:04:47,759 --> 00:04:49,680 one thing for note of that that I I 86 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,919 would I would touch on is that the 87 00:04:51,919 --> 00:04:54,320 national average clearance rate for 88 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,199 shootings uh is 31%. 89 00:04:57,199 --> 00:04:57,680 Uh 90 00:04:57,680 --> 00:04:59,600 >> we need to put in a full mode instead of 91 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,919 the slides instead of no. Hold on one 92 00:05:03,919 --> 00:05:08,310 sec. 93 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,909 I'll do the 94 00:05:11,919 --> 00:05:12,400 » one that's 95 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:13,680 >> we're trying to help here. 96 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:14,960 >> Okay. Thank you. 97 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,039 >> Full mode. Sorry, I'm leaving. 98 00:05:17,039 --> 00:05:25,110 >> Yep. 99 00:05:25,120 --> 00:06:51,830 >> Give us one second, please. 100 00:06:51,840 --> 00:06:53,520 Did we just stay on the screen that we 101 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:54,240 were on? 102 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,639 >> The display settings are at the bottom 103 00:06:56,639 --> 00:07:03,909 of the 104 00:07:03,919 --> 00:07:07,680 or they're at the top there. Yeah, it's 105 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:09,520 different on our screens because we're 106 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:10,880 streaming this week. So, 107 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:12,000 >> there we go. 108 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:13,759 >> Thank you. 109 00:07:13,759 --> 00:07:16,000 >> We made We made it. Thank you. Chief, 110 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:16,880 please continue. 111 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:21,589 >> Right. We'll start again. [gasps] 112 00:07:21,599 --> 00:07:25,280 » All right. So, um the slide we left off 113 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,919 on was uh the shooting clearances and 114 00:07:27,919 --> 00:07:29,360 gun seizures at the police department. 115 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,639 As I mentioned, um for 2026, we've 116 00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:35,440 solved or cleared uh 68% of our 117 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,280 shootings. Um, obviously we'd like to 118 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,120 solve all of them. That that's our goal. 119 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,160 Um, but, uh, as I mentioned, we're, you 120 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,000 know, double more than double the the 121 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,240 national average in that in that regard. 122 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:47,919 So, we've been very fortunate. Our staff 123 00:07:47,919 --> 00:07:49,759 has done a great job at at really 124 00:07:49,759 --> 00:07:51,199 investigating these and trying to bring 125 00:07:51,199 --> 00:07:54,319 them to closure. Um, out of those 126 00:07:54,319 --> 00:07:57,520 shootings, we've had eight adult arrests 127 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,240 and 19. So, you're looking at more than 128 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,840 double um, juvenile arrests. 129 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,720 In 2026, the Lewis Police Department has 130 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,960 seized uh 44 guns. 41 of those handguns 131 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:12,960 and then three rifles and shotguns. And 132 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:14,400 the one thing I'll mention about that is 133 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,879 when we talk about gun seizures, those 134 00:08:16,879 --> 00:08:19,599 are actual criminal cases where we seize 135 00:08:19,599 --> 00:08:23,360 guns. Um not not guns that we, you know, 136 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:25,680 have because of protection from abuse 137 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:27,440 orders or yellow flags or things like 138 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:32,310 that. These are true uh criminal cases. 139 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,680 So as I mentioned, as you saw in the 140 00:08:35,680 --> 00:08:38,959 slide, uh you know, the true increase uh 141 00:08:38,959 --> 00:08:41,839 that we noticed was uh in April, right, 142 00:08:41,839 --> 00:08:43,680 for shootings, we had nine shootings in 143 00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:47,680 April. Um so as a result, uh we respond 144 00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:50,320 our response to that um was to one of 145 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,000 the things we did is we increased foot 146 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,959 patrols in the city. um in the month of 147 00:08:54,959 --> 00:08:59,440 May and June alone, we did more than 50 148 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,080 foot patrols in the city of Lewon. Um 149 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,399 reallocated our patrol and specialized 150 00:09:04,399 --> 00:09:07,279 units. So we have a community resource 151 00:09:07,279 --> 00:09:10,160 team. We have a crime reduction unit. Um 152 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,640 so so we moved that around. We moved um 153 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:14,160 some of the you know detectives 154 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:15,920 divisions around and really focused on 155 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,080 specific areas, specific times of day, 156 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,480 things like that. Um also worked with 157 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,080 our federal partners that are in the 158 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:24,640 building. We've conducted saturation 159 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,600 details in the city. Um and then the 160 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,120 results of of that in May and June, um 161 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,040 we had 28 arrests, 21 juveniles, seven 162 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,160 adults. We seized 11 guns and five of 163 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,320 those were found to be stolen. And the 164 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:41,680 thing that I'll just point out here in 165 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:45,200 regards to the juveniles, uh five repeat 166 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,279 offenders in just just one month's time 167 00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:51,350 frame. 168 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,680 some of the resources and investigative 169 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:55,839 tools that that we use and that we work 170 00:09:55,839 --> 00:09:57,440 with as an agency. And obviously this 171 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,000 doesn't encompass all of them, but um 172 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,760 you know, one of one of the things that 173 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:03,760 we have at at our agency that we're the 174 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:05,760 only police department in the state that 175 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,880 has uh basically every federal partner 176 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,160 in our building. Um so a lot of police 177 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:13,839 departments in around the state have 178 00:10:13,839 --> 00:10:16,000 what they call task force officers. So 179 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,160 they assign those officers, patrol 180 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:21,440 officers or detectives um to work with 181 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,000 federal partners. So it could be DEA, 182 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,200 ATF, Homeland Security. Uh we do the 183 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,320 same. FBI is another one, but every one 184 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,240 of those individuals has an office space 185 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,440 at RPD. So that's a huge resource to us 186 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:36,880 because it makes a diff it's the 187 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:38,320 difference between walking down the hall 188 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:39,839 and knocking on someone's door and 189 00:10:39,839 --> 00:10:42,000 saying we have a case that we think 190 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,959 might be a good federal case versus 191 00:10:44,959 --> 00:10:46,959 calling them in Portland and trying to 192 00:10:46,959 --> 00:10:50,000 coordinate that way. Um the other thing 193 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,959 that that we we have been very fortunate 194 00:10:52,959 --> 00:10:56,160 um to have is our flock system. Um our 195 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,120 automatic license plate reader. uh this 196 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:00,959 year alone since we've had it, it's 197 00:11:00,959 --> 00:11:03,279 assisted in solving six shootings and 198 00:11:03,279 --> 00:11:05,519 recovered three guns. And that's just 199 00:11:05,519 --> 00:11:07,440 the shootings and guns. It's it's been 200 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,120 involved in in helping us with 201 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,600 kidnappings, domestic violence, uh you 202 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,399 name it. It's been a huge resource. 203 00:11:14,399 --> 00:11:16,079 And then one of the other things, we 204 00:11:16,079 --> 00:11:17,760 don't have this yet, but we're we're 205 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:19,680 pretty excited about getting it. Uh we 206 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:22,320 received this uh this was budgeted and 207 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,800 it's called the Skyio first responder 208 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,120 drone. Um, so we should be getting that 209 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,480 within the next few months. And what 210 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,040 this drone does is it has the ability to 211 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,560 connect to our dispatch system. So we 212 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:39,120 can set it up. So for example, if we say 213 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:40,560 we want this thing to respond to 214 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:42,320 shootings, we want this thing to respond 215 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,959 to assaults in progress, whatever we 216 00:11:44,959 --> 00:11:46,399 decide we want it to respond to 217 00:11:46,399 --> 00:11:49,440 automatically, it's GPS coordinated. 218 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,160 when dispatch gets that call, that drone 219 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,160 responds from our station is on scene 220 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,880 before an officer can get there. Um, so 221 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,680 that's that's a huge resource to us. It 222 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:01,839 also we you can set it to patrol problem 223 00:12:01,839 --> 00:12:04,160 areas. So if we're having an issue, for 224 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,639 example, I can think of one area uh Park 225 00:12:06,639 --> 00:12:08,639 Street recently has been an issue for 226 00:12:08,639 --> 00:12:14,880 us. Uh, we can we can set that drone to set up in that area at a certain time 227 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:16,560 of day and it'll just patrol that area. 228 00:12:16,560 --> 00:12:18,720 It's it it's it's eyes. It's a for us 229 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,279 it's a huge force multiplier. We're 11 230 00:12:21,279 --> 00:12:23,440 officers down. Um so we do the best that 231 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:25,120 we can with with the staff that we do, 232 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:29,680 but this will be a huge resource for us. 233 00:12:29,680 --> 00:12:31,279 Um 234 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:33,040 community engagement, connections, 235 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,279 resource sharing. We have a community 236 00:12:35,279 --> 00:12:37,279 resource team and I and I use the word 237 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:41,040 team lightly. Um as I just mentioned, 238 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,040 you know, we're down 11 officers and we 239 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:44,399 actually have one out injured. So we're 240 00:12:44,399 --> 00:12:48,079 down 12 officers. um we have one 241 00:12:48,079 --> 00:12:50,079 supervisor and one officer that is 242 00:12:50,079 --> 00:12:52,560 assigned to that unit. Uh historically 243 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:54,480 we had three officers and a supervisor. 244 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,120 So we're hopeful that we can get some 245 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:58,800 men and women to come work for the 246 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:03,200 police department and and get that that position or that that that unit as 247 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,800 a team um shortly. Uh but they they do a 248 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,360 lot of work with the little personnel 249 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:11,200 that they have in there. And this is 250 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,240 obviously this is just a few things um 251 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,240 that that I wanted to highlight that 252 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,040 they do. Um one of the things that we're 253 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:20,800 working on this year with the community 254 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,279 resource team is called uh Beyond the 255 00:13:23,279 --> 00:13:26,560 Badge event and we're we're hopeful um 256 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:28,160 that this is going to be an annual 257 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:29,920 event. They've worked on this. It's 258 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,240 going to be July 23rd in Smart Pain 259 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,519 Park. Um and it's really it's going to 260 00:13:35,519 --> 00:13:37,519 involve first responders. We're going to 261 00:13:37,519 --> 00:13:39,040 have the police department there. We're 262 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:40,480 going to have UAS there. We're going to 263 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:41,680 have the fire department there. We're 264 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:44,240 going to have Lifellight there. Um, and 265 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,399 it it's really just an event with with a 266 00:13:46,399 --> 00:13:48,079 bunch of activities uh for the 267 00:13:48,079 --> 00:13:49,600 community. And and like I said, we're 268 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,839 hoping that this is a great engagement 269 00:13:51,839 --> 00:13:54,240 tool and and really sort of uh just the 270 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,000 foundation for for something that we can 271 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,639 continue to do on a yearly basis. 272 00:13:58,639 --> 00:14:01,440 Um, one of the other things that 273 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,760 we've done this year, uh, and I hate to 274 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,360 keep saying it, but you know, we're down 275 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:07,279 a lot of officers. So the challenge for 276 00:14:07,279 --> 00:14:09,839 us when we're down a lot of officers is 277 00:14:09,839 --> 00:14:11,920 um the officers are overworked 278 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:13,440 sometimes. They're working overtime. 279 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:14,959 We're not able to fill all of our 280 00:14:14,959 --> 00:14:17,440 special assignments to their their you 281 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,000 know normal fulfillment. Um so we wanted 282 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,040 to come up with something where we were 283 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:24,959 still serving the community as much as 284 00:14:24,959 --> 00:14:26,959 we can in the capacity that we're able 285 00:14:26,959 --> 00:14:29,279 to. So we created a program this year 286 00:14:29,279 --> 00:14:32,639 that that is set to to kick off in uh 287 00:14:32,639 --> 00:14:35,440 July. Um, and it it's a community 288 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,839 policing program for officers. So, 289 00:14:37,839 --> 00:14:39,519 they're going to be given a certain 290 00:14:39,519 --> 00:14:43,199 amount of time where they can choose 291 00:14:43,199 --> 00:14:46,079 events or activities. Um, some of those 292 00:14:46,079 --> 00:14:48,320 will be coordinated by the community 293 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,600 resource team. So, they can be examples 294 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,680 would be, you know, out on we'd like you 295 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:55,519 to go out on bike patrol, you know, in 296 00:14:55,519 --> 00:14:57,760 the downtown streets or on Lisbon Street 297 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,600 for these two hours. We'd like you to 298 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,440 play basketball at Kennedy Park. we'd 299 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,920 like they're going to come up with some specific events that the officers 300 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:07,600 will be able to participate in and then 301 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,120 the officers will also have the 302 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,160 opportunity to create their own events. 303 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,560 So, and when I say that is we have 304 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,639 officers with a variety of skill sets. 305 00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:19,040 We al have officers that coach soccer, 306 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:20,880 we have officers that coach baseball, 307 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,839 basketball, that that like music. Um so, 308 00:15:23,839 --> 00:15:25,519 we're going to give them the opportunity 309 00:15:25,519 --> 00:15:27,760 to sort of make that community policing 310 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,440 their own and meet with the community in 311 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:31,199 that capacity. 312 00:15:31,199 --> 00:15:33,680 Um, some of the other things that the 313 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,160 community resource team does is they 314 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:37,839 work with the LA child and family 315 00:15:37,839 --> 00:15:39,600 well-being collaborative. These are 316 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:40,959 meetings with many of the community 317 00:15:40,959 --> 00:15:43,199 programs to discuss resources or arrange 318 00:15:43,199 --> 00:15:45,440 education or outreach. They work with 319 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,760 the CDC office of injury and violence 320 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:49,360 prevention. 321 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,440 Uh, main gun safety coalition and 322 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,959 project child safe. And then again it 323 00:15:54,959 --> 00:15:56,959 this outreach, education and resource 324 00:15:56,959 --> 00:15:58,720 sharing it it touches a lot of things 325 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:03,910 but I want to just highlight a few. 326 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,360 So one of the things that we looked at the police department or we have been 327 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,560 looking at um when it comes to the 328 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,560 violence. So obviously the first step we 329 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,800 see that we have we have an increase in 330 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:16,240 shootings. Then we've broken it down. 331 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:17,759 We've determined okay we have an 332 00:16:17,759 --> 00:16:19,839 increase in shootings and it seems to be 333 00:16:19,839 --> 00:16:23,759 specific to juveniles. Um, so one of the 334 00:16:23,759 --> 00:16:25,040 things we look at is what are the 335 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,920 obstacles and and really what the 336 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,399 obstacles are for that we're seeing is 337 00:16:30,399 --> 00:16:32,336 juvenile repeat offenders, 338 00:16:32,336 --> 00:16:33,440 [clears throat] lack of accountability 339 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,079 in the juvenile system, challenges with 340 00:16:36,079 --> 00:16:38,639 detaining and committing juveniles, a 341 00:16:38,639 --> 00:16:40,880 large increase in non-competent 342 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,279 designations based on age, trauma, 343 00:16:43,279 --> 00:16:46,399 things along those lines, and then lack 344 00:16:46,399 --> 00:16:49,120 of mandates. Youth intervention, sorry, 345 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:50,720 I can't read this whole thing here. 346 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:52,560 youth intervention services for youth 347 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,560 involved in the system and or found to 348 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:56,880 be non-competent and resources for 349 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:01,749 family assistance. 350 00:17:01,759 --> 00:17:05,760 So as an agency uh what our response to 351 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:09,439 these obstacles have been um obviously 352 00:17:09,439 --> 00:17:11,039 we have the initial response right like 353 00:17:11,039 --> 00:17:15,199 our primarily our primary primarily goal 354 00:17:15,199 --> 00:17:17,760 for a police department is enforcement 355 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,160 it's to protect and serve but the 356 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,720 reality is is that 357 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,439 we want to solve the bigger issue right 358 00:17:25,439 --> 00:17:27,199 because really what we're seeing is 359 00:17:27,199 --> 00:17:29,280 we're sort of putting band-aids on a 360 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,559 bigger on a bigger issue. Um, so we've 361 00:17:32,559 --> 00:17:34,640 really we've really in the past couple 362 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,360 months had I hate to say it, but a ton 363 00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:38,799 of meetings with people with the other 364 00:17:38,799 --> 00:17:40,320 stakeholders, right, that have an 365 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,799 investment in the system because this 366 00:17:42,799 --> 00:17:45,360 really is a system issue. It it's so 367 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:47,760 layered. Um, so so some of the things 368 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,120 we've done is we've had coordination 369 00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:50,640 meetings with the DA's office and the 370 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,360 JCCOs's. We had a briefing with uh 371 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:55,760 Senator Susan Collins. We then had a 372 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,840 coordination meeting with the US 373 00:17:57,840 --> 00:17:59,919 attorney, Andrew Benson, along with 374 00:17:59,919 --> 00:18:02,720 district attorney McClean. Uh we had a 375 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:04,320 briefing with uh one of the main 376 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,640 senators, Bruce Bickford and his staff. 377 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:08,080 We had a meeting with new beginnings 378 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,640 director Chris Bicknull. Um and then we 379 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:12,400 have meetings scheduled with additional 380 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:14,000 members of the main senate and other law 381 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,720 enforcement stakeholders. Uh and then 382 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:17,919 some of the other things that we've done 383 00:18:17,919 --> 00:18:19,760 is we've we've attended every community 384 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,000 listening session that's involved gun 385 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,000 violence and and wanted to hear from the 386 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,480 community and other stakeholders. Um one 387 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,880 of those was put on by the main wire um 388 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:30,559 at Calvary Church and then we just 389 00:18:30,559 --> 00:18:33,280 attended another one uh last week at 390 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,200 Gather to Grow that was put on by Mir 391 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:39,909 and um COA. 392 00:18:39,919 --> 00:18:42,640 So, one of the things that we just 393 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:44,640 wanted I wanted to bring up is is some 394 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,360 of the uh common misconceptions. And I 395 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:49,039 and when I say common misconceptions, 396 00:18:49,039 --> 00:18:50,960 these are just things that sometimes we 397 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:52,480 hear from the public and sometimes we 398 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:54,320 hear, you know, why can't you do this? 399 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:59,679 Why? So, one of two of the big things is the city ordinance thing. And and 400 00:18:59,679 --> 00:19:01,840 what we have is we have a curfew and 401 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,880 that's a city ordinance violation. Um, 402 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,600 and I think it can be a common misnomer 403 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,799 that the city can create ordinances that 404 00:19:10,799 --> 00:19:13,600 help enforce. And while they do, they 405 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,039 still don't trump state statute, right? 406 00:19:17,039 --> 00:19:19,679 So, a city ordinance is a great tool for 407 00:19:19,679 --> 00:19:22,320 our officers in all honesty. Um, it it's 408 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,120 it gives us the ability to stop and talk 409 00:19:25,120 --> 00:19:27,520 to kids who are out late at night past 410 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,240 curfew, but the reality is there's not a 411 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,720 lot of teeth long term behind that, 412 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:36,160 right? So what happens is they get a summon for the curfew 413 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:37,919 violation. They go back home to mom and 414 00:19:37,919 --> 00:19:40,400 dad and there ends up being a $30 fine. 415 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,160 So an ordinance really can be associated 416 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:44,160 with a fine. It's not associated with 417 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:47,120 any sort of um detainment or anything 418 00:19:47,120 --> 00:19:49,840 along those lines. And then the other 419 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:51,520 thing that we hear a lot is criminally 420 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,400 charging parents. That parents should be 421 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,480 able to be criminally charged. And the 422 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:58,960 reality is is we can only charge people 423 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,280 for statutes and laws that exist on the 424 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,960 books. Right? So, I cannot deal with a 425 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:06,799 juvenile that commits an assault and 426 00:20:06,799 --> 00:20:08,559 then charges parent because the juvenile 427 00:20:08,559 --> 00:20:10,400 committed the assault. The reality is we 428 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:11,760 just don't have the authority to do 429 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,110 that. 430 00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:16,400 Um, some of the community 431 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:19,200 recommendations that we have, um, the 432 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,760 big one is see something, say something. 433 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:25,919 Uh, you know, we rely heavily on 434 00:20:25,919 --> 00:20:33,200 technology today. Um but the reality is still the best type of uh we we can't 435 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:35,919 be everywhere, right? So we need the 436 00:20:35,919 --> 00:20:37,600 support of the community. When you see 437 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:39,280 something suspicious, when you see 438 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,520 something that doesn't look right, call 439 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:43,760 us um so that we can we can look into 440 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:45,919 it. I mean, we had I can give an example 441 00:20:45,919 --> 00:20:47,600 of three or four weeks ago where 442 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:50,559 somebody called and said this there's 443 00:20:50,559 --> 00:20:52,960 three juveniles hanging around. One 444 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,280 displayed a gun. They provided a 445 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:56,720 description. They didn't need to give 446 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:58,159 their name. They didn't we didn't need 447 00:20:58,159 --> 00:20:59,600 to talk to them. They gave a great 448 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:01,520 details. The officer went to that area, 449 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:03,600 found the juvenile, got the gun, it was 450 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,799 stolen, recovered. Um, so we that's 451 00:21:06,799 --> 00:21:08,720 important to us for commu the community 452 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,280 to to report things. And I think one of 453 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:12,720 the big things people get concerned 454 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,120 about is um 455 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:17,600 not not wanting to to, you know, wanting 456 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:19,679 to be anonymous. And there's there's 457 00:21:19,679 --> 00:21:20,880 three different ways that you can do 458 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:22,640 that. We have you have the ability to 459 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,880 call dispatch. you can call dispatch or 460 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,120 911 and say, "I don't want my name. I 461 00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:29,039 don't don't tell them who my who I am." 462 00:21:29,039 --> 00:21:31,120 And they won't. Um, and just give them 463 00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:32,640 the information and they'll dispatch an 464 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,320 officer to that location and just try to 465 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:35,919 provide them as much detail as you can 466 00:21:35,919 --> 00:21:38,880 about that. Um, and then there's a 467 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:40,640 reporter tip online that we have and 468 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,640 there's also a anonymous tip line that 469 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,240 we check on a regular basis that you can 470 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,640 call the police department at and all of 471 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:50,240 these are on our website. Um, and then 472 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:51,520 one of the other things is I would say 473 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:53,840 is, uh, parents are authorized to search 474 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:55,280 their kids' rooms. Parents are 475 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,039 authorized to be parents. They're in 476 00:21:57,039 --> 00:21:58,640 control of their family and their 477 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:00,320 household. And you need to know where 478 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:01,440 your kids are, know what they're 479 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:02,720 involved in, and if you think 480 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,840 something's up, something's probably up. 481 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:08,000 So, they have the authority to to check 482 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:09,600 their kids' rooms, search their kids' 483 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:11,600 rooms, and if they find something that 484 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,360 shouldn't be in their kids' rooms, 485 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:17,440 they're always welcome to call us and we will deal with it. 486 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,240 Um, and then the other big thing is 487 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,760 secure your firearms. Um, you know, 488 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:26,080 people talk about where where the guns 489 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:31,200 come from, right? But the reality is is Maine is a gun-friendly state. 490 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,760 It's a source state. So, a lot of people 491 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:35,600 legally own guns. And there's nothing 492 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,159 wrong with that. But what we see a lot 493 00:22:38,159 --> 00:22:40,640 is guns being stolen from cars that 494 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,280 aren't secured. like that is very 495 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:44,720 important to us to if you're going to 496 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,760 own a firearm securely um keep that 497 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:52,230 secure 498 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,720 solutions and I know we don't have them 499 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:59,520 all um but really what we found um in in 500 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,360 what we've and we're certainly not the 501 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:03,440 experts on every level. I think you you 502 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:05,360 all are going to hear from some experts 503 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:08,240 in on levels that that we don't operate 504 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:13,120 in on a daily basis here tonight and I'm glad they're here. Um but I think 505 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:15,280 this really comes down to legislation 506 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,840 and policy. Uh I believe the state of 507 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:19,360 Maine is in need of policy and 508 00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:21,200 legislative change that will increase 509 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,600 accountability mandates for youth who 510 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,120 are involved in violent criminal 511 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:26,960 offenses. 512 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:28,960 And I think that youth invent 513 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,360 intervention services that's that's a 514 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:33,760 piece of this too. We need effective and 515 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,760 sufficiently funded youth intervention 516 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,720 services to exist and be available as 517 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,480 resources to the juvenile criminal 518 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,039 justice system as mandates that youth 519 00:23:43,039 --> 00:23:44,720 involved in violent criminal behavior 520 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:49,270 are required to participate in. 521 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,320 » That's all I have. 522 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,630 >> Thank you very much, Chief. 523 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,280 if we can hold our our applause. Thank 524 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,120 you. Uh thank you very much, Chief. 525 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:02,720 Appreciate you being here. Appreciate uh 526 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:04,320 many members of the department here and 527 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:05,760 your entire department service to our 528 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:08,240 city. Thank you. Uh we will take 529 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:09,760 questions from the council and we're 530 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:11,360 just going to go down the line starting 531 00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:14,240 with uh uh councelor from num uh from 532 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:15,919 ward one. Councelor Martell, do you have 533 00:24:15,919 --> 00:24:18,950 anything? 534 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,200 » W 535 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:21,760 seven. 536 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:23,279 >> Thank you. Thank you. Well, we will 537 00:24:23,279 --> 00:24:24,960 still start with seven and we we're 538 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:27,360 going to flip that. Councelor from W 7. 539 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:28,960 Um, councelor Martell, do you have 540 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,919 anything? 541 00:24:31,919 --> 00:24:34,640 Thank you. Uh, councelor from W 6. 542 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:36,080 >> Go ahead. 543 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:38,640 >> Councelor Martell said not at this time. 544 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:39,200 >> Right. 545 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,159 >> Thank you, sir. Um, I had originally 546 00:24:42,159 --> 00:24:44,159 mailed questions, email questions to all 547 00:24:44,159 --> 00:24:45,600 of the presenters, but the one that I 548 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:47,840 want to ask Chief Connley, do you have 549 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:51,279 any sense as to what makes Lewon the 550 00:24:51,279 --> 00:24:53,039 attractive location for this kind of 551 00:24:53,039 --> 00:24:54,720 behavior? We don't see this in many 552 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,600 other communities in Maine, and yet you 553 00:24:57,600 --> 00:24:59,279 allude to Maine being a gun-friendly 554 00:24:59,279 --> 00:25:01,679 state, which it is. Why is this 555 00:25:01,679 --> 00:25:04,240 happening in Lewon? Why have they chosen 556 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,039 us to bless with this kind of behavior? 557 00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:09,600 Thank you. 558 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:11,279 I honestly don't have the answer to 559 00:25:11,279 --> 00:25:14,789 that. 560 00:25:14,799 --> 00:25:16,720 » If I could, Mr. Mayor, if anyone in this 561 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,039 room has the answer to that, that to me 562 00:25:19,039 --> 00:25:21,679 seems like one massive step towards 563 00:25:21,679 --> 00:25:23,760 solving this problem if we can figure 564 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:27,279 out what is encouraging this behavior 565 00:25:27,279 --> 00:25:29,600 and stop that encouragement. Uh there 566 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:30,960 are a lot of different pieces to that, 567 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,279 but that seems to me to be key. Thank 568 00:25:33,279 --> 00:25:35,600 you. 569 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,720 Uh, Councelor Noble, 570 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:40,480 >> she already answered my question. It was 571 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,542 about foot patrols. Thank you. 572 00:25:42,542 --> 00:25:43,679 [laughter] Yeah, no problem. 573 00:25:43,679 --> 00:25:45,440 >> Sounds good. Thank you. Uh, Councelor 574 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,960 Roy, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, Chief 575 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:50,880 Connley, thank you for that. Um, couple 576 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:52,559 of questions that I came up with uh 577 00:25:52,559 --> 00:25:55,200 during your presentation. Um, and I 578 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:56,480 think I know the answer to this one, but 579 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:57,520 I want to put it out there for 580 00:25:57,520 --> 00:25:59,919 everybody. Can a city go above and 581 00:25:59,919 --> 00:26:02,320 beyond what the state has on the books 582 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:04,720 for laws as far as charging juveniles? 583 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:08,720 Can can the city as a body come up with 584 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:13,279 maybe some laws to hold 585 00:26:13,279 --> 00:26:16,400 that's the the the path we want to go. 586 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,400 So they can come up with ordinances, but 587 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,240 they they'll never be more restrictive 588 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:22,720 necessarily or or punitive, I guess, is 589 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:26,000 the word I would I I would say than a 590 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,120 state statute. And and District Attorney 591 00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:30,640 Mlean may be able to answer that a 592 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:32,240 little bit better, but 593 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,960 >> and I will ask that when at that time. 594 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,919 Um that's one of them. Um I do have a 595 00:26:37,919 --> 00:26:40,400 couple more that I saw. 596 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,360 Okay, right here. Now, can you hear me? 597 00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:45,600 now? Oh, wow. Hey. All 598 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:47,440 right. [laughter] 599 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:49,279 Usually I have this booing voice. 600 00:26:49,279 --> 00:26:52,480 Anyways, all right. What happens if um 601 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,679 parents are scared to search their kids' 602 00:26:55,679 --> 00:26:59,760 rooms? What can they do for assistance? 603 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:02,400 >> I mean, we would certainly assist 604 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:04,960 parents with that if they they needed 605 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:08,240 our help. Um I 606 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,720 we are always a phone call away and and 607 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,520 we we have officers that you know if it 608 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,120 it's some we have a community resource 609 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:18,159 team we do have avenues that if they're 610 00:27:18,159 --> 00:27:22,000 uncomfortable calling you know the 911 611 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,080 emergency line that that we can connect 612 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,720 them with somebody. 613 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:30,960 >> Thank you. Um let's see. 614 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,080 Actually I will hold with that. If I 615 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:35,360 think of any more, I'll try to come 616 00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:38,080 back. Thank you, 617 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,480 >> Councelor Harman. 618 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:43,760 >> My questions have been answered. Thanks, 619 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:45,120 >> Councelor Long Champs. 620 00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:47,360 >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just would like 621 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:49,919 to thank you uh for being here tonight 622 00:27:49,919 --> 00:27:51,919 and presenting all that you all the 623 00:27:51,919 --> 00:27:54,159 facts. Um, I really don't have any 624 00:27:54,159 --> 00:27:56,080 questions. You've answered most of the 625 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:57,520 uh questions that I would have asked. 626 00:27:57,520 --> 00:27:59,360 Thank you. 627 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:01,120 >> Uh, and last but not least, now the 628 00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:03,440 councelor from 111. Councelor Nene. 629 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:05,039 >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you, 630 00:28:05,039 --> 00:28:07,200 Chief, for being here today. Um, I I do 631 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:12,240 have two questions. Um, one is, um, the 632 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,120 escalation of crime. So, basically, we 633 00:28:15,120 --> 00:28:18,559 deal with quite a bit of, uh, um, joy 634 00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:20,080 riditing in the city, and I'm wondering 635 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:22,399 if there's any indication that there's 636 00:28:22,399 --> 00:28:25,279 crossover from uh, let's say car 637 00:28:25,279 --> 00:28:29,520 burglary and and and um, u joy riding 638 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:31,919 into uh, some of these gun crimes. I 639 00:28:31,919 --> 00:28:34,799 think is there a connection so to speak? 640 00:28:34,799 --> 00:28:35,039 I 641 00:28:35,039 --> 00:28:37,840 >> I I would say for the most part no. Um 642 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:40,480 there may be a few cases, but uh I 643 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:42,080 agree. We we've definitely had an 644 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:44,559 increase in uh stolen motor vehicles uh 645 00:28:44,559 --> 00:28:46,159 specifically with the youth this year, 646 00:28:46,159 --> 00:28:48,880 but we don't necessarily see them the 647 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:50,880 same groups being involved. Okay. 648 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:52,080 >> There may be a little bit of crossover, 649 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:53,440 but not for the most part. 650 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:55,200 >> Okay. And and the second thing and I and 651 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,440 I just I don't know if you you're able 652 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,120 to verify this or not, but from my 653 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:00,880 understanding 654 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:03,919 five of the arrestes this year um were 655 00:29:03,919 --> 00:29:09,679 age 20 um young adults of which um three 656 00:29:09,679 --> 00:29:12,000 of them had uh aged out of the foster 657 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,720 care system and one of them had been 658 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:17,200 involved in a shooting when when he was 659 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,320 18 as well. Um, and I believe all of 660 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:23,120 these uh children had had struggles 661 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,679 within the LPS as well. So, I'm just 662 00:29:25,679 --> 00:29:27,520 asking if there's like a connection 663 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:29,279 between 664 00:29:29,279 --> 00:29:31,200 uh maybe the continuum of care for 665 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:32,320 people who are struggling in our 666 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:35,120 community uh to the adult crimes that 667 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,200 they were also committing most probably 668 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:39,200 as as juveniles. 669 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:41,440 >> So, I I can't speak to all of what you 670 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:42,640 mentioned. I'd have to research that, 671 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:45,679 but I can tell you that I can think of a 672 00:29:45,679 --> 00:29:49,120 few off the top of my head that we've dealt with and charged as adults 673 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,000 that we dealt with as being involved in 674 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:55,279 shootings as juveniles also. 675 00:29:55,279 --> 00:29:58,159 >> Okay. Thank you very much, 676 00:29:58,159 --> 00:30:00,799 Councelor Roy. Back to you. Let's see if 677 00:30:00,799 --> 00:30:03,120 this is on. All right, cool. Thank you. 678 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:05,120 Um, one of the things I don't remember 679 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:07,120 if we've done this before. Have we ever 680 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:09,200 had like a 681 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,520 gun buyback program? Has that ever been 682 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:12,720 done? 683 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:16,549 >> Oh, 684 00:30:16,559 --> 00:30:18,960 » no. So, we have not. And I and I can 685 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:20,880 tell you that we have looked into that. 686 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:22,640 We've talked with ATF. We've talked with 687 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:25,360 some of the individuals that do that. 688 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:27,760 Um, and there are some challenges with 689 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:30,960 that. And, uh, 690 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,120 what they've seen in the past is is not 691 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:35,840 necessarily getting the guns back that 692 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:39,360 they'd be looking for. um you what what 693 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,240 they see is, you know, shotguns and, you 694 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:43,760 know, grandparents rifles that people 695 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:45,120 are hanging on to that they're turning 696 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:48,640 in. They're not they haven't seen um the 697 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,240 results that you we would be looking 698 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:52,159 for, the handguns being turned in that 699 00:30:52,159 --> 00:30:54,159 are involved in violent crime. 700 00:30:54,159 --> 00:30:56,960 >> Thank you. 701 00:30:56,960 --> 00:31:01,200 >> Uh any other counselors have anything? 702 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:02,960 >> Chief, thank you so much for being here. 703 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:04,399 >> Thank you. 704 00:31:04,399 --> 00:31:06,720 We will now 705 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:09,679 if we can hold uh audience applause and 706 00:31:09,679 --> 00:31:11,919 everything else. Thank you. Uh we now 707 00:31:11,919 --> 00:31:37,110 have uh Neil Mlan. 708 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:39,519 DA MLAN, thank you so much for uh for 709 00:31:39,519 --> 00:31:46,470 joining us. 710 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,799 » Well, thank you all. It's a a pleasure 711 00:31:48,799 --> 00:31:51,120 to be here with you, unfortunately, to 712 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:55,360 discuss a difficult topic that's uh a 713 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:58,000 big problem in uh Lewon and we're trying 714 00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:59,840 to get a hold of it. Uh but I do 715 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:02,159 appreciate being invited to uh 716 00:32:02,159 --> 00:32:03,760 participate in the conversation and 717 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:06,000 offer some information uh from the 718 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,480 district attorney's office. I do like to 719 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,200 begin these conversations about violent 720 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:13,440 crime increases, whatever is happening 721 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:17,120 in Lewon, uh just to say uh that I hope 722 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:18,880 everyone appreciates it would be much 723 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:21,440 worse than it is right now if we did not 724 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,880 have Lewon PD doing a fantastic job with 725 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:31,200 the limited resources you just 726 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:33,120 heard uh Chief Connley talk about. That 727 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:35,760 is a serious issue. Uh but nonetheless, 728 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:37,360 I know they're out there every night and 729 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:41,519 all day long uh working on this issue. U 730 00:32:41,519 --> 00:32:44,159 so I was asked I I guess first to just 731 00:32:44,159 --> 00:32:47,760 talk about uh what the DA's office does 732 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:50,399 uh to give a breakdown of of what that 733 00:32:50,399 --> 00:32:53,279 is. Uh and I think it's most easily 734 00:32:53,279 --> 00:32:56,159 described as our primary role primary 735 00:32:56,159 --> 00:32:58,559 role is to uphold the law, protect 736 00:32:58,559 --> 00:33:00,399 public safety, and pursue justice on 737 00:33:00,399 --> 00:33:02,399 behalf of the community. Uh that's what 738 00:33:02,399 --> 00:33:05,039 we do every day. Uh we try to do the 739 00:33:05,039 --> 00:33:07,120 best job that we can, but that is uh 740 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:09,919 what we're tasked with doing. Uh we work 741 00:33:09,919 --> 00:33:11,600 very closely with law enforcement. We 742 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:14,480 work with Lewon PD on a regular basis. 743 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:20,880 Uh we handle every criminal case that uh comes uh 744 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:23,440 through District 3. District 3 is Oxford 745 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:25,279 County, Andrew Goggen County, and 746 00:33:25,279 --> 00:33:27,840 Franklin County. Uh but we handle every 747 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:30,399 criminal case other than murder and some 748 00:33:30,399 --> 00:33:33,200 of the drug uh felony drug charges. Uh 749 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:35,760 everything else is ours. Uh it is a lot 750 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:38,960 of cases. Uh we work with Lewon PD. We 751 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:41,200 also work uh and I think it's important 752 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:43,440 to keep in mind with 30 other law 753 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:45,600 enforcement agencies. So with the 754 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:47,440 limited resources we have, we're not 755 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:49,840 just supporting Lewon. We're supporting 756 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:52,080 every town and every a law enforcement 757 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,960 agency across three counties. Uh and 758 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:56,880 that is important to remember. Uh 759 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:58,799 because we too have some resource issues 760 00:33:58,799 --> 00:34:01,919 and I'll get to that momentarily. Um 761 00:34:01,919 --> 00:34:04,320 what it is we do with every single case 762 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:06,640 that comes through uh is we are 763 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:08,879 specifically tasked with reviewing and 764 00:34:08,879 --> 00:34:11,760 filing charges uh we're responsible for 765 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:19,440 all the discovery related to those charges uh which is an 766 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:22,639 increasing task on our office uh in the 767 00:34:22,639 --> 00:34:25,359 current era of litigation. Uh but we 768 00:34:25,359 --> 00:34:27,119 have to review all charges. We're 769 00:34:27,119 --> 00:34:28,560 responsible for all the all the 770 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:30,560 discovery that comes in. We think about 771 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,359 law enforcement collecting evidence uh 772 00:34:33,359 --> 00:34:36,240 which is true uh and law enforcement 773 00:34:36,240 --> 00:34:38,320 does not work to me for me. They have a 774 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:40,320 very capable chief here in Chief Connley 775 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:42,079 and every department has their own chief 776 00:34:42,079 --> 00:34:44,800 but we are none the none nonetheless in 777 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:46,000 the eyes of the court. We are 778 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:48,399 responsible for law enforcement. Uh so 779 00:34:48,399 --> 00:34:50,079 we are responsible for every piece of 780 00:34:50,079 --> 00:34:52,159 evidence that comes out. Something's 781 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:55,040 missing. It's not right. It's us in the 782 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:57,920 DA's office and the case itself uh that 783 00:34:57,920 --> 00:34:59,839 suffer. Not suggesting that's an issue, 784 00:34:59,839 --> 00:35:01,920 but it's another uh large task that 785 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:05,040 we're responsible for. Uh in every case, 786 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:07,040 we're responsible for negotiating all 787 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:10,480 cases prior to trials. Uh we conduct all 788 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:12,320 hearings and trials of every case that 789 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:14,800 go to hearing or trial. Uh we support 790 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,280 every victim and survivor. Uh very 791 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:19,359 limited resources and the staff that we 792 00:35:19,359 --> 00:35:21,119 have to do that. Uh but we're 793 00:35:21,119 --> 00:35:23,599 responsible for uh every bit of that 794 00:35:23,599 --> 00:35:26,320 task as well. uh we're responsible for 795 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:28,400 all of the sentencing that happens if 796 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:30,400 we're successful at a hearing or trial 797 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:33,760 or plea negotiation and we handle every 798 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:35,680 appeal and postconviction review that 799 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:38,640 comes through. So those seven tasks all 800 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:42,480 in and of themselves uh very uh uh 801 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:47,040 detailed and um uh uh timeconuming tasks 802 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:49,200 we take care of with every individual 803 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:54,880 case uh in D3 district 3 right now uh 804 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:58,160 that includes about 3 805 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:03,119 uh 20 uh 3,250 cases uh that we're 806 00:36:03,119 --> 00:36:04,720 responsible to do every one of those 807 00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:06,320 things for every one of those cases. 808 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:10,240 Uh so it's a huge case load. Uh 809 00:36:10,240 --> 00:36:13,359 and uh that just describes the cases 810 00:36:13,359 --> 00:36:14,960 that are pending before the court. That 811 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:17,920 does not include all of the filings, all 812 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:20,320 of the different proc uh cases that we 813 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:22,240 process that don't get plugged into the 814 00:36:22,240 --> 00:36:24,880 court. So your prosecutors are busy 815 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:28,640 every day uh most weekends and well into 816 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:30,800 the evening hours uh trying to keep up 817 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:33,520 with this task. Um, and this is all 818 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:35,920 important to the the violence and 819 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:38,400 because it goes to the resources we have 820 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,200 to apply to any individual uh task that 821 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,480 we try to be involved in. Uh, we have 16 822 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,520 prosecutors uh to handle those 3,250 823 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:49,920 cases. Two of those are drug 824 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:51,760 prosecutors, so they only handle drug 825 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:54,240 cases, which means we really have 14 826 00:36:54,240 --> 00:36:56,960 prosecutors uh to handle all of those 827 00:36:56,960 --> 00:36:59,440 cases. Just by way of a quick 828 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:02,000 comparison, uh we are the third busiest 829 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:05,280 court in the state right now. Uh Lewon 830 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:08,720 dis uh Lewon Court is uh and if you look 831 00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:12,560 at uh D1 uh district 1, which is York 832 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:15,359 County, they have 19 prosecutors. If you 833 00:37:15,359 --> 00:37:17,280 look at Cumberland County, they have 20 834 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:19,359 prosecutors. So we're at a disadvantage 835 00:37:19,359 --> 00:37:21,520 just based on the numbers we have. But 836 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:24,880 what makes it even worse uh is we can't 837 00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:28,640 compete right now uh due to pay par uh 838 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:32,480 pay parody and uh uh quite frankly case 839 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:34,720 loads and a desire to be a prosecutor in 840 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:36,720 today's day and age. We don't see the 841 00:37:36,720 --> 00:37:38,640 same passion any longer, the same desire 842 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:41,839 to join our office. Uh so right now with 843 00:37:41,839 --> 00:37:43,599 that same case load number I talked to 844 00:37:43,599 --> 00:37:46,400 you about, we have eight prosecutors 845 00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:49,040 across all of district three. Uh that 846 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:52,160 means that my deputy uh who's in the 847 00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:54,560 back of the room is we don't we don't 848 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:56,880 have a prosecutor in Oxford County right 849 00:37:56,880 --> 00:37:59,440 now. Uh so the deputy deputy uh Josh 850 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:01,839 Klein Golden is pretty much covering all 851 00:38:01,839 --> 00:38:04,560 of Oxford County. I'm covering Farming 852 00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:07,200 uh Franklin County solo and that leaves 853 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,680 six prosecutors to handle the third 854 00:38:09,680 --> 00:38:13,119 busiest court uh in the state. Uh those 855 00:38:13,119 --> 00:38:15,280 uh 1,833 856 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:17,440 of the cases are specific to Andrew 857 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:21,280 Goan. Uh what we have done uh because we 858 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:24,079 are aware of the gun problem uh in 859 00:38:24,079 --> 00:38:26,480 addition to all the other problems is we 860 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:29,599 have created a unit of sorts or we've 861 00:38:29,599 --> 00:38:32,480 assigned two of our best prosecutors to 862 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:35,920 assist Lewon PD uh with all gun violence 863 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:38,480 cases. Uh so if you imagine we only have 864 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:40,960 six, we're assigning two just to this 865 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:43,280 issue right here. They also have to 866 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:45,440 carry a case load outside of this. Uh 867 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:47,200 but they are primarily tasked with this. 868 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,680 They're available to law enforcement 24 869 00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:52,000 hours a day. They're on call. Law 870 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:54,240 enforcement has their numbers. Uh so 871 00:38:54,240 --> 00:38:56,000 they're taking calls at 2 or 3 in the 872 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,320 morning when these gun cases arise. Uh 873 00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:00,320 they're helping with search warrants. Uh 874 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,480 but they're deeply involved. Uh and 875 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:04,000 again, that's the best we could do with 876 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:05,839 the limited resources. We have two 877 00:39:05,839 --> 00:39:08,880 prosecutors assigned. Uh Deputy Klein 878 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:10,720 Golden also helps out with that. The two 879 00:39:10,720 --> 00:39:14,079 prosecutors are uh Alexander Winter uh 880 00:39:14,079 --> 00:39:16,160 and Brie White and they do a fantastic 881 00:39:16,160 --> 00:39:18,880 job of addressing this in the best way 882 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:20,880 that they can uh with the limited 883 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:22,720 resources. 884 00:39:22,720 --> 00:39:24,960 What do we need to do an even better 885 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:28,160 job? Uh we need more prosecutors. Uh 886 00:39:28,160 --> 00:39:30,960 it's as simple as that. We need at least 887 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:32,640 another prosecutor in all three 888 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:34,480 counties. we could use two new 889 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:37,520 prosecutors uh in Andrewskogen County 890 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:38,960 just to be able to keep up with the 891 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:41,119 cases. So, what you'll hear sometimes is 892 00:39:41,119 --> 00:39:43,359 people will say, "Well, just lower your 893 00:39:43,359 --> 00:39:45,520 case load. It's up to you. You you're 894 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:47,760 the one that uh puts the cases into the 895 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:50,480 court uh processes and files them." But 896 00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:52,160 that's not really true. That's a lazy 897 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:54,400 answer. And I'm uh glad to have that 898 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:55,760 conversation with the people that say 899 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:58,880 it. Uh because we don't pick crime. We 900 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:00,880 charge crime when Lewon or any other 901 00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:02,560 department sees it. They don't pick 902 00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:04,960 crime. They're not out there committing 903 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:07,359 it. They're addressing it when it's 904 00:40:07,359 --> 00:40:09,440 committed. And it's our responsibility 905 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:11,599 to support them and support you all. And 906 00:40:11,599 --> 00:40:15,680 we do it. Uh we don't uh refuse to uh 907 00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:18,400 prosecute any type of crime. Uh because 908 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:20,480 I've heard loudly from all of you that 909 00:40:20,480 --> 00:40:22,800 you don't want me to do that. Uh so we 910 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:25,200 put our cases forward. Uh we do the best 911 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:28,400 we can, but we need more prosecutors. uh 912 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:33,200 eight prosecutors for a district like this is impossible. Uh we 913 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:36,560 have lost a prosecutor uh to a better 914 00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:39,119 paying job in another state uh pro uh 915 00:40:39,119 --> 00:40:41,920 another state criminal law office, the 916 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:44,480 uh public defenders office. Uh we lost 917 00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:47,440 out on a higher uh because they could 918 00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:50,000 simply make more money and work a much 919 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:52,400 smaller case load. Uh we've lost a 920 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:55,359 prosecutor to uh the what we refer to as 921 00:40:55,359 --> 00:40:56,960 the contract attorneys because the state 922 00:40:56,960 --> 00:41:00,640 of Maine pays them $150 an hour. Uh the 923 00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:02,720 prosecutor we lost was making just shy 924 00:41:02,720 --> 00:41:06,319 of $40 an hour. Uh so we lost uh that 925 00:41:06,319 --> 00:41:10,079 prosecutor. Uh we lost a prosecutor, one 926 00:41:10,079 --> 00:41:12,880 of the best prosecutors we had. Uh one 927 00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:15,920 of uh arguably as good a prosecutor as 928 00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:18,640 there is in the state. Uh we lost that 929 00:41:18,640 --> 00:41:20,640 prosecutor to burnout. And before 930 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:23,520 anybody thinks burnout is, you know, 931 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:26,079 something someone should be ashamed of, 932 00:41:26,079 --> 00:41:29,119 it's really not. Uh the case loads are 933 00:41:29,119 --> 00:41:31,200 overwhelming. And what you'll see with 934 00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:34,400 prosecutors who really care is they care 935 00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:37,119 about their cases. Uh there's an ethical 936 00:41:37,119 --> 00:41:40,160 requirement that we do our job uh in 937 00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:42,720 every case uh to protect the rights of 938 00:41:42,720 --> 00:41:45,920 the the ch the accused, the victims. Uh 939 00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:48,240 we represent the court. Uh, and as I 940 00:41:48,240 --> 00:41:50,640 said, we have those massive obligations, 941 00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:52,720 seven different obligations with each 942 00:41:52,720 --> 00:41:54,960 individual case. And when a prosecutor 943 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:57,359 feels like they're failing at their uh, 944 00:41:57,359 --> 00:42:02,640 ethical duty, it creates u u 945 00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:05,520 it it can be really demoralizing, but 946 00:42:05,520 --> 00:42:08,640 when you're dealing with three or 400 947 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:11,760 cases, uh, three or 400 cases, uh, it's 948 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:14,079 also overwhelming. So, add all of that 949 00:42:14,079 --> 00:42:17,680 up. Uh and sometimes uh it it can get 950 00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:20,400 the best of uh the best of us. Uh and 951 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:22,240 we've lost prosecutors for all those 952 00:42:22,240 --> 00:42:24,800 reasons and we're having some difficulty 953 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:26,880 filling them. Again, going back to the 954 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:29,040 pay parody, because we can't compete. 955 00:42:29,040 --> 00:42:30,960 When I go to hire somebody and I tell 956 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:33,280 them, "Come work for me. I'll pay you 957 00:42:33,280 --> 00:42:35,040 much less and give you a much bigger 958 00:42:35,040 --> 00:42:36,960 case load." Nobody's all that 959 00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:39,599 interested. Uh and they know it. Uh they 960 00:42:39,599 --> 00:42:41,040 know they'll make more money in the 961 00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:42,800 other offices. They know they'll have 962 00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:44,640 less cases. they'll have a better 963 00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:47,200 quality of life. Uh and it's a really 964 00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:49,520 difficult time to be a prosecutor uh 965 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:51,440 criminal prosecutor and we need the 966 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:53,440 legislaturator's help uh with that 967 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:56,480 issue. Uh both the new prosecutors and 968 00:42:56,480 --> 00:43:00,720 the pay parody. I I can say just 969 00:43:00,720 --> 00:43:04,880 ironically, I did just receive a a text 970 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:07,359 uh from somebody in the legislature who 971 00:43:07,359 --> 00:43:09,200 has worked with us in the past and they 972 00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:11,359 still understand the need to address 973 00:43:11,359 --> 00:43:13,920 this pay parody and have just just now 974 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:16,240 suggested they will revisit it. Uh but 975 00:43:16,240 --> 00:43:18,560 we need that to happen. Uh or we're 976 00:43:18,560 --> 00:43:20,000 going to lose more prosecutors and we're 977 00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:21,119 going to not and we're not going to be 978 00:43:21,119 --> 00:43:24,880 able to fill the spots. Um, 979 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:27,839 so I I think with with that in mind, we 980 00:43:27,839 --> 00:43:29,839 have a wonderful relationship with Lewon 981 00:43:29,839 --> 00:43:32,160 PD and most of our police departments. 982 00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:35,280 Uh, we have had a few of the prosecutors 983 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:38,000 go on the saturation details with them 984 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:39,599 to get out there and be with them to 985 00:43:39,599 --> 00:43:41,760 answer legal questions or to see what 986 00:43:41,760 --> 00:43:43,599 they're doing, uh, to understand what 987 00:43:43,599 --> 00:43:45,440 they're doing. We've had people within 988 00:43:45,440 --> 00:43:47,760 our staff who are county employees as 989 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:49,839 well as prosecutors do ride alongs. We 990 00:43:49,839 --> 00:43:51,760 think it's important to know what Lewon 991 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:54,560 PD is doing and be able to uh experience 992 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:56,480 it so when we see their cases, we better 993 00:43:56,480 --> 00:43:59,200 appreciate uh what we're seeing. Uh 994 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:01,680 we've met with them, as Chief Connley 995 00:44:01,680 --> 00:44:04,960 pointed out, to discuss uh gun violence, 996 00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:07,200 uh juvenile incompetency, 997 00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:09,440 uh and drugs, and everything else within 998 00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:11,359 the community. We regularly communicate 999 00:44:11,359 --> 00:44:13,920 and work together. Uh we've met with our 1000 00:44:13,920 --> 00:44:16,720 federal partners. Uh they've offered 1001 00:44:16,720 --> 00:44:20,000 some ideas that we'll follow up on. Uh 1002 00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:21,280 in particular with the juvenile 1003 00:44:21,280 --> 00:44:23,119 competency issue which is playing a big 1004 00:44:23,119 --> 00:44:26,240 role. Uh some thoughts on how maybe uh 1005 00:44:26,240 --> 00:44:28,240 we should be looking at our own experts 1006 00:44:28,240 --> 00:44:31,599 to combat uh some of the uh evaluations 1007 00:44:31,599 --> 00:44:34,319 we're seeing. Uh we'll look into that. 1008 00:44:34,319 --> 00:44:36,319 But we are constantly working to do 1009 00:44:36,319 --> 00:44:38,400 better uh in the areas where we think 1010 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:46,309 we're lacking. Um, 1011 00:44:46,319 --> 00:44:48,480 so I I guess other than that, again, 1012 00:44:48,480 --> 00:44:51,599 we've when we get back to the jun, so we 1013 00:44:51,599 --> 00:44:54,160 do not have a juvenile prosecutor in any 1014 00:44:54,160 --> 00:44:56,720 of the three counties. Uh, you have Josh 1015 00:44:56,720 --> 00:45:00,720 Klein Golden, myself, and a couple of 1016 00:45:00,720 --> 00:45:04,560 other people who assist uh when we need 1017 00:45:04,560 --> 00:45:06,560 it, but you don't have anybody dedicated 1018 00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:08,400 to it. We should have a dedicated 1019 00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:11,359 juvenile prosecutor. Uh because we're so 1020 00:45:11,359 --> 00:45:12,720 overwhelmed, we don't get to do the 1021 00:45:12,720 --> 00:45:14,880 training some other people get to do. 1022 00:45:14,880 --> 00:45:16,480 Training opportunities pop up and it's 1023 00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:17,760 like, well, geez, you have court that 1024 00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:19,520 day. We don't have anybody to cover 1025 00:45:19,520 --> 00:45:21,520 court that day. Uh so we're falling 1026 00:45:21,520 --> 00:45:23,440 behind in some of the training that's so 1027 00:45:23,440 --> 00:45:25,440 important to keep up uh with the latest 1028 00:45:25,440 --> 00:45:27,680 strategies and the latest developments. 1029 00:45:27,680 --> 00:45:29,760 Uh but again, your prosecutors are 1030 00:45:29,760 --> 00:45:31,839 showing up every day uh to work and 1031 00:45:31,839 --> 00:45:34,000 working really hard in the face of all 1032 00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:37,200 of this. Uh, so I'm a fan of the work 1033 00:45:37,200 --> 00:45:39,119 they're doing. I know you don't get to 1034 00:45:39,119 --> 00:45:40,560 see it every day and sometimes you see 1035 00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:42,640 the outcomes and you're not happy, but 1036 00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:44,960 boy, if you saw how they got to the 1037 00:45:44,960 --> 00:45:46,960 outcome and how hard they're working, I 1038 00:45:46,960 --> 00:45:49,760 think you'd be a fan as well. Uh, they 1039 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:52,240 do a a tremendous job with uh very 1040 00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:54,800 little. Um 1041 00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:57,040 we've looked uh one of the prosecutors 1042 00:45:57,040 --> 00:46:00,400 who is really dedicated to this issue uh 1043 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:03,040 provided me with some 1044 00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:06,240 uh some educational uh programs that we 1045 00:46:06,240 --> 00:46:07,760 should consider and we'll look into 1046 00:46:07,760 --> 00:46:10,880 those. I think one of them is uh called 1047 00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:12,960 uh the great program and it's a gang 1048 00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:15,440 resistant education and training program 1049 00:46:15,440 --> 00:46:17,359 where you can use uniform law 1050 00:46:17,359 --> 00:46:19,839 enforcement to work with uh elementary 1051 00:46:19,839 --> 00:46:21,520 and middle school kids to talk to them 1052 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:23,040 about how to avoid this kind of 1053 00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:25,920 behavior. Uh I think some of these may 1054 00:46:25,920 --> 00:46:27,760 be federal programs. So we'll look at 1055 00:46:27,760 --> 00:46:30,079 funding. Uh we certainly don't have 1056 00:46:30,079 --> 00:46:31,760 funding for it. We're funded by the 1057 00:46:31,760 --> 00:46:35,040 county. Uh there's the OJJDP which is 1058 00:46:35,040 --> 00:46:36,560 the Office of Juvenile Justice and 1059 00:46:36,560 --> 00:46:38,720 Delinquency. Uh that is another 1060 00:46:38,720 --> 00:46:41,440 organization we've heard of recently uh 1061 00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:43,200 that we may see if there's anything they 1062 00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:45,280 can offer us. Uh these would be for 1063 00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:47,680 programs to deal with children after 1064 00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:50,160 they've been involved or maybe even 1065 00:46:50,160 --> 00:46:52,880 before uh like like the great program 1066 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:55,760 that would be maybe a a proactive 1067 00:46:55,760 --> 00:46:57,839 approach. Uh and there's a focus 1068 00:46:57,839 --> 00:46:59,760 deterrence program as well that we'll 1069 00:46:59,760 --> 00:47:02,000 look into. Uh so those are things we 1070 00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:04,160 will continue to look into into try to 1071 00:47:04,160 --> 00:47:06,079 do a better job. Uh the last thing I'll 1072 00:47:06,079 --> 00:47:07,839 say, and we've talked uh about the 1073 00:47:07,839 --> 00:47:12,400 juvenile uh gun program, is we hear a 1074 00:47:12,400 --> 00:47:14,640 lot of people talk uh about the 1075 00:47:14,640 --> 00:47:17,920 children. Uh and I went to a meeting uh 1076 00:47:17,920 --> 00:47:21,280 a couple a week or so ago and I heard 1077 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:22,800 somebody say that the children are not 1078 00:47:22,800 --> 00:47:26,000 the problem. So when these cases arise 1079 00:47:26,000 --> 00:47:27,839 on my desk, the children are the 1080 00:47:27,839 --> 00:47:29,359 problem. And they're not children, 1081 00:47:29,359 --> 00:47:30,960 they're juveniles. we should call them 1082 00:47:30,960 --> 00:47:32,880 what they are because when you call them 1083 00:47:32,880 --> 00:47:35,680 children or kiddos which I see way too 1084 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:38,240 often you're minimizing the significance 1085 00:47:38,240 --> 00:47:41,760 of what they're doing. Uh so I am a 1086 00:47:41,760 --> 00:47:44,240 single voice within the system. I'm not 1087 00:47:44,240 --> 00:47:45,920 saying the pro other prosecutors don't 1088 00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:47,440 do the same thing but we don't have the 1089 00:47:47,440 --> 00:47:49,920 support uh for maybe some of that 1090 00:47:49,920 --> 00:47:52,480 ideology with others. But I think we 1091 00:47:52,480 --> 00:47:55,040 should be calling it what it is. These 1092 00:47:55,040 --> 00:47:57,440 uh juveniles have committed very serious 1093 00:47:57,440 --> 00:47:59,680 crimes uh that endanger the lives of 1094 00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:01,040 other people in the community. They they 1095 00:48:01,040 --> 00:48:03,280 endanger their own lives. Uh some of 1096 00:48:03,280 --> 00:48:05,119 these kids that are involved in it or 1097 00:48:05,119 --> 00:48:06,720 these juveniles, sorry, they're involved 1098 00:48:06,720 --> 00:48:09,520 in it. Uh they may be the shooter one 1099 00:48:09,520 --> 00:48:11,440 day, they'll be the victim the next day. 1100 00:48:11,440 --> 00:48:13,119 Uh so we have an obligation to all of 1101 00:48:13,119 --> 00:48:15,040 them. And I think we're failing them if 1102 00:48:15,040 --> 00:48:17,200 we continue to treat them like children. 1103 00:48:17,200 --> 00:48:19,680 The other thing we need to do is we need 1104 00:48:19,680 --> 00:48:21,920 people in elected positions to take this 1105 00:48:21,920 --> 00:48:24,960 serious. Uh not fight amongstel each 1106 00:48:24,960 --> 00:48:28,880 other or themselves not uh be divisive 1107 00:48:28,880 --> 00:48:30,960 in nature. Uh we need people to come 1108 00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:32,960 together and go this is a problem. We 1109 00:48:32,960 --> 00:48:34,960 need to unify to come to terms with how 1110 00:48:34,960 --> 00:48:37,520 we address it. Uh stop blaming it on 1111 00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:40,079 specific groups but also stop pretending 1112 00:48:40,079 --> 00:48:42,640 it doesn't exist where it does. uh we 1113 00:48:42,640 --> 00:48:44,559 have to call uh you know if you know 1114 00:48:44,559 --> 00:48:47,520 where it's happening, who's involved, uh 1115 00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:49,599 we need to call that out. How do we fix 1116 00:48:49,599 --> 00:48:52,079 the problem if we're uh not addressing 1117 00:48:52,079 --> 00:48:55,040 the regions or the areas that the crimes 1118 00:48:55,040 --> 00:48:56,960 are occurring? Uh we need to be 1119 00:48:56,960 --> 00:48:59,119 professional and thoughtful about it. Uh 1120 00:48:59,119 --> 00:49:02,400 but we also can't uh be divisive when we 1121 00:49:02,400 --> 00:49:03,839 try to make a difference in those 1122 00:49:03,839 --> 00:49:05,760 communities because those communities 1123 00:49:05,760 --> 00:49:07,839 deserve their children to be safe and to 1124 00:49:07,839 --> 00:49:10,160 live. uh they don't want their children 1125 00:49:10,160 --> 00:49:12,720 to die at the hand of a juvenile with a 1126 00:49:12,720 --> 00:49:15,119 gun. But we need to be open about the 1127 00:49:15,119 --> 00:49:16,800 conversation. It's not a politically 1128 00:49:16,800 --> 00:49:19,200 correct conversation. Uh we need to have 1129 00:49:19,200 --> 00:49:20,720 it. We need to be honest about the 1130 00:49:20,720 --> 00:49:23,040 language. Uh we need to be honest about 1131 00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:26,319 the facts. Uh and we need to uh do our 1132 00:49:26,319 --> 00:49:28,480 very best to address it. Uh because the 1133 00:49:28,480 --> 00:49:30,480 way I look at it is I'm a father of four 1134 00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:34,720 kids. My four kids are your kids. 1135 00:49:34,720 --> 00:49:37,040 neighbors, friends at the playground, 1136 00:49:37,040 --> 00:49:39,200 they may be your college friends 1137 00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:41,839 someday. They may be your colleagues. 1138 00:49:41,839 --> 00:49:44,160 We're all in it together. Uh there is no 1139 00:49:44,160 --> 00:49:45,760 distinction. A gun doesn't know a 1140 00:49:45,760 --> 00:49:47,200 distinction. A bullet doesn't know a 1141 00:49:47,200 --> 00:49:52,000 distinction. Uh we as the leader should stop making those distinctions. 1142 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:53,520 We should be addressing it for the 1143 00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:55,520 problem that it is and being honest 1144 00:49:55,520 --> 00:49:57,040 about where it's happening, what's 1145 00:49:57,040 --> 00:49:58,559 happening, because that's how we're 1146 00:49:58,559 --> 00:50:03,359 going to fix it. And uh the last thing, 1147 00:50:03,359 --> 00:50:04,960 remember there was an old saying that it 1148 00:50:04,960 --> 00:50:07,680 takes a community to raise a child. I 1149 00:50:07,680 --> 00:50:09,440 never really agreed with that. I 1150 00:50:09,440 --> 00:50:11,920 understand the concept. Uh the community 1151 00:50:11,920 --> 00:50:14,640 does need to provide uh things to make 1152 00:50:14,640 --> 00:50:17,200 the community safe, playgrounds, 1153 00:50:17,200 --> 00:50:19,200 athletic fields, but the community does 1154 00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:21,280 not need to raise the child. The child 1155 00:50:21,280 --> 00:50:23,920 needs to be raised by their parents. And 1156 00:50:23,920 --> 00:50:26,480 we need to start expecting that parents 1157 00:50:26,480 --> 00:50:28,720 will be more involved early on because 1158 00:50:28,720 --> 00:50:30,960 if the parents are doing the best that 1159 00:50:30,960 --> 00:50:32,960 they can. If they need some support, we 1160 00:50:32,960 --> 00:50:34,960 should be there to give it. But that's 1161 00:50:34,960 --> 00:50:38,400 where a juvenile's life 1162 00:50:38,400 --> 00:50:41,599 or track begins. And if they get out in 1163 00:50:41,599 --> 00:50:42,960 the world and they've never been told 1164 00:50:42,960 --> 00:50:44,640 no, they've never been told what you're 1165 00:50:44,640 --> 00:50:46,000 doing is wrong, they've never been 1166 00:50:46,000 --> 00:50:48,079 punished by their parents for do 1167 00:50:48,079 --> 00:50:50,079 misbehaving, they're not going to listen 1168 00:50:50,079 --> 00:50:51,440 to me. They're not going to listen to 1169 00:50:51,440 --> 00:50:52,720 Lewis and PD. they're not going to 1170 00:50:52,720 --> 00:50:54,880 listen to anybody in this room. Uh, and 1171 00:50:54,880 --> 00:50:56,400 that's the problem we're running into 1172 00:50:56,400 --> 00:50:58,000 right now. There's very little respect 1173 00:50:58,000 --> 00:51:00,640 for Lewon PD when they're out there. 1174 00:51:00,640 --> 00:51:02,160 Very little respect for us in the 1175 00:51:02,160 --> 00:51:04,160 courtroom, very little respect for the 1176 00:51:04,160 --> 00:51:06,640 courtroom process itself much of the 1177 00:51:06,640 --> 00:51:10,160 time. I think all of that begins in the 1178 00:51:10,160 --> 00:51:13,040 home. Uh, and it goes to if you're 1179 00:51:13,040 --> 00:51:15,440 seeing guns, you've got to call that in. 1180 00:51:15,440 --> 00:51:16,880 Look out for your own children. Give 1181 00:51:16,880 --> 00:51:19,040 them the guidance they need. uh we'll 1182 00:51:19,040 --> 00:51:22,400 deal uh with it uh the best we can in 1183 00:51:22,400 --> 00:51:25,040 providing services and resources, but 1184 00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:27,040 once it again once it arrives on my 1185 00:51:27,040 --> 00:51:29,920 desk, I'm I'm the mean step parent 1186 00:51:29,920 --> 00:51:32,559 because it's now time to start talking 1187 00:51:32,559 --> 00:51:34,160 about accountability, responsibility, 1188 00:51:34,160 --> 00:51:36,720 and uh punitively what needs to be done 1189 00:51:36,720 --> 00:51:38,400 to make sure these kids don't kill 1190 00:51:38,400 --> 00:51:41,280 somebody or kill themselves. Uh and 1191 00:51:41,280 --> 00:51:44,880 lastly, Carly was so right. People need 1192 00:51:44,880 --> 00:51:47,119 to fund this stuff. we don't have a lot 1193 00:51:47,119 --> 00:51:49,599 of money. But if we don't start changing 1194 00:51:49,599 --> 00:51:51,599 some of the laws and statutes out of 1195 00:51:51,599 --> 00:51:53,760 Augusta, and if we don't start funding 1196 00:51:53,760 --> 00:51:56,480 the resources we need, those two things, 1197 00:51:56,480 --> 00:51:58,160 if we don't do it because we don't like 1198 00:51:58,160 --> 00:52:00,400 to spend money, we might as well just 1199 00:52:00,400 --> 00:52:02,960 watch this escalate even further. Uh so 1200 00:52:02,960 --> 00:52:05,040 we need people to take it serious in 1201 00:52:05,040 --> 00:52:07,599 Augusta, we need them to help us out uh 1202 00:52:07,599 --> 00:52:10,400 with funding and statutes. I'd love to 1203 00:52:10,400 --> 00:52:13,680 revisit the competency statute. Uh the 1204 00:52:13,680 --> 00:52:16,160 chronological immaturity is a concept 1205 00:52:16,160 --> 00:52:18,800 that I really struggle with. I think it 1206 00:52:18,800 --> 00:52:21,839 I will read a incompetency evaluation 1207 00:52:21,839 --> 00:52:25,200 and go great kids competent. I'll get to 1208 00:52:25,200 --> 00:52:27,200 the last two pages and chronological 1209 00:52:27,200 --> 00:52:29,119 immaturity will undercut it almost every 1210 00:52:29,119 --> 00:52:31,839 time. We should revisit the definition 1211 00:52:31,839 --> 00:52:33,839 at the very least. Remove it. I'm all 1212 00:52:33,839 --> 00:52:35,599 for that. I know that won't have a lot 1213 00:52:35,599 --> 00:52:37,920 of support, but we need to start doing a 1214 00:52:37,920 --> 00:52:40,720 better job. Remember juveniles, we're 1215 00:52:40,720 --> 00:52:42,400 not hurting them when we hold them 1216 00:52:42,400 --> 00:52:44,559 accountable. We're helping them because 1217 00:52:44,559 --> 00:52:47,680 we're keeping them from continuing to do 1218 00:52:47,680 --> 00:52:49,119 the things that are going to hurt 1219 00:52:49,119 --> 00:52:55,910 somebody else or themselves. 1220 00:52:55,920 --> 00:52:57,440 » Thank you, 1221 00:52:57,440 --> 00:52:59,200 >> Dan Mlan. Thank you very much for being 1222 00:52:59,200 --> 00:53:01,040 here and thank you uh for your entire 1223 00:53:01,040 --> 00:53:02,640 team and all the work you guys do. I 1224 00:53:02,640 --> 00:53:04,800 appreciate it. Uh we're going to start 1225 00:53:04,800 --> 00:53:06,720 on this side of the table. Ward one. 1226 00:53:06,720 --> 00:53:08,160 Councelor Nene, did you have any 1227 00:53:08,160 --> 00:53:10,480 questions? 1228 00:53:10,480 --> 00:53:13,520 >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, yeah, I I do. 1229 00:53:13,520 --> 00:53:17,440 Uh, about the uh uh funding sources. So, 1230 00:53:17,440 --> 00:53:22,640 the county pays for um staff at the DA's 1231 00:53:22,640 --> 00:53:23,680 office. 1232 00:53:23,680 --> 00:53:26,240 >> It does. It's we are a hybrid office is 1233 00:53:26,240 --> 00:53:28,160 how I refer to it. The attorneys are all 1234 00:53:28,160 --> 00:53:30,000 state employees. And I'd love to change 1235 00:53:30,000 --> 00:53:33,040 this as well. Uh I'd love to be have us 1236 00:53:33,040 --> 00:53:34,720 all under the state umbrella so we can 1237 00:53:34,720 --> 00:53:38,480 properly be funded, but instead uh the 1238 00:53:38,480 --> 00:53:41,760 attorneys are are funded by the state. 1239 00:53:41,760 --> 00:53:44,000 Everything else is funded by you all, 1240 00:53:44,000 --> 00:53:46,400 the count the the county of uh Andrew 1241 00:53:46,400 --> 00:53:49,520 Scoggin, Oxford, and Franklin, which is 1242 00:53:49,520 --> 00:53:51,359 a huge burden to put on you all. We do 1243 00:53:51,359 --> 00:53:53,760 our best not to be uh to spend a lot of 1244 00:53:53,760 --> 00:53:56,559 money, but we know uh reassessments are 1245 00:53:56,559 --> 00:53:58,319 out there, taxes are high, people don't 1246 00:53:58,319 --> 00:54:01,119 have a lot of money, and uh we're asking 1247 00:54:01,119 --> 00:54:02,880 for money to be able to do what we need 1248 00:54:02,880 --> 00:54:05,440 to do. Uh and it comes from the county. 1249 00:54:05,440 --> 00:54:07,760 Uh so not specifically from Lewon, but 1250 00:54:07,760 --> 00:54:09,440 as I understand it, Lewon pays a big 1251 00:54:09,440 --> 00:54:10,960 chunk of that county budget. 1252 00:54:10,960 --> 00:54:12,640 >> We not only pay a big chunk of the 1253 00:54:12,640 --> 00:54:14,880 county budget, but it also increased by 1254 00:54:14,880 --> 00:54:18,720 20% this year um for for our taxpayers. 1255 00:54:18,720 --> 00:54:21,599 Are there cases in which municipalities 1256 00:54:21,599 --> 00:54:24,960 pay for for instance an attorney? 1257 00:54:24,960 --> 00:54:28,160 >> The attorneys are all uh licensed and uh 1258 00:54:28,160 --> 00:54:29,920 we are all part of the attorney 1259 00:54:29,920 --> 00:54:32,559 general's office. Uh we've had Lewis 1260 00:54:32,559 --> 00:54:34,960 we've had police departments very kindly 1261 00:54:34,960 --> 00:54:37,280 offer to off we'll give you a 1262 00:54:37,280 --> 00:54:38,640 prosecutor. We'll put it right here in 1263 00:54:38,640 --> 00:54:41,440 our our building. Uh but it it's not 1264 00:54:41,440 --> 00:54:42,960 something we can do to the best of my 1265 00:54:42,960 --> 00:54:44,559 knowledge and if we did we need the 1266 00:54:44,559 --> 00:54:48,559 approval of the attorney general. And the last question I have is just so 1267 00:54:48,559 --> 00:54:50,400 when cases come to you, juvenile cases 1268 00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:53,359 come to you, they're they're handled uh 1269 00:54:53,359 --> 00:54:56,400 only as criminal cases, correct? 1270 00:54:56,400 --> 00:54:58,240 Are there referrals to is there any 1271 00:54:58,240 --> 00:55:01,520 system of uh family or juvenile courts 1272 00:55:01,520 --> 00:55:06,240 that are that are not uh 1273 00:55:06,240 --> 00:55:08,160 I I assume normally you're dealing with 1274 00:55:08,160 --> 00:55:10,319 only felonies. Um if you could just 1275 00:55:10,319 --> 00:55:13,520 speak to to how that's divided out. No, 1276 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:15,440 that we we deal with every juvenile 1277 00:55:15,440 --> 00:55:18,400 crime that comes in. Uh we have juvenile 1278 00:55:18,400 --> 00:55:19,599 community corrections officers who 1279 00:55:19,599 --> 00:55:21,680 oftentimes will review the cases, the 1280 00:55:21,680 --> 00:55:24,240 low-level cases in advance. And I should 1281 00:55:24,240 --> 00:55:26,160 I I think it's worth noting we have some 1282 00:55:26,160 --> 00:55:28,160 really incredible juvenile community 1283 00:55:28,160 --> 00:55:30,559 corrections officers here in Andrew 1284 00:55:30,559 --> 00:55:32,640 Scoggin County. I know they work really 1285 00:55:32,640 --> 00:55:34,720 hard uh and they're very supportive of 1286 00:55:34,720 --> 00:55:36,480 what we do and they've met with Lewon 1287 00:55:36,480 --> 00:55:40,000 PD. Uh but they will review cases uh 1288 00:55:40,000 --> 00:55:41,599 some of the low-level cases up front. 1289 00:55:41,599 --> 00:55:44,079 they may handle them through resources 1290 00:55:44,079 --> 00:55:47,359 and uh uh diversion programs before they 1291 00:55:47,359 --> 00:55:49,760 even get to our uh desk. But if a 1292 00:55:49,760 --> 00:55:52,480 juvenile doesn't cooperate andor there's 1293 00:55:52,480 --> 00:55:54,960 a history there, uh we get everything 1294 00:55:54,960 --> 00:55:59,040 from uh disorderly conduct to a bag 1295 00:55:59,040 --> 00:56:00,960 assault with a weapon. Uh the 1296 00:56:00,960 --> 00:56:02,319 interesting thing about the juvenile 1297 00:56:02,319 --> 00:56:04,160 system as well is you can get the same 1298 00:56:04,160 --> 00:56:06,400 sentence for all of those. uh they carry 1299 00:56:06,400 --> 00:56:08,960 classifications on the just like they 1300 00:56:08,960 --> 00:56:11,920 would with the uh adult, you know, class 1301 00:56:11,920 --> 00:56:15,680 ABC D or E. Uh but you can get the same 1302 00:56:15,680 --> 00:56:17,520 sentence for a class E disorderly 1303 00:56:17,520 --> 00:56:19,119 conduct that you can get for a class A 1304 00:56:19,119 --> 00:56:22,079 offense, which is uh a commitment. Uh so 1305 00:56:22,079 --> 00:56:23,839 it's it's a completely different beast, 1306 00:56:23,839 --> 00:56:27,280 which is why we need a prosecutor who 1307 00:56:27,280 --> 00:56:30,480 really understands the code, title 15. 1308 00:56:30,480 --> 00:56:34,240 Uh and right now uh we understand it but 1309 00:56:34,240 --> 00:56:36,480 we're not uh we're switching gears to 1310 00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:39,440 adult adult uh juvenile adult juvenile 1311 00:56:39,440 --> 00:56:41,280 and it's really something that deserves 1312 00:56:41,280 --> 00:56:45,109 specific focus. 1313 00:56:45,119 --> 00:56:47,200 » Councelor Long Champs. 1314 00:56:47,200 --> 00:56:49,314 >> Thank you, Mayor. 1315 00:56:49,314 --> 00:56:51,430 [clears throat] 1316 00:56:51,440 --> 00:56:54,000 » Thank you so much uh for being here and 1317 00:56:54,000 --> 00:56:56,079 sharing all of the information that you 1318 00:56:56,079 --> 00:56:58,960 did. Um that it was a lot it's a lot to 1319 00:56:58,960 --> 00:57:00,480 digest. 1320 00:57:00,480 --> 00:57:04,240 Um, I think you have said it very direct 1321 00:57:04,240 --> 00:57:07,760 and very clear. Uh, your office is doing 1322 00:57:07,760 --> 00:57:10,640 everything they can uh when criminals uh 1323 00:57:10,640 --> 00:57:13,440 get to your desk, but you're lacking 1324 00:57:13,440 --> 00:57:17,200 staff. Um, and I think a lot of that, as 1325 00:57:17,200 --> 00:57:21,440 you shared, is uh pay scale. Um, the 1326 00:57:21,440 --> 00:57:24,799 truth is is Augusta needs to do better. 1327 00:57:24,799 --> 00:57:26,480 Um, 1328 00:57:26,480 --> 00:57:29,280 we're saying that as loudly as we can. 1329 00:57:29,280 --> 00:57:31,119 You hear that we're suffering here in 1330 00:57:31,119 --> 00:57:34,640 Lewon. You hear our date, our DA's 1331 00:57:34,640 --> 00:57:37,599 office basically crying out that they 1332 00:57:37,599 --> 00:57:39,760 are overloaded. 1333 00:57:39,760 --> 00:57:43,359 If you don't help us, shame on you. So, 1334 00:57:43,359 --> 00:57:45,359 the person that sent you the text, which 1335 00:57:45,359 --> 00:57:46,799 you do not have to share the name with 1336 00:57:46,799 --> 00:57:50,960 me, nor am I asking you to, but I hope 1337 00:57:50,960 --> 00:57:53,359 that as soon as you leave this table, 1338 00:57:53,359 --> 00:57:55,520 they set up a meeting with you because 1339 00:57:55,520 --> 00:58:01,990 we need it. Thank you. 1340 00:58:02,000 --> 00:58:03,680 And I know this wasn't a question, but I 1341 00:58:03,680 --> 00:58:04,400 do 1342 00:58:04,400 --> 00:58:05,520 >> Sorry. Go ahead. Uh 1343 00:58:05,520 --> 00:58:07,520 >> I just feel like it's I I'm speaking 1344 00:58:07,520 --> 00:58:10,000 about Andrew Scoggin because uh that's 1345 00:58:10,000 --> 00:58:11,760 where we are. Uh and that's what you all 1346 00:58:11,760 --> 00:58:13,599 care about. Uh but I do think it's 1347 00:58:13,599 --> 00:58:15,200 important to say this is true of every 1348 00:58:15,200 --> 00:58:17,520 district attorney's office. Uh they all 1349 00:58:17,520 --> 00:58:20,000 need uh help. So it's a much broader 1350 00:58:20,000 --> 00:58:21,760 problem. Uh and I just think it's 1351 00:58:21,760 --> 00:58:23,680 important uh especially when other 1352 00:58:23,680 --> 00:58:25,280 people are listening that people don't 1353 00:58:25,280 --> 00:58:27,359 think I'm saying this is just our 1354 00:58:27,359 --> 00:58:29,920 problem. uh the help is most necessary 1355 00:58:29,920 --> 00:58:32,000 because it affects every prosecutor's 1356 00:58:32,000 --> 00:58:34,400 office across the state. 1357 00:58:34,400 --> 00:58:35,599 >> Council Long Champs. 1358 00:58:35,599 --> 00:58:38,880 >> Thank you, Mayor. Um so I would also 1359 00:58:38,880 --> 00:58:41,599 just like to say that um I I don't think 1360 00:58:41,599 --> 00:58:43,440 this is just a problem that's happening 1361 00:58:43,440 --> 00:58:45,200 in Lewon. I think it's, you know, 1362 00:58:45,200 --> 00:58:47,359 happening throughout our state. So 1363 00:58:47,359 --> 00:58:50,960 again, uh this the the state needs to do 1364 00:58:50,960 --> 00:58:54,640 better in helping. Thank you. 1365 00:58:54,640 --> 00:58:56,480 >> Councelor Haramman, did you have 1366 00:58:56,480 --> 00:58:57,520 something? 1367 00:58:57,520 --> 00:58:59,760 Yes, thank you. Thanks for being here. 1368 00:58:59,760 --> 00:59:02,160 Um, I wondered if I could learn more 1369 00:59:02,160 --> 00:59:04,640 about the non-competent designations. 1370 00:59:04,640 --> 00:59:09,119 Um, who makes those and what happens 1371 00:59:09,119 --> 00:59:11,599 when that designation is made and are 1372 00:59:11,599 --> 00:59:14,000 you seeing that happening at a different 1373 00:59:14,000 --> 00:59:17,119 rate than in the past or has it been 1374 00:59:17,119 --> 00:59:19,680 fairly steady? 1375 00:59:19,680 --> 00:59:22,079 >> So, it's different from when I handled 1376 00:59:22,079 --> 00:59:25,280 juveniles 15 years ago. So yes, uh I 1377 00:59:25,280 --> 00:59:27,839 haven't done juveniles specifically 1378 00:59:27,839 --> 00:59:30,640 uh for about 15 years. So when I don't 1379 00:59:30,640 --> 00:59:33,200 know how recently it's changed, uh but 1380 00:59:33,200 --> 00:59:36,160 this this system uh and the way the 1381 00:59:36,160 --> 00:59:39,040 evaluations are interpreted uh does seem 1382 00:59:39,040 --> 00:59:40,960 very new to me and I could be wrong. It 1383 00:59:40,960 --> 00:59:45,440 could be 5 to 10 years old, but it's newer than when I last did it. And 1384 00:59:45,440 --> 00:59:48,160 I think what's problematic about it is 1385 00:59:48,160 --> 00:59:51,040 uh it runs through some of the same 1386 00:59:51,040 --> 00:59:55,440 criteria uh that the adult system would do. The ability to help your 1387 00:59:55,440 --> 00:59:57,200 attorney to understand the charges to 1388 00:59:57,200 --> 00:59:59,440 understand what people are doing uh to 1389 00:59:59,440 --> 01:00:00,640 be able to communicate with your 1390 01:00:00,640 --> 01:00:03,119 attorney to appear in court. Uh all of 1391 01:00:03,119 --> 01:00:04,640 those things just like they might be in 1392 01:00:04,640 --> 01:00:07,040 the adult analysis are there. But those 1393 01:00:07,040 --> 01:00:10,640 are the parts that I regularly 1394 01:00:10,640 --> 01:00:14,240 that I see frequently I should say uh 1395 01:00:14,240 --> 01:00:19,359 seem to be met. But the juvenile what I see that's different uh is that 1396 01:00:19,359 --> 01:00:22,720 chronological immaturity component. And 1397 01:00:22,720 --> 01:00:25,119 I think when they get to that uh again 1398 01:00:25,119 --> 01:00:26,880 if I'm speaking freely it I mean 1399 01:00:26,880 --> 01:00:29,599 sometimes they'll include things like he 1400 01:00:29,599 --> 01:00:32,079 the child the juvenile misbehaves at 1401 01:00:32,079 --> 01:00:34,319 school. They have a they don't pay 1402 01:00:34,319 --> 01:00:36,720 attention. And I'm thinking you just 1403 01:00:36,720 --> 01:00:39,200 described my children. Uh but what 1404 01:00:39,200 --> 01:00:40,960 ultimately happens is it turns into a 1405 01:00:40,960 --> 01:00:44,079 non-competent because of an age. And I 1406 01:00:44,079 --> 01:00:46,000 think that's really dangerous. Uh 1407 01:00:46,000 --> 01:00:47,920 because we're failing the kids when we 1408 01:00:47,920 --> 01:00:50,480 do that. Understand I'm not picking on 1409 01:00:50,480 --> 01:00:51,599 uh the people that are making the 1410 01:00:51,599 --> 01:00:54,480 analysis or the good heart or the uh 1411 01:00:54,480 --> 01:00:56,720 intention behind it. I just really 1412 01:00:56,720 --> 01:00:58,240 believe and we're seeing the escalation 1413 01:00:58,240 --> 01:01:00,559 now that we're failing the children if 1414 01:01:00,559 --> 01:01:01,599 that's what you want to call them, the 1415 01:01:01,599 --> 01:01:05,040 juveniles, the kids. Uh but it's really 1416 01:01:05,040 --> 01:01:07,680 that component. Uh it can be trauma. It 1417 01:01:07,680 --> 01:01:09,119 can be trauma you experienced when you 1418 01:01:09,119 --> 01:01:12,160 were three years old. Uh that you know 1419 01:01:12,160 --> 01:01:17,200 now 15 or 10 14 years later uh they're 1420 01:01:17,200 --> 01:01:20,319 using as part of an analysis uh to find 1421 01:01:20,319 --> 01:01:23,839 incompetence. I my assessment is and 1422 01:01:23,839 --> 01:01:32,400 it's state forensics uh that does it's a state um entity. uh and again I'm 1423 01:01:32,400 --> 01:01:35,280 not picking at any individual analysis 1424 01:01:35,280 --> 01:01:38,079 an uh evaluator 1425 01:01:38,079 --> 01:01:40,799 uh but uh they do them uh they make 1426 01:01:40,799 --> 01:01:42,559 their analysis they're very educated 1427 01:01:42,559 --> 01:01:44,640 they know they know that uh the 1428 01:01:44,640 --> 01:01:46,799 psychology and all of those things that 1429 01:01:46,799 --> 01:01:50,079 uh one might say I don't uh but I also 1430 01:01:50,079 --> 01:01:51,839 feel sometimes that what I'm actually 1431 01:01:51,839 --> 01:01:54,480 seeing are juveniles duping uh 1432 01:01:54,480 --> 01:01:57,200 malingering doing 1433 01:01:57,200 --> 01:01:59,440 saying what needs to be said to get to 1434 01:01:59,440 --> 01:02:01,599 an outcome come uh and once we get to 1435 01:02:01,599 --> 01:02:05,520 that outcome uh I think it starts to 1436 01:02:05,520 --> 01:02:07,760 become a slippery slope uh if they make 1437 01:02:07,760 --> 01:02:10,079 that finding of incompetent 1438 01:02:10,079 --> 01:02:13,200 u and we we get to revisiting it I think 1439 01:02:13,200 --> 01:02:18,000 it's 60 days 180 days a year uh but 1440 01:02:18,000 --> 01:02:19,680 after the year and and that's if they 1441 01:02:19,680 --> 01:02:22,319 find there's a substantial likelihood uh 1442 01:02:22,319 --> 01:02:24,880 that they they might be able to be 1443 01:02:24,880 --> 01:02:26,400 competent so they have to make that 1444 01:02:26,400 --> 01:02:30,160 finding as well um and that is in there 1445 01:02:30,160 --> 01:02:32,480 a lot. The part I don't understand is 1446 01:02:32,480 --> 01:02:36,319 you see a 13-year-old kid uh get that an 1447 01:02:36,319 --> 01:02:38,240 analysis and when I read it, the reason 1448 01:02:38,240 --> 01:02:40,400 they're finding is chronological 1449 01:02:40,400 --> 01:02:43,920 immaturity. And I am not a doctor, but 1450 01:02:43,920 --> 01:02:45,440 I'm thinking in a year they're going to 1451 01:02:45,440 --> 01:02:46,960 be 14. They're still going to be 1452 01:02:46,960 --> 01:02:48,079 incompetent. I don't even know why 1453 01:02:48,079 --> 01:02:49,520 you're putting us through the nonsense 1454 01:02:49,520 --> 01:02:53,839 of uh they might be because really it's 1455 01:02:53,839 --> 01:02:56,799 14 and under. I've seen them in that 15 1456 01:02:56,799 --> 01:03:00,720 to 16 range using the same language. Um, 1457 01:03:00,720 --> 01:03:03,040 and I I just think it's a system that we 1458 01:03:03,040 --> 01:03:05,280 should all take a step back, relook at 1459 01:03:05,280 --> 01:03:08,720 it, apply it to the way uh, children, 1460 01:03:08,720 --> 01:03:11,760 juveniles, adolescence are acting today. 1461 01:03:11,760 --> 01:03:14,559 Uh, and really ask ourselves if we're 1462 01:03:14,559 --> 01:03:16,480 helping them uh, or if we're not just 1463 01:03:16,480 --> 01:03:18,319 making more excuses for them. Because 1464 01:03:18,319 --> 01:03:19,920 this is the the other thing I'll say 1465 01:03:19,920 --> 01:03:23,119 about that, councelor Haramman, is the 1466 01:03:23,119 --> 01:03:25,440 other thing we see, and I we see this 1467 01:03:25,440 --> 01:03:28,240 way too often, is somebody will be 1468 01:03:28,240 --> 01:03:30,240 incompetent, put back out on the street, 1469 01:03:30,240 --> 01:03:31,760 put right back in the same environment 1470 01:03:31,760 --> 01:03:33,280 they just came from, the same 1471 01:03:33,280 --> 01:03:35,039 neighborhood, the same family, the same 1472 01:03:35,039 --> 01:03:37,280 friends, nothing's changed. We're 1473 01:03:37,280 --> 01:03:39,200 setting them up for failure. They fail 1474 01:03:39,200 --> 01:03:41,440 again. Uh we've seen it where and I 1475 01:03:41,440 --> 01:03:43,200 think Chief talked about someone who'd 1476 01:03:43,200 --> 01:03:44,960 been caught and released five times. 1477 01:03:44,960 --> 01:03:48,880 We're seeing incompetence one two uh 1478 01:03:48,880 --> 01:03:53,039 times uh in the juvenile system and when 1479 01:03:53,039 --> 01:03:55,359 they turn 18 two months later they're 1480 01:03:55,359 --> 01:03:58,079 competent. Uh and my thought is they 1481 01:03:58,079 --> 01:04:00,079 were always competent uh and we failed 1482 01:04:00,079 --> 01:04:01,839 them and now they're going to prison. 1483 01:04:01,839 --> 01:04:03,760 And I think that's the problem with the 1484 01:04:03,760 --> 01:04:06,559 system right now. 1485 01:04:06,559 --> 01:04:08,720 Thank you, 1486 01:04:08,720 --> 01:04:10,400 >> councelor Roy. And if I can get 1487 01:04:10,400 --> 01:04:12,240 counselor to speak uh directly into the 1488 01:04:12,240 --> 01:04:14,079 mic so the entire audience can hear. 1489 01:04:14,079 --> 01:04:16,640 Thank you. 1490 01:04:16,640 --> 01:04:19,200 >> Thank you. Uh my questions were answered 1491 01:04:19,200 --> 01:04:21,760 at this time. Thank you, councelor 1492 01:04:21,760 --> 01:04:22,559 Noble. 1493 01:04:22,559 --> 01:04:24,799 >> Mine were also it was just about how 1494 01:04:24,799 --> 01:04:29,200 they figured out the competency part. 1495 01:04:29,200 --> 01:04:31,200 >> Councelor Chidum, 1496 01:04:31,200 --> 01:04:33,280 thank you. I appreciate your uh 1497 01:04:33,280 --> 01:04:35,440 presentation. 1498 01:04:35,440 --> 01:04:37,520 I understand that the district 1499 01:04:37,520 --> 01:04:39,200 attorney's office is underfunded, 1500 01:04:39,200 --> 01:04:42,960 understaffed, overworked. Um, this 1501 01:04:42,960 --> 01:04:45,039 discussion tonight is specifically about 1502 01:04:45,039 --> 01:04:48,160 gun violence in Lewon. And 1503 01:04:48,160 --> 01:04:49,920 first question to you is, do we see gun 1504 01:04:49,920 --> 01:04:52,880 violence in South Paris, in Oxford, in 1505 01:04:52,880 --> 01:04:54,400 Auburn, 1506 01:04:54,400 --> 01:04:57,680 or is it nearly exclusively, if not 1507 01:04:57,680 --> 01:05:00,240 exclusively, uh, a creature of Lewon, 1508 01:05:00,240 --> 01:05:04,240 Maine? I I think in Lewon we have or in 1509 01:05:04,240 --> 01:05:07,359 Androskogan County. Um I don't I didn't 1510 01:05:07,359 --> 01:05:10,160 break it down by city. Uh but in 1511 01:05:10,160 --> 01:05:13,039 Androskogen County we have 29 juvenile 1512 01:05:13,039 --> 01:05:15,520 cases pending uh that involve firearms. 1513 01:05:15,520 --> 01:05:17,200 They're not all violent crimes. They 1514 01:05:17,200 --> 01:05:19,520 might be concealed weapons, but 29 1515 01:05:19,520 --> 01:05:22,640 pending. Uh in the other two counties, a 1516 01:05:22,640 --> 01:05:25,680 much lower uh number, but it's also a 1517 01:05:25,680 --> 01:05:27,839 much lower population. It's a much more 1518 01:05:27,839 --> 01:05:29,839 rural area. quite frankly, they're 1519 01:05:29,839 --> 01:05:30,960 probably doing things with guns they 1520 01:05:30,960 --> 01:05:32,240 shouldn't be, but nobody knows because 1521 01:05:32,240 --> 01:05:34,079 they're out in the woods. Uh, but when 1522 01:05:34,079 --> 01:05:36,720 you're in downtown in a highly populated 1523 01:05:36,720 --> 01:05:39,920 area and you're firing off guns, uh, 1524 01:05:39,920 --> 01:05:41,920 people notice, people hear it and they 1525 01:05:41,920 --> 01:05:43,200 want law enforcement to do something 1526 01:05:43,200 --> 01:05:44,799 about it and then they want us to do 1527 01:05:44,799 --> 01:05:46,640 something about it. So, I think the 1528 01:05:46,640 --> 01:05:48,880 answer is we see it more here. Uh, but 1529 01:05:48,880 --> 01:05:51,440 that's probably because it's in a highly 1530 01:05:51,440 --> 01:05:54,640 visible populated area. 1531 01:05:54,640 --> 01:05:55,760 >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Well, that sort 1532 01:05:55,760 --> 01:05:59,359 of leads into my question about what about Lewon is an attractor for 1533 01:05:59,359 --> 01:06:01,920 this kind of behavior. Um, which is is a 1534 01:06:01,920 --> 01:06:05,599 question I'm going to have for everybody in this room. Actually, we 1535 01:06:05,599 --> 01:06:09,359 have 150 people in this room, 150 minds 1536 01:06:09,359 --> 01:06:11,599 that we could be applying to solve this 1537 01:06:11,599 --> 01:06:14,000 problem. Um, I don't doubt that we're 1538 01:06:14,000 --> 01:06:16,640 all trying, but we obviously need to try 1539 01:06:16,640 --> 01:06:20,000 harder. And I don't think it would be 1540 01:06:20,000 --> 01:06:21,520 wonderful if we could throw money at 1541 01:06:21,520 --> 01:06:23,119 this problem. That's a that's a poor 1542 01:06:23,119 --> 01:06:25,039 phrase, but we do not have the money to 1543 01:06:25,039 --> 01:06:27,280 do that. That's a constraint that our 1544 01:06:27,280 --> 01:06:29,920 citizens have given to us. We need to 1545 01:06:29,920 --> 01:06:32,640 figure out a way to address this problem 1546 01:06:32,640 --> 01:06:35,280 without financial resources, at least 1547 01:06:35,280 --> 01:06:37,520 financial resources coming from Lewon 1548 01:06:37,520 --> 01:06:39,920 taxpayers. Uh we've already cut budgets 1549 01:06:39,920 --> 01:06:41,920 to the bone. We've seen dramatic 1550 01:06:41,920 --> 01:06:42,400 increases. 1551 01:06:42,400 --> 01:06:44,240 >> Excuse me. Uh councelor, uh there's 1552 01:06:44,240 --> 01:06:45,520 going to be time for general comments 1553 01:06:45,520 --> 01:06:46,240 later. Do you have 1554 01:06:46,240 --> 01:06:47,920 >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for for bringing 1555 01:06:47,920 --> 01:06:50,559 me back on track. Yes. Uh what specific 1556 01:06:50,559 --> 01:06:53,280 actions can the city council of Lewon 1557 01:06:53,280 --> 01:06:56,640 Maine do to assist you in uh performing 1558 01:06:56,640 --> 01:07:03,750 your duties and your responsibilities? 1559 01:07:03,760 --> 01:07:08,240 I'm not sure uh directly how much uh can 1560 01:07:08,240 --> 01:07:10,640 be done uh again directly with our 1561 01:07:10,640 --> 01:07:12,799 office but I think the things that are 1562 01:07:12,799 --> 01:07:15,119 helpful uh and we've heard lots of 1563 01:07:15,119 --> 01:07:17,440 people talk about these these issues but 1564 01:07:17,440 --> 01:07:20,000 it would be to provide alternatives for 1565 01:07:20,000 --> 01:07:22,640 kids within the community uh whether it 1566 01:07:22,640 --> 01:07:25,119 be fields after school activities I know 1567 01:07:25,119 --> 01:07:28,079 that uh that a lot of that is being done 1568 01:07:28,079 --> 01:07:31,599 uh but things that occupy kids, uh, 1569 01:07:31,599 --> 01:07:34,720 adolescence, uh, other than social 1570 01:07:34,720 --> 01:07:37,119 media. If you can pass an ordinance that 1571 01:07:37,119 --> 01:07:39,119 they can't have a phone and it, uh, look 1572 01:07:39,119 --> 01:07:40,480 at social media, that would probably 1573 01:07:40,480 --> 01:07:43,280 solve a lot of your problems. Uh, but if 1574 01:07:43,280 --> 01:07:45,359 you can't do that, uh, then you have to 1575 01:07:45,359 --> 01:07:47,760 offer them alternatives. Uh, they're 1576 01:07:47,760 --> 01:07:51,440 kids. Uh, and I know I was just saying I don't like to call them that, but 1577 01:07:51,440 --> 01:07:53,039 before they get to my desk, they're 1578 01:07:53,039 --> 01:07:55,920 kids. Uh, and again, I have my own. uh 1579 01:07:55,920 --> 01:07:57,760 and they're silly and they do stupid 1580 01:07:57,760 --> 01:07:59,680 things and they make stupid mistakes, 1581 01:07:59,680 --> 01:08:01,039 but they should do it in a way that 1582 01:08:01,039 --> 01:08:03,280 doesn't endanger everyone around them. 1583 01:08:03,280 --> 01:08:04,799 Uh they should ride a bike without a 1584 01:08:04,799 --> 01:08:07,599 helmet and not shoot a gun in downtown. 1585 01:08:07,599 --> 01:08:10,559 uh but if we can offer them things to do 1586 01:08:10,559 --> 01:08:13,200 uh or you all can do that uh and again 1587 01:08:13,200 --> 01:08:16,080 I'll say it uh and I 1588 01:08:16,080 --> 01:08:17,920 mean no disrespect by this but if this 1589 01:08:17,920 --> 01:08:20,719 committee can stay together uh and not 1590 01:08:20,719 --> 01:08:24,400 uh infight over things uh and really uh 1591 01:08:24,400 --> 01:08:26,319 remember that we're all trying to do the 1592 01:08:26,319 --> 01:08:29,600 same thing uh and help uh the kids out 1593 01:08:29,600 --> 01:08:32,640 in the community uh there are things 1594 01:08:32,640 --> 01:08:34,400 that can be done after school ba 1595 01:08:34,400 --> 01:08:37,440 basketball uh extracurricular activities 1596 01:08:37,440 --> 01:08:39,759 uh whatever you can be done that may not 1597 01:08:39,759 --> 01:08:42,640 even be super expensive. Uh just opening 1598 01:08:42,640 --> 01:08:47,279 up options uh to them. Uh work programs 1599 01:08:47,279 --> 01:08:49,679 uh things that help build some instill 1600 01:08:49,679 --> 01:08:51,520 within them a desire to work and make 1601 01:08:51,520 --> 01:08:53,600 money for themselves. Uh things that 1602 01:08:53,600 --> 01:08:56,080 they can do around town. Uh I know I've 1603 01:08:56,080 --> 01:08:58,480 had a conversation with somebody about 1604 01:08:58,480 --> 01:09:01,199 uh something like that. even if it's uh 1605 01:09:01,199 --> 01:09:03,920 school kids helping with graffiti or tra 1606 01:09:03,920 --> 01:09:05,759 I mean things that that you can get them 1607 01:09:05,759 --> 01:09:08,400 out there uh get them working build that 1608 01:09:08,400 --> 01:09:11,920 part of their personality uh or that 1609 01:09:11,920 --> 01:09:14,239 part of their character uh and provide 1610 01:09:14,239 --> 01:09:16,480 them things to do that are fun. Uh I was 1611 01:09:16,480 --> 01:09:18,719 at the basilica and my family were 1612 01:09:18,719 --> 01:09:21,199 getting ready to go into church and uh I 1613 01:09:21,199 --> 01:09:24,000 saw three kids playing soccer in the 1614 01:09:24,000 --> 01:09:25,920 parking lot that was completely lined 1615 01:09:25,920 --> 01:09:28,239 with vehicles uh losing the ball under 1616 01:09:28,239 --> 01:09:31,040 the under the uh the vehicles and then 1617 01:09:31,040 --> 01:09:32,640 being worried they might get in trouble 1618 01:09:32,640 --> 01:09:34,799 to go grab it. And all I can think is 1619 01:09:34,799 --> 01:09:36,000 there's going to be a better place for 1620 01:09:36,000 --> 01:09:38,159 them to play soccer uh because it it's 1621 01:09:38,159 --> 01:09:40,560 pretty clear they want to. Uh so I think 1622 01:09:40,560 --> 01:09:42,159 if we provide them the things that they 1623 01:09:42,159 --> 01:09:46,960 need uh to to be able to be active in 1624 01:09:46,960 --> 01:09:48,880 healthy activities, 1625 01:09:48,880 --> 01:09:50,880 I mean I know that's simple answer, 1626 01:09:50,880 --> 01:09:52,719 easier said than done, but I think 1627 01:09:52,719 --> 01:09:55,840 that's a part of it. 1628 01:09:55,840 --> 01:09:58,239 >> Thank you. And one follow-up question. 1629 01:09:58,239 --> 01:10:00,400 Um 1630 01:10:00,400 --> 01:10:02,320 these children, these kids, these 1631 01:10:02,320 --> 01:10:05,760 juveniles, uh have spare time. Juveniles 1632 01:10:05,760 --> 01:10:07,760 do silly things in spare time, but they 1633 01:10:07,760 --> 01:10:10,560 also are incentivized. Have you, in your 1634 01:10:10,560 --> 01:10:12,880 experience, found that there are drivers 1635 01:10:12,880 --> 01:10:15,360 of this behavior. For example, I'm 1636 01:10:15,360 --> 01:10:17,520 leading the question now. Uh, do we have 1637 01:10:17,520 --> 01:10:19,840 drug activity that's encouraging our 1638 01:10:19,840 --> 01:10:22,960 youth in Lewon to go down these paths 1639 01:10:22,960 --> 01:10:24,960 that we're trying to block off so 1640 01:10:24,960 --> 01:10:27,920 diligently right now? 1641 01:10:27,920 --> 01:10:29,760 >> So, I don't know if I can speak to that 1642 01:10:29,760 --> 01:10:32,239 on the grander scale, but do I see it in 1643 01:10:32,239 --> 01:10:35,199 situational instances? of course uh 1644 01:10:35,199 --> 01:10:37,440 there's drugs uh there's peer pressure 1645 01:10:37,440 --> 01:10:39,600 there's social media there's all kinds 1646 01:10:39,600 --> 01:10:42,560 of bad influences out there uh once they 1647 01:10:42,560 --> 01:10:45,679 leave their home which again uh is why I 1648 01:10:45,679 --> 01:10:48,719 think that that nurturing belongs begins 1649 01:10:48,719 --> 01:10:50,560 and should stay on some level within the 1650 01:10:50,560 --> 01:10:52,400 home uh because once they get out 1651 01:10:52,400 --> 01:10:54,719 they're exposed to uh again bad 1652 01:10:54,719 --> 01:10:56,880 influences peer pressure a desire to 1653 01:10:56,880 --> 01:10:59,520 elevate themselves within the community 1654 01:10:59,520 --> 01:11:04,080 um we I talked a little bit about not 1655 01:11:04,080 --> 01:11:05,920 being afraid being not being politically 1656 01:11:05,920 --> 01:11:07,199 correct and being afraid to say 1657 01:11:07,199 --> 01:11:09,840 something. I had a conversation uh once 1658 01:11:09,840 --> 01:11:12,560 about how to fix uh things and I used 1659 01:11:12,560 --> 01:11:14,880 the terms gangs and I was told to stop 1660 01:11:14,880 --> 01:11:16,880 saying that because that encourages 1661 01:11:16,880 --> 01:11:20,080 people uh to think they're in a gang and 1662 01:11:20,080 --> 01:11:22,159 I'm thinking they are in gangs. I don't 1663 01:11:22,159 --> 01:11:24,159 know what you what what part of that you 1664 01:11:24,159 --> 01:11:25,760 don't understand but uh we need to call 1665 01:11:25,760 --> 01:11:28,320 it what it is. Uh and that's what they 1666 01:11:28,320 --> 01:11:30,320 see. So they see that they see a free 1667 01:11:30,320 --> 01:11:32,159 pair of Nike sneakers to do something 1668 01:11:32,159 --> 01:11:34,960 stupid that they otherwise can't afford. 1669 01:11:34,960 --> 01:11:36,880 And that's a that's an adolescent thing. 1670 01:11:36,880 --> 01:11:38,640 We all could fall susceptible to that. 1671 01:11:38,640 --> 01:11:41,920 It's it's economics. It's impo it's it's 1672 01:11:41,920 --> 01:11:45,199 poverty. It's being in an area 1673 01:11:45,199 --> 01:11:47,360 very urban area that doesn't have a lot 1674 01:11:47,360 --> 01:11:50,400 to offer uh for outdoor activities. Uh 1675 01:11:50,400 --> 01:11:52,560 but yes, you see that on a small scale. 1676 01:11:52,560 --> 01:11:55,679 Drugs is always a problem. Uh drugs come 1677 01:11:55,679 --> 01:11:58,239 with guns. Guns come with drugs. So they 1678 01:11:58,239 --> 01:12:00,159 do interrelate I think on some level. I 1679 01:12:00,159 --> 01:12:03,440 don't know on what percentage of cases. 1680 01:12:03,440 --> 01:12:05,760 >> Thank you very much 1681 01:12:05,760 --> 01:12:07,440 councelor Martell. 1682 01:12:07,440 --> 01:12:09,199 >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Thank you district 1683 01:12:09,199 --> 01:12:11,280 attorney uh man for being here your 1684 01:12:11,280 --> 01:12:16,320 presentation. Um first question. So 1685 01:12:16,320 --> 01:12:18,640 I I was told I I I guess you're the best 1686 01:12:18,640 --> 01:12:20,960 person to answer this. Uh I had a 1687 01:12:20,960 --> 01:12:22,400 conversation as someone relayed to me 1688 01:12:22,400 --> 01:12:24,800 that they believe there were statutes uh 1689 01:12:24,800 --> 01:12:26,800 from Augusta that limit how long a 1690 01:12:26,800 --> 01:12:29,920 juvenile can be held prior to conviction 1691 01:12:29,920 --> 01:12:34,800 and sentencing on a crime. Is there any truth to that or is there anything 1692 01:12:34,800 --> 01:12:36,480 uh I guess that what I'm trying to dig 1693 01:12:36,480 --> 01:12:38,320 down on is how are these kids shooting 1694 01:12:38,320 --> 01:12:40,880 up our city on Friday and back at the 1695 01:12:40,880 --> 01:12:43,120 dinner table on Monday so consistently 1696 01:12:43,120 --> 01:12:45,679 or maybe not at the dinner table but out 1697 01:12:45,679 --> 01:12:48,239 shooting again on Monday? 1698 01:12:48,239 --> 01:12:49,679 >> No. And I I think that's one of the 1699 01:12:49,679 --> 01:12:51,440 greatest frustrations. Uh and I think 1700 01:12:51,440 --> 01:12:53,760 you will hear a speaker that will know 1701 01:12:53,760 --> 01:12:55,520 much more about the statutes as they 1702 01:12:55,520 --> 01:12:58,000 relate to DOC. I think uh they will have 1703 01:12:58,000 --> 01:13:00,960 a probably a better uh more meaningful 1704 01:13:00,960 --> 01:13:04,400 answer. Um you can hold a kid, a kid can 1705 01:13:04,400 --> 01:13:06,880 be detained at Long Creek uh pending 1706 01:13:06,880 --> 01:13:08,880 hearing. It's just about the criteria 1707 01:13:08,880 --> 01:13:10,880 that needs to be met. And uh the 1708 01:13:10,880 --> 01:13:13,360 juvenile justice system is about least 1709 01:13:13,360 --> 01:13:15,760 restrictive. Uh so as long as there's an 1710 01:13:15,760 --> 01:13:18,640 alternative uh and I think again 1711 01:13:18,640 --> 01:13:21,280 personally maybe to a flaw as long as 1712 01:13:21,280 --> 01:13:25,040 there's an alternative an aunt cousin uh 1713 01:13:25,040 --> 01:13:27,199 a friend that's responsible uh the 1714 01:13:27,199 --> 01:13:29,679 JCCOs's are going to do their best uh to 1715 01:13:29,679 --> 01:13:32,159 find a place for them not to be in Long 1716 01:13:32,159 --> 01:13:34,320 Creek because there is a belief uh that 1717 01:13:34,320 --> 01:13:36,960 they don't really get a lot of positive 1718 01:13:36,960 --> 01:13:39,040 experiences in Long Creek and they are 1719 01:13:39,040 --> 01:13:40,960 still juveniles. I'm not defending it 1720 01:13:40,960 --> 01:13:42,480 but that's I think that's sort of the 1721 01:13:42,480 --> 01:13:45,360 philosophy. Uh so no I I don't there is 1722 01:13:45,360 --> 01:13:47,199 no no rule that says they can't be 1723 01:13:47,199 --> 01:13:49,520 detained until a hearing. Uh in fact it 1724 01:13:49,520 --> 01:13:53,520 does happen. Uh but there are there are 1725 01:13:53,520 --> 01:13:55,679 trigger dates you know after they are 1726 01:13:55,679 --> 01:13:58,320 picked up 48 hours to be seen by a 1727 01:13:58,320 --> 01:14:00,640 judge. Um 1728 01:14:00,640 --> 01:14:03,040 quite frankly if a juvenile is detained 1729 01:14:03,040 --> 01:14:06,400 there are regular uh reassessments or we 1730 01:14:06,400 --> 01:14:09,199 revisit it every 30 days. uh next 1731 01:14:09,199 --> 01:14:10,719 juvenile date, we're looking at it again 1732 01:14:10,719 --> 01:14:12,640 and saying, "Did you find a place? Are 1733 01:14:12,640 --> 01:14:15,600 there some resources uh that we can put 1734 01:14:15,600 --> 01:14:17,679 in place while they're out that will be 1735 01:14:17,679 --> 01:14:20,560 helpful?" Uh someone here uh mentioned 1736 01:14:20,560 --> 01:14:23,440 to me ankle bracelets uh or ankle 1737 01:14:23,440 --> 01:14:27,280 monitors, I should say. Uh we we uh we 1738 01:14:27,280 --> 01:14:28,880 used to use those in Waldo County. 1739 01:14:28,880 --> 01:14:30,640 They're effective. Uh but you need 1740 01:14:30,640 --> 01:14:31,840 somebody to pay for them. You need 1741 01:14:31,840 --> 01:14:33,040 somebody to monitor them. It's usually 1742 01:14:33,040 --> 01:14:35,040 one of the departments. Uh typically 1743 01:14:35,040 --> 01:14:36,800 it's been the sheriff's departments in 1744 01:14:36,800 --> 01:14:39,199 places I've been. Uh but that's that's 1745 01:14:39,199 --> 01:14:42,320 worth a discussion. The problem is 1746 01:14:42,320 --> 01:14:45,679 nobody believes pre-commitment. 1747 01:14:45,679 --> 01:14:48,480 Uh nobody 1748 01:14:48,480 --> 01:14:51,199 in a meaningful place position. I I do 1749 01:14:51,199 --> 01:14:53,040 believe there are juveniles that belong 1750 01:14:53,040 --> 01:14:55,280 detained until hearings. Absolutely. Uh 1751 01:14:55,280 --> 01:14:58,560 but in I think most people uh with some 1752 01:14:58,560 --> 01:15:00,159 exceptions believe it's not a good 1753 01:15:00,159 --> 01:15:01,520 place. We should get them out, get them 1754 01:15:01,520 --> 01:15:04,320 to a place where they can uh 1755 01:15:04,320 --> 01:15:06,320 rehabilitate uh while they wait for the 1756 01:15:06,320 --> 01:15:07,760 hearing. Of course, they're they're 1757 01:15:07,760 --> 01:15:09,199 innocent at that point. They haven't 1758 01:15:09,199 --> 01:15:11,600 been adjudicated of anything. Uh and 1759 01:15:11,600 --> 01:15:14,400 that is what you see. Um you see them 1760 01:15:14,400 --> 01:15:16,880 being released uh usually with 1761 01:15:16,880 --> 01:15:20,080 conditions of release uh with a JCCO to 1762 01:15:20,080 --> 01:15:22,960 monitor uh monitor them while they're 1763 01:15:22,960 --> 01:15:25,520 out. Uh that is another thing we I did 1764 01:15:25,520 --> 01:15:27,360 not address, but it goes to this point. 1765 01:15:27,360 --> 01:15:30,080 We need DHS to step up uh when people 1766 01:15:30,080 --> 01:15:32,800 are found incompetent. I think we have a 1767 01:15:32,800 --> 01:15:35,440 horrible system in place to uh to help 1768 01:15:35,440 --> 01:15:37,920 kids. Uh just because they're 1769 01:15:37,920 --> 01:15:39,120 incompetent doesn't mean they should 1770 01:15:39,120 --> 01:15:40,480 just be thrown back out on the street. 1771 01:15:40,480 --> 01:15:42,719 Uh and DHS should do should do a better 1772 01:15:42,719 --> 01:15:45,920 job of working with them. Uh and 1773 01:15:45,920 --> 01:15:48,719 resources generally. Uh we need whether 1774 01:15:48,719 --> 01:15:50,800 it be an ankle monitor or some other 1775 01:15:50,800 --> 01:15:53,199 system in place. Uh those are resource 1776 01:15:53,199 --> 01:15:55,840 driven and again those cost money but 1777 01:15:55,840 --> 01:15:57,679 those are the things I think would make 1778 01:15:57,679 --> 01:16:00,400 people feel safer. 1779 01:16:00,400 --> 01:16:02,480 Thank you. Um I do believe that there is 1780 01:16:02,480 --> 01:16:05,040 some flawed logic in that. So we want 1781 01:16:05,040 --> 01:16:06,960 especially for juveniles for the 1782 01:16:06,960 --> 01:16:09,040 criminal justice system to be 1783 01:16:09,040 --> 01:16:12,159 rehabilitative and that makes sense. But 1784 01:16:12,159 --> 01:16:17,280 the idea that we're going to avoid um 1785 01:16:17,280 --> 01:16:20,480 holding these juveniles at all costs for 1786 01:16:20,480 --> 01:16:23,920 every possibility. So the at least 1787 01:16:23,920 --> 01:16:25,679 myself I struggle with the idea that 1788 01:16:25,679 --> 01:16:27,360 okay so it's not good for these kids. 1789 01:16:27,360 --> 01:16:28,800 there's not a lot of good happening for 1790 01:16:28,800 --> 01:16:30,800 them uh if they're at Long Creek. 1791 01:16:30,800 --> 01:16:32,159 There's not a lot of good happening in 1792 01:16:32,159 --> 01:16:33,760 our community when they're released back 1793 01:16:33,760 --> 01:16:36,080 out to it. And when bullets fly and they 1794 01:16:36,080 --> 01:16:38,640 don't discriminate against who they hit, 1795 01:16:38,640 --> 01:16:40,719 um I think at some point we we have to 1796 01:16:40,719 --> 01:16:42,159 look at the good of the community over 1797 01:16:42,159 --> 01:16:44,000 the good of the individual. Uh the good 1798 01:16:44,000 --> 01:16:45,280 of the many over the good of the 1799 01:16:45,280 --> 01:16:51,360 individual sometimes. Um and 1800 01:16:51,360 --> 01:16:53,600 you know, I hear you talk about programs 1801 01:16:53,600 --> 01:16:56,960 and alternatives and options. Um, you 1802 01:16:56,960 --> 01:16:58,560 know, the carrot and stick approach only 1803 01:16:58,560 --> 01:17:00,800 works when you have a proper stick. And 1804 01:17:00,800 --> 01:17:02,960 I think that 1805 01:17:02,960 --> 01:17:05,040 um, you know, I think so, so an example 1806 01:17:05,040 --> 01:17:07,520 like ankle monitors sounds 1807 01:17:07,520 --> 01:17:09,520 like a like a great idea, could be 1808 01:17:09,520 --> 01:17:12,400 expensive. Um, if kids are shooting up 1809 01:17:12,400 --> 01:17:16,159 our city and they're not being held for 1810 01:17:16,159 --> 01:17:18,320 doing so, uh, if they cut off their 1811 01:17:18,320 --> 01:17:20,000 ankle monitor, their very expensive 1812 01:17:20,000 --> 01:17:23,280 ankle monitor, uh, what what's the 1813 01:17:23,280 --> 01:17:24,719 punishment for that? I I would argue 1814 01:17:24,719 --> 01:17:26,719 that shooting at someone is worse than 1815 01:17:26,719 --> 01:17:28,640 cutting off an ankle monitor. So, if 1816 01:17:28,640 --> 01:17:30,880 we're not holding kids or juveniles for 1817 01:17:30,880 --> 01:17:32,159 shooting, 1818 01:17:32,159 --> 01:17:33,760 >> uh we're going to have time for general 1819 01:17:33,760 --> 01:17:35,040 comments later. Do you have any other 1820 01:17:35,040 --> 01:17:35,360 questions? 1821 01:17:35,360 --> 01:17:40,159 >> Yes, I do have another question. Um you uh you and the chief spoke about 1822 01:17:40,159 --> 01:17:43,920 Augusta and legislation in statute. Uh 1823 01:17:43,920 --> 01:17:46,560 what's the most uh can can you point out 1824 01:17:46,560 --> 01:17:48,080 a couple statutes right now that you 1825 01:17:48,080 --> 01:17:51,920 find make it difficult to um prosecute 1826 01:17:51,920 --> 01:17:54,400 or hold some of these uh more serious 1827 01:17:54,400 --> 01:17:56,960 violent offenders 1828 01:17:56,960 --> 01:17:59,040 >> and don the juvenile offenders? 1829 01:17:59,040 --> 01:18:00,880 >> Yeah. What could be changed that that is 1830 01:18:00,880 --> 01:18:02,400 in place now that would help you do your 1831 01:18:02,400 --> 01:18:03,679 job and protect the community a little 1832 01:18:03,679 --> 01:18:05,920 bit more from your your job? 1833 01:18:05,920 --> 01:18:08,640 >> Yeah. And so to be clear uh it is a 1834 01:18:08,640 --> 01:18:11,040 system problem. Uh so when I was giving 1835 01:18:11,040 --> 01:18:12,800 those examples, that's the system 1836 01:18:12,800 --> 01:18:15,040 speaking. You did a very good job of 1837 01:18:15,040 --> 01:18:16,719 making the argument we make when we're 1838 01:18:16,719 --> 01:18:18,400 before the judge. Those are the 1839 01:18:18,400 --> 01:18:20,800 arguments we make. Uh but those aren't 1840 01:18:20,800 --> 01:18:23,920 necessarily the arguments that win. Uh 1841 01:18:23,920 --> 01:18:27,520 the the statutes, as I said, I'd love uh 1842 01:18:27,520 --> 01:18:30,000 for us to revisit the the competency 1843 01:18:30,000 --> 01:18:32,320 statute. I think that's turning that's 1844 01:18:32,320 --> 01:18:35,840 providing a lot of uh problems right now 1845 01:18:35,840 --> 01:18:37,600 and I think it makes sense to revisit 1846 01:18:37,600 --> 01:18:39,679 the language at the very least the 1847 01:18:39,679 --> 01:18:43,840 requirements uh the detention uh so uh 1848 01:18:43,840 --> 01:18:46,159 JCCOs are very limited in how they can 1849 01:18:46,159 --> 01:18:48,640 detain somebody they're very strict 1850 01:18:48,640 --> 01:18:51,920 criteria on what they can do uh to hold 1851 01:18:51,920 --> 01:18:54,239 somebody that Lewon PD or any other PD 1852 01:18:54,239 --> 01:18:55,760 picks up at 2 in the morning and if they 1853 01:18:55,760 --> 01:18:57,920 don't meet that criteria uh they're sent 1854 01:18:57,920 --> 01:19:00,239 back to the home not because the JCCO 1855 01:19:00,239 --> 01:19:01,760 wants to, but because it's not within 1856 01:19:01,760 --> 01:19:03,760 the statute for them to hold. So, that's 1857 01:19:03,760 --> 01:19:05,920 something that we should look at. Uh, we 1858 01:19:05,920 --> 01:19:08,800 have the ability to override them. Uh, 1859 01:19:08,800 --> 01:19:10,880 and we do. We do it respectfully. We do 1860 01:19:10,880 --> 01:19:13,040 it in communications. Uh, our 1861 01:19:13,040 --> 01:19:15,280 prosecutors regularly will say the law 1862 01:19:15,280 --> 01:19:17,440 enforcement will override them. Only 1863 01:19:17,440 --> 01:19:19,280 problem is we only override them until 1864 01:19:19,280 --> 01:19:22,080 the next hearing 48 hours later because 1865 01:19:22,080 --> 01:19:24,880 then it's the same process. Uh, and if 1866 01:19:24,880 --> 01:19:26,960 we haven't checked those boxes, we made 1867 01:19:26,960 --> 01:19:29,040 the community safe for the weekend. uh 1868 01:19:29,040 --> 01:19:31,040 in our opinion, but we haven't made any 1869 01:19:31,040 --> 01:19:33,679 long-term gain. So maybe revisiting what 1870 01:19:33,679 --> 01:19:36,880 that looks like. Uh maybe restructuring 1871 01:19:36,880 --> 01:19:39,520 uh how a JCCO can give them more 1872 01:19:39,520 --> 01:19:41,600 flexibility about detaining people 1873 01:19:41,600 --> 01:19:43,360 initially. It's not just the gun 1874 01:19:43,360 --> 01:19:45,920 charges. It's a kid out stealing a car 1875 01:19:45,920 --> 01:19:48,000 and driving it and not stopping for law 1876 01:19:48,000 --> 01:19:50,800 enforcement. uh and you pull them over 1877 01:19:50,800 --> 01:19:55,760 and again that should be a felony but if they are released they're going right 1878 01:19:55,760 --> 01:20:00,000 back to the home they just snuck out to steal the car. Uh so we should look 1879 01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:02,640 at that statue. Uh I think a lot of 1880 01:20:02,640 --> 01:20:06,400 statutes need to be looked at but 1881 01:20:06,400 --> 01:20:09,520 um and then lastly real quick um so do 1882 01:20:09,520 --> 01:20:11,360 these non-competitity 1883 01:20:11,360 --> 01:20:12,960 non-competency 1884 01:20:12,960 --> 01:20:17,440 tags uh definitions or so once a once a 1885 01:20:17,440 --> 01:20:19,679 juvenile has had that that they're not 1886 01:20:19,679 --> 01:20:21,520 competent does that follow them for 1887 01:20:21,520 --> 01:20:24,320 further cases? So is that if if say it's 1888 01:20:24,320 --> 01:20:26,800 a crime one deemed not competent when 1889 01:20:26,800 --> 01:20:29,120 they come back if they come back say 3 1890 01:20:29,120 --> 01:20:31,440 weeks later on another felony level or 1891 01:20:31,440 --> 01:20:34,560 gunrelated or or not crime uh I imagine 1892 01:20:34,560 --> 01:20:35,840 is that the first thing the defense 1893 01:20:35,840 --> 01:20:37,679 attorney goes to is like this person is 1894 01:20:37,679 --> 01:20:40,239 not competent is that does that hurt in 1895 01:20:40,239 --> 01:20:43,280 future charges in future prosecutions 1896 01:20:43,280 --> 01:20:44,800 >> I think if they're within the year of 1897 01:20:44,800 --> 01:20:46,400 that finding it does 1898 01:20:46,400 --> 01:20:47,520 >> okay 1899 01:20:47,520 --> 01:20:49,199 >> but that's true of the adult system as 1900 01:20:49,199 --> 01:20:50,000 well by the way 1901 01:20:50,000 --> 01:20:52,239 >> so it's not on a case by case basis it 1902 01:20:52,239 --> 01:20:54,640 stay with that defendant throughout 1903 01:20:54,640 --> 01:20:56,880 multiple charges. 1904 01:20:56,880 --> 01:20:58,239 >> Uh, usually if they have multiple 1905 01:20:58,239 --> 01:20:59,520 charges, depending if I'm hearing you 1906 01:20:59,520 --> 01:21:00,960 correctly, we would we would do it for 1907 01:21:00,960 --> 01:21:02,800 all of them. They would all be dealt 1908 01:21:02,800 --> 01:21:05,360 with as a as a global or as an aggregate 1909 01:21:05,360 --> 01:21:06,320 sum. 1910 01:21:06,320 --> 01:21:09,520 >> Thank you very much, 1911 01:21:09,520 --> 01:21:12,320 >> Councelor Naene. Back to you. 1912 01:21:12,320 --> 01:21:13,840 >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to 1913 01:21:13,840 --> 01:21:16,239 follow up uh on the competency uh piece 1914 01:21:16,239 --> 01:21:18,960 as well. So, ju just to verify, if a 1915 01:21:18,960 --> 01:21:21,679 juvenile is uh is deemed to be 1916 01:21:21,679 --> 01:21:22,800 incompetent, that means they're 1917 01:21:22,800 --> 01:21:25,440 incompetent to stand trial or they're 1918 01:21:25,440 --> 01:21:28,640 incompetent to be held accountable 1919 01:21:28,640 --> 01:21:30,400 through the criminal system. 1920 01:21:30,400 --> 01:21:32,400 >> They're held incompetent to appear for a 1921 01:21:32,400 --> 01:21:34,480 hearing to be part of a hearing. 1922 01:21:34,480 --> 01:21:36,800 >> So, so a case that's brought forward for 1923 01:21:36,800 --> 01:21:39,199 somebody who's decide when somebody has 1924 01:21:39,199 --> 01:21:41,600 decided 1925 01:21:41,600 --> 01:21:43,920 incompetent, they never actually go 1926 01:21:43,920 --> 01:21:45,360 through a trial process at all. So 1927 01:21:45,360 --> 01:21:47,199 there's no alternative sentencing or any 1928 01:21:47,199 --> 01:21:48,080 of those pieces 1929 01:21:48,080 --> 01:21:51,040 >> unless they re regain competency. There 1930 01:21:51,040 --> 01:21:54,159 are things I think this goes back to DHS 1931 01:21:54,159 --> 01:21:57,040 uh and again I'm not the expert as I 1932 01:21:57,040 --> 01:21:58,639 should be because it's not a case load I 1933 01:21:58,639 --> 01:22:01,199 regularly carry but I think there uh in 1934 01:22:01,199 --> 01:22:03,040 the interim the judge does have the 1935 01:22:03,040 --> 01:22:07,120 ability to order some DHS or involvement 1936 01:22:07,120 --> 01:22:10,000 uh that would provide some uh some 1937 01:22:10,000 --> 01:22:13,199 structure uh or treatment maybe things 1938 01:22:13,199 --> 01:22:14,400 that might so if they're found 1939 01:22:14,400 --> 01:22:17,679 incompetent but the uh the evaluator 1940 01:22:17,679 --> 01:22:20,000 says these three things would might help 1941 01:22:20,000 --> 01:22:23,440 them regain competency. Uh then a judge 1942 01:22:23,440 --> 01:22:26,960 uh can uh order that they maybe have 1943 01:22:26,960 --> 01:22:31,520 those uh treatment uh poss treatment uh 1944 01:22:31,520 --> 01:22:33,520 options available to them. It doesn't 1945 01:22:33,520 --> 01:22:37,600 mean they get them, but I think that's something the court uh might be a 1946 01:22:37,600 --> 01:22:38,719 question for the court. I think that 1947 01:22:38,719 --> 01:22:40,639 frustrates them some. 1948 01:22:40,639 --> 01:22:42,239 >> Thank you. I appreciate that. I'm just 1949 01:22:42,239 --> 01:22:44,000 very surprised that it actually stops 1950 01:22:44,000 --> 01:22:45,679 the criminal justice system and then 1951 01:22:45,679 --> 01:22:47,760 also doesn't force alternative 1952 01:22:47,760 --> 01:22:48,480 treatment. 1953 01:22:48,480 --> 01:22:50,560 >> It pardons it. Yeah, I think the 1954 01:22:50,560 --> 01:22:52,800 language I use it pauses it. Y 1955 01:22:52,800 --> 01:22:55,600 >> Thank you, 1956 01:22:55,600 --> 01:22:56,960 Councelor Long Champs. 1957 01:22:56,960 --> 01:23:00,239 >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, 1958 01:23:00,239 --> 01:23:02,800 this is quite disturbing. Um, and it 1959 01:23:02,800 --> 01:23:04,719 seems like that's 1960 01:23:04,719 --> 01:23:06,800 >> Sorry, D. Mlan, do you mind turning off 1961 01:23:06,800 --> 01:23:08,239 your mic while you're not speaking? 1962 01:23:08,239 --> 01:23:09,440 Okay, thank you. 1963 01:23:09,440 --> 01:23:12,320 >> It it appears as though that may be one 1964 01:23:12,320 --> 01:23:14,400 of our biggest issues that we're running 1965 01:23:14,400 --> 01:23:18,320 up against. So, I would ask um 1966 01:23:18,320 --> 01:23:21,120 how do we go about trying to get a 1967 01:23:21,120 --> 01:23:25,280 meeting with the right people to see how 1968 01:23:25,280 --> 01:23:28,400 we can tweak some of these uh uh laws 1969 01:23:28,400 --> 01:23:31,040 and policies. Uh again, I don't think 1970 01:23:31,040 --> 01:23:32,639 this is something that should wait a 1971 01:23:32,639 --> 01:23:35,120 year or two years. Uh I think this is 1972 01:23:35,120 --> 01:23:38,320 something that if possible, um we get 1973 01:23:38,320 --> 01:23:40,480 that meeting going right away. So, I I 1974 01:23:40,480 --> 01:23:42,560 don't know how we can help as council uh 1975 01:23:42,560 --> 01:23:44,320 to make that loud and clear, but I'm 1976 01:23:44,320 --> 01:23:46,639 pretty much suggesting that loud and 1977 01:23:46,639 --> 01:23:51,189 clear 1978 01:23:51,199 --> 01:23:53,600 » if we can have the audience members uh 1979 01:23:53,600 --> 01:23:55,040 refrain from speaking. We're going to 1980 01:23:55,040 --> 01:23:58,560 have public comment later. 1981 01:23:58,560 --> 01:24:01,520 >> So, we in the past, Lewon PD and and uh 1982 01:24:01,520 --> 01:24:03,679 my office has met with our delegation in 1983 01:24:03,679 --> 01:24:06,960 the past uh the Lewon uh delegation from 1984 01:24:06,960 --> 01:24:09,040 Augusta and discussed things. I think we 1985 01:24:09,040 --> 01:24:12,320 did some legislation for guns in school 1986 01:24:12,320 --> 01:24:14,239 uh and Jake was a part of that as well. 1987 01:24:14,239 --> 01:24:16,639 So, we've had success doing that. Uh so, 1988 01:24:16,639 --> 01:24:18,480 we can meet with the delegation, but 1989 01:24:18,480 --> 01:24:20,159 what we ultimately need to do is find 1990 01:24:20,159 --> 01:24:23,040 someone within the legislature uh that 1991 01:24:23,040 --> 01:24:25,840 is willing to uh propose a bill for that 1992 01:24:25,840 --> 01:24:27,920 change. That's how I think we typically 1993 01:24:27,920 --> 01:24:32,709 do it. 1994 01:24:32,719 --> 01:24:35,120 » Thank you. Um, so that would be my 1995 01:24:35,120 --> 01:24:37,600 suggestion is that we find someone that 1996 01:24:37,600 --> 01:24:39,520 is willing to do that if that is our 1997 01:24:39,520 --> 01:24:43,679 only path forward. Um, and uh, get that 1998 01:24:43,679 --> 01:24:45,199 ball rolling because again that seems 1999 01:24:45,199 --> 01:24:48,000 like that's a pretty big wall that's um, 2000 01:24:48,000 --> 01:24:50,560 that's holding up a lot of um, 2001 01:24:50,560 --> 01:24:52,560 accountability which is a serious 2002 01:24:52,560 --> 01:24:55,040 problem and I really appreciate the 2003 01:24:55,040 --> 01:24:56,159 statements that you said that 2004 01:24:56,159 --> 01:24:59,600 accountability um, to me is a form of 2005 01:24:59,600 --> 01:25:03,199 caring about someone. um if we continue 2006 01:25:03,199 --> 01:25:04,800 to 2007 01:25:04,800 --> 01:25:09,600 um let these juveniles um 2008 01:25:09,600 --> 01:25:11,600 in my opinion fall through the cracks 2009 01:25:11,600 --> 01:25:12,719 because we're not holding them 2010 01:25:12,719 --> 01:25:18,000 accountable is showing them really that that we don't care. Um so thank 2011 01:25:18,000 --> 01:25:20,960 you. 2012 01:25:20,960 --> 01:25:25,990 >> Uh further questions from the council 2013 01:25:26,000 --> 01:25:27,760 » DA. Thank you so much for being here. We 2014 01:25:27,760 --> 01:25:31,189 appreciate you. 2015 01:25:31,199 --> 01:25:39,199 We will now hear from uh our very own 2016 01:25:39,199 --> 01:25:40,960 Superintendent Jin Lingless. If you can 2017 01:25:40,960 --> 01:25:55,030 please join us. 2018 01:25:55,040 --> 01:25:56,639 Let's start by saying thank you to 2019 01:25:56,639 --> 01:25:58,560 everyone for being here. um being 2020 01:25:58,560 --> 01:26:00,320 mindful of time. I think community voice 2021 01:26:00,320 --> 01:26:02,639 is incredibly important. Um I was 2022 01:26:02,639 --> 01:26:04,639 looking over my slides as we as we were 2023 01:26:04,639 --> 01:26:06,719 listening. So without being repetitive, 2024 01:26:06,719 --> 01:26:08,400 I've removed a number of things, but if 2025 01:26:08,400 --> 01:26:10,159 anyone has questions uh following or 2026 01:26:10,159 --> 01:26:11,440 down the road, please feel free to reach 2027 01:26:11,440 --> 01:26:13,280 out to me. Uh but I do want to be 2028 01:26:13,280 --> 01:26:15,760 mindful of time. 2029 01:26:15,760 --> 01:26:17,120 I want to start by saying we can't give 2030 01:26:17,120 --> 01:26:19,360 up on our kids. Um they are the most 2031 01:26:19,360 --> 01:26:21,679 proximate to their choices and we have 2032 01:26:21,679 --> 01:26:24,639 to remember that. um there there's no 2033 01:26:24,639 --> 01:26:26,800 place to send people that it just fixes 2034 01:26:26,800 --> 01:26:30,480 everything. Uh so we have to be mindful 2035 01:26:30,480 --> 01:26:32,480 also that kids influence each other more 2036 01:26:32,480 --> 01:26:34,159 than you may realize. I know from a 2037 01:26:34,159 --> 01:26:36,239 school perspective we hear a lot from 2038 01:26:36,239 --> 01:26:38,320 kids who have seen something who have 2039 01:26:38,320 --> 01:26:40,400 said something. Uh and so it's it's a 2040 01:26:40,400 --> 01:26:42,320 powerful tool. We're growing that in our 2041 01:26:42,320 --> 01:26:44,719 community. We worked with LPD on it uh 2042 01:26:44,719 --> 01:26:46,480 as well. 2043 01:26:46,480 --> 01:26:48,639 And that research tells us uh done a lot 2044 01:26:48,639 --> 01:26:51,120 of looking lately that success can be 2045 01:26:51,120 --> 01:26:52,480 found in communities that are facing 2046 01:26:52,480 --> 01:26:53,760 these kinds of challenges through 2047 01:26:53,760 --> 01:26:56,800 multis- sector collaboration amongst all 2048 01:26:56,800 --> 01:26:58,320 uh all of us everyone in the room 2049 01:26:58,320 --> 01:26:59,920 families uh from parenting all the way 2050 01:26:59,920 --> 01:27:01,280 up through schools businesses and 2051 01:27:01,280 --> 01:27:03,840 others. 2052 01:27:03,840 --> 01:27:05,679 I do want to talk about some of the 2053 01:27:05,679 --> 01:27:08,080 lines that we can draw as a school and 2054 01:27:08,080 --> 01:27:09,440 I'll I'll spare the legislation 2055 01:27:09,440 --> 01:27:11,120 conversation but whoever gets elected I 2056 01:27:11,120 --> 01:27:12,320 have a number of things I'd love to 2057 01:27:12,320 --> 01:27:14,960 submit for legislation. Um but just to 2058 01:27:14,960 --> 01:27:17,840 start with what lines can a school hold? 2059 01:27:17,840 --> 01:27:20,480 Um we became frustrated uh the school 2060 01:27:20,480 --> 01:27:23,520 committee uh and I and and city uh 2061 01:27:23,520 --> 01:27:25,920 school leadership with the fact that 2062 01:27:25,920 --> 01:27:27,679 there's been a number of tools stripped 2063 01:27:27,679 --> 01:27:30,000 away from us. Uh but there's there's the 2064 01:27:30,000 --> 01:27:32,000 one tool that remains is that you can 2065 01:27:32,000 --> 01:27:35,280 take kids uh through a due process um 2066 01:27:35,280 --> 01:27:37,360 that has intervention layers at school, 2067 01:27:37,360 --> 01:27:40,000 intervention layers uh with me and then 2068 01:27:40,000 --> 01:27:41,840 ultimately you can take kids to what is 2069 01:27:41,840 --> 01:27:44,480 considered a quasi judicial process 2070 01:27:44,480 --> 01:27:46,080 which is a disciplinary hearing with the 2071 01:27:46,080 --> 01:27:47,920 school committee. There's a number of 2072 01:27:47,920 --> 01:27:50,000 steps involved. Um, but anytime there is 2073 01:27:50,000 --> 01:27:52,800 a firearm or a serious violent incident 2074 01:27:52,800 --> 01:27:55,360 that connects to our kids and I have to 2075 01:27:55,360 --> 01:27:57,120 think of the kids sitting sitting next 2076 01:27:57,120 --> 01:27:58,960 to maybe one of your students in math 2077 01:27:58,960 --> 01:28:01,040 class on Tuesday after being released. 2078 01:28:01,040 --> 01:28:03,199 We've decided that that's not an option. 2079 01:28:03,199 --> 01:28:05,920 And so we have uh taken steps to draw 2080 01:28:05,920 --> 01:28:08,400 those lines. It's not perfect. I don't 2081 01:28:08,400 --> 01:28:10,159 think expelling a student fixes 2082 01:28:10,159 --> 01:28:12,080 everything. Uh but I do think we need to 2083 01:28:12,080 --> 01:28:14,080 have lines and we'll continue to work 2084 01:28:14,080 --> 01:28:17,199 through that. When students are expelled 2085 01:28:17,199 --> 01:28:19,360 from Lewis public schools, there is an 2086 01:28:19,360 --> 01:28:21,760 opportunity for a re-entry plan and we 2087 01:28:21,760 --> 01:28:24,480 have not given up on that investment. 2088 01:28:24,480 --> 01:28:27,600 And so I wanted to share that it's nice 2089 01:28:27,600 --> 01:28:29,440 to say that we draw a line, but it 2090 01:28:29,440 --> 01:28:32,159 doesn't fix any problems. Uh and so we 2091 01:28:32,159 --> 01:28:34,080 continue to work with specific re-entry 2092 01:28:34,080 --> 01:28:35,840 plans with kids that we develop together 2093 01:28:35,840 --> 01:28:38,800 with them knowing their full situation. 2094 01:28:38,800 --> 01:28:40,480 Uh there are volunteer requirements, 2095 01:28:40,480 --> 01:28:42,800 counseling requirements often. Uh we do 2096 01:28:42,800 --> 01:28:43,840 have opportunities for teaching and 2097 01:28:43,840 --> 01:28:46,159 learning and and share some uh novel 2098 01:28:46,159 --> 01:28:48,560 experiences with community partners and 2099 01:28:48,560 --> 01:28:49,840 there there's still an opportunity for 2100 01:28:49,840 --> 01:28:51,280 some kids to earn at least a limited 2101 01:28:51,280 --> 01:28:52,480 amount of credit because we don't want 2102 01:28:52,480 --> 01:28:55,120 them to just work on self and lose full 2103 01:28:55,120 --> 01:28:56,639 progress on school because what happens 2104 01:28:56,639 --> 01:28:59,040 is they'll drop out and we've just 2105 01:28:59,040 --> 01:29:01,920 reinvented the same issue uh likely down 2106 01:29:01,920 --> 01:29:04,239 the road. 2107 01:29:04,239 --> 01:29:07,280 But also note that some kids have done 2108 01:29:07,280 --> 01:29:09,840 something or things that's gotten them 2109 01:29:09,840 --> 01:29:11,120 to a point where they have work to do 2110 01:29:11,120 --> 01:29:12,880 before they can even access the re-entry 2111 01:29:12,880 --> 01:29:14,880 plan. So it's not really common 2112 01:29:14,880 --> 01:29:16,320 knowledge unless you're living it as a 2113 01:29:16,320 --> 01:29:17,440 student or if maybe you're a school 2114 01:29:17,440 --> 01:29:19,760 committee member who's held the line. Um 2115 01:29:19,760 --> 01:29:21,840 but there are steps to these processes 2116 01:29:21,840 --> 01:29:24,159 and we do um work hard to hold those 2117 01:29:24,159 --> 01:29:26,639 lines. 2118 01:29:26,639 --> 01:29:27,920 I also want to share some things that 2119 01:29:27,920 --> 01:29:31,110 I'm hearing. 2120 01:29:31,120 --> 01:29:32,880 I had a kid tell me recently who was 2121 01:29:32,880 --> 01:29:34,639 involved in a firearm incident, which I 2122 01:29:34,639 --> 01:29:36,800 have a a unique role in which I get to 2123 01:29:36,800 --> 01:29:39,199 talk to them as as students and try to 2124 01:29:39,199 --> 01:29:40,560 figure out what's the next best thing 2125 01:29:40,560 --> 01:29:42,239 for them. And I'm also the person who 2126 01:29:42,239 --> 01:29:43,440 makes the decision whether or not they 2127 01:29:43,440 --> 01:29:45,920 go to a disciplinary hearing, but I do 2128 01:29:45,920 --> 01:29:47,040 try to build relationships with the kids 2129 01:29:47,040 --> 01:29:48,639 and and really just talk about what's 2130 01:29:48,639 --> 01:29:49,840 going on in your world and try to 2131 01:29:49,840 --> 01:29:51,040 navigate and problem solve everything 2132 01:29:51,040 --> 01:29:53,199 that we can. But I had a kid tell me 2133 01:29:53,199 --> 01:29:54,560 recently who was involved in a firearm 2134 01:29:54,560 --> 01:29:56,800 incident that the way he gets guns is he 2135 01:29:56,800 --> 01:29:59,520 profiles vehicles. He looks for things 2136 01:29:59,520 --> 01:30:01,120 that are unlocked. He's not stealing 2137 01:30:01,120 --> 01:30:02,880 money. He's not anything else. Just look 2138 01:30:02,880 --> 01:30:04,880 for a firearm. But he said he'll look 2139 01:30:04,880 --> 01:30:06,719 for trucks. And trucks are commonly 2140 01:30:06,719 --> 01:30:09,040 unlocked. And people with trucks are 2141 01:30:09,040 --> 01:30:11,520 more likely to have guns. This kid is 2142 01:30:11,520 --> 01:30:13,280 12. 2143 01:30:13,280 --> 01:30:16,320 years old. He told me this. 2144 01:30:16,320 --> 01:30:18,560 So, please lock up your firearms. Don't 2145 01:30:18,560 --> 01:30:20,400 leave them in your vehicles. Get them 2146 01:30:20,400 --> 01:30:23,360 locked up and put away. 2147 01:30:23,360 --> 01:30:25,120 Everyone's posting with the guns. We're 2148 01:30:25,120 --> 01:30:26,480 seeing this uh rampantly through 2149 01:30:26,480 --> 01:30:28,159 schools. It causes a lot of issues as 2150 01:30:28,159 --> 01:30:32,080 others have mentioned. Um, and so if if 2151 01:30:32,080 --> 01:30:34,719 everyone's posing with a gun or 2152 01:30:34,719 --> 01:30:37,199 something that looks like a gun, others 2153 01:30:37,199 --> 01:30:39,440 want to also look that cool, feel that 2154 01:30:39,440 --> 01:30:41,520 awesome, have that sense of adequacy. 2155 01:30:41,520 --> 01:30:43,120 It's a problem. Some of those kids are 2156 01:30:43,120 --> 01:30:46,080 posing with a pellet gun or a BB gun and 2157 01:30:46,080 --> 01:30:49,520 others are po posing with 45s, 2158 01:30:49,520 --> 01:30:51,520 handguns that can take someone's life. 2159 01:30:51,520 --> 01:30:54,629 Absolutely. 2160 01:30:54,639 --> 01:30:56,239 I had one kid tell me that he shoots 2161 01:30:56,239 --> 01:30:59,040 buildings because an adult told him to. 2162 01:30:59,040 --> 01:31:00,320 And I say, "We need to find out who 2163 01:31:00,320 --> 01:31:01,679 these adults are that are taking 2164 01:31:01,679 --> 01:31:04,560 advantage of our kids." And I'm talking 2165 01:31:04,560 --> 01:31:06,400 intentionally taking advantage of our 2166 01:31:06,400 --> 01:31:08,480 kids. Not just any kid. Usually kids 2167 01:31:08,480 --> 01:31:10,560 that have a low cognitive ability who 2168 01:31:10,560 --> 01:31:12,719 really want to fit in anywhere they can. 2169 01:31:12,719 --> 01:31:13,920 They're carrying guns and they're 2170 01:31:13,920 --> 01:31:15,199 carrying out tasks for other people who 2171 01:31:15,199 --> 01:31:17,040 are asking them to do it. So they feel 2172 01:31:17,040 --> 01:31:19,280 cool. So they feel awesome. They have no 2173 01:31:19,280 --> 01:31:21,280 intentions of killing someone, but if 2174 01:31:21,280 --> 01:31:23,280 they can light up a building at 1:00 in 2175 01:31:23,280 --> 01:31:25,040 the morning and people think they're 2176 01:31:25,040 --> 01:31:27,760 awesome for doing it, they'll do it. We 2177 01:31:27,760 --> 01:31:29,840 need to continue to track this and solve 2178 01:31:29,840 --> 01:31:31,840 these problems. I've also had kids tell 2179 01:31:31,840 --> 01:31:33,760 me they just don't feel safe. We've had 2180 01:31:33,760 --> 01:31:35,760 kids that we've we've had to search and 2181 01:31:35,760 --> 01:31:37,679 take things off of. Never firearm in the 2182 01:31:37,679 --> 01:31:39,840 school, but we do search and we've done 2183 01:31:39,840 --> 01:31:42,239 many searches. Um, but often times we 2184 01:31:42,239 --> 01:31:44,639 find kids with a knife. Why are you 2185 01:31:44,639 --> 01:31:46,719 carrying a knife at school? 2186 01:31:46,719 --> 01:31:47,920 It's because I don't feel safe when I'm 2187 01:31:47,920 --> 01:31:49,760 walking to or from school. And so these 2188 01:31:49,760 --> 01:31:51,440 are concerns that we we we just can't 2189 01:31:51,440 --> 01:31:55,189 allow it. 2190 01:31:55,199 --> 01:31:56,560 Something that humbled me recently that 2191 01:31:56,560 --> 01:31:58,880 I want to share with the entire group. 2192 01:31:58,880 --> 01:32:00,480 There's an old approach to instead of 2193 01:32:00,480 --> 01:32:03,199 saying hello or hi, how are you? Uh and 2194 01:32:03,199 --> 01:32:04,480 I forget where this came from and I 2195 01:32:04,480 --> 01:32:06,239 apologize to wherever this originated 2196 01:32:06,239 --> 01:32:09,120 from, but the greeting was how are the 2197 01:32:09,120 --> 01:32:10,880 kids doing? 2198 01:32:10,880 --> 01:32:13,199 And it made me pause. 2199 01:32:13,199 --> 01:32:14,800 Imagine if everywhere we went in our 2200 01:32:14,800 --> 01:32:16,880 community, we said to each other, "How 2201 01:32:16,880 --> 01:32:18,960 are the kids doing?" Because if they're 2202 01:32:18,960 --> 01:32:21,280 not okay, we have a lot of work to do. 2203 01:32:21,280 --> 01:32:22,960 And if they are okay, then we have to 2204 01:32:22,960 --> 01:32:27,189 maintain that effort. 2205 01:32:27,199 --> 01:32:28,480 I'm an educator, so you're going to hear 2206 01:32:28,480 --> 01:32:30,400 it from me. I do have thoughts. 2207 01:32:30,400 --> 01:32:32,159 Obviously, ensure healthy relationships 2208 01:32:32,159 --> 01:32:35,120 exist. Start by talking to the kids. 2209 01:32:35,120 --> 01:32:36,639 They're the ones most proximate to it, 2210 01:32:36,639 --> 01:32:39,280 and it's not a ton of kids. I know that 2211 01:32:39,280 --> 01:32:40,639 I I live in a world where there's a lot 2212 01:32:40,639 --> 01:32:42,880 of stereotypes of those kids, those 2213 01:32:42,880 --> 01:32:44,960 people. It's not that. It's it's 2214 01:32:44,960 --> 01:32:46,320 actually a little more mixed than you 2215 01:32:46,320 --> 01:32:48,880 think. Uh not not making accusations, 2216 01:32:48,880 --> 01:32:50,000 but a little more mixed than a lot of 2217 01:32:50,000 --> 01:32:52,320 people think. And it's a relatively 2218 01:32:52,320 --> 01:32:54,639 small group of kids. And I think we need 2219 01:32:54,639 --> 01:32:56,639 to build in more sense of adequacy in 2220 01:32:56,639 --> 01:32:58,560 our community where kids can develop 2221 01:32:58,560 --> 01:33:00,239 their identity and and grow through 2222 01:33:00,239 --> 01:33:02,320 that. We need to find a way to wrap 2223 01:33:02,320 --> 01:33:04,239 around supports. As Neil mentioned, uh 2224 01:33:04,239 --> 01:33:05,840 we know the high-risisk kids who have 2225 01:33:05,840 --> 01:33:07,440 been involved in numerous numerous 2226 01:33:07,440 --> 01:33:09,760 things. And so from Chief and Neil and 2227 01:33:09,760 --> 01:33:10,960 others that are going to speak tonight, 2228 01:33:10,960 --> 01:33:12,719 we need to find a way to wrap supports 2229 01:33:12,719 --> 01:33:15,199 around those kids uh and do something 2230 01:33:15,199 --> 01:33:16,719 differently. 2231 01:33:16,719 --> 01:33:18,719 And then I challenge everyone to take 10 2232 01:33:18,719 --> 01:33:20,480 good minutes to get to know a kid that 2233 01:33:20,480 --> 01:33:22,480 you don't already know because it's 2234 01:33:22,480 --> 01:33:24,000 worth it when you sit and talk with a 2235 01:33:24,000 --> 01:33:25,920 kid who might be troubled who might be a 2236 01:33:25,920 --> 01:33:27,760 great kid might change your your 2237 01:33:27,760 --> 01:33:30,239 perception of that kid or a specific 2238 01:33:30,239 --> 01:33:32,000 population that that are our neighbors 2239 01:33:32,000 --> 01:33:34,320 but 10 good minutes talking with a kid. 2240 01:33:34,320 --> 01:33:35,760 I learned a lot about a kid who got shot 2241 01:33:35,760 --> 01:33:37,280 recently. 2242 01:33:37,280 --> 01:33:39,679 It was a great conversation 2243 01:33:39,679 --> 01:33:45,110 but he was there and that happens. 2244 01:33:45,120 --> 01:33:47,920 I'll take questions. Uh again, I took 2245 01:33:47,920 --> 01:33:49,520 some slides out. One thing I'd like to 2246 01:33:49,520 --> 01:33:50,719 mention before I take any questions 2247 01:33:50,719 --> 01:33:52,480 though, the working relationship that we 2248 01:33:52,480 --> 01:33:54,560 have as a school system with Neil and 2249 01:33:54,560 --> 01:33:57,040 Lewis Police Department and our JCCOs's 2250 01:33:57,040 --> 01:34:01,040 is without its flaws. We talk all the 2251 01:34:01,040 --> 01:34:02,320 time. Whenever we need something, we 2252 01:34:02,320 --> 01:34:04,000 talk to each other. We communicate. 2253 01:34:04,000 --> 01:34:05,440 There are limitations and constraints 2254 01:34:05,440 --> 01:34:07,280 because of rights and and and whatnot, 2255 01:34:07,280 --> 01:34:12,239 but um we work together all the time. 2256 01:34:12,239 --> 01:34:13,840 >> Thank you very much, Superintendent. I 2257 01:34:13,840 --> 01:34:18,629 appreciate you being here. Councelor 2258 01:34:18,639 --> 01:34:23,189 Martell, we're starting with you. 2259 01:34:23,199 --> 01:34:25,280 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, uh, 2260 01:34:25,280 --> 01:34:29,440 Superintendent. Um, 2261 01:34:29,440 --> 01:34:31,040 why don't I write down I have a question 2262 01:34:31,040 --> 01:34:35,830 here. Um, 2263 01:34:35,840 --> 01:34:37,840 you know, I'll hold it for now. Um, 2264 01:34:37,840 --> 01:34:38,800 thank you very much for your 2265 01:34:38,800 --> 01:34:39,920 presentation. I appreciate what you do 2266 01:34:39,920 --> 01:34:42,239 in the schools. 2267 01:34:42,239 --> 01:34:44,960 >> Councelor Chidum, no questions. Thank 2268 01:34:44,960 --> 01:34:46,320 you, Mr. Mayor. 2269 01:34:46,320 --> 01:34:48,400 >> Uh, councelor Noble, 2270 01:34:48,400 --> 01:34:50,000 >> nothing. 2271 01:34:50,000 --> 01:34:54,149 >> Councelor Roy, 2272 01:34:54,159 --> 01:34:56,000 um, one of the questions uh, that I 2273 01:34:56,000 --> 01:34:59,440 have, are there any incentives for maybe 2274 01:34:59,440 --> 01:35:01,280 some teachers to build up some pickup 2275 01:35:01,280 --> 01:35:03,600 sports after school? Um, can we look 2276 01:35:03,600 --> 01:35:05,679 into something like that that helps 2277 01:35:05,679 --> 01:35:08,239 maybe keep kids in a good activity after 2278 01:35:08,239 --> 01:35:10,639 school? [gasps] 2279 01:35:10,639 --> 01:35:13,199 >> The easy answer is yes. Uh it it does 2280 01:35:13,199 --> 01:35:14,960 take money in space, but we have 2281 01:35:14,960 --> 01:35:17,679 afternoon uh programming that goes uh 2282 01:35:17,679 --> 01:35:19,760 well into when community partners have 2283 01:35:19,760 --> 01:35:21,920 kids in their spaces um and they're 2284 01:35:21,920 --> 01:35:23,679 keeping kids uh later in the evening. 2285 01:35:23,679 --> 01:35:27,040 And so I think the key is getting kids 2286 01:35:27,040 --> 01:35:29,280 that need that thing to do in the space 2287 01:35:29,280 --> 01:35:30,400 where it's already happening. I think 2288 01:35:30,400 --> 01:35:31,679 the city's done a good job committing 2289 01:35:31,679 --> 01:35:33,520 resources. I know we as a school system 2290 01:35:33,520 --> 01:35:34,960 have continued to seek grants and the 2291 01:35:34,960 --> 01:35:36,400 school committee has supported after 2292 01:35:36,400 --> 01:35:38,639 school programming and summer related uh 2293 01:35:38,639 --> 01:35:40,800 programming. So I think it could always 2294 01:35:40,800 --> 01:35:42,719 get better. Um, I do look at things like 2295 01:35:42,719 --> 01:35:44,159 some of our sports teams. The numbers 2296 01:35:44,159 --> 01:35:46,960 are just abysmally low. Um, and and I 2297 01:35:46,960 --> 01:35:48,719 think that's a maybe a generational 2298 01:35:48,719 --> 01:35:50,800 thing. Like it's it's it's way more 2299 01:35:50,800 --> 01:35:52,639 interesting to make sure your your posts 2300 01:35:52,639 --> 01:35:54,080 are active and you know what's going on 2301 01:35:54,080 --> 01:35:55,440 with everyone than it is to be on a 2302 01:35:55,440 --> 01:35:57,120 practice field and and be two hours 2303 01:35:57,120 --> 01:35:59,440 without it. But just another notice to 2304 01:35:59,440 --> 01:36:00,880 everyone that there'll be no cell phones 2305 01:36:00,880 --> 01:36:03,679 in the high school next year. That's a law that's been passed and we 2306 01:36:03,679 --> 01:36:06,639 move forward with that. 2307 01:36:06,639 --> 01:36:08,159 I I do think that would be helpful. But 2308 01:36:08,159 --> 01:36:10,000 I I agree. We we just got to get kids 2309 01:36:10,000 --> 01:36:11,199 engaged. When I talk about sense of 2310 01:36:11,199 --> 01:36:13,520 adequacy, I I really mean it can be 2311 01:36:13,520 --> 01:36:15,600 almost anything. If you build a 2312 01:36:15,600 --> 01:36:18,320 birdhouse or a foot stool or something 2313 01:36:18,320 --> 01:36:20,080 and you can bring it home and be like, I 2314 01:36:20,080 --> 01:36:22,800 did this [snorts] that matters. And our 2315 01:36:22,800 --> 01:36:23,920 kids right now, they're stuck to their 2316 01:36:23,920 --> 01:36:25,280 phones and they're not doing those 2317 01:36:25,280 --> 01:36:27,120 things. And so their sense of adequacy 2318 01:36:27,120 --> 01:36:28,960 is how awesome did someone or how many 2319 01:36:28,960 --> 01:36:31,520 likes did they have or it's it's so 2320 01:36:31,520 --> 01:36:32,960 superficial like we got to get deeper 2321 01:36:32,960 --> 01:36:34,800 with our kids. 2322 01:36:34,800 --> 01:36:36,400 >> Thank you for that. I actually have that 2323 01:36:36,400 --> 01:36:39,040 with um businesses maybe sponsoring an 2324 01:36:39,040 --> 01:36:41,199 internship or a mentorship with some of 2325 01:36:41,199 --> 01:36:43,440 the stuff that they do within the comm 2326 01:36:43,440 --> 01:36:45,199 uh the community. One of the other 2327 01:36:45,199 --> 01:36:48,080 questions I have is in in uh have we 2328 01:36:48,080 --> 01:36:50,400 looked into why 2329 01:36:50,400 --> 01:36:53,199 um when we expel youth and all that 2330 01:36:53,199 --> 01:36:56,159 stuff, are we looking deeper into why 2331 01:36:56,159 --> 01:36:59,199 youth are are going down that hole and 2332 01:36:59,199 --> 01:37:01,119 maybe trying to figure out how to 2333 01:37:01,119 --> 01:37:06,639 prevent others from going down that? 2334 01:37:06,639 --> 01:37:08,880 >> So the short answer is yes, the long 2335 01:37:08,880 --> 01:37:10,639 answer is really long. Every kid is an 2336 01:37:10,639 --> 01:37:14,159 individualized uh scenario. Um, one 2337 01:37:14,159 --> 01:37:15,679 thing that I want to really spend more 2338 01:37:15,679 --> 01:37:17,040 time on if there are researchers in the 2339 01:37:17,040 --> 01:37:18,159 room, and I know Bates has been helpful 2340 01:37:18,159 --> 01:37:21,280 with this kind of conversation, is 2341 01:37:21,280 --> 01:37:23,360 second generation 2342 01:37:23,360 --> 01:37:25,679 males especially, 2343 01:37:25,679 --> 01:37:28,800 seem to have um a different kind of need 2344 01:37:28,800 --> 01:37:31,119 to please their peers than than I've 2345 01:37:31,119 --> 01:37:33,280 seen before. And so I want to know more 2346 01:37:33,280 --> 01:37:35,920 about that. But those kids are also role 2347 01:37:35,920 --> 01:37:39,679 models for their younger siblings. And I I want to understand that that 2348 01:37:39,679 --> 01:37:41,920 influence and how that that's happening. 2349 01:37:41,920 --> 01:37:44,159 we are seeing uh you know for for better 2350 01:37:44,159 --> 01:37:45,760 or worse I've been in administration in 2351 01:37:45,760 --> 01:37:48,639 Lewis public school since 2012. So in 2352 01:37:48,639 --> 01:37:50,239 that time frame I've spent a lot of time 2353 01:37:50,239 --> 01:37:52,080 with with kids who are now the adults 2354 01:37:52,080 --> 01:37:53,920 that Neil's mentioning the young adults 2355 01:37:53,920 --> 01:37:55,679 and their siblings who are some of them 2356 01:37:55,679 --> 01:37:57,520 currently in school. So I know a lot 2357 01:37:57,520 --> 01:38:00,000 about the family dynamics and and it it 2358 01:38:00,000 --> 01:38:02,960 all plays in. Um, but I will say this, 2359 01:38:02,960 --> 01:38:04,719 all the things we can identify, for the 2360 01:38:04,719 --> 01:38:07,440 vast vast majority of them, we're not 2361 01:38:07,440 --> 01:38:09,760 filling what their needs are. From 2362 01:38:09,760 --> 01:38:11,920 counseling to, 2363 01:38:11,920 --> 01:38:14,000 you know, trauma to adequacy, you name 2364 01:38:14,000 --> 01:38:22,310 it. Um, there's a lot going on, 2365 01:38:22,320 --> 01:38:24,400 » test, 2366 01:38:24,400 --> 01:38:30,870 can you hear me now? 2367 01:38:30,880 --> 01:38:36,560 testing test came back there. Okay. 2368 01:38:36,560 --> 01:38:39,119 >> All right. Um couple more um things that 2369 01:38:39,119 --> 01:38:40,639 I thought about. I'm glad you touched 2370 01:38:40,639 --> 01:38:43,040 upon Bates College maybe, you know, 2371 01:38:43,040 --> 01:38:44,719 partnering up with Bates College to 2372 01:38:44,719 --> 01:38:46,320 invest a little bit in the community 2373 01:38:46,320 --> 01:38:48,719 with the school system to try to build 2374 01:38:48,719 --> 01:38:50,400 those after school programs and all that 2375 01:38:50,400 --> 01:38:52,239 stuff too. I think that's something that 2376 01:38:52,239 --> 01:38:59,030 I was thinking about. Um let's see. 2377 01:38:59,040 --> 01:39:01,360 that'll uh how about peerto-peer 2378 01:39:01,360 --> 01:39:03,119 peer-to-p peer homework help you know 2379 01:39:03,119 --> 01:39:06,560 stuff like that because again if we get 2380 01:39:06,560 --> 01:39:09,840 a lot of our youth engaging with other 2381 01:39:09,840 --> 01:39:12,800 youth maybe work habits and you know 2382 01:39:12,800 --> 01:39:14,159 healthy boundaries and all that stuff 2383 01:39:14,159 --> 01:39:17,920 maybe that might be a way to go too. 2384 01:39:17,920 --> 01:39:20,000 Yeah, all good ideas. Happy happy to 2385 01:39:20,000 --> 01:39:22,560 explore those. 2386 01:39:22,560 --> 01:39:24,639 >> Councelor Haramman, 2387 01:39:24,639 --> 01:39:26,159 >> I don't have any questions right now. 2388 01:39:26,159 --> 01:39:27,760 Thanks, 2389 01:39:27,760 --> 01:39:29,679 >> Councelor Long Champs. 2390 01:39:29,679 --> 01:39:33,360 >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, Mr. Langless, uh, 2391 01:39:33,360 --> 01:39:36,639 do we still have truent officers? 2392 01:39:36,639 --> 01:39:38,400 >> So, the question was, do we have truency 2393 01:39:38,400 --> 01:39:40,159 officers? And and so the answer to that 2394 01:39:40,159 --> 01:39:43,199 question is no, but yes. So, we used to 2395 01:39:43,199 --> 01:39:45,440 have a dedicated person u many years ago 2396 01:39:45,440 --> 01:39:47,199 that this is part of what they did as a 2397 01:39:47,199 --> 01:39:50,080 job. Um now it's it's morphed to uh 2398 01:39:50,080 --> 01:39:52,080 school administrators. Uh oftentimes 2399 01:39:52,080 --> 01:39:54,320 we'll go with an SRO to try to contact a 2400 01:39:54,320 --> 01:39:56,239 kid we've been missing for a while. Um a 2401 01:39:56,239 --> 01:39:58,639 truency is a a serious problem. Um and 2402 01:39:58,639 --> 01:40:00,000 when I talk a whole community, I don't 2403 01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:01,679 mean just it takes everybody for that 2404 01:40:01,679 --> 01:40:04,320 afternoon on the field. I mean the the 2405 01:40:04,320 --> 01:40:06,239 standards that we hold for each other 2406 01:40:06,239 --> 01:40:07,840 are incredibly important and kids are 2407 01:40:07,840 --> 01:40:09,679 watching all the time. And so when they 2408 01:40:09,679 --> 01:40:10,960 feel safe because people are drawing 2409 01:40:10,960 --> 01:40:13,199 lines, they they'll behave that way. 2410 01:40:13,199 --> 01:40:14,480 It's it's it's a really interesting 2411 01:40:14,480 --> 01:40:17,199 piece at least more so um as it relates 2412 01:40:17,199 --> 01:40:19,840 to truency, it's just I'm trying to 2413 01:40:19,840 --> 01:40:21,520 connect the two because if you're not 2414 01:40:21,520 --> 01:40:23,280 going to school and having a responsible 2415 01:40:23,280 --> 01:40:25,280 routine for yourself or as a parent 2416 01:40:25,280 --> 01:40:28,159 making sure your kids get to that space, 2417 01:40:28,159 --> 01:40:30,960 we're missing big pieces of why kids 2418 01:40:30,960 --> 01:40:32,400 often start misbehaving in school 2419 01:40:32,400 --> 01:40:35,360 because they feel lost academically. And 2420 01:40:35,360 --> 01:40:37,760 so it that's another piece is community 2421 01:40:37,760 --> 01:40:39,679 effort. I I'd love to see chronic 2422 01:40:39,679 --> 01:40:41,440 absenteeism and truency be reduced, but 2423 01:40:41,440 --> 01:40:42,719 it's going to take everybody to be like, 2424 01:40:42,719 --> 01:40:46,480 "Hey, why aren't you in school? It's not acceptable that you're not." 2425 01:40:46,480 --> 01:40:48,000 And and that's going to take a parent 2426 01:40:48,000 --> 01:40:50,639 getting up, right? Like so many of us in 2427 01:40:50,639 --> 01:40:52,960 this room have kids that have are still 2428 01:40:52,960 --> 01:40:55,760 growing or have grown. And you know, I'm 2429 01:40:55,760 --> 01:40:57,679 a superintendent. This morning, my kid 2430 01:40:57,679 --> 01:41:00,159 was here to do a workout uh as a summer 2431 01:41:00,159 --> 01:41:02,239 program. He did not get up the first 2432 01:41:02,239 --> 01:41:03,760 time I knocked on the door. He did not 2433 01:41:03,760 --> 01:41:05,119 get up the second time. He got up the 2434 01:41:05,119 --> 01:41:06,480 third time when I ripped a blanket off 2435 01:41:06,480 --> 01:41:09,920 of him. But that's that's my job you as 2436 01:41:09,920 --> 01:41:11,760 a dad, right? Because he's going at 7 2437 01:41:11,760 --> 01:41:14,080 o'clock for workouts. But but that's my 2438 01:41:14,080 --> 01:41:15,520 job as a dad. And we have a lot of kids 2439 01:41:15,520 --> 01:41:17,840 that their parents, 2440 01:41:17,840 --> 01:41:19,360 they don't even know that that's a 2441 01:41:19,360 --> 01:41:21,119 thing. They they don't realize that 2442 01:41:21,119 --> 01:41:22,639 there's something at 7:00 tomorrow 2443 01:41:22,639 --> 01:41:24,239 morning that their kids should be there 2444 01:41:24,239 --> 01:41:25,520 for and they're definitely not getting 2445 01:41:25,520 --> 01:41:26,800 them up for it. So we got to do better 2446 01:41:26,800 --> 01:41:28,719 across the board. 2447 01:41:28,719 --> 01:41:31,520 >> Uh thank you. Um so we don't have a 2448 01:41:31,520 --> 01:41:36,000 truency uh officer. We are hopeful that 2449 01:41:36,000 --> 01:41:38,320 the parents will do a better job and I 2450 01:41:38,320 --> 01:41:39,920 am hopeful too and I know how critical 2451 01:41:39,920 --> 01:41:42,000 that is but the reality is it's not 2452 01:41:42,000 --> 01:41:43,679 happening. 2453 01:41:43,679 --> 01:41:47,840 So I think we need a truency officer 2454 01:41:47,840 --> 01:41:51,440 um to make sure that if a kid uh is not 2455 01:41:51,440 --> 01:41:54,159 attending school after so many days 2456 01:41:54,159 --> 01:41:56,320 they're the ones uh knocking on their 2457 01:41:56,320 --> 01:41:59,440 door like we had uh years ago. I think 2458 01:41:59,440 --> 01:42:02,480 that was uh very useful and very helpful 2459 01:42:02,480 --> 01:42:05,520 from what I could uh see. 2460 01:42:05,520 --> 01:42:09,280 The second question I have um 2461 01:42:09,280 --> 01:42:13,840 the small group of individuals that you 2462 01:42:13,840 --> 01:42:16,960 were um 2463 01:42:16,960 --> 01:42:19,280 saying uh you know are basically the 2464 01:42:19,280 --> 01:42:21,520 ones committing these uh the gun 2465 01:42:21,520 --> 01:42:25,030 violence. 2466 01:42:25,040 --> 01:42:27,679 Are they in school that you know of or 2467 01:42:27,679 --> 01:42:32,000 are they kids that um are not currently 2468 01:42:32,000 --> 01:42:34,400 going to school? Well, not this summer, 2469 01:42:34,400 --> 01:42:35,920 but 2470 01:42:35,920 --> 01:42:37,679 >> I I looked over some things. I I think I 2471 01:42:37,679 --> 01:42:39,280 have my my data accurate, but I'd have 2472 01:42:39,280 --> 01:42:41,520 to dig some more. I believe there's been 2473 01:42:41,520 --> 01:42:43,520 one student that's had anything gun 2474 01:42:43,520 --> 01:42:45,440 rellated in the last two years that was 2475 01:42:45,440 --> 01:42:47,600 not already expelled from school for 2476 01:42:47,600 --> 01:42:50,960 other violent acts. 2477 01:42:50,960 --> 01:42:52,960 The other thing I would just suggest, 2478 01:42:52,960 --> 01:42:54,560 um, and I'd like to ask you if you think 2479 01:42:54,560 --> 01:42:56,320 it would be helpful, and it seems as 2480 01:42:56,320 --> 01:42:57,840 though the answer is probably going to 2481 01:42:57,840 --> 01:43:00,719 be yes, I hope. Um, it seems like when 2482 01:43:00,719 --> 01:43:03,440 you identify kids that are struggling 2483 01:43:03,440 --> 01:43:06,239 and, you know, may go down a path, uh, 2484 01:43:06,239 --> 01:43:09,840 we need some sort of system to prevent 2485 01:43:09,840 --> 01:43:13,360 uh any anything further from happening. 2486 01:43:13,360 --> 01:43:15,440 Um, and I don't mean just an 2487 01:43:15,440 --> 01:43:17,840 organization that comes up tomorrow and 2488 01:43:17,840 --> 01:43:19,440 says, "Oh, I'll be great at it." so they 2489 01:43:19,440 --> 01:43:22,480 can get a ton of money or uh but I think 2490 01:43:22,480 --> 01:43:25,360 we need real professional people, case 2491 01:43:25,360 --> 01:43:28,719 management people um once the school 2492 01:43:28,719 --> 01:43:32,960 identifies uh the students to step in uh 2493 01:43:32,960 --> 01:43:35,199 I believe that would be really helpful. 2494 01:43:35,199 --> 01:43:37,760 Um we we can't lose sight of of helping 2495 01:43:37,760 --> 01:43:40,639 these uh young people. Thank you. I 2496 01:43:40,639 --> 01:43:43,119 >> I would agree. Just just real quickly if 2497 01:43:43,119 --> 01:43:44,400 someone called me tomorrow and said, "We 2498 01:43:44,400 --> 01:43:46,320 have this program. What kids do you 2499 01:43:46,320 --> 01:43:47,679 think should be in it?" There's there's 2500 01:43:47,679 --> 01:43:48,719 plenty of people in this room that could 2501 01:43:48,719 --> 01:43:50,480 probably tell you exactly who could 2502 01:43:50,480 --> 01:43:52,400 benefit from additional supports, but we 2503 01:43:52,400 --> 01:43:54,320 do need the system and the resources. 2504 01:43:54,320 --> 01:43:55,760 And from a truency officer perspective, 2505 01:43:55,760 --> 01:43:57,199 I want folks to know that we mail a 2506 01:43:57,199 --> 01:43:58,560 letter to parents and we let them know 2507 01:43:58,560 --> 01:44:01,360 after 10 absences that your your your 2508 01:44:01,360 --> 01:44:04,320 child is truent and that if you don't 2509 01:44:04,320 --> 01:44:05,920 send your student to school, you'll be 2510 01:44:05,920 --> 01:44:08,800 fined up to $250. We have to submit the 2511 01:44:08,800 --> 01:44:10,560 language to the district attorney's 2512 01:44:10,560 --> 01:44:13,679 office who is already 700 cases behind. 2513 01:44:13,679 --> 01:44:15,760 and to prioritize a truency case for a 2514 01:44:15,760 --> 01:44:18,000 $250 fine is not making the priority 2515 01:44:18,000 --> 01:44:19,600 list. That's not on them. That's just a 2516 01:44:19,600 --> 01:44:20,719 reality. I just want to share that 2517 01:44:20,719 --> 01:44:22,880 upfront with people. 2518 01:44:22,880 --> 01:44:24,239 >> Councelor Long Champs, did you have 2519 01:44:24,239 --> 01:44:24,880 something else? 2520 01:44:24,880 --> 01:44:26,639 >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. So, uh what I 2521 01:44:26,639 --> 01:44:29,440 would just say to that is 2522 01:44:29,440 --> 01:44:31,920 we probably just need a truency officer 2523 01:44:31,920 --> 01:44:33,920 that can go knock on the door after a 2524 01:44:33,920 --> 01:44:35,840 few days of making no uh you know, 2525 01:44:35,840 --> 01:44:37,760 having no contact with this kid so that 2526 01:44:37,760 --> 01:44:39,040 they can see what condition they're 2527 01:44:39,040 --> 01:44:40,880 living in or what is going on. And then 2528 01:44:40,880 --> 01:44:43,360 DHS needs to do a better job at helping 2529 01:44:43,360 --> 01:44:46,639 also. Thank you. 2530 01:44:46,639 --> 01:44:49,360 >> Uh any further? Councelor Nene, did you 2531 01:44:49,360 --> 01:44:51,040 have something? 2532 01:44:51,040 --> 01:44:54,000 >> I did. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, um how 2533 01:44:54,000 --> 01:44:56,080 many uh students have been expelled uh 2534 01:44:56,080 --> 01:44:59,669 this year? 2535 01:44:59,679 --> 01:45:03,119 » This year, I think we're approaching 15. 2536 01:45:03,119 --> 01:45:06,880 >> 15. And um were all the expulsions based 2537 01:45:06,880 --> 01:45:14,149 on violent acts? 2538 01:45:14,159 --> 01:45:16,960 Yeah, I yes, all violent acts. Um, but I 2539 01:45:16,960 --> 01:45:19,119 do want to clarify too, um, we've 2540 01:45:19,119 --> 01:45:20,800 crossed a bridge. So, I don't know if 2541 01:45:20,800 --> 01:45:21,920 the legal team wants to block their 2542 01:45:21,920 --> 01:45:23,679 ears, but we we crossed a bridge as a 2543 01:45:23,679 --> 01:45:25,679 school system and said even if the 2544 01:45:25,679 --> 01:45:27,760 violent act happens outside of school, 2545 01:45:27,760 --> 01:45:30,080 but it has the opportunity to disrupt 2546 01:45:30,080 --> 01:45:32,159 the peace and use of the school itself, 2547 01:45:32,159 --> 01:45:34,400 we are still carrying that forward. 2548 01:45:34,400 --> 01:45:35,760 We're not we're not waiting for it to 2549 01:45:35,760 --> 01:45:37,520 happen at school. If it happens, it 2550 01:45:37,520 --> 01:45:39,280 happened. and we're taking action on 2551 01:45:39,280 --> 01:45:40,480 that. 2552 01:45:40,480 --> 01:45:42,880 >> Okay. And just as a followup on that, 2553 01:45:42,880 --> 01:45:44,800 what is LPS's responsibility for 2554 01:45:44,800 --> 01:45:46,320 placement of that child in an 2555 01:45:46,320 --> 01:45:47,920 educational system once they are 2556 01:45:47,920 --> 01:45:51,199 expelled from school? 2557 01:45:51,199 --> 01:45:52,880 So, in statute, you have limited 2558 01:45:52,880 --> 01:45:54,880 responsibilities. Um, if there's an IEP, 2559 01:45:54,880 --> 01:45:56,480 you have some instructional obligations. 2560 01:45:56,480 --> 01:45:58,880 If you if they do not have an IEP, your 2561 01:45:58,880 --> 01:46:00,880 responsibility to have a re-entry plan. 2562 01:46:00,880 --> 01:46:02,719 We go beyond that and provide supports 2563 01:46:02,719 --> 01:46:04,320 to to try to maintain opportunities for 2564 01:46:04,320 --> 01:46:06,639 volunteering, experiences, learning, 2565 01:46:06,639 --> 01:46:08,800 counseling. Um, but that's all off-site. 2566 01:46:08,800 --> 01:46:11,119 They're not allowed on school grounds. 2567 01:46:11,119 --> 01:46:12,800 Thank you. And the last question that I 2568 01:46:12,800 --> 01:46:14,320 have just to follow up with all of those 2569 01:46:14,320 --> 01:46:16,880 pieces is what are the processes in 2570 01:46:16,880 --> 01:46:19,520 which we uh as a school system identify 2571 01:46:19,520 --> 01:46:21,600 at risk youth and what tools are we 2572 01:46:21,600 --> 01:46:25,280 using in order to avoid the expulsion 2573 01:46:25,280 --> 01:46:27,360 which then uh and I'm just going to use 2574 01:46:27,360 --> 01:46:32,080 this framework but in most cases um 2575 01:46:32,080 --> 01:46:34,000 unless there's incredible engagement 2576 01:46:34,000 --> 01:46:38,159 from the parents of of that youth uh 2577 01:46:38,159 --> 01:46:41,920 basically throws that kid away. Um so 2578 01:46:41,920 --> 01:46:43,520 there's there's traditional constructs 2579 01:46:43,520 --> 01:46:46,800 to identify at risk grades, attendance, 2580 01:46:46,800 --> 01:46:48,480 uh skipping tardies, things of that 2581 01:46:48,480 --> 01:46:50,719 nature. Um we go beyond that with with 2582 01:46:50,719 --> 01:46:52,639 some of our systems with uh behavioral 2583 01:46:52,639 --> 01:46:55,199 analysis, uh trajectory or projection to 2584 01:46:55,199 --> 01:46:57,840 graduate or not or and what where you're 2585 01:46:57,840 --> 01:46:59,760 at in that pace. There's a there's a 2586 01:46:59,760 --> 01:47:01,679 metric for that in our system. But we've 2587 01:47:01,679 --> 01:47:02,800 also done some things that are not 2588 01:47:02,800 --> 01:47:04,880 traditional. Um our SRO's have done some 2589 01:47:04,880 --> 01:47:07,360 great things in the schools. I it's 2590 01:47:07,360 --> 01:47:08,560 interesting to see in the schools. And I 2591 01:47:08,560 --> 01:47:09,920 know some people have bigger feelings 2592 01:47:09,920 --> 01:47:12,560 about SRO's um in a different light, but 2593 01:47:12,560 --> 01:47:14,480 I watch our SRO's get fist bumps and 2594 01:47:14,480 --> 01:47:16,239 hugs and all kinds of things in our 2595 01:47:16,239 --> 01:47:17,520 schools and I think that's an important 2596 01:47:17,520 --> 01:47:20,080 step that we've taken. Um we also have 2597 01:47:20,080 --> 01:47:22,480 been working with um the community based 2598 01:47:22,480 --> 01:47:24,000 organizations who have brought staff 2599 01:47:24,000 --> 01:47:26,000 into our schools. So kids who have like 2600 01:47:26,000 --> 01:47:27,520 a hot spot moment, they can go see 2601 01:47:27,520 --> 01:47:29,440 someone. Um, you're going to hear from 2602 01:47:29,440 --> 01:47:30,719 Duncan, so I'm sure he'll talk about 2603 01:47:30,719 --> 01:47:31,920 some of the things that he's done in 2604 01:47:31,920 --> 01:47:33,679 collaboration with with school and kids 2605 01:47:33,679 --> 01:47:35,600 who are facing or have faced 2606 01:47:35,600 --> 01:47:37,440 consequences with with school and 2607 01:47:37,440 --> 01:47:39,440 community. Um, so we're we're looking to 2608 01:47:39,440 --> 01:47:40,960 fold in as many people as we can and 2609 01:47:40,960 --> 01:47:43,280 break down the barrier of it's a school, 2610 01:47:43,280 --> 01:47:44,639 so you can't do that here. We're saying 2611 01:47:44,639 --> 01:47:46,560 it's a school. How can you help us uh 2612 01:47:46,560 --> 01:47:47,600 get in front of some of these 2613 01:47:47,600 --> 01:47:49,280 situations? 2614 01:47:49,280 --> 01:47:50,560 >> So ultimately, you're providing 2615 01:47:50,560 --> 01:47:52,880 additional resources outside of family 2616 01:47:52,880 --> 01:47:54,560 and recovery courts, which are clearly 2617 01:47:54,560 --> 01:47:56,880 are not either either not functioning in 2618 01:47:56,880 --> 01:47:58,400 this 2619 01:47:58,400 --> 01:48:01,920 uh in this state or or or not fully 2620 01:48:01,920 --> 01:48:02,639 functioning. 2621 01:48:02,639 --> 01:48:03,440 >> Yes. 2622 01:48:03,440 --> 01:48:06,000 >> Okay. Thank you. 2623 01:48:06,000 --> 01:48:08,719 >> Uh superintendent, uh you mentioned 15 2624 01:48:08,719 --> 01:48:10,320 students have been expelled this year. 2625 01:48:10,320 --> 01:48:12,480 Uh can you give us a breakdown based on 2626 01:48:12,480 --> 01:48:13,920 school? Were most of those in the high 2627 01:48:13,920 --> 01:48:15,679 school or were some in elementary or 2628 01:48:15,679 --> 01:48:16,400 middle? 2629 01:48:16,400 --> 01:48:17,920 >> It's a great question. So, you cannot 2630 01:48:17,920 --> 01:48:20,080 expel a student who is fifth grade or 2631 01:48:20,080 --> 01:48:21,920 lower unless there's a gun rellated 2632 01:48:21,920 --> 01:48:24,320 incident. Um we've had only one 2633 01:48:24,320 --> 01:48:27,199 expulsion this year. Uh that was uh it 2634 01:48:27,199 --> 01:48:28,639 was actually a fifth grader. So for the 2635 01:48:28,639 --> 01:48:30,400 younger ages, everything else has been 2636 01:48:30,400 --> 01:48:32,800 middle and high school. And that's 2637 01:48:32,800 --> 01:48:36,480 really about the constraints. I there's we've had some situations with 2638 01:48:36,480 --> 01:48:38,080 very young kids that they're not gun 2639 01:48:38,080 --> 01:48:41,280 related. Um but we have 2640 01:48:41,280 --> 01:48:43,520 I I'll say this if if the next session 2641 01:48:43,520 --> 01:48:44,960 is willing to hear some language around 2642 01:48:44,960 --> 01:48:46,239 some things we might be able to do as a 2643 01:48:46,239 --> 01:48:47,840 school system to help mitigate, I have 2644 01:48:47,840 --> 01:48:50,159 ideas. 2645 01:48:50,159 --> 01:48:52,560 >> Thank you. Uh further questions uh from 2646 01:48:52,560 --> 01:48:55,520 the council. 2647 01:48:55,520 --> 01:48:57,040 Superintendent, thank you very much for 2648 01:48:57,040 --> 01:49:02,149 being here. 2649 01:49:02,159 --> 01:49:04,239 We are now going to hear from the New 2650 01:49:04,239 --> 01:49:06,000 Beginnings executive director, Chris 2651 01:49:06,000 --> 01:49:12,950 Bnau. 2652 01:49:12,960 --> 01:49:16,159 Thank you for joining us, Director Bnau. 2653 01:49:16,159 --> 01:49:18,719 >> Thank you for inviting me. Um, I was 2654 01:49:18,719 --> 01:49:20,800 invited here because of my experience 2655 01:49:20,800 --> 01:49:23,679 and expertise in systems and funding. 2656 01:49:23,679 --> 01:49:25,280 And so that's primarily what I'm going 2657 01:49:25,280 --> 01:49:27,679 to talk about. Um I believe that the 2658 01:49:27,679 --> 01:49:30,639 responsibility for solving this problem, 2659 01:49:30,639 --> 01:49:33,040 the financial problem of getting money 2660 01:49:33,040 --> 01:49:35,679 to resolve this sits with state and 2661 01:49:35,679 --> 01:49:40,080 local officials, period. Um 2662 01:49:40,080 --> 01:49:42,159 I don't I do know that without 2663 01:49:42,159 --> 01:49:45,679 significant investment in multiple 2664 01:49:45,679 --> 01:49:47,520 different 2665 01:49:47,520 --> 01:49:50,320 domains that this is not going to get 2666 01:49:50,320 --> 01:49:52,960 resolved. And I did hear the mayor say 2667 01:49:52,960 --> 01:49:54,320 that he has heard clearly from the 2668 01:49:54,320 --> 01:49:57,679 citizens of Lon that he doesn't want 2669 01:49:57,679 --> 01:49:59,440 municipal dollars being spent. If you 2670 01:49:59,440 --> 01:50:01,280 don't want to spend money on this, 2671 01:50:01,280 --> 01:50:02,480 you're not going to get a solution. 2672 01:50:02,480 --> 01:50:06,159 That's just a reality. Um, one 2673 01:50:06,159 --> 01:50:07,840 contributing factor to the inadequate 2674 01:50:07,840 --> 01:50:10,000 response is that the city of Lewon does 2675 01:50:10,000 --> 01:50:11,760 not have a public health department. 2676 01:50:11,760 --> 01:50:13,360 This is a public health crisis. This is 2677 01:50:13,360 --> 01:50:15,920 not a criminal justice crisis. 2678 01:50:15,920 --> 01:50:18,400 These are children who are living in 2679 01:50:18,400 --> 01:50:21,199 fear in the community and they are 2680 01:50:21,199 --> 01:50:23,600 children. They are not juveniles. 2681 01:50:23,600 --> 01:50:27,280 When a child witnesses a friend die, 2682 01:50:27,280 --> 01:50:29,440 they do not they do not respond from a 2683 01:50:29,440 --> 01:50:32,080 logical place. They do not respond from 2684 01:50:32,080 --> 01:50:35,520 an adult thinking process. They are 2685 01:50:35,520 --> 01:50:37,440 developmentally different from adults. 2686 01:50:37,440 --> 01:50:40,639 They are incapable of making rational 2687 01:50:40,639 --> 01:50:42,880 decisions about their behavior when they 2688 01:50:42,880 --> 01:50:47,189 are in fear. Period. 2689 01:50:47,199 --> 01:50:49,199 uh whether whether or not the city uh 2690 01:50:49,199 --> 01:50:52,560 hires uh a public health official to 2691 01:50:52,560 --> 01:50:54,560 kind of oversee this process is not in 2692 01:50:54,560 --> 01:50:56,960 my power, but uh engaging with the main 2693 01:50:56,960 --> 01:50:59,199 CDC and the office of injury and 2694 01:50:59,199 --> 01:51:00,880 violence prevention and the children's 2695 01:51:00,880 --> 01:51:02,880 cabinet are critical for this city to 2696 01:51:02,880 --> 01:51:06,639 engage with. They have the capacity to 2697 01:51:06,639 --> 01:51:09,040 engage in this conversation. Um to this 2698 01:51:09,040 --> 01:51:10,480 end, I reached out to the children's 2699 01:51:10,480 --> 01:51:12,400 cabinet. What I heard back from the 2700 01:51:12,400 --> 01:51:14,639 children's cabinet's representative was 2701 01:51:14,639 --> 01:51:17,440 they don't have discretionary dollars to 2702 01:51:17,440 --> 01:51:19,760 invest in this. I personally have 2703 01:51:19,760 --> 01:51:21,040 problem with that. These are state 2704 01:51:21,040 --> 01:51:23,040 agencies that do have discretionary 2705 01:51:23,040 --> 01:51:24,960 dollars that they're choosing to 2706 01:51:24,960 --> 01:51:27,440 administer in different ways. And so I 2707 01:51:27,440 --> 01:51:29,600 feel putting pressure on the state 2708 01:51:29,600 --> 01:51:31,600 departments that have responsibility 2709 01:51:31,600 --> 01:51:33,199 here. We're talking about the CDC, 2710 01:51:33,199 --> 01:51:34,639 Department of Health and Human Services, 2711 01:51:34,639 --> 01:51:37,119 Department of Public Safety. those 2712 01:51:37,119 --> 01:51:39,760 departments have the capacity to make 2713 01:51:39,760 --> 01:51:42,639 internal changes and assign personnel to 2714 01:51:42,639 --> 01:51:45,199 different tasks uh to address this 2715 01:51:45,199 --> 01:51:48,080 issue. 2716 01:51:48,080 --> 01:51:50,880 Um if the children's cabinet in fact 2717 01:51:50,880 --> 01:51:52,320 doesn't have any money and it's a dead 2718 01:51:52,320 --> 01:51:55,119 end um there are pretty much two other 2719 01:51:55,119 --> 01:51:57,520 courses of action to acquire this money 2720 01:51:57,520 --> 01:52:00,480 maybe three. Uh one is the opioid 2721 01:52:00,480 --> 01:52:02,960 response funds. The the state has spent 2722 01:52:02,960 --> 01:52:05,599 1.4 million of 3.4 4 million in opioid 2723 01:52:05,599 --> 01:52:07,119 response funds. There's plenty of money 2724 01:52:07,119 --> 01:52:12,470 there. The city has $631,22.18 2725 01:52:12,480 --> 01:52:15,040 in unspent opioid response money that 2726 01:52:15,040 --> 01:52:17,360 can be spent to help resolve this issue. 2727 01:52:17,360 --> 01:52:20,880 Um the second option is uh seeking 2728 01:52:20,880 --> 01:52:23,440 foundation and corporate support. Uh I 2729 01:52:23,440 --> 01:52:25,199 don't think that any foundation or 2730 01:52:25,199 --> 01:52:26,960 corporation would invest in something 2731 01:52:26,960 --> 01:52:28,480 that this community is not willing to 2732 01:52:28,480 --> 01:52:30,880 invest in itself. And so you need to get 2733 01:52:30,880 --> 01:52:32,639 beyond the fact that you you don't want 2734 01:52:32,639 --> 01:52:34,159 to spend money. there's a problem in 2735 01:52:34,159 --> 01:52:36,560 this community that requires resources 2736 01:52:36,560 --> 01:52:40,239 and that means money. Um 2737 01:52:40,239 --> 01:52:41,920 the third access is there's something 2738 01:52:41,920 --> 01:52:43,599 called the JJ, the juvenile justice 2739 01:52:43,599 --> 01:52:45,679 advisory group and they have do have 2740 01:52:45,679 --> 01:52:48,719 some discretionary grant funding and I 2741 01:52:48,719 --> 01:52:50,080 haven't reached out to them personally 2742 01:52:50,080 --> 01:52:51,360 but there are folks in the room who are 2743 01:52:51,360 --> 01:52:53,280 connected as I am who will be looking at 2744 01:52:53,280 --> 01:52:55,599 those dollars and the potential for some 2745 01:52:55,599 --> 01:52:57,199 of those dollars to be addressing this 2746 01:52:57,199 --> 01:52:59,199 situation. Those are the the three 2747 01:52:59,199 --> 01:53:00,880 sources of money that I've been able to 2748 01:53:00,880 --> 01:53:04,159 kind of research and find out there. Um 2749 01:53:04,159 --> 01:53:06,639 my recommendation is that this community 2750 01:53:06,639 --> 01:53:08,159 uh respond to this as a public health 2751 01:53:08,159 --> 01:53:11,599 emergency and that it has uh a public 2752 01:53:11,599 --> 01:53:13,440 safety component. Like I'm not denying 2753 01:53:13,440 --> 01:53:16,080 that these children are shooting guns in 2754 01:53:16,080 --> 01:53:18,480 the street. Like that has to stop. 2755 01:53:18,480 --> 01:53:20,480 Absolutely has to stop. So there is a a 2756 01:53:20,480 --> 01:53:22,800 public safety component to a public 2757 01:53:22,800 --> 01:53:27,679 health crisis. Uh, and all of the issues 2758 01:53:27,679 --> 01:53:30,239 and concerns around how do we detain 2759 01:53:30,239 --> 01:53:32,639 kids or hold kids accountable, I think 2760 01:53:32,639 --> 01:53:35,119 are all valid, but trying to treat 2761 01:53:35,119 --> 01:53:37,440 children like adults is not a response 2762 01:53:37,440 --> 01:53:38,960 that's going to get you the result 2763 01:53:38,960 --> 01:53:42,239 you're looking for. Um, I think the city 2764 01:53:42,239 --> 01:53:43,520 should immediately hire a director of 2765 01:53:43,520 --> 01:53:45,760 public health to begin coordinating this 2766 01:53:45,760 --> 01:53:48,320 response. U the city should uh 2767 01:53:48,320 --> 01:53:50,080 immediately approach the children's 2768 01:53:50,080 --> 01:53:53,599 cabinet and the CDC to ask formally for 2769 01:53:53,599 --> 01:53:56,239 funds and resources. Uh the city should 2770 01:53:56,239 --> 01:53:58,639 petition uh the state to release some of 2771 01:53:58,639 --> 01:54:00,800 their opioid settlement funds. Uh and 2772 01:54:00,800 --> 01:54:02,000 they should release some of their own 2773 01:54:02,000 --> 01:54:04,800 opioid settlement funds. Um, I also 2774 01:54:04,800 --> 01:54:07,360 think that there are community partners 2775 01:54:07,360 --> 01:54:09,520 who are doing work with these young 2776 01:54:09,520 --> 01:54:12,400 people in the community that are being 2777 01:54:12,400 --> 01:54:14,400 effective, but they are doing it with 2778 01:54:14,400 --> 01:54:16,239 existing resources that they are 2779 01:54:16,239 --> 01:54:18,719 stretching to meet a grand need in this 2780 01:54:18,719 --> 01:54:21,760 community. And if those community 2781 01:54:21,760 --> 01:54:24,800 partners had funding, they could expand 2782 01:54:24,800 --> 01:54:27,760 the response and go deep into community 2783 01:54:27,760 --> 01:54:29,920 to help support the families and the 2784 01:54:29,920 --> 01:54:32,159 siblings and the kids that are suffering 2785 01:54:32,159 --> 01:54:34,800 here. This is about fear, children in 2786 01:54:34,800 --> 01:54:38,560 fear. Um, and really there's someone had 2787 01:54:38,560 --> 01:54:41,280 mentioned a a child and LA child and 2788 01:54:41,280 --> 01:54:42,880 well-being collaborative. That's a 2789 01:54:42,880 --> 01:54:44,800 really great group. There is a lot of 2790 01:54:44,800 --> 01:54:47,599 brain power in that group. That group 2791 01:54:47,599 --> 01:54:50,400 can create a strategy that the funding 2792 01:54:50,400 --> 01:54:53,199 that is brought to bear can be used to 2793 01:54:53,199 --> 01:54:56,719 effectively mitigate this problem. And 2794 01:54:56,719 --> 01:55:00,400 that's kind of where I sit. 2795 01:55:00,400 --> 01:55:02,239 >> Thank you very much, director. Uh we're 2796 01:55:02,239 --> 01:55:03,360 going to take questions. We're going to 2797 01:55:03,360 --> 01:55:07,109 start with councelor Nene. 2798 01:55:07,119 --> 01:55:08,960 » At the moment I actually don't have any 2799 01:55:08,960 --> 01:55:11,440 questions. U although I we're long 2800 01:55:11,440 --> 01:55:13,840 overdue for a conversation. 2801 01:55:13,840 --> 01:55:17,040 >> Thank you councelor Long Champs. 2802 01:55:17,040 --> 01:55:20,159 >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um so what I'm 2803 01:55:20,159 --> 01:55:21,920 hearing from you is that it seems as 2804 01:55:21,920 --> 01:55:25,760 though there's a funding issue. Um 2805 01:55:25,760 --> 01:55:27,520 correct? 2806 01:55:27,520 --> 01:55:28,480 >> Correct. 2807 01:55:28,480 --> 01:55:31,679 >> Thank you. That's really all. 2808 01:55:31,679 --> 01:55:35,119 >> Councelor Harman, 2809 01:55:35,119 --> 01:55:37,760 >> thank you for being here. Um, I guess my 2810 01:55:37,760 --> 01:55:40,480 question is in your work with New 2811 01:55:40,480 --> 01:55:42,960 Beginnings, do you see much overlap 2812 01:55:42,960 --> 01:55:45,040 between the youth that you serve and the 2813 01:55:45,040 --> 01:55:46,480 youth who are involved in these 2814 01:55:46,480 --> 01:55:49,280 activities or is it is it kind of 2815 01:55:49,280 --> 01:55:51,360 separate groups of people and do you 2816 01:55:51,360 --> 01:55:54,480 have any insights as to why the answer 2817 01:55:54,480 --> 01:55:57,599 might be the way it is? 2818 01:55:57,599 --> 01:56:00,400 uh we we see a slight amount of overlap. 2819 01:56:00,400 --> 01:56:02,000 Our outreach team goes out throughout 2820 01:56:02,000 --> 01:56:04,639 the city. Um but the young people who 2821 01:56:04,639 --> 01:56:07,119 seek services at New Beginnings are not 2822 01:56:07,119 --> 01:56:08,480 the young people who are involved in 2823 01:56:08,480 --> 01:56:11,840 these activities. And so I'm I'm one 2824 01:56:11,840 --> 01:56:13,199 step removed from this and that's why 2825 01:56:13,199 --> 01:56:15,760 I'm not offering uh solutions because I 2826 01:56:15,760 --> 01:56:18,800 am not a gun violence expert. Um and I 2827 01:56:18,800 --> 01:56:21,520 do not primarily work in this particular 2828 01:56:21,520 --> 01:56:23,199 neighborhood or community. And so I 2829 01:56:23,199 --> 01:56:24,320 don't want to step on other people's 2830 01:56:24,320 --> 01:56:26,080 toes who are much more deeply connected 2831 01:56:26,080 --> 01:56:27,599 and understand the problem better than I 2832 01:56:27,599 --> 01:56:29,280 do. 2833 01:56:29,280 --> 01:56:31,360 >> Thank you, 2834 01:56:31,360 --> 01:56:34,239 >> Council Roy. 2835 01:56:34,239 --> 01:56:36,560 >> Thank you. Um I just want to say thank 2836 01:56:36,560 --> 01:56:39,360 you for putting this together and taking 2837 01:56:39,360 --> 01:56:43,440 the time to um to really dig deep and come up with your thoughts. Thank 2838 01:56:43,440 --> 01:56:45,199 you, 2839 01:56:45,199 --> 01:56:46,800 >> Councelor Noble. 2840 01:56:46,800 --> 01:56:49,520 >> My questions were about the program, but 2841 01:56:49,520 --> 01:56:53,920 he's not here to talk about that. So, 2842 01:56:53,920 --> 01:56:56,159 >> councelor Chidum, 2843 01:56:56,159 --> 01:56:58,400 thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Mr. McNel, 2844 01:56:58,400 --> 01:57:00,400 thank you very much for being here. Um, 2845 01:57:00,400 --> 01:57:03,360 I appreciate your perspective that more 2846 01:57:03,360 --> 01:57:06,320 money could help solve the problem. Um, 2847 01:57:06,320 --> 01:57:09,599 thank you for your viewpoint. 2848 01:57:09,599 --> 01:57:15,430 >> Councelor Martell. 2849 01:57:15,440 --> 01:57:20,310 » Uh, yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, 2850 01:57:20,320 --> 01:57:23,760 I struggle to to square some of some of 2851 01:57:23,760 --> 01:57:25,199 what you said. So, we just got done 2852 01:57:25,199 --> 01:57:27,360 listening to the superintendent explain 2853 01:57:27,360 --> 01:57:30,080 to us how a 12-year-old seems to be 2854 01:57:30,080 --> 01:57:32,239 using pretty high level logical and 2855 01:57:32,239 --> 01:57:34,960 deductive reasoning skills, figuring out 2856 01:57:34,960 --> 01:57:36,639 where to best find a gun, whether that's 2857 01:57:36,639 --> 01:57:38,000 in a pickup truck and whether they're 2858 01:57:38,000 --> 01:57:41,520 unlocked or whatnot. um that that 2859 01:57:41,520 --> 01:57:44,239 doesn't necessarily scream to me a a 2860 01:57:44,239 --> 01:57:46,560 juvenile that's incompetent of making 2861 01:57:46,560 --> 01:57:48,480 competent decisions is what I believe I 2862 01:57:48,480 --> 01:57:51,119 wrote down what you said or or a child 2863 01:57:51,119 --> 01:57:53,119 living in fear that seems like a 2864 01:57:53,119 --> 01:57:55,119 criminal mindset 2865 01:57:55,119 --> 01:57:59,760 that is uh reasoned and logic based and 2866 01:57:59,760 --> 01:58:04,080 uh results driven. Um could you help me 2867 01:58:04,080 --> 01:58:07,440 square those two things? 2868 01:58:07,440 --> 01:58:10,239 >> Sure. I didn't say that children are not 2869 01:58:10,239 --> 01:58:12,320 excellent creative problem solvers. I 2870 01:58:12,320 --> 01:58:14,800 did not say that children who are backed 2871 01:58:14,800 --> 01:58:17,440 into a corner and have no adult supports 2872 01:58:17,440 --> 01:58:20,000 can't get their needs met by strategies 2873 01:58:20,000 --> 01:58:23,040 that don't meet adult expectations. I 2874 01:58:23,040 --> 01:58:26,960 see every day in my life children who 2875 01:58:26,960 --> 01:58:29,599 have little to no support structure in 2876 01:58:29,599 --> 01:58:33,040 their lives, who do the absolute best 2877 01:58:33,040 --> 01:58:35,760 that they can to solve the problem that 2878 01:58:35,760 --> 01:58:39,040 they are presented with and can argue me 2879 01:58:39,040 --> 01:58:41,760 up and down until I am exhausted and can 2880 01:58:41,760 --> 01:58:44,000 no longer keep up with their circular 2881 01:58:44,000 --> 01:58:45,599 argument. That does not mean that they 2882 01:58:45,599 --> 01:58:47,920 are developmentally 2883 01:58:47,920 --> 01:58:50,560 thinking the way that adults do. The 2884 01:58:50,560 --> 01:58:52,800 biology of children is very different 2885 01:58:52,800 --> 01:58:54,960 from the biology of adults. The human 2886 01:58:54,960 --> 01:58:56,800 brain does not finish developing in a 2887 01:58:56,800 --> 01:58:59,280 female until age 24 and in a male until 2888 01:58:59,280 --> 01:59:02,159 26. At the age of 13 or 14, we are 2889 01:59:02,159 --> 01:59:04,239 talking about children who are 2890 01:59:04,239 --> 01:59:05,840 terrified. I don't know if anybody in 2891 01:59:05,840 --> 01:59:08,000 here has seen a friend of theirs die in 2892 01:59:08,000 --> 01:59:10,719 the streets before the age of 16. I 2893 01:59:10,719 --> 01:59:13,760 have. My response was not rational. I 2894 01:59:13,760 --> 01:59:15,440 was terrified. I had no adults in my 2895 01:59:15,440 --> 01:59:17,599 life to protect me. I did what I did to 2896 01:59:17,599 --> 01:59:19,760 protect myself out of fear so I wouldn't 2897 01:59:19,760 --> 01:59:22,400 be the next one. I luckily survived 2898 01:59:22,400 --> 01:59:24,480 that. These kids are facing the same 2899 01:59:24,480 --> 01:59:26,080 thing. They don't know what the 2900 01:59:26,080 --> 01:59:28,159 going on. They are doing what they can 2901 01:59:28,159 --> 01:59:30,800 to keep themselves alive based on 2902 01:59:30,800 --> 01:59:33,840 visceral reactions to horrible realities 2903 01:59:33,840 --> 01:59:38,310 in the street. 2904 01:59:38,320 --> 01:59:39,920 » I appreciate you coming tonight. I 2905 01:59:39,920 --> 01:59:41,280 fundamentally disagree with everything 2906 01:59:41,280 --> 01:59:44,239 you said. 2907 01:59:44,239 --> 01:59:47,679 any uh and I appreciate your your 2908 01:59:47,679 --> 01:59:50,000 fervor, but if we can uh refrain from 2909 01:59:50,000 --> 01:59:51,360 profanity here, that would be great. 2910 01:59:51,360 --> 01:59:53,520 >> I'm sorry. I apologize to everybody. 2911 01:59:53,520 --> 01:59:56,159 >> You are good. Um further questions uh 2912 01:59:56,159 --> 01:59:58,719 from the council. 2913 01:59:58,719 --> 02:00:00,560 Director Bricknell, uh I appreciate your 2914 02:00:00,560 --> 02:00:02,000 service to our city. Thank you so much 2915 02:00:02,000 --> 02:00:09,830 and thank you for being here. 2916 02:00:09,840 --> 02:00:13,440 We are now bringing up uh Duncan Pierre 2917 02:00:13,440 --> 02:00:15,440 uh from Restorative Justice Project. 2918 02:00:15,440 --> 02:00:27,830 Thank you so much for being here Duncan. 2919 02:00:27,840 --> 02:00:30,400 » Good evening y'all. How you doing? 2920 02:00:30,400 --> 02:00:35,360 Um, I'm here as a father and um as a 2921 02:00:35,360 --> 02:00:37,119 husband even though I work for 2922 02:00:37,119 --> 02:00:38,719 Restorative Justice Project. I'm 2923 02:00:38,719 --> 02:00:40,560 actually on vacation, you know, sporting 2924 02:00:40,560 --> 02:00:43,440 a t-shirt and shorts. Um, but I work 2925 02:00:43,440 --> 02:00:44,480 with these young people in this 2926 02:00:44,480 --> 02:00:47,840 community every single day. Um, and what 2927 02:00:47,840 --> 02:00:50,560 I'm seeing is uh they don't lack for 2928 02:00:50,560 --> 02:00:52,560 accountability. We live in a society 2929 02:00:52,560 --> 02:00:55,760 that um enforces that. What I'm seeing 2930 02:00:55,760 --> 02:01:00,480 is a lack of support. Um, as the 2931 02:01:00,480 --> 02:01:02,080 superintendent mentioned, a lot of these 2932 02:01:02,080 --> 02:01:05,679 youth are expelled. So, if I'm 12 or 13 2933 02:01:05,679 --> 02:01:09,119 and um, I spend the day not in school 2934 02:01:09,119 --> 02:01:11,599 and my parents are at work, the people 2935 02:01:11,599 --> 02:01:12,960 are supposed to be supporting me, like 2936 02:01:12,960 --> 02:01:14,880 what am I supposed to do? I find myself 2937 02:01:14,880 --> 02:01:17,360 outside with another group of expelled 2938 02:01:17,360 --> 02:01:21,119 kids. So, for me, um, I saw this coming 2939 02:01:21,119 --> 02:01:23,280 few years ago and I thought to myself, 2940 02:01:23,280 --> 02:01:25,679 how could I intervene? Even though, like 2941 02:01:25,679 --> 02:01:28,719 I said, you know, I work with youth, I 2942 02:01:28,719 --> 02:01:30,480 try to go above and beyond what I do 2943 02:01:30,480 --> 02:01:33,360 just as a private citizen. And I think 2944 02:01:33,360 --> 02:01:36,080 my call to action to the community would 2945 02:01:36,080 --> 02:01:38,800 be to anybody who cares enough, cuz 2946 02:01:38,800 --> 02:01:40,800 that's not going to be everybody, but if 2947 02:01:40,800 --> 02:01:43,920 anybody who cares enough to want to come 2948 02:01:43,920 --> 02:01:45,199 into the community and support these 2949 02:01:45,199 --> 02:01:47,520 youth, um, as we're mentioned, we're 2950 02:01:47,520 --> 02:01:49,599 talking about 29 youth, maybe in 2951 02:01:49,599 --> 02:01:52,080 peripheral like 50. 2952 02:01:52,080 --> 02:01:55,840 uh you know if took him to McDonald's, 2953 02:01:55,840 --> 02:01:57,679 sat him down, had a conversation about 2954 02:01:57,679 --> 02:01:59,440 like what's your life like? What's going 2955 02:01:59,440 --> 02:02:01,199 on around you? You know, what are the 2956 02:02:01,199 --> 02:02:02,719 things that you've seen and how has life 2957 02:02:02,719 --> 02:02:05,199 impacted you? And I, you know, for me 2958 02:02:05,199 --> 02:02:08,000 personally as my testimony um as a man 2959 02:02:08,000 --> 02:02:10,400 of faith, there are things that, you 2960 02:02:10,400 --> 02:02:11,920 know, I didn't know as a young child 2961 02:02:11,920 --> 02:02:14,800 that I had to grow to understand. And it 2962 02:02:14,800 --> 02:02:16,639 took people to come into my life to help 2963 02:02:16,639 --> 02:02:19,040 and support me to get me where where I 2964 02:02:19,040 --> 02:02:20,719 am today. And I'm very grateful for 2965 02:02:20,719 --> 02:02:23,920 those people. And I'm hoping that as a 2966 02:02:23,920 --> 02:02:26,239 community we can have some people 2967 02:02:26,239 --> 02:02:28,400 because we don't have money. So we can 2968 02:02:28,400 --> 02:02:29,599 wait for the money. We can wait for the 2969 02:02:29,599 --> 02:02:31,360 legislators. That's going to take time. 2970 02:02:31,360 --> 02:02:32,800 But as of right now, what we can do 2971 02:02:32,800 --> 02:02:35,040 tomorrow, we can go out on the street 2972 02:02:35,040 --> 02:02:37,360 and talk to some kids. We can try to 2973 02:02:37,360 --> 02:02:39,599 take the effort to find out who they are 2974 02:02:39,599 --> 02:02:42,719 and spend some time with them. Um today 2975 02:02:42,719 --> 02:02:44,960 I was supporting some young people. Took 2976 02:02:44,960 --> 02:02:46,880 them McDonald's. We were making a bench. 2977 02:02:46,880 --> 02:02:48,159 You mean like there's so many things 2978 02:02:48,159 --> 02:02:50,159 that we could potentially do within your 2979 02:02:50,159 --> 02:02:52,960 scope and power of influence. So that's 2980 02:02:52,960 --> 02:02:54,719 all I got to say. Thank you guys for 2981 02:02:54,719 --> 02:02:58,390 giving me the time. 2982 02:02:58,400 --> 02:03:01,119 » Thank you very much, Duncan. Uh we're 2983 02:03:01,119 --> 02:03:02,719 going to start with uh Councelor 2984 02:03:02,719 --> 02:03:07,990 Martell. Do you have uh questions? 2985 02:03:08,000 --> 02:03:10,639 » No, thank you, Mr. Mayor. 2986 02:03:10,639 --> 02:03:13,760 >> Councelor Chidum. 2987 02:03:13,760 --> 02:03:15,599 Thank you, Mr. Pierre. No, I have no 2988 02:03:15,599 --> 02:03:17,360 questions other than how do I get in 2989 02:03:17,360 --> 02:03:19,520 touch with you? 2990 02:03:19,520 --> 02:03:21,760 >> We will coordinate that. Councelor 2991 02:03:21,760 --> 02:03:24,320 Noble, 2992 02:03:24,320 --> 02:03:27,199 >> I don't have any questions at this time. 2993 02:03:27,199 --> 02:03:30,639 >> Councelor Roy, councelor Chidum, uh be 2994 02:03:30,639 --> 02:03:34,229 me to 2995 02:03:34,239 --> 02:03:36,800 » uh councelor Herman. Yes, 2996 02:03:36,800 --> 02:03:39,679 >> thank you for being here. Um I guess in 2997 02:03:39,679 --> 02:03:42,400 your experience with the with the youth 2998 02:03:42,400 --> 02:03:45,040 you work with, question. 2999 02:03:45,040 --> 02:03:46,719 >> Uh, in your experience with the youth 3000 02:03:46,719 --> 02:03:51,760 that you work with, do you see any any 3001 02:03:51,760 --> 02:03:54,239 I'm sure there are some common threads 3002 02:03:54,239 --> 02:03:56,400 that of things that they're 3003 02:03:56,400 --> 02:03:59,440 experiencing. Um, are there any that you 3004 02:03:59,440 --> 02:04:02,560 see that that we could just as a 3005 02:04:02,560 --> 02:04:06,880 community be aware of to look for um and 3006 02:04:06,880 --> 02:04:10,080 possibly support them through whatever 3007 02:04:10,080 --> 02:04:13,280 challenges they're facing? 3008 02:04:13,280 --> 02:04:16,719 Um what I would say is uh there's 3009 02:04:16,719 --> 02:04:19,040 actually not a lack of resources that 3010 02:04:19,040 --> 02:04:21,360 could help them, but it's a matter of 3011 02:04:21,360 --> 02:04:23,280 are they engaging in those resources, 3012 02:04:23,280 --> 02:04:25,440 right? So take an expelled kid who has a 3013 02:04:25,440 --> 02:04:28,719 re-entry plan. Um how do we get them to 3014 02:04:28,719 --> 02:04:30,719 engage in that re-entry plan that will 3015 02:04:30,719 --> 02:04:32,719 actually help them get back in school? 3016 02:04:32,719 --> 02:04:34,000 you know, what are the supports that 3017 02:04:34,000 --> 02:04:36,159 they need to calm their body, calm their 3018 02:04:36,159 --> 02:04:38,239 minds, you know, work through and heal 3019 02:04:38,239 --> 02:04:39,440 through some of the trauma that they're 3020 02:04:39,440 --> 02:04:40,880 experienced so that they can get to the 3021 02:04:40,880 --> 02:04:43,119 point where, you know, they could go 3022 02:04:43,119 --> 02:04:44,880 back to school, get an education, do the 3023 02:04:44,880 --> 02:04:46,080 things that they need to succeed in 3024 02:04:46,080 --> 02:04:47,599 life. Like, we have we know what they 3025 02:04:47,599 --> 02:04:48,960 got to do. It's just a matter of helping 3026 02:04:48,960 --> 02:04:52,320 them to do it. And, um, I don't think, 3027 02:04:52,320 --> 02:04:54,000 this is my personal opinion, I don't 3028 02:04:54,000 --> 02:04:56,000 think that is it lies on the 3029 02:04:56,000 --> 02:04:58,400 professionals, you know. Um, I'm 3030 02:04:58,400 --> 02:05:00,159 grateful for all you guys, but I'm 3031 02:05:00,159 --> 02:05:02,159 hoping to plead to your humanity as 3032 02:05:02,159 --> 02:05:05,280 people, not mayor, police commissioner, 3033 02:05:05,280 --> 02:05:07,280 superintendent. Like, it's it's your 3034 02:05:07,280 --> 02:05:09,280 humanity that cares for a 13-year-old 3035 02:05:09,280 --> 02:05:11,360 who shoots a 14-year-old that says, "Yo, 3036 02:05:11,360 --> 02:05:14,080 this ain't right. What can we do to 3037 02:05:14,080 --> 02:05:16,880 intervene in their lives to help them?" 3038 02:05:16,880 --> 02:05:18,800 And that is supporting them so that they 3039 02:05:18,800 --> 02:05:21,920 can engage in the counseling and the 3040 02:05:21,920 --> 02:05:24,639 school and the, you know, the the 3041 02:05:24,639 --> 02:05:27,830 parenting. 3042 02:05:27,840 --> 02:05:30,400 Thank you, 3043 02:05:30,400 --> 02:05:32,159 >> councelor Long Champs. 3044 02:05:32,159 --> 02:05:34,159 >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you for 3045 02:05:34,159 --> 02:05:37,119 being here. 3046 02:05:37,119 --> 02:05:40,480 >> I think it's going to take a lot of uh 3047 02:05:40,480 --> 02:05:41,760 we're going to have to come up with lots 3048 02:05:41,760 --> 02:05:44,560 of different ways to um there's many 3049 02:05:44,560 --> 02:05:46,960 layers to this and you're absolutely 3050 02:05:46,960 --> 02:05:49,599 right. Um, I see you almost every day at 3051 02:05:49,599 --> 02:05:52,159 the store, uh, with a lot of the 3052 02:05:52,159 --> 02:05:53,679 teenagers, 3053 02:05:53,679 --> 02:05:57,040 um, that come in that I love dearly, uh, 3054 02:05:57,040 --> 02:05:59,840 and that I think care about me, too. Um, 3055 02:05:59,840 --> 02:06:01,679 but you're right, it is taking a moment. 3056 02:06:01,679 --> 02:06:03,599 I will say that it does make a 3057 02:06:03,599 --> 02:06:06,000 difference. And although we're here to 3058 02:06:06,000 --> 02:06:09,840 really, uh, touch on gun violence, but, 3059 02:06:09,840 --> 02:06:11,679 you know, a lot of the kids that are 3060 02:06:11,679 --> 02:06:14,400 committing these crimes, uh, they don't 3061 02:06:14,400 --> 02:06:16,480 have good mentors. 3062 02:06:16,480 --> 02:06:18,239 And although we can sit here and say, 3063 02:06:18,239 --> 02:06:19,840 "Well, it's not our responsibility. 3064 02:06:19,840 --> 02:06:23,119 They're not our kids." Um, it is our 3065 02:06:23,119 --> 02:06:25,599 responsibility. It doesn't take long. 3066 02:06:25,599 --> 02:06:28,800 Um, I I'll share that I know it makes a 3067 02:06:28,800 --> 02:06:32,400 difference and it is a part of 3068 02:06:32,400 --> 02:06:36,000 um really getting to uh hopefully solve 3069 02:06:36,000 --> 02:06:38,239 some of these bigger issues that we're 3070 02:06:38,239 --> 02:06:40,719 having. So, I'm grateful that you spend 3071 02:06:40,719 --> 02:06:44,320 so much time uh in the downtown area. 3072 02:06:44,320 --> 02:06:47,199 I'm grateful that um you are a man of 3073 02:06:47,199 --> 02:06:50,880 humanity and you really care about our 3074 02:06:50,880 --> 02:06:53,840 youth and it is a large part of helping 3075 02:06:53,840 --> 02:06:57,920 solve this problem. So thank you 3076 02:06:57,920 --> 02:07:00,400 >> councelor Naene. 3077 02:07:00,400 --> 02:07:02,400 >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh thank you for 3078 02:07:02,400 --> 02:07:04,960 being here. Um one of the things that 3079 02:07:04,960 --> 02:07:08,639 you brought up resonates completely. Um 3080 02:07:08,639 --> 02:07:10,400 the piece that you're talking about with 3081 02:07:10,400 --> 02:07:12,239 the 13 and the 14y old that was my 3082 02:07:12,239 --> 02:07:14,960 neighborhood. Um, 3083 02:07:14,960 --> 02:07:16,560 one of the things that I've heard 3084 02:07:16,560 --> 02:07:20,239 repetitively, um, not only it's a 3085 02:07:20,239 --> 02:07:24,159 question of fear, as as Superintendent 3086 02:07:24,159 --> 02:07:26,719 Langlas had said, but it's a question of 3087 02:07:26,719 --> 02:07:29,199 care, right? I've heard kids literally 3088 02:07:29,199 --> 02:07:32,400 say, "Nobody cares if I carry a gun. 3089 02:07:32,400 --> 02:07:35,040 Nobody cares where I'm at, what I'm 3090 02:07:35,040 --> 02:07:37,119 doing at any given time." And so, I 3091 02:07:37,119 --> 02:07:38,320 think you you've made a lot of good 3092 02:07:38,320 --> 02:07:41,520 points. I think the challenge is 3093 02:07:41,520 --> 02:07:44,239 getting kids to engage in systems that 3094 02:07:44,239 --> 02:07:46,719 improve uh their lives, deal with the 3095 02:07:46,719 --> 02:07:48,000 trauma that they're dealing with, all 3096 02:07:48,000 --> 02:07:50,960 these other pieces. And unfortunately, 3097 02:07:50,960 --> 02:07:53,440 we don't have a mandate to make that 3098 02:07:53,440 --> 02:07:56,239 happen. And so, you're right, if more 3099 02:07:56,239 --> 02:07:58,639 people cared, I think it's possible, but 3100 02:07:58,639 --> 02:08:01,599 there has to be a way to to 3101 02:08:01,599 --> 02:08:03,119 um 3102 02:08:03,119 --> 02:08:06,800 let our kids know in our community that they are our kids and we do care 3103 02:08:06,800 --> 02:08:11,669 about them, you know. 3104 02:08:11,679 --> 02:08:13,920 Further uh further questions from the 3105 02:08:13,920 --> 02:08:15,920 council. 3106 02:08:15,920 --> 02:08:17,280 Duncan, thank you so much for being 3107 02:08:17,280 --> 02:08:24,229 here. 3108 02:08:24,239 --> 02:08:26,880 » We will now be joined by Christine uh 3109 02:08:26,880 --> 02:08:28,960 Thibo uh who's also bringing a 3110 02:08:28,960 --> 02:08:31,040 colleague. Uh they're both from the 3111 02:08:31,040 --> 02:08:33,760 Department of Corrections. Uh if you can 3112 02:08:33,760 --> 02:08:46,229 please introduce yourself uh once you're ready. 3113 02:08:46,239 --> 02:08:47,679 » Good evening everyone. My name is 3114 02:08:47,679 --> 02:08:49,520 Christine Tibo. I am the associate 3115 02:08:49,520 --> 02:08:51,119 commissioner for the department of 3116 02:08:51,119 --> 02:08:52,880 corrections division of juvenile 3117 02:08:52,880 --> 02:08:55,199 services. Uh for those of you that 3118 02:08:55,199 --> 02:08:56,880 aren't familiar with that branch of the 3119 02:08:56,880 --> 02:08:59,920 department, we oversee 3120 02:08:59,920 --> 02:09:01,520 Juvenile Community Corrections, which 3121 02:09:01,520 --> 02:09:03,119 you've heard about a little this 3122 02:09:03,119 --> 02:09:05,679 evening, and Long Creek Youth 3123 02:09:05,679 --> 02:09:06,960 Development Center, which I'm sure 3124 02:09:06,960 --> 02:09:09,360 you're all familiar with. Um but the big 3125 02:09:09,360 --> 02:09:12,159 secret that I like to let out of the bag 3126 02:09:12,159 --> 02:09:15,119 is that we also invest $4.6 $6 million 3127 02:09:15,119 --> 02:09:17,920 in the community in many of the programs 3128 02:09:17,920 --> 02:09:21,840 uh like mentoring uh restorative justice 3129 02:09:21,840 --> 02:09:24,320 MST and FFT for the clinicians in the 3130 02:09:24,320 --> 02:09:27,040 room things that we're hoping will keep 3131 02:09:27,040 --> 02:09:31,920 youth out of the system as well. Um so that's what the division does, but 3132 02:09:31,920 --> 02:09:34,159 I'll allow Jill to introduce herself as 3133 02:09:34,159 --> 02:09:34,800 well. 3134 02:09:34,800 --> 02:09:37,040 >> Thank you, Christine. My name is Jill 3135 02:09:37,040 --> 02:09:39,040 O'Brien. I'm the director of government 3136 02:09:39,040 --> 02:09:40,480 affairs for the Department of 3137 02:09:40,480 --> 02:09:42,960 Corrections, which means I go to the 3138 02:09:42,960 --> 02:09:44,719 legislative committee hearings where 3139 02:09:44,719 --> 02:09:46,719 they're debating the bills that we were 3140 02:09:46,719 --> 02:09:49,119 talking about. Um I there are bills that 3141 02:09:49,119 --> 02:09:51,119 the department wants passed over the 3142 02:09:51,119 --> 02:09:53,520 course of the session. Um and I work 3143 02:09:53,520 --> 02:09:55,679 with all of the different divisions of 3144 02:09:55,679 --> 02:09:58,159 corrections to identify what's working, 3145 02:09:58,159 --> 02:09:59,679 what's not, and coordinate with other 3146 02:09:59,679 --> 02:10:02,560 agencies. As Christine mentioned, the 3147 02:10:02,560 --> 02:10:05,199 Department of Corrections is involved 3148 02:10:05,199 --> 02:10:06,800 through our juvenile community 3149 02:10:06,800 --> 02:10:09,040 corrections. So, juvenile probation is 3150 02:10:09,040 --> 02:10:10,400 administered by the department of 3151 02:10:10,400 --> 02:10:13,440 corrections in Maine. And we also run 3152 02:10:13,440 --> 02:10:15,199 Long Creek Youth Development Center, 3153 02:10:15,199 --> 02:10:18,400 which holds both detained and committed 3154 02:10:18,400 --> 02:10:20,719 youth. So, detained youth are those that 3155 02:10:20,719 --> 02:10:23,040 are going through the juvenile process, 3156 02:10:23,040 --> 02:10:25,599 but no determination has been made yet 3157 02:10:25,599 --> 02:10:27,520 as to whether they committed a juvenile 3158 02:10:27,520 --> 02:10:30,320 crime or not. And then the committed are 3159 02:10:30,320 --> 02:10:32,320 those who have been found to have 3160 02:10:32,320 --> 02:10:34,239 committed the offense. And a judge has a 3161 02:10:34,239 --> 02:10:36,639 few options. One of them is to commit 3162 02:10:36,639 --> 02:10:38,639 the juvenile to Long Creek to the 3163 02:10:38,639 --> 02:10:40,639 Department of Corrections custody and 3164 02:10:40,639 --> 02:10:43,199 usually until a certain age, be it 18, 3165 02:10:43,199 --> 02:10:45,840 21, or for six or nine months, whatever 3166 02:10:45,840 --> 02:10:47,599 period of time the court decides is 3167 02:10:47,599 --> 02:10:50,000 appropriate. 3168 02:10:50,000 --> 02:10:52,960 As Christine mentioned, uh we spent $4.6 3169 02:10:52,960 --> 02:10:55,840 million statewide for community programs 3170 02:10:55,840 --> 02:10:59,119 and over $1.4 million of that for region 3171 02:10:59,119 --> 02:11:01,119 2, the region that includes Lewon. And 3172 02:11:01,119 --> 02:11:03,199 we fight every budget cycle to keep 3173 02:11:03,199 --> 02:11:06,159 those programs going. It's not a matter 3174 02:11:06,159 --> 02:11:08,320 of the state having a lot of money that 3175 02:11:08,320 --> 02:11:10,400 they're just not giving out. The budget 3176 02:11:10,400 --> 02:11:12,560 is tight there, too. And we we find this 3177 02:11:12,560 --> 02:11:14,400 extraordinarily important and Christine 3178 02:11:14,400 --> 02:11:16,560 has done a lot um and the department has 3179 02:11:16,560 --> 02:11:18,880 done a lot to make sure those programs 3180 02:11:18,880 --> 02:11:21,599 keep going. 3181 02:11:21,599 --> 02:11:23,040 We heard about this meeting and we 3182 02:11:23,040 --> 02:11:24,560 inserted ourselves because we think 3183 02:11:24,560 --> 02:11:26,560 we're an important part of this process. 3184 02:11:26,560 --> 02:11:28,239 And I think Christine can clear up 3185 02:11:28,239 --> 02:11:31,520 there's some uh the juvenile court 3186 02:11:31,520 --> 02:11:34,239 system is complicated and the 3187 02:11:34,239 --> 02:11:35,920 determinations the judge makes about 3188 02:11:35,920 --> 02:11:38,560 competence are based on experts opinions 3189 02:11:38,560 --> 02:11:41,280 of competence. So without delving into 3190 02:11:41,280 --> 02:11:42,960 the specifics of each case that's hard 3191 02:11:42,960 --> 02:11:46,159 to do. Um and legislative changes are 3192 02:11:46,159 --> 02:11:47,840 can be challenging and there's been a 3193 02:11:47,840 --> 02:11:50,719 push over the last few years to have 3194 02:11:50,719 --> 02:11:52,960 detention to be a a more difficult thing 3195 02:11:52,960 --> 02:11:55,040 for a judge to order. And so that's a 3196 02:11:55,040 --> 02:11:58,239 policy decision that you can all tell 3197 02:11:58,239 --> 02:12:03,589 your legislators how you feel about it. 3198 02:12:03,599 --> 02:12:05,920 So just to give you a little bit of my 3199 02:12:05,920 --> 02:12:07,520 background, I've been working in Maine's 3200 02:12:07,520 --> 02:12:10,480 juvenile justice system for 30 years. 3201 02:12:10,480 --> 02:12:13,119 And I see juvenile justice as an art. 3202 02:12:13,119 --> 02:12:16,320 And the art of juvenile justice is 3203 02:12:16,320 --> 02:12:18,719 figuring out that individual kid. Much 3204 02:12:18,719 --> 02:12:20,639 like Superintendent Langless said, each 3205 02:12:20,639 --> 02:12:23,360 kid comes to us as an individual. Some 3206 02:12:23,360 --> 02:12:26,079 of the youth we see I I would describe 3207 02:12:26,079 --> 02:12:28,639 as normative delinquent behavior. I'm 3208 02:12:28,639 --> 02:12:29,920 not going to ask you to raise your hand 3209 02:12:29,920 --> 02:12:31,280 if you broke the law when you were a 3210 02:12:31,280 --> 02:12:35,199 teenager, but statistics say most of us 3211 02:12:35,199 --> 02:12:40,079 did and we were fine. Um those youth we 3212 02:12:40,079 --> 02:12:42,000 like to divert. We don't believe they 3213 02:12:42,000 --> 02:12:44,079 need the courts. Uh we don't believe 3214 02:12:44,079 --> 02:12:47,040 they need expensive programming to fix 3215 02:12:47,040 --> 02:12:49,679 problems that may not exist. So, we like 3216 02:12:49,679 --> 02:12:52,320 to divert them with as light a touch as 3217 02:12:52,320 --> 02:12:54,400 possible and we rely on our community- 3218 02:12:54,400 --> 02:12:56,960 based organizations. 3219 02:12:56,960 --> 02:12:59,840 Secondly, we see kids that aren't really 3220 02:12:59,840 --> 02:13:02,320 risk of causing problems in the 3221 02:13:02,320 --> 02:13:05,599 community, big problems, but they have 3222 02:13:05,599 --> 02:13:08,159 huge needs. And you've heard others this 3223 02:13:08,159 --> 02:13:11,119 evening talk about the needs, housing, 3224 02:13:11,119 --> 02:13:14,000 poverty, um mental health, substance 3225 02:13:14,000 --> 02:13:17,360 use, those challenges that we have uh 3226 02:13:17,360 --> 02:13:18,880 that we see in the Department of 3227 02:13:18,880 --> 02:13:21,599 Corrections. Those youth need a lot of 3228 02:13:21,599 --> 02:13:25,679 services and support. Um but at the end 3229 02:13:25,679 --> 02:13:28,320 of the day, they are not likely to be 3230 02:13:28,320 --> 02:13:30,719 long-term recidivists. 3231 02:13:30,719 --> 02:13:32,960 A small number. And I'm pleased to tell 3232 02:13:32,960 --> 02:13:34,960 you that I think this is a minority of 3233 02:13:34,960 --> 02:13:36,560 the youth that we see in juvenile 3234 02:13:36,560 --> 02:13:41,520 justice are youth who are very high risk 3235 02:13:41,520 --> 02:13:43,440 youth for reaffending. And that's part 3236 02:13:43,440 --> 02:13:46,239 of our job is to do assessments and 3237 02:13:46,239 --> 02:13:48,719 figure out what what's the youth before 3238 02:13:48,719 --> 02:13:52,079 us. Is this a high needs kid? maybe DHS 3239 02:13:52,079 --> 02:13:57,840 needs to do more. If there's a risk that youth is going to continue to be a 3240 02:13:57,840 --> 02:14:00,480 uh a danger to themselves as well as all 3241 02:14:00,480 --> 02:14:02,639 of you, we want to take a different 3242 02:14:02,639 --> 02:14:06,079 approach and address those risks. And 3243 02:14:06,079 --> 02:14:08,000 science tells us and there are programs 3244 02:14:08,000 --> 02:14:10,800 that tell us what works. And so we're 3245 02:14:10,800 --> 02:14:13,760 really trying to prioritize what we know 3246 02:14:13,760 --> 02:14:15,520 works for those high-risisk kids. And 3247 02:14:15,520 --> 02:14:17,760 you've heard it from uh from others 3248 02:14:17,760 --> 02:14:20,639 before me. Mentoring 3249 02:14:20,639 --> 02:14:23,440 um that is a big a big one. And 3250 02:14:23,440 --> 02:14:26,159 engagement requires us to find the right 3251 02:14:26,159 --> 02:14:28,960 people. Um although we may all want to 3252 02:14:28,960 --> 02:14:32,480 reach out to the kids in Lewon and help, 3253 02:14:32,480 --> 02:14:34,960 we know that there are individuals that 3254 02:14:34,960 --> 02:14:37,760 are younger that are more um in line 3255 02:14:37,760 --> 02:14:41,119 with their cultural backgrounds. They're 3256 02:14:41,119 --> 02:14:42,800 going to be more effective. So we spend 3257 02:14:42,800 --> 02:14:45,040 time trying to find the right kid, the 3258 02:14:45,040 --> 02:14:47,360 right supports for the right youth in 3259 02:14:47,360 --> 02:14:49,599 our mentoring programs. Restorative 3260 02:14:49,599 --> 02:14:51,920 justice, um, Mr. Pierre works for 3261 02:14:51,920 --> 02:14:53,920 Restorative Justice uh, Project of 3262 02:14:53,920 --> 02:14:56,560 Maine. We help fund them. We actually 3263 02:14:56,560 --> 02:14:58,719 have a contract with them to provide 3264 02:14:58,719 --> 02:15:00,880 restorative justice for all of region 2, 3265 02:15:00,880 --> 02:15:05,280 which includes uh, Lewon. We h have 3266 02:15:05,280 --> 02:15:08,239 adopted new models of supervising youth 3267 02:15:08,239 --> 02:15:11,360 and and we supervise DOC supervise youth 3268 02:15:11,360 --> 02:15:13,840 from the point of arrest all the way 3269 02:15:13,840 --> 02:15:15,520 until they leave the juvenile justice 3270 02:15:15,520 --> 02:15:17,280 system. So if they're on conditions of 3271 02:15:17,280 --> 02:15:19,520 release, if they're on probation, if 3272 02:15:19,520 --> 02:15:21,280 they're at Long Creek, that juvenile 3273 02:15:21,280 --> 02:15:24,159 community corrections officer is the 3274 02:15:24,159 --> 02:15:26,880 constant most of the time, not always, 3275 02:15:26,880 --> 02:15:28,639 but most of the time the constant 3276 02:15:28,639 --> 02:15:31,599 through that youth's life. So we focus 3277 02:15:31,599 --> 02:15:37,520 on uh JCCOs as coaches not referees. We 3278 02:15:37,520 --> 02:15:39,199 want to provide supports. We want to 3279 02:15:39,199 --> 02:15:42,320 provide incentives. We want to help 3280 02:15:42,320 --> 02:15:46,000 reduce the risk by increasing strengths 3281 02:15:46,000 --> 02:15:50,719 and assets. Um and we we also have 3282 02:15:50,719 --> 02:15:53,599 family engaged CA case planning. That's 3283 02:15:53,599 --> 02:15:55,760 part of the Annie Casey Foundation 3284 02:15:55,760 --> 02:15:57,599 program that we're working with juvenile 3285 02:15:57,599 --> 02:15:59,679 probation transformation. And it relies 3286 02:15:59,679 --> 02:16:02,400 heavily on family engagement because we 3287 02:16:02,400 --> 02:16:05,679 recognize that youth will always have 3288 02:16:05,679 --> 02:16:07,440 their family. They'll always go back to 3289 02:16:07,440 --> 02:16:09,280 their family. So, we need to work with 3290 02:16:09,280 --> 02:16:12,159 them as a whole unit. 3291 02:16:12,159 --> 02:16:15,280 Um, just to give you some some numbers, 3292 02:16:15,280 --> 02:16:17,520 today there are 49 residents of Long 3293 02:16:17,520 --> 02:16:20,000 Creek and there are a lot of myths and 3294 02:16:20,000 --> 02:16:21,840 misconceptions about what happens at 3295 02:16:21,840 --> 02:16:24,960 Long Creek. And I won't pretend that 3296 02:16:24,960 --> 02:16:27,119 it's all wonderful, but there are good 3297 02:16:27,119 --> 02:16:29,840 things that happen at Long Creek. 49 of 3298 02:16:29,840 --> 02:16:33,040 the residents today, uh, of those 20 are 3299 02:16:33,040 --> 02:16:35,439 committed, as Jill said, they are youth 3300 02:16:35,439 --> 02:16:38,000 who've been adjudicated and sentenced to 3301 02:16:38,000 --> 02:16:39,519 stay at Long Creek and do a 3302 02:16:39,519 --> 02:16:43,200 rehabilitative program. And 29 of those 3303 02:16:43,200 --> 02:16:45,599 youth are detained. And to circle back 3304 02:16:45,599 --> 02:16:47,840 to a question that was answered earlier, 3305 02:16:47,840 --> 02:16:50,160 are there limitations on how long a 3306 02:16:50,160 --> 02:16:53,120 juvenile can be detained at Long Creek? 3307 02:16:53,120 --> 02:16:55,359 Yes, but it's a very narrow limitation. 3308 02:16:55,359 --> 02:16:58,800 If a youth is under age 12, which would 3309 02:16:58,800 --> 02:17:01,920 basically be an 11year-old who's at Long 3310 02:17:01,920 --> 02:17:04,399 Creek, that youth can only be detained 3311 02:17:04,399 --> 02:17:07,439 more than seven days, uh, if both the 3312 02:17:07,439 --> 02:17:08,960 prosecutor and the defense attorney 3313 02:17:08,960 --> 02:17:12,000 agree. I'm happy to say we do not have 3314 02:17:12,000 --> 02:17:15,359 any 11 year olds at Long Creek. We do 3315 02:17:15,359 --> 02:17:17,760 have youth who've been there for a day 3316 02:17:17,760 --> 02:17:20,080 and then they're released um by the 3317 02:17:20,080 --> 02:17:24,399 courts or or sometimes by us and we have 3318 02:17:24,399 --> 02:17:26,800 youth who've been there over well over a 3319 02:17:26,800 --> 02:17:29,920 year. One of the benefits of Long Creek 3320 02:17:29,920 --> 02:17:31,840 and this kind of ties in the competence 3321 02:17:31,840 --> 02:17:35,519 issue. If even if a youth is in the 3322 02:17:35,519 --> 02:17:38,080 juvenile process and a competent comp 3323 02:17:38,080 --> 02:17:40,399 competence determination is being made, 3324 02:17:40,399 --> 02:17:42,240 the judge hasn't decided yet. They're 3325 02:17:42,240 --> 02:17:44,319 still doing the evaluations. 3326 02:17:44,319 --> 02:17:46,880 That youth can be detained at Long 3327 02:17:46,880 --> 02:17:49,280 Creek. 3328 02:17:49,280 --> 02:17:51,599 Recently, in the p within the past year 3329 02:17:51,599 --> 02:17:54,399 or so, um there has been one youth who 3330 02:17:54,399 --> 02:17:56,880 is there for a very serious crime who 3331 02:17:56,880 --> 02:17:59,280 was found not competent but possibly 3332 02:17:59,280 --> 02:18:02,719 could become competent. DOC worked with 3333 02:18:02,719 --> 02:18:05,359 the state forensic services, um the 3334 02:18:05,359 --> 02:18:06,800 department of health, health and human 3335 02:18:06,800 --> 02:18:09,120 services, office of behavioral health 3336 02:18:09,120 --> 02:18:11,439 and our clinical providers, Wellpath, 3337 02:18:11,439 --> 02:18:14,160 who do tremendous amount of work with 3338 02:18:14,160 --> 02:18:16,960 all the youth there to develop a system 3339 02:18:16,960 --> 02:18:19,519 for establishing competence for those 3340 02:18:19,519 --> 02:18:21,120 juveniles. 3341 02:18:21,120 --> 02:18:23,760 And uh so that juvenile was first found 3342 02:18:23,760 --> 02:18:26,080 not competent but possibly could be 3343 02:18:26,080 --> 02:18:28,800 competent. at the next court date, the 3344 02:18:28,800 --> 02:18:30,399 court found that that youth was 3345 02:18:30,399 --> 02:18:32,880 competent as a result of the services 3346 02:18:32,880 --> 02:18:35,679 that were pro provided to that resident 3347 02:18:35,679 --> 02:18:39,040 while at Long Creek. So, there is a lot 3348 02:18:39,040 --> 02:18:43,359 of good being done there as well. Um, 3349 02:18:43,359 --> 02:18:46,800 you know, our our system is complex and 3350 02:18:46,800 --> 02:18:48,719 I I'm going to repeat what you've heard 3351 02:18:48,719 --> 02:18:50,880 several times tonight. We're proud to 3352 02:18:50,880 --> 02:18:53,120 work with local law enforcement, 3353 02:18:53,120 --> 02:18:56,559 community programs, the schools because 3354 02:18:56,559 --> 02:18:58,639 we recognize this is not a problem that 3355 02:18:58,639 --> 02:19:01,120 we are going to solve alone. Uh this is 3356 02:19:01,120 --> 02:19:04,880 a big community pro problem. Um I will 3357 02:19:04,880 --> 02:19:07,920 defer to Jill about any legislative 3358 02:19:07,920 --> 02:19:10,479 questions or did you want to add 3359 02:19:10,479 --> 02:19:15,679 anything? Just that uh certainly 3360 02:19:15,679 --> 02:19:17,280 not every youth's experience at Long 3361 02:19:17,280 --> 02:19:19,760 Creek is wonderful. it for detained 3362 02:19:19,760 --> 02:19:22,559 youth it is a stable environment staffed 3363 02:19:22,559 --> 02:19:24,559 by people who care tremendously for the 3364 02:19:24,559 --> 02:19:27,599 youth. It is without a doubt disruptive. 3365 02:19:27,599 --> 02:19:30,479 Um by the way the system is set up youth 3366 02:19:30,479 --> 02:19:33,200 at Long Creek if they're detained their 3367 02:19:33,200 --> 02:19:35,280 home schools are still responsible for 3368 02:19:35,280 --> 02:19:37,280 their education. So it's remote school 3369 02:19:37,280 --> 02:19:39,439 that's disruptive um for committed 3370 02:19:39,439 --> 02:19:41,120 youth. Long Creek has an accredited 3371 02:19:41,120 --> 02:19:43,280 school. Um there are a lot of wonderful 3372 02:19:43,280 --> 02:19:45,439 things going on there. Um but certainly 3373 02:19:45,439 --> 02:19:48,319 it is disruptive and better for people 3374 02:19:48,319 --> 02:19:51,120 to remain in a home that is supportive. 3375 02:19:51,120 --> 02:19:52,800 Happy to answer questions I can about 3376 02:19:52,800 --> 02:19:54,640 the legislative process and the 3377 02:19:54,640 --> 02:19:58,790 department. 3378 02:19:58,800 --> 02:20:02,240 » Uh we uh yes we will now uh take 3379 02:20:02,240 --> 02:20:04,080 questions from counselors. Uh councelor 3380 02:20:04,080 --> 02:20:06,880 Nene. 3381 02:20:06,880 --> 02:20:09,280 >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um I I do have a 3382 02:20:09,280 --> 02:20:12,640 couple of questions about um when you're 3383 02:20:12,640 --> 02:20:16,080 releasing uh juvenile 3384 02:20:16,080 --> 02:20:18,319 it's a I guess it's a procedural 3385 02:20:18,319 --> 02:20:20,399 question but in many cases it seems that 3386 02:20:20,399 --> 02:20:22,399 we release juveniles before they appear 3387 02:20:22,399 --> 02:20:24,960 before a judge uh for especially for 3388 02:20:24,960 --> 02:20:28,160 like let's say misdemeanor crimes um if 3389 02:20:28,160 --> 02:20:31,200 you've for instance stolen a vehicle 3390 02:20:31,200 --> 02:20:34,479 right which we call joy riding you don't 3391 02:20:34,479 --> 02:20:36,240 actually appear before a judge before 3392 02:20:36,240 --> 02:20:39,840 you're released is the Is that correct? 3393 02:20:39,840 --> 02:20:43,280 >> It's complicated. So, um, we are subject 3394 02:20:43,280 --> 02:20:44,800 to all of the laws that are in the 3395 02:20:44,800 --> 02:20:46,720 juvenile code, the same laws that govern 3396 02:20:46,720 --> 02:20:50,800 the DA's office, and there are clear 3397 02:20:50,800 --> 02:20:53,040 statutory guidelines on when a youth can 3398 02:20:53,040 --> 02:20:55,359 be detained at Longre. First, you need 3399 02:20:55,359 --> 02:20:57,680 to have a criteria for detention, which 3400 02:20:57,680 --> 02:21:00,720 means the youth has to have had uh 3401 02:21:00,720 --> 02:21:03,760 felony level allegations or they've 3402 02:21:03,760 --> 02:21:06,160 violated a condition of probation or 3403 02:21:06,160 --> 02:21:11,040 condition of release um or they are um 3404 02:21:11,040 --> 02:21:13,680 have a failure a warrant. There there 3405 02:21:13,680 --> 02:21:16,479 are certain criteria that exceptions, 3406 02:21:16,479 --> 02:21:19,439 but by and large, if a youth commits a 3407 02:21:19,439 --> 02:21:21,760 misdemeanor level offense and they don't 3408 02:21:21,760 --> 02:21:25,280 have history in the system, the law does 3409 02:21:25,280 --> 02:21:28,160 not allow that juvenile to be detained. 3410 02:21:28,160 --> 02:21:30,960 If it's a felony, then detention is 3411 02:21:30,960 --> 02:21:32,160 possible. 3412 02:21:32,160 --> 02:21:34,000 >> Thank you very much. Uh second question 3413 02:21:34,000 --> 02:21:36,479 would be when a determination of 3414 02:21:36,479 --> 02:21:39,280 competency competency or non-competency 3415 02:21:39,280 --> 02:21:43,280 is is found um can that be challenged or 3416 02:21:43,280 --> 02:21:47,359 is that just accepted um as 3417 02:21:47,359 --> 02:21:50,640 what it is? 3418 02:21:50,640 --> 02:21:53,600 >> The competence determination is made in 3419 02:21:53,600 --> 02:21:55,840 my experience so should be made solely 3420 02:21:55,840 --> 02:21:58,560 by the judge. Um and often it's with a 3421 02:21:58,560 --> 02:22:00,720 hearing not always. Sometimes it's very 3422 02:22:00,720 --> 02:22:02,399 clear one way or the other whether the 3423 02:22:02,399 --> 02:22:04,880 juvenile is or is not competent. But a 3424 02:22:04,880 --> 02:22:07,520 judge makes a determination on whether 3425 02:22:07,520 --> 02:22:10,479 the juvenile is competent. If the 3426 02:22:10,479 --> 02:22:13,600 juvenile is found not competent and not 3427 02:22:13,600 --> 02:22:16,000 likely to become competent, the judge 3428 02:22:16,000 --> 02:22:19,840 has three statutory options. One, the 3429 02:22:19,840 --> 02:22:22,399 judge could place the juvenile in DHS 3430 02:22:22,399 --> 02:22:24,160 custody. 3431 02:22:24,160 --> 02:22:26,720 Two, they can refer the juvenile to the 3432 02:22:26,720 --> 02:22:28,800 Department of Health and Human Services 3433 02:22:28,800 --> 02:22:30,640 for what's essentially voluntary 3434 02:22:30,640 --> 02:22:33,520 services. So DHS works with the family 3435 02:22:33,520 --> 02:22:36,640 to provide whatever they need or the 3436 02:22:36,640 --> 02:22:39,359 judge can order nothing. At the end of 3437 02:22:39,359 --> 02:22:41,520 that decision, between those three 3438 02:22:41,520 --> 02:22:44,160 choices, the juvenile charge is 3439 02:22:44,160 --> 02:22:46,800 dismissed. So there's nothing further 3440 02:22:46,800 --> 02:22:50,000 pending in the court. Now, 3441 02:22:50,000 --> 02:22:53,600 could could an attorney for either side 3442 02:22:53,600 --> 02:22:56,640 appeal a competence decision to the 3443 02:22:56,640 --> 02:22:59,200 Supreme Court? Yes. I to the best of my 3444 02:22:59,200 --> 02:23:01,520 knowledge, there has not been any appeal 3445 02:23:01,520 --> 02:23:03,280 on a a juvenile competence 3446 02:23:03,280 --> 02:23:08,800 determination, but in theory, yes. And the last question that I have is if 3447 02:23:08,800 --> 02:23:10,319 we're releasing juveniles that have 3448 02:23:10,319 --> 02:23:12,720 commit committed misdemeanors 3449 02:23:12,720 --> 02:23:16,560 um before um 3450 02:23:16,560 --> 02:23:18,160 well basically without without holding 3451 02:23:18,160 --> 02:23:20,880 them, do we then determine after we 3452 02:23:20,880 --> 02:23:24,399 release these juveniles if their uh home 3453 02:23:24,399 --> 02:23:27,040 life is stable and supportive and their 3454 02:23:27,040 --> 02:23:30,479 community uh situation is is such that 3455 02:23:30,479 --> 02:23:32,560 their their likelihood of recidivism is 3456 02:23:32,560 --> 02:23:36,640 low or do we not care about juvenile 3457 02:23:36,640 --> 02:23:38,640 um misdemeanor crimes. As far as 3458 02:23:38,640 --> 02:23:41,760 determining those pieces, 3459 02:23:41,760 --> 02:23:44,720 >> we definitely care. So, the youth gets 3460 02:23:44,720 --> 02:23:47,359 referred from law enforcement to DOC and 3461 02:23:47,359 --> 02:23:49,840 the JCCOS's will do an initial meeting 3462 02:23:49,840 --> 02:23:52,080 with the family, talk about what's going 3463 02:23:52,080 --> 02:23:55,040 on, uh asks about strengths and 3464 02:23:55,040 --> 02:23:58,160 challenges in the home, and if it's a 3465 02:23:58,160 --> 02:24:00,960 minor offense and the DA approves, we 3466 02:24:00,960 --> 02:24:02,560 can divert that case and handle it 3467 02:24:02,560 --> 02:24:05,040 informally. If there appears to be a 3468 02:24:05,040 --> 02:24:07,760 need for more intervention and perhaps 3469 02:24:07,760 --> 02:24:10,080 court-ordered services, then the case 3470 02:24:10,080 --> 02:24:12,319 goes on to court. But every case that 3471 02:24:12,319 --> 02:24:16,399 comes to the DOC, we do uh what's called 3472 02:24:16,399 --> 02:24:18,479 the youth level of service inventory. 3473 02:24:18,479 --> 02:24:21,760 It's a it's a risk assessment that kind 3474 02:24:21,760 --> 02:24:25,200 of helps us identify which youth are 3475 02:24:25,200 --> 02:24:27,840 doing okay, don't really need a lot of 3476 02:24:27,840 --> 02:24:31,359 intervention, and those that need more. 3477 02:24:31,359 --> 02:24:32,880 Thank you so much very much for all 3478 02:24:32,880 --> 02:24:34,720 that. 3479 02:24:34,720 --> 02:24:36,479 Councelor Long Champs. 3480 02:24:36,479 --> 02:24:39,439 >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, could you remind 3481 02:24:39,439 --> 02:24:42,399 me of that uh dollar value, the the 3482 02:24:42,399 --> 02:24:45,280 amount of money that is uh going out to 3483 02:24:45,280 --> 02:24:47,680 organizations? 3484 02:24:47,680 --> 02:24:52,720 Can you remind uh me of that 4 million 3485 02:24:52,720 --> 02:24:55,520 that's going out to organizations? 3486 02:24:55,520 --> 02:24:58,880 >> Yes, counselor. Statewide 4.6 6 million 3487 02:24:58,880 --> 02:25:02,319 in fiscal year 2026 and for region 2 it 3488 02:25:02,319 --> 02:25:04,319 was 1.4 million. 3489 02:25:04,319 --> 02:25:07,280 >> And what organizations uh is that being 3490 02:25:07,280 --> 02:25:08,720 uh given to? 3491 02:25:08,720 --> 02:25:10,399 >> There's approximately 10. 3492 02:25:10,399 --> 02:25:12,000 >> May I have the names? 3493 02:25:12,000 --> 02:25:13,920 >> Uh New Beginnings. We support New 3494 02:25:13,920 --> 02:25:15,760 Beginnings Shelter, Tree Street, 3495 02:25:15,760 --> 02:25:17,520 Spurwink, Main Behavioral Health, 3496 02:25:17,520 --> 02:25:19,840 Restorative Justice Project, the 3497 02:25:19,840 --> 02:25:22,160 statewide regional care teams, Prebble 3498 02:25:22,160 --> 02:25:27,600 Street, etc. Was that 10? 3499 02:25:27,600 --> 02:25:28,640 >> Uh, 3500 02:25:28,640 --> 02:25:30,240 >> we have a few others 3501 02:25:30,240 --> 02:25:31,600 >> that you can't share or 3502 02:25:31,600 --> 02:25:33,920 >> No, I'm I'm happy to keep going. Um, 3503 02:25:33,920 --> 02:25:36,080 >> please. 3504 02:25:36,080 --> 02:25:38,000 >> Youth advocate program, Tree Street, 3505 02:25:38,000 --> 02:25:40,160 Journey.do, main immigrant and refugee 3506 02:25:40,160 --> 02:25:42,560 services, several several community 3507 02:25:42,560 --> 02:25:43,600 programs. 3508 02:25:43,600 --> 02:25:46,319 >> Thank you. Um, 3509 02:25:46,319 --> 02:25:49,359 how do you track the success coming from 3510 02:25:49,359 --> 02:25:51,520 uh those programs? Do you and how do 3511 02:25:51,520 --> 02:25:54,560 you? So we certainly Christine, would 3512 02:25:54,560 --> 02:25:55,359 you like to? 3513 02:25:55,359 --> 02:25:59,040 >> Yeah. So we have a fabulous uh contract 3514 02:25:59,040 --> 02:26:02,319 manager who keeps reports. She requires 3515 02:26:02,319 --> 02:26:04,240 monthly reports from all of those 3516 02:26:04,240 --> 02:26:06,560 organizations on the number of youth 3517 02:26:06,560 --> 02:26:09,760 they've served. Uh a program like MST 3518 02:26:09,760 --> 02:26:12,240 with multi-istic therapy. We don't 3519 02:26:12,240 --> 02:26:15,120 necessarily get into the details of what 3520 02:26:15,120 --> 02:26:17,760 that was about, but that whether the 3521 02:26:17,760 --> 02:26:19,840 youth and the family engaged in the 3522 02:26:19,840 --> 02:26:22,080 services or whether they were closed out 3523 02:26:22,080 --> 02:26:23,920 prematurely for some reason, we keep 3524 02:26:23,920 --> 02:26:26,160 that kind of data. Um, all of the 3525 02:26:26,160 --> 02:26:28,960 programs do have to provide some 3526 02:26:28,960 --> 02:26:30,800 documentation of how they're using the 3527 02:26:30,800 --> 02:26:34,720 funds that we uh allocate to them. So, 3528 02:26:34,720 --> 02:26:37,520 sometimes we ask for receipts and 3529 02:26:37,520 --> 02:26:40,319 documentation on spending. 3530 02:26:40,319 --> 02:26:42,560 >> Thank you. Um, 3531 02:26:42,560 --> 02:26:46,319 I know there are uh a large number of 3532 02:26:46,319 --> 02:26:49,520 folks that disagree or would rather uh 3533 02:26:49,520 --> 02:26:52,479 not see Long Creek exist. Um, I think 3534 02:26:52,479 --> 02:26:54,880 Long Creek is very important. I did a 3535 02:26:54,880 --> 02:26:58,960 lot of volunteering there. Um, and I I 3536 02:26:58,960 --> 02:27:00,960 think it's very important to have a safe 3537 02:27:00,960 --> 02:27:04,960 place um for juveniles to go when they 3538 02:27:04,960 --> 02:27:07,760 have committed crimes. So, I hope uh 3539 02:27:07,760 --> 02:27:09,840 Long Creek plans to stay for a long 3540 02:27:09,840 --> 02:27:13,920 time. I think it's very needed. Um, 3541 02:27:13,920 --> 02:27:19,030 I did have one more question, 3542 02:27:19,040 --> 02:27:20,319 » but I can't remember. 3543 02:27:20,319 --> 02:27:23,040 >> We can come back to you, counselor. 3544 02:27:23,040 --> 02:27:27,359 Uh, councelor councelor Herman, 3545 02:27:27,359 --> 02:27:29,680 >> thank you both for being here. Um, 3546 02:27:29,680 --> 02:27:31,520 councelor Nene touched on this a little 3547 02:27:31,520 --> 02:27:34,720 bit, but when you when you make the 3548 02:27:34,720 --> 02:27:37,840 decision to release someone uh release a 3549 02:27:37,840 --> 02:27:40,399 juvenile to their family, um you 3550 02:27:40,399 --> 02:27:42,080 mentioned that that that family 3551 02:27:42,080 --> 02:27:44,960 engagement is important. What happens if 3552 02:27:44,960 --> 02:27:47,840 the family for whatever reason, whether 3553 02:27:47,840 --> 02:27:52,000 it's um lack of resources or um you 3554 02:27:52,000 --> 02:27:54,319 know, whatever reason it is, they're not 3555 02:27:54,319 --> 02:27:57,439 really able to support that juvenile in 3556 02:27:57,439 --> 02:28:05,200 the way they need. Um what what sorts of options are there then? 3557 02:28:05,200 --> 02:28:08,080 >> So, one of our contracts is with two 3558 02:28:08,080 --> 02:28:09,840 separate agencies, the Opportunity 3559 02:28:09,840 --> 02:28:13,359 Alliance and Wings. They cover different 3560 02:28:13,359 --> 02:28:16,080 parts of the state and they have 3561 02:28:16,080 --> 02:28:18,880 highfidelity wraparound programs. That 3562 02:28:18,880 --> 02:28:21,520 is a system that's designed for exactly 3563 02:28:21,520 --> 02:28:24,960 those youth to uh help identify natural 3564 02:28:24,960 --> 02:28:27,600 supports in the community. Um support 3565 02:28:27,600 --> 02:28:30,479 parents as best they can but supplement 3566 02:28:30,479 --> 02:28:34,240 where the parents are are not able to do 3567 02:28:34,240 --> 02:28:36,399 all that they need. mentoring programs. 3568 02:28:36,399 --> 02:28:39,040 We have the youth advocate program. Uh 3569 02:28:39,040 --> 02:28:44,640 and and as even though they are very caring and they do a great job, 3570 02:28:44,640 --> 02:28:46,560 they are struggling with staffing. To 3571 02:28:46,560 --> 02:28:48,800 echo another concern that you've heard 3572 02:28:48,800 --> 02:28:51,760 several times, um their staffing is 3573 02:28:51,760 --> 02:28:53,680 difficult for them to retain and and 3574 02:28:53,680 --> 02:28:56,240 keep long term. But those kinds of 3575 02:28:56,240 --> 02:28:58,479 things we do we we recognize that not 3576 02:28:58,479 --> 02:29:01,600 all parents have the resources that that 3577 02:29:01,600 --> 02:29:04,720 we that the kids need. 3578 02:29:04,720 --> 02:29:07,600 Okay. Thank you, 3579 02:29:07,600 --> 02:29:10,080 >> Councelor Roy. 3580 02:29:10,080 --> 02:29:13,040 >> Thank you. Um, one of the questions I 3581 02:29:13,040 --> 02:29:14,640 hope that you might be able to answer 3582 02:29:14,640 --> 02:29:16,880 is, um, 3583 02:29:16,880 --> 02:29:19,040 what is the approach if you have a youth 3584 02:29:19,040 --> 02:29:22,479 that goes before you 3585 02:29:22,479 --> 02:29:26,800 and you let go for doing a crime and 3586 02:29:26,800 --> 02:29:28,720 then they come back within a month or 3587 02:29:28,720 --> 02:29:31,439 maybe even a week or two? Is there an 3588 02:29:31,439 --> 02:29:32,800 approach that you follow? cuz we heard 3589 02:29:32,800 --> 02:29:36,160 earlier that we're having repeat youth 3590 02:29:36,160 --> 02:29:38,800 out there and it just they keep uh the 3591 02:29:38,800 --> 02:29:42,160 youth keep getting uh let back into the 3592 02:29:42,160 --> 02:29:44,399 city. So 3593 02:29:44,399 --> 02:29:47,600 >> So every youth who is arrested by law 3594 02:29:47,600 --> 02:29:49,520 enforcement and detained at Long Creek 3595 02:29:49,520 --> 02:29:51,520 appears before a judge within 48 3596 02:29:51,520 --> 02:29:54,720 business hours. That judge can decide 3597 02:29:54,720 --> 02:29:57,760 whether to release the youth at court on 3598 02:29:57,760 --> 02:30:01,680 that day and and sometimes they do. Um, 3599 02:30:01,680 --> 02:30:04,160 the judge may order that the youth be 3600 02:30:04,160 --> 02:30:07,120 detained at Long Creek, but allow the 3601 02:30:07,120 --> 02:30:10,000 JCCO, the discretion, to release that 3602 02:30:10,000 --> 02:30:14,640 youth once services are in place, or the 3603 02:30:14,640 --> 02:30:16,560 judge can order that the youth be held 3604 02:30:16,560 --> 02:30:19,439 with no right to release, meaning only a 3605 02:30:19,439 --> 02:30:22,399 judge can now release that youth from 3606 02:30:22,399 --> 02:30:26,160 Long Creek. Um, so if the JCCO happens 3607 02:30:26,160 --> 02:30:29,520 to be uh have that discretion, usually 3608 02:30:29,520 --> 02:30:31,920 what happens is we have a team meeting 3609 02:30:31,920 --> 02:30:35,439 where we pull together attorneys and uh 3610 02:30:35,439 --> 02:30:37,680 JCCO if there's a community case 3611 02:30:37,680 --> 02:30:39,600 manager. 3612 02:30:39,600 --> 02:30:42,399 The expectation is that within 5 days of 3613 02:30:42,399 --> 02:30:45,120 that original detention that the JCCOs 3614 02:30:45,120 --> 02:30:47,200 have pulled together the supports for 3615 02:30:47,200 --> 02:30:49,120 that youth and and everybody comes 3616 02:30:49,120 --> 02:30:53,120 together to make a release plan. Um, so 3617 02:30:53,120 --> 02:30:55,760 is it perfect? Absolutely not. Um, but 3618 02:30:55,760 --> 02:30:57,680 we certainly do look at all of the 3619 02:30:57,680 --> 02:31:02,000 factors and the risks of of reaffending. 3620 02:31:02,000 --> 02:31:04,080 Uh, I had a psychologist tell me once 3621 02:31:04,080 --> 02:31:06,080 the best predictor of future behavior is 3622 02:31:06,080 --> 02:31:08,720 past behavior. So, we look at, you know, 3623 02:31:08,720 --> 02:31:11,200 the history and and the domains, not 3624 02:31:11,200 --> 02:31:13,439 just what's happening on the streets of 3625 02:31:13,439 --> 02:31:14,880 Lewon, but what's happening in the 3626 02:31:14,880 --> 02:31:16,960 school, what's happening in the home, 3627 02:31:16,960 --> 02:31:19,680 uh, what are the support resources. So, 3628 02:31:19,680 --> 02:31:21,359 it's not a knee-jerk. we're gonna 3629 02:31:21,359 --> 02:31:23,680 release this youth and hope for the best 3630 02:31:23,680 --> 02:31:24,960 there. It's a very thoughtful 3631 02:31:24,960 --> 02:31:27,280 decision-making process. 3632 02:31:27,280 --> 02:31:29,840 >> Thank you for that. Um, so going into 3633 02:31:29,840 --> 02:31:32,479 that, are what are the rehabilitation 3634 02:31:32,479 --> 02:31:35,040 services that you have at Long Creek to 3635 02:31:35,040 --> 02:31:39,270 help prevent patterns? 3636 02:31:39,280 --> 02:31:42,000 » So, thank you for this opportunity to 3637 02:31:42,000 --> 02:31:45,680 debunk some myths. um youth. So, as as 3638 02:31:45,680 --> 02:31:47,520 Jill mentioned, youth are there either 3639 02:31:47,520 --> 02:31:50,319 on a detained status or on a committed 3640 02:31:50,319 --> 02:31:52,880 status. Youth who are detained have not 3641 02:31:52,880 --> 02:31:55,280 yet been adjudicated. They are presumed 3642 02:31:55,280 --> 02:31:57,680 innocent. They have due process rights. 3643 02:31:57,680 --> 02:32:00,479 We don't dive into the behaviors that 3644 02:32:00,479 --> 02:32:03,280 they've been alleged to commit. What we 3645 02:32:03,280 --> 02:32:05,760 do provide to youth who are they 3646 02:32:05,760 --> 02:32:09,840 detained status is clinical support. 3647 02:32:09,840 --> 02:32:12,560 Pardon me. uh clinical support. We have 3648 02:32:12,560 --> 02:32:16,000 on-site and on call uh clinical 3649 02:32:16,000 --> 02:32:18,000 behavioral specialists. We have a 3650 02:32:18,000 --> 02:32:21,840 psychiatric nurse practitioner, doctors, 3651 02:32:21,840 --> 02:32:25,040 dentist. Um all of those services that 3652 02:32:25,040 --> 02:32:28,080 help stabilize the youth in that 3653 02:32:28,080 --> 02:32:30,399 environment, we provide to the detained 3654 02:32:30,399 --> 02:32:32,479 youth. So, if they're having a a mental 3655 02:32:32,479 --> 02:32:36,160 health crisis or engaging in self harm, 3656 02:32:36,160 --> 02:32:38,479 we respond to that. We have an excellent 3657 02:32:38,479 --> 02:32:40,640 team of Wellpath clinicians that respond 3658 02:32:40,640 --> 02:32:42,800 to that immediately 3659 02:32:42,800 --> 02:32:45,520 once the youth is adjudicated and if 3660 02:32:45,520 --> 02:32:48,240 they are committed to Long Creek, we do 3661 02:32:48,240 --> 02:32:50,640 30 days of assessments on education 3662 02:32:50,640 --> 02:32:52,640 needs. Oh, let me back up. Detained 3663 02:32:52,640 --> 02:32:55,760 youth, uh, as Jill said, they remain the 3664 02:32:55,760 --> 02:32:58,160 responsibility of the home school, but 3665 02:32:58,160 --> 02:33:00,720 the homeschool can choose to have them 3666 02:33:00,720 --> 02:33:03,359 attend classes at our internal school, 3667 02:33:03,359 --> 02:33:06,080 AR Gold, and award credits. And most of 3668 02:33:06,080 --> 02:33:08,720 the time that's what the schools will do 3669 02:33:08,720 --> 02:33:10,560 uh just because it is less disruptive 3670 02:33:10,560 --> 02:33:14,160 than sending in independent teachers. So 3671 02:33:14,160 --> 02:33:15,760 for the detained kids they get 3672 02:33:15,760 --> 02:33:18,399 education, they get uh stabilization, 3673 02:33:18,399 --> 02:33:20,240 mental health stabilization, medical 3674 02:33:20,240 --> 02:33:23,200 needs. Uh they get to be part of all of 3675 02:33:23,200 --> 02:33:26,080 the activities that are going on in the 3676 02:33:26,080 --> 02:33:28,319 facility. They're not precluded from 3677 02:33:28,319 --> 02:33:31,359 having visitors or engaging. We had a a 3678 02:33:31,359 --> 02:33:33,680 fun summer fun day last week. They get 3679 02:33:33,680 --> 02:33:35,760 to participate in all of that stuff. The 3680 02:33:35,760 --> 02:33:38,640 only thing they don't get is an 3681 02:33:38,640 --> 02:33:42,000 exploration of what led to that criminal 3682 02:33:42,000 --> 02:33:44,479 conduct. That happens exclusively with 3683 02:33:44,479 --> 02:33:46,720 youth who are committed after they've 3684 02:33:46,720 --> 02:33:49,120 been adjudicated and after there's been 3685 02:33:49,120 --> 02:33:51,280 an assessment. We have sexual behavior 3686 02:33:51,280 --> 02:33:53,200 treatment if that's part of the issue. 3687 02:33:53,200 --> 02:33:57,120 Substance use treatment is is almost 3688 02:33:57,120 --> 02:34:00,160 universal. Not always but uh the youth 3689 02:34:00,160 --> 02:34:02,160 who are detained do get substance use 3690 02:34:02,160 --> 02:34:04,319 education as well. They get some of that 3691 02:34:04,319 --> 02:34:07,600 work. Uh certainly anger management we 3692 02:34:07,600 --> 02:34:10,880 have a tool called the savvery um that 3693 02:34:10,880 --> 02:34:13,600 assesses risk of violence and depending 3694 02:34:13,600 --> 02:34:15,120 on how the youth comes out on that 3695 02:34:15,120 --> 02:34:17,359 assessment. We do different types of 3696 02:34:17,359 --> 02:34:20,240 intervention around um you know helping 3697 02:34:20,240 --> 02:34:22,640 to prevent future violence, 3698 02:34:22,640 --> 02:34:25,600 self-regulation skills, uh trauma work, 3699 02:34:25,600 --> 02:34:27,120 all of the things you've heard about. 3700 02:34:27,120 --> 02:34:29,200 that uh but that again is a very 3701 02:34:29,200 --> 02:34:32,319 thoughtful and well-informed process. It 3702 02:34:32,319 --> 02:34:34,720 takes about 30 days to really gather 3703 02:34:34,720 --> 02:34:36,560 psychological testing, education 3704 02:34:36,560 --> 02:34:39,040 testing, IEPs if they have them from 3705 02:34:39,040 --> 02:34:41,920 schools. So there there's a lot that 3706 02:34:41,920 --> 02:34:44,240 happens there that you you don't read 3707 02:34:44,240 --> 02:34:46,080 about that in the paper, but there is a 3708 02:34:46,080 --> 02:34:48,399 lot happening there. 3709 02:34:48,399 --> 02:34:50,560 >> Thank you for that. And two really quick 3710 02:34:50,560 --> 02:34:52,880 questions. Um one, what happens if they 3711 02:34:52,880 --> 02:34:56,080 don't participate? Is there fall fall 3712 02:34:56,080 --> 02:34:59,680 back for or is there like a way 3713 02:34:59,680 --> 02:35:02,880 repercussions? Thank you. 3714 02:35:02,880 --> 02:35:06,160 >> Well, certainly we can't force a youth 3715 02:35:06,160 --> 02:35:07,600 to do something they don't want to do, 3716 02:35:07,600 --> 02:35:10,800 but we try to incentivize them. So, we 3717 02:35:10,800 --> 02:35:13,040 have level systems. We have, you know, 3718 02:35:13,040 --> 02:35:15,280 the the higher you are on the level, the 3719 02:35:15,280 --> 02:35:16,960 more privileges you get. We have an 3720 02:35:16,960 --> 02:35:18,720 earned living unit for those youth that 3721 02:35:18,720 --> 02:35:20,960 are really engaging. They get to wear 3722 02:35:20,960 --> 02:35:22,800 jeans and they get to walk through the 3723 02:35:22,800 --> 02:35:25,840 halls unescorted and they get a lot they 3724 02:35:25,840 --> 02:35:28,160 get more offgrounds privileges and do 3725 02:35:28,160 --> 02:35:31,120 more activities. So yeah, we can't you 3726 02:35:31,120 --> 02:35:33,120 know any of you have had teenagers try 3727 02:35:33,120 --> 02:35:35,200 and force them to do anything but you 3728 02:35:35,200 --> 02:35:38,800 can incentivize and and we do as best as 3729 02:35:38,800 --> 02:35:43,600 we can to incentivize u teenagers. 3730 02:35:43,600 --> 02:35:46,399 And then my last question would be um in 3731 02:35:46,399 --> 02:35:48,880 your experience when do behaviors become 3732 02:35:48,880 --> 02:35:53,429 patterns? 3733 02:35:53,439 --> 02:35:56,319 » In my experience and in speaking with 3734 02:35:56,319 --> 02:35:58,880 many forensic psychologists over my 3735 02:35:58,880 --> 02:36:02,960 career, um what what I believe and I'm 3736 02:36:02,960 --> 02:36:05,520 not a psychologist is that there are 3737 02:36:05,520 --> 02:36:07,760 indicators that a youth is going to be 3738 02:36:07,760 --> 02:36:10,560 what they call life course persistent. 3739 02:36:10,560 --> 02:36:14,000 And some of those are um perhaps the 3740 02:36:14,000 --> 02:36:17,280 most predictive is very early onset of 3741 02:36:17,280 --> 02:36:20,640 violence. I'm talking and I've seen this 3742 02:36:20,640 --> 02:36:24,880 in my prior to coming to doc uh a youth 3743 02:36:24,880 --> 02:36:28,160 who was six years old and choking out 3744 02:36:28,160 --> 02:36:30,319 another girl at the daycare with a ne 3745 02:36:30,319 --> 02:36:33,200 with her necklace. That kind of behavior 3746 02:36:33,200 --> 02:36:36,319 which is not normative and is very early 3747 02:36:36,319 --> 02:36:40,080 onset tends to be a predictor of a youth 3748 02:36:40,080 --> 02:36:43,200 who's probably going to continue to be 3749 02:36:43,200 --> 02:36:47,439 um disruptive into adulthood. Whereas a 3750 02:36:47,439 --> 02:36:49,200 young per and this is why getting a 3751 02:36:49,200 --> 02:36:50,880 history and an accurate history is so 3752 02:36:50,880 --> 02:36:53,600 important to us is you've heard someone 3753 02:36:53,600 --> 02:36:58,720 else say I think it was Mr. fake nail or one of the others. Teenagers do 3754 02:36:58,720 --> 02:37:01,359 stupid things. And sometimes those 3755 02:37:01,359 --> 02:37:03,439 stupid things result in consequences 3756 02:37:03,439 --> 02:37:05,920 they didn't intend that are very bad. 3757 02:37:05,920 --> 02:37:08,720 But when you look at that youth, 3758 02:37:08,720 --> 02:37:10,640 you have a different lens of this is 3759 02:37:10,640 --> 02:37:12,479 probably not going to be a life course 3760 02:37:12,479 --> 02:37:15,439 persistent offender. Uh we need to help 3761 02:37:15,439 --> 02:37:19,040 them deal with what they've done. And 3762 02:37:19,040 --> 02:37:21,600 accountability might be apologizing. 3763 02:37:21,600 --> 02:37:23,680 Restorative justice is a is a form of 3764 02:37:23,680 --> 02:37:26,399 accountability but it's a different 3765 02:37:26,399 --> 02:37:29,600 approach than those uh that we can 3766 02:37:29,600 --> 02:37:32,560 identify again with the assistance of 3767 02:37:32,560 --> 02:37:35,359 psychologists and experts in that area 3768 02:37:35,359 --> 02:37:37,359 of those youth that are going to be 3769 02:37:37,359 --> 02:37:39,840 problems into adulthood. 3770 02:37:39,840 --> 02:37:42,240 >> Thank you 3771 02:37:42,240 --> 02:37:45,040 counselor Noble. 3772 02:37:45,040 --> 02:37:47,120 >> I heard you talk about the wraparound 3773 02:37:47,120 --> 02:37:51,200 services FFT [snorts] and MST. How long 3774 02:37:51,200 --> 02:37:53,840 does it take for those services to be 3775 02:37:53,840 --> 02:37:55,680 put in place for the support of the 3776 02:37:55,680 --> 02:37:59,910 family? 3777 02:37:59,920 --> 02:38:04,000 It depends. So, right now, the state of 3778 02:38:04,000 --> 02:38:05,760 Maine, the Department of Behavioral 3779 02:38:05,760 --> 02:38:08,960 Health Services has a system that has 3780 02:38:08,960 --> 02:38:10,960 just been in place as of February. Some 3781 02:38:10,960 --> 02:38:14,399 of you may have heard about a federal 3782 02:38:14,399 --> 02:38:16,800 um Department of Justice action against 3783 02:38:16,800 --> 02:38:18,960 the state. And as a result of that 3784 02:38:18,960 --> 02:38:22,000 settlement agreement, the Department of 3785 02:38:22,000 --> 02:38:25,040 Health and Human Services uh is required 3786 02:38:25,040 --> 02:38:27,200 to do a what's called a single 3787 02:38:27,200 --> 02:38:29,760 assessment for any youth that needs that 3788 02:38:29,760 --> 02:38:32,880 level of care. They need to first get an 3789 02:38:32,880 --> 02:38:35,680 assessment by Entra. 3790 02:38:35,680 --> 02:38:37,439 Aentra determines whether they're 3791 02:38:37,439 --> 02:38:41,520 eligible for MST, FFT, those kinds of 3792 02:38:41,520 --> 02:38:44,560 services. Uh and if so, then the 3793 02:38:44,560 --> 02:38:46,960 services are paid for by main care. If 3794 02:38:46,960 --> 02:38:49,359 the youth is not covered by main care, 3795 02:38:49,359 --> 02:38:52,800 DOC provides funding that we will pay 3796 02:38:52,800 --> 02:38:54,640 the cost of those services for 3797 02:38:54,640 --> 02:38:57,680 non-covered youth. That's much quicker 3798 02:38:57,680 --> 02:39:01,439 than having to go through that process. 3799 02:39:01,439 --> 02:39:02,080 >> Thank you. 3800 02:39:02,080 --> 02:39:05,359 >> I think on and I have heard again that 3801 02:39:05,359 --> 02:39:08,800 it varies from region to region um on 3802 02:39:08,800 --> 02:39:12,319 availability of those services. I think 3803 02:39:12,319 --> 02:39:13,840 in what I would call the the rim 3804 02:39:13,840 --> 02:39:17,120 counties, Oxford County, uh, Waldo, 3805 02:39:17,120 --> 02:39:18,479 Washington County, some of those 3806 02:39:18,479 --> 02:39:21,040 counties, I think the services are less 3807 02:39:21,040 --> 02:39:24,710 accessible. 3808 02:39:24,720 --> 02:39:26,800 » Council Chitten. 3809 02:39:26,800 --> 02:39:28,880 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, first of all, 3810 02:39:28,880 --> 02:39:30,240 I'd like to say that I wish there were 3811 02:39:30,240 --> 02:39:31,439 not a need for the Department of 3812 02:39:31,439 --> 02:39:33,680 Corrections at all. Uh, I wish that you 3813 02:39:33,680 --> 02:39:35,439 were both out of jobs. I bet you do, 3814 02:39:35,439 --> 02:39:39,120 too. Um, the most important thing I've 3815 02:39:39,120 --> 02:39:42,000 heard you say tonight is this $4.6 3816 02:39:42,000 --> 02:39:44,880 million state community programming that 3817 02:39:44,880 --> 02:39:48,160 applies before the situation. Most of 3818 02:39:48,160 --> 02:39:49,359 what we've heard about from many 3819 02:39:49,359 --> 02:39:51,600 speakers tonight, yourselves included, 3820 02:39:51,600 --> 02:39:54,240 happens after the fact. And the goal 3821 02:39:54,240 --> 02:39:57,120 here is to prevent the activity, the 3822 02:39:57,120 --> 02:39:59,760 gunfire, the violence in the first 3823 02:39:59,760 --> 02:40:01,600 place. So, I'm encouraged to hear about 3824 02:40:01,600 --> 02:40:06,240 this 4.6 million. Um, my question to you 3825 02:40:06,240 --> 02:40:10,080 is, is this a legislative budget that is 3826 02:40:10,080 --> 02:40:13,200 given to you? Is it 4.6 year after year? 3827 02:40:13,200 --> 02:40:15,439 Is there hope for growth of that? I want 3828 02:40:15,439 --> 02:40:17,520 obviously more of that money to come to 3829 02:40:17,520 --> 02:40:20,000 the organizations in Lewon to address 3830 02:40:20,000 --> 02:40:22,080 the problem that we're gathered here 3831 02:40:22,080 --> 02:40:24,720 tonight to address gun violence by youth 3832 02:40:24,720 --> 02:40:26,800 in Lewon. 3833 02:40:26,800 --> 02:40:29,359 That that's my question. Is is there a 3834 02:40:29,359 --> 02:40:30,800 chance of getting more money to come to 3835 02:40:30,800 --> 02:40:35,760 Lewon to sol to address this? Thank you. 3836 02:40:35,760 --> 02:40:37,200 >> Thank you for the question, counselor. 3837 02:40:37,200 --> 02:40:39,680 We absolutely advocate for more than 3838 02:40:39,680 --> 02:40:42,160 this every year. We put into our budget 3839 02:40:42,160 --> 02:40:44,319 what we would like to see. It doesn't 3840 02:40:44,319 --> 02:40:46,399 always make it into the final budget 3841 02:40:46,399 --> 02:40:48,080 that's presented to the legislature and 3842 02:40:48,080 --> 02:40:50,479 then what the legislature decides is 3843 02:40:50,479 --> 02:40:53,359 never as much as an agency asks for. So, 3844 02:40:53,359 --> 02:40:55,040 I would encourage you all to reach out 3845 02:40:55,040 --> 02:40:56,720 to your legislators and tell them how 3846 02:40:56,720 --> 02:41:00,800 important community programs are. 3847 02:41:00,800 --> 02:41:03,040 >> Just to follow up on that, u could you 3848 02:41:03,040 --> 02:41:05,600 offline give me the account number, the 3849 02:41:05,600 --> 02:41:08,560 accounting, the specific asks to go to 3850 02:41:08,560 --> 02:41:10,960 our legislators with uh you have my 3851 02:41:10,960 --> 02:41:13,120 email address. You can get that to me uh 3852 02:41:13,120 --> 02:41:14,399 afterwards. 3853 02:41:14,399 --> 02:41:17,359 >> Absolutely. Thank you, 3854 02:41:17,359 --> 02:41:18,720 >> Councelor Martell. 3855 02:41:18,720 --> 02:41:20,319 >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you guys 3856 02:41:20,319 --> 02:41:23,840 for being here tonight. Um so just in uh 3857 02:41:23,840 --> 02:41:26,000 my own personal experience I remember 3858 02:41:26,000 --> 02:41:29,040 growing up and being a teenager uh it 3859 02:41:29,040 --> 02:41:34,960 seemed like there was much more punitive 3860 02:41:34,960 --> 02:41:38,560 uh punishment accountability for crimes 3861 02:41:38,560 --> 02:41:41,600 and poor behaviors. It seems at some 3862 02:41:41,600 --> 02:41:43,600 point there was a shift made to I've 3863 02:41:43,600 --> 02:41:45,920 hear you use terms like uh restorative 3864 02:41:45,920 --> 02:41:50,080 justice and uh this indicate the the 3865 02:41:50,080 --> 02:41:53,040 moving towards trying to keep juveniles 3866 02:41:53,040 --> 02:41:56,319 at all costs for any reason out of uh 3867 02:41:56,319 --> 02:41:58,880 Long Creek or being detained. 3868 02:41:58,880 --> 02:42:01,520 uh how when when did that transition or 3869 02:42:01,520 --> 02:42:03,920 when did this movement towards this type 3870 02:42:03,920 --> 02:42:05,520 of 3871 02:42:05,520 --> 02:42:08,479 um I don't know adjudication or or 3872 02:42:08,479 --> 02:42:11,840 dealing with juvenile crime 3873 02:42:11,840 --> 02:42:14,240 when did that shift happen and how long 3874 02:42:14,240 --> 02:42:18,240 have we been uh trying to to operate 3875 02:42:18,240 --> 02:42:20,640 under that plan or that path or that 3876 02:42:20,640 --> 02:42:25,830 strategy? 3877 02:42:25,840 --> 02:42:28,080 I'm going to try to answer this as best 3878 02:42:28,080 --> 02:42:31,520 I can. I think some of you that were 3879 02:42:31,520 --> 02:42:33,680 around in the early 90s remember the 3880 02:42:33,680 --> 02:42:36,479 super predator scare and that there was 3881 02:42:36,479 --> 02:42:38,080 a 3882 02:42:38,080 --> 02:42:40,560 actually a researcher who said that 3883 02:42:40,560 --> 02:42:43,600 youth in that period of time were 3884 02:42:43,600 --> 02:42:45,680 without a conscience, without a soul. 3885 02:42:45,680 --> 02:42:48,880 They were um just awful and we were 3886 02:42:48,880 --> 02:42:51,280 going to have a blood bath in 10 or 15 3887 02:42:51,280 --> 02:42:53,600 years when those youth grew up. 3888 02:42:53,600 --> 02:42:55,280 And even though that's what the data 3889 02:42:55,280 --> 02:42:57,280 said, that's not what happened. And what 3890 02:42:57,280 --> 02:43:00,720 we've actually seen is a a sharp and 3891 02:43:00,720 --> 02:43:04,000 consistent decline in juvenile crime in 3892 02:43:04,000 --> 02:43:05,760 the community. 3893 02:43:05,760 --> 02:43:10,560 In my experience, um punishment and 3894 02:43:10,560 --> 02:43:13,120 accountability are terms that often 3895 02:43:13,120 --> 02:43:16,560 people ascribe their own meaning to. 3896 02:43:16,560 --> 02:43:19,680 Accountability doesn't mean it's easy. 3897 02:43:19,680 --> 02:43:22,960 It doesn't mean nothing happens. Um, in 3898 02:43:22,960 --> 02:43:25,600 my experience, if you have a youth who 3899 02:43:25,600 --> 02:43:29,600 has harmed their neighbor and you say to 3900 02:43:29,600 --> 02:43:31,680 that and the judge says to that youth, 3901 02:43:31,680 --> 02:43:34,000 you're going to do four days at Long 3902 02:43:34,000 --> 02:43:37,120 Creek Youth Development Center or you're 3903 02:43:37,120 --> 02:43:39,120 going to sit down with that neighbor and 3904 02:43:39,120 --> 02:43:41,760 apologize to them and you're going to do 3905 02:43:41,760 --> 02:43:44,160 something to repair the harm that you've 3906 02:43:44,160 --> 02:43:46,880 done. I can't think of a single juvenile 3907 02:43:46,880 --> 02:43:49,359 that will pick the restorative justice. 3908 02:43:49,359 --> 02:43:52,319 they will pick the easy way out. So I 3909 02:43:52,319 --> 02:43:55,600 think if you think about accountability 3910 02:43:55,600 --> 02:43:59,279 in terms of helping the youth grow from 3911 02:43:59,279 --> 02:44:01,520 their mistake, that doesn't mean it's 3912 02:44:01,520 --> 02:44:04,479 easy. It doesn't mean the kids like it, 3913 02:44:04,479 --> 02:44:07,760 but it means we are giving them tools to 3914 02:44:07,760 --> 02:44:11,840 grow from that mistake, not simply 3915 02:44:11,840 --> 02:44:15,359 imposing a discomfort that doesn't get 3916 02:44:15,359 --> 02:44:17,120 us where we want to be, which is a 3917 02:44:17,120 --> 02:44:20,399 reduction in that behavior. So, in my 3918 02:44:20,399 --> 02:44:23,120 experience, accountability is often 3919 02:44:23,120 --> 02:44:26,479 times more painful for youth if it's 3920 02:44:26,479 --> 02:44:30,240 restorative, if it's um talking about 3921 02:44:30,240 --> 02:44:33,200 behaviors. Show me a teenager that wants 3922 02:44:33,200 --> 02:44:35,439 to sit down and talk about their sexual 3923 02:44:35,439 --> 02:44:37,040 behaviors 3924 02:44:37,040 --> 02:44:40,160 as a condition of probation for a an 3925 02:44:40,160 --> 02:44:42,000 offense they might have occurred. They 3926 02:44:42,000 --> 02:44:45,520 will take a month, a year at Long Creek 3927 02:44:45,520 --> 02:44:48,319 rather than do that treatment. But 3928 02:44:48,319 --> 02:44:50,640 that's accountability is you harm 3929 02:44:50,640 --> 02:44:53,279 someone by this behavior. Here's what 3930 02:44:53,279 --> 02:44:54,960 we're going to do to make sure that 3931 02:44:54,960 --> 02:44:56,800 doesn't happen again or at least reduce 3932 02:44:56,800 --> 02:45:00,399 the likelihood of it. So, 3933 02:45:00,399 --> 02:45:01,840 >> thank you for that. My question though 3934 02:45:01,840 --> 02:45:04,319 was when did the shift in approach start 3935 02:45:04,319 --> 02:45:07,359 and roughly how long has that been? 3936 02:45:07,359 --> 02:45:10,000 So, I' I've been in juvenile justice for 3937 02:45:10,000 --> 02:45:13,200 30ish years, and I would say that it has 3938 02:45:13,200 --> 02:45:17,439 been a good 20 years since we learned 3939 02:45:17,439 --> 02:45:19,840 more about adolescent development, more 3940 02:45:19,840 --> 02:45:22,880 about, as Mr. Bnell said, about brain 3941 02:45:22,880 --> 02:45:26,479 development. And um so I would say that 3942 02:45:26,479 --> 02:45:29,920 the switch switch from a punitive model 3943 02:45:29,920 --> 02:45:35,120 to a more holistic model was probably 3944 02:45:35,120 --> 02:45:37,680 20 to 25 years ago. 3945 02:45:37,680 --> 02:45:39,279 >> And you're suggesting that there's been 3946 02:45:39,279 --> 02:45:42,560 a stark drop in juvenile crime since 3947 02:45:42,560 --> 02:45:44,560 that's been the approach. 3948 02:45:44,560 --> 02:45:47,040 >> I'm not suggesting it. The data clearly 3949 02:45:47,040 --> 02:45:48,160 shows it. 3950 02:45:48,160 --> 02:45:50,720 >> Okay. Um, it just feels like the the 3951 02:45:50,720 --> 02:45:51,920 situation that we're dealing with, at 3952 02:45:51,920 --> 02:45:53,920 least here locally, doesn't seem to 3953 02:45:53,920 --> 02:45:56,319 reflect that. And that's kind of the the 3954 02:45:56,319 --> 02:45:57,920 square I'm trying to circle. That's all. 3955 02:45:57,920 --> 02:46:00,160 I'm not questioning uh your data or what 3956 02:46:00,160 --> 02:46:02,080 you're saying. I'm just trying to make 3957 02:46:02,080 --> 02:46:03,760 sense of it. Uh, it seems like we've got 3958 02:46:03,760 --> 02:46:05,600 a juvenile shooting once a week, if not 3959 02:46:05,600 --> 02:46:08,640 more often in Lewon. And uh, Councelor 3960 02:46:08,640 --> 02:46:10,399 Tridum stated or at least pointed out 3961 02:46:10,399 --> 02:46:13,520 that this seems to be more uh more 3962 02:46:13,520 --> 02:46:15,359 serious in Lewon rather than other 3963 02:46:15,359 --> 02:46:17,680 cities. So, uh, maybe there's other 3964 02:46:17,680 --> 02:46:20,560 reasons for that, but, um, when I'm 3965 02:46:20,560 --> 02:46:22,160 reading the news each day, it doesn't 3966 02:46:22,160 --> 02:46:24,000 particularly feel like, uh, we're seeing 3967 02:46:24,000 --> 02:46:27,279 less juvenile violent crime. 3968 02:46:27,279 --> 02:46:29,600 >> Um, that's all. Thank you. 3969 02:46:29,600 --> 02:46:32,479 >> I I I I will say the data does support 3970 02:46:32,479 --> 02:46:35,600 your your, um, assertion that there is 3971 02:46:35,600 --> 02:46:38,399 more gun violence and it is certainly 3972 02:46:38,399 --> 02:46:41,680 not unique to Lewon, but it is more 3973 02:46:41,680 --> 02:46:45,359 common in Lewon. And I won't even 3974 02:46:45,359 --> 02:46:49,680 venture a guess um as to why Lewon as 3975 02:46:49,680 --> 02:46:51,920 opposed to other communities, but I do 3976 02:46:51,920 --> 02:46:53,840 think one thing that has changed 3977 02:46:53,840 --> 02:46:57,760 tremendously in my time in the system is 3978 02:46:57,760 --> 02:47:00,640 that the availability of weapons, and 3979 02:47:00,640 --> 02:47:02,880 you've heard that from others as well. I 3980 02:47:02,880 --> 02:47:06,880 think guns were less available to youth 3981 02:47:06,880 --> 02:47:11,920 25 years ago than they are today. 3982 02:47:11,920 --> 02:47:14,319 Thank you uh both for being here. Uh you 3983 02:47:14,319 --> 02:47:16,640 me, if I heard you right, there's uh 3984 02:47:16,640 --> 02:47:19,680 approximately 50 uh youth at Long Creek 3985 02:47:19,680 --> 02:47:21,439 at this moment. 3986 02:47:21,439 --> 02:47:22,479 >> 49. Yes. 3987 02:47:22,479 --> 02:47:25,120 >> Yeah. Okay. 49. And then the breakdown 3988 02:47:25,120 --> 02:47:27,120 by county, does that is that 3989 02:47:27,120 --> 02:47:29,920 proportional by population or is one 3990 02:47:29,920 --> 02:47:33,439 county have u proportionally more? Uh 3991 02:47:33,439 --> 02:47:36,640 are you able to share that? 3992 02:47:36,640 --> 02:47:38,479 >> I do keep that data, but I don't have it 3993 02:47:38,479 --> 02:47:40,560 at the top of my head. I will say that 3994 02:47:40,560 --> 02:47:43,840 there are uh fewer detentions when you 3995 02:47:43,840 --> 02:47:45,920 get into region three, which is 3996 02:47:45,920 --> 02:47:49,040 essentially the top seven counties. And 3997 02:47:49,040 --> 02:47:50,960 I suspect that's because law 3998 02:47:50,960 --> 02:47:53,279 enforcement, unlike having county jails 3999 02:47:53,279 --> 02:47:55,520 where law enforcement can bring someone 4000 02:47:55,520 --> 02:47:57,920 they've arrested to the county jail, if 4001 02:47:57,920 --> 02:47:59,840 a youth is arrested in Caribou, they've 4002 02:47:59,840 --> 02:48:02,080 got to be brought to South Portland. 4003 02:48:02,080 --> 02:48:04,800 that I think is a natural deterrent for 4004 02:48:04,800 --> 02:48:07,359 law enforcement to call and request that 4005 02:48:07,359 --> 02:48:12,960 a youth be detained unless they really need to be detained. Um so it is 4006 02:48:12,960 --> 02:48:16,640 less the the data it's not proportionate 4007 02:48:16,640 --> 02:48:19,680 per county by any means. Um, but I will 4008 02:48:19,680 --> 02:48:21,840 say that 4009 02:48:21,840 --> 02:48:24,960 Gusta South or you know is probably the 4010 02:48:24,960 --> 02:48:28,160 bigger twothirds of the at least 2/3 if 4011 02:48:28,160 --> 02:48:32,240 not 75% of the population. 4012 02:48:32,240 --> 02:48:34,160 >> Understood. Thank you. Uh, further qu 4013 02:48:34,160 --> 02:48:35,760 Yes Yes. Councelor Longs, did you have 4014 02:48:35,760 --> 02:48:36,560 something? 4015 02:48:36,560 --> 02:48:39,200 >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I would just like 4016 02:48:39,200 --> 02:48:40,800 to thank you ladies again for coming 4017 02:48:40,800 --> 02:48:43,840 here and uh contacting us to be a part 4018 02:48:43,840 --> 02:48:47,359 of this meeting. Um, it's not definitely 4019 02:48:47,359 --> 02:48:50,240 not an easy meeting. Um, I believe in 4020 02:48:50,240 --> 02:48:53,040 Long Creek. I I think you need to uh 4021 02:48:53,040 --> 02:48:54,800 continue doing what you're doing and and 4022 02:48:54,800 --> 02:48:57,200 thank you. 4023 02:48:57,200 --> 02:49:00,640 >> Further questions from council. 4024 02:49:00,640 --> 02:49:04,560 Thank you both for being here. 4025 02:49:04,560 --> 02:49:06,560 >> Yes. Uh, a huge round of applause for 4026 02:49:06,560 --> 02:49:14,630 all of our presenters, please. 4027 02:49:14,640 --> 02:49:21,840 We will now uh take um uh comments from counselors. Uh counselors uh I am 4028 02:49:21,840 --> 02:49:23,600 not timing you, but if you could keep it 4029 02:49:23,600 --> 02:49:25,680 to to three minutes, that'd be that'd be 4030 02:49:25,680 --> 02:49:27,439 great for general remarks. We're going 4031 02:49:27,439 --> 02:49:29,439 to start with uh the councelor forward 4032 02:49:29,439 --> 02:49:32,319 one, Josh Nene. Councelor Nene. 4033 02:49:32,319 --> 02:49:34,080 >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, first and 4034 02:49:34,080 --> 02:49:36,240 foremost, 4035 02:49:36,240 --> 02:49:38,800 I want to thank everybody for coming uh 4036 02:49:38,800 --> 02:49:41,920 tonight. Uh I'd like to also say that 4037 02:49:41,920 --> 02:49:44,640 the availability of guns in our 4038 02:49:44,640 --> 02:49:46,800 community that youth have is a major 4039 02:49:46,800 --> 02:49:50,720 problem. That that is that is uh one 4040 02:49:50,720 --> 02:49:55,120 tier uh of the issue. Um if kids don't 4041 02:49:55,120 --> 02:49:56,960 have guns, which they shouldn't have 4042 02:49:56,960 --> 02:50:00,080 guns, ever have guns, then they can't 4043 02:50:00,080 --> 02:50:03,120 commit crimes with guns. So uh we need 4044 02:50:03,120 --> 02:50:06,240 to figure out an angle there. I would 4045 02:50:06,240 --> 02:50:12,399 also say that there are huge gaps in uh 4046 02:50:12,399 --> 02:50:14,880 supports for at risk children before 4047 02:50:14,880 --> 02:50:21,120 they become uh children who are shooting at children 4048 02:50:21,120 --> 02:50:22,880 and and unfortunately these are kids. 4049 02:50:22,880 --> 02:50:25,520 They're 100% kids but they're committing 4050 02:50:25,520 --> 02:50:28,080 adult crimes and and and that's very 4051 02:50:28,080 --> 02:50:31,120 challenging for this community. Um 4052 02:50:31,120 --> 02:50:33,680 people don't feel safe. Um kids don't 4053 02:50:33,680 --> 02:50:36,240 feel safe. Um, we've got a problem 4054 02:50:36,240 --> 02:50:38,720 there, a huge problem, and we don't have 4055 02:50:38,720 --> 02:50:40,800 the 4056 02:50:40,800 --> 02:50:43,760 resources financially to fix this. So, 4057 02:50:43,760 --> 02:50:46,800 we do need to work together to ask for 4058 02:50:46,800 --> 02:50:48,560 more financial resources to deal with 4059 02:50:48,560 --> 02:50:49,760 some of these things. And there and 4060 02:50:49,760 --> 02:50:52,240 there are systemic issues with all of 4061 02:50:52,240 --> 02:50:55,840 these pieces. when you're not compelled 4062 02:50:55,840 --> 02:50:59,279 uh to improve uh 4063 02:50:59,279 --> 02:51:01,680 the life of a child um because they 4064 02:51:01,680 --> 02:51:06,240 haven't committed a crime big enough. Um 4065 02:51:06,240 --> 02:51:07,760 we're we're literally letting those 4066 02:51:07,760 --> 02:51:09,600 children 4067 02:51:09,600 --> 02:51:14,319 just continue a path that that leads to 4068 02:51:14,319 --> 02:51:16,399 uh 4069 02:51:16,399 --> 02:51:19,200 danger for themselves and others and and 4070 02:51:19,200 --> 02:51:22,080 it's just not correct. Um, but I 4071 02:51:22,080 --> 02:51:23,439 appreciate everybody coming forward 4072 02:51:23,439 --> 02:51:26,960 today uh to present. Um, I I still have 4073 02:51:26,960 --> 02:51:28,560 a lot of questions about how we make 4074 02:51:28,560 --> 02:51:31,200 sure that we both both keep kids and our 4075 02:51:31,200 --> 02:51:34,640 communities safe um because there are 4076 02:51:34,640 --> 02:51:36,720 glaring gaps in that system. 4077 02:51:36,720 --> 02:51:38,000 >> Thank you, 4078 02:51:38,000 --> 02:51:39,760 >> Kyle. A long trip. 4079 02:51:39,760 --> 02:51:42,080 >> Kyle, is it is the public going to get a 4080 02:51:42,080 --> 02:51:43,439 chance to speak tonight or 4081 02:51:43,439 --> 02:51:45,680 >> uh Yes. Yes. We're we're moving quickly 4082 02:51:45,680 --> 02:51:47,840 towards that. If you can take your take 4083 02:51:47,840 --> 02:51:48,000 your 4084 02:51:48,000 --> 02:51:51,200 >> seat. Could you also um give us a break? 4085 02:51:51,200 --> 02:51:53,120 Uh maybe a five minute break. I think 4086 02:51:53,120 --> 02:51:55,200 the crowd could use it. You lost. 4087 02:51:55,200 --> 02:51:57,120 >> You could take a break right now, sir. 4088 02:51:57,120 --> 02:51:58,960 And we will get back to public comment. 4089 02:51:58,960 --> 02:52:00,800 Uh we we will get to public comment in a 4090 02:52:00,800 --> 02:52:03,359 little bit. Thank you. 4091 02:52:03,359 --> 02:52:05,760 >> Please take a seat. Thank you. 4092 02:52:05,760 --> 02:52:07,600 >> Uh councelor Long Champs. 4093 02:52:07,600 --> 02:52:11,680 >> Thank you, uh Mr. Mayor. Um 4094 02:52:11,680 --> 02:52:16,319 we've heard a lot tonight. Um, 4095 02:52:16,319 --> 02:52:18,399 but I'm not sure that we've heard of 4096 02:52:18,399 --> 02:52:21,200 anything that will really immediately um 4097 02:52:21,200 --> 02:52:24,880 help us with the current situation. 4098 02:52:24,880 --> 02:52:27,040 Um, 4099 02:52:27,040 --> 02:52:29,840 we're experiencing gun violence almost 4100 02:52:29,840 --> 02:52:35,680 daily. Um, it once, you know, was really 4101 02:52:35,680 --> 02:52:38,160 uh more so happening at night. Now it's 4102 02:52:38,160 --> 02:52:40,640 happening in the broad daylight. Uh you 4103 02:52:40,640 --> 02:52:42,560 heard our chief say that we are 11 4104 02:52:42,560 --> 02:52:45,680 officers down. 4105 02:52:45,680 --> 02:52:48,960 Everyone is underst staffed 4106 02:52:48,960 --> 02:52:51,600 in my opinion. And no one's going to 4107 02:52:51,600 --> 02:52:53,680 like to hear this or not no no one but 4108 02:52:53,680 --> 02:52:55,600 there will be some fan uh some people 4109 02:52:55,600 --> 02:52:58,720 that are not fans of this but I believe 4110 02:52:58,720 --> 02:53:01,680 this is a call for our national guard to 4111 02:53:01,680 --> 02:53:04,080 come and help us. 4112 02:53:04,080 --> 02:53:06,800 Um, 4113 02:53:06,800 --> 02:53:09,200 I would I'm hoping that Governor Mills 4114 02:53:09,200 --> 02:53:11,840 will sit with our law enforcement, our 4115 02:53:11,840 --> 02:53:14,080 DA's office 4116 02:53:14,080 --> 02:53:17,200 uh to really come up with a plan. 4117 02:53:17,200 --> 02:53:19,600 We need a deterrent out there and our 4118 02:53:19,600 --> 02:53:22,479 officers need to focus on violent 4119 02:53:22,479 --> 02:53:26,070 crimes. 4120 02:53:26,080 --> 02:53:30,160 This to me really calls for uh state 4121 02:53:30,160 --> 02:53:34,080 help. Again, 4122 02:53:34,080 --> 02:53:36,399 there's really no real target when these 4123 02:53:36,399 --> 02:53:38,720 young folks are shooting. 4124 02:53:38,720 --> 02:53:42,000 They're shooting at cars, apartment 4125 02:53:42,000 --> 02:53:45,359 buildings. There are families living in 4126 02:53:45,359 --> 02:53:47,120 the downtown 4127 02:53:47,120 --> 02:53:49,680 that don't have 4128 02:53:49,680 --> 02:53:51,600 they they don't have the financials to 4129 02:53:51,600 --> 02:53:53,279 move like some of us that are sitting in 4130 02:53:53,279 --> 02:53:56,160 this room. They are stuck there. A lot 4131 02:53:56,160 --> 02:53:58,880 of people are poor. There are families 4132 02:53:58,880 --> 02:54:00,960 that are staying in the back of their 4133 02:54:00,960 --> 02:54:03,600 apartments to protect their families 4134 02:54:03,600 --> 02:54:05,439 from a stray bullet. That's 4135 02:54:05,439 --> 02:54:08,240 unacceptable. 4136 02:54:08,240 --> 02:54:10,000 We have to do something. And the 4137 02:54:10,000 --> 02:54:14,240 National Guard could come and help. 4138 02:54:14,240 --> 02:54:17,200 Walk around our streets and let our 4139 02:54:17,200 --> 02:54:21,120 police work on other crimes. We are 11 4140 02:54:21,120 --> 02:54:24,240 officers down. We need to do something 4141 02:54:24,240 --> 02:54:27,279 to help protect the citizens here. 4142 02:54:27,279 --> 02:54:30,640 So, I am hoping 4143 02:54:30,640 --> 02:54:35,030 that um 4144 02:54:35,040 --> 02:54:38,710 Governor Mills 4145 02:54:38,720 --> 02:54:41,680 would take um what what I'm asking into 4146 02:54:41,680 --> 02:54:44,399 serious uh consideration 4147 02:54:44,399 --> 02:54:47,040 and and help us here in Lewon. That's 4148 02:54:47,040 --> 02:54:49,760 all I have for now. Thank you, 4149 02:54:49,760 --> 02:54:58,790 Councelor Harmon. 4150 02:54:58,800 --> 02:55:00,479 I just want to thank everyone who came 4151 02:55:00,479 --> 02:55:03,120 out tonight both to present and answer 4152 02:55:03,120 --> 02:55:05,760 questions and those in the audience. Um, 4153 02:55:05,760 --> 02:55:07,840 I definitely learned a lot about this 4154 02:55:07,840 --> 02:55:10,640 topic and I look forward to continuing 4155 02:55:10,640 --> 02:55:14,160 to work on solutions. 4156 02:55:14,160 --> 02:55:18,150 Uh, Councelor Roy, 4157 02:55:18,160 --> 02:55:19,600 » just want to thank everybody that came 4158 02:55:19,600 --> 02:55:24,240 out to uh offer up some great um um 4159 02:55:24,240 --> 02:55:30,630 insight into some backgrounds. Um, 4160 02:55:30,640 --> 02:55:32,960 I would really like to hear what 4161 02:55:32,960 --> 02:55:34,800 everybody else has to say right now 4162 02:55:34,800 --> 02:55:38,399 because I think together we can gain 4163 02:55:38,399 --> 02:55:40,160 some ideas. I know I've got some ideas, 4164 02:55:40,160 --> 02:55:42,960 too. work on some community, you know, 4165 02:55:42,960 --> 02:55:44,960 resources and programs and incentives. 4166 02:55:44,960 --> 02:55:46,720 And um I'd like to hear what everybody 4167 02:55:46,720 --> 02:55:50,160 else says. So, I'm going to pass that. 4168 02:55:50,160 --> 02:55:56,070 >> Councelor Noble. 4169 02:55:56,080 --> 02:55:58,880 Uh councelor Chidum. 4170 02:55:58,880 --> 02:56:01,439 >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um there's been a 4171 02:56:01,439 --> 02:56:04,000 lot of discussion tonight. I hope that 4172 02:56:04,000 --> 02:56:05,760 the folks in the audience have learned 4173 02:56:05,760 --> 02:56:07,600 as much as I have about some of the 4174 02:56:07,600 --> 02:56:09,920 intractical problems that we're we're 4175 02:56:09,920 --> 02:56:13,600 facing. I think the most concrete 4176 02:56:13,600 --> 02:56:15,920 suggestion that I heard tonight, and I 4177 02:56:15,920 --> 02:56:17,600 would urge everyone in this room to take 4178 02:56:17,600 --> 02:56:20,319 it home and spread it, is to lock up 4179 02:56:20,319 --> 02:56:22,960 your guns. Do not leave your guns on the 4180 02:56:22,960 --> 02:56:25,279 front seat of your pickup truck so that 4181 02:56:25,279 --> 02:56:27,359 a 12year-old can be told by an 4182 02:56:27,359 --> 02:56:30,640 11year-old there's easy pickings. That's 4183 02:56:30,640 --> 02:56:32,960 your fault if your gun is stolen. And 4184 02:56:32,960 --> 02:56:34,960 I'd like to see some consequences for 4185 02:56:34,960 --> 02:56:36,399 people who have guns stolen from 4186 02:56:36,399 --> 02:56:38,399 unlocked vehicles or people who have 4187 02:56:38,399 --> 02:56:40,560 their guns in their vehicles. Anyway, 4188 02:56:40,560 --> 02:56:43,200 that's the most concrete uh item that I 4189 02:56:43,200 --> 02:56:45,520 picked up from tonight and I hope all of 4190 02:56:45,520 --> 02:56:49,040 you have learned something. Thank you, 4191 02:56:49,040 --> 02:56:50,640 >> Councelor Martell. 4192 02:56:50,640 --> 02:56:52,800 >> Thank you. Um I want to speak on guns, 4193 02:56:52,800 --> 02:56:56,479 too. Uh here's the thing. Every juvenile 4194 02:56:56,479 --> 02:56:57,840 that's going around in our community 4195 02:56:57,840 --> 02:56:59,600 carrying a gun or shooting a gun is 4196 02:56:59,600 --> 02:57:02,560 already breaking a law. Any adult that 4197 02:57:02,560 --> 02:57:05,359 has put the gun a gun in the hands of a 4198 02:57:05,359 --> 02:57:08,560 juvenile broke a law doing so. Uh more 4199 02:57:08,560 --> 02:57:11,279 gun laws only serve to disarm 4200 02:57:11,279 --> 02:57:13,760 law-abiding citizens from protecting 4201 02:57:13,760 --> 02:57:15,359 themselves. The people that are running 4202 02:57:15,359 --> 02:57:18,319 around breaking these laws right now are 4203 02:57:18,319 --> 02:57:19,920 comfortable breaking the laws that are 4204 02:57:19,920 --> 02:57:22,000 in place. I have I see no indication 4205 02:57:22,000 --> 02:57:24,160 that new or furthering laws are going to 4206 02:57:24,160 --> 02:57:27,120 change that. The only uh people that 4207 02:57:27,120 --> 02:57:29,520 laws new laws affect are law-abiding 4208 02:57:29,520 --> 02:57:31,439 citizens. And I think it's clear that 4209 02:57:31,439 --> 02:57:33,040 the people committing these crimes 4210 02:57:33,040 --> 02:57:35,359 aren't by definition law- abiding 4211 02:57:35,359 --> 02:57:36,960 citizens. 4212 02:57:36,960 --> 02:57:39,120 Um, 4213 02:57:39,120 --> 02:57:41,520 everyone wants to say a lot of times I 4214 02:57:41,520 --> 02:57:43,760 hear uh it's not political. You know, 4215 02:57:43,760 --> 02:57:45,120 kids shooting kids shouldn't be 4216 02:57:45,120 --> 02:57:47,200 political. This shouldn't be political. 4217 02:57:47,200 --> 02:57:49,920 This is a political issue. The problem 4218 02:57:49,920 --> 02:57:54,319 that we have um 4219 02:57:54,319 --> 02:57:56,399 this problem didn't happen overnight and 4220 02:57:56,399 --> 02:57:58,319 it isn't going to be solved overnight. 4221 02:57:58,319 --> 02:58:01,439 And there's a certain ideological 4222 02:58:01,439 --> 02:58:04,960 political slant that I believe has 4223 02:58:04,960 --> 02:58:06,800 fostered the environment that created 4224 02:58:06,800 --> 02:58:09,840 this situation and allowed it to worsen. 4225 02:58:09,840 --> 02:58:14,720 So uh two things the almost universally 4226 02:58:14,720 --> 02:58:17,520 our speakers tonight said legislature 4227 02:58:17,520 --> 02:58:20,720 Augusta laws representatives coming from 4228 02:58:20,720 --> 02:58:24,560 the state. So um as far as the public 4229 02:58:24,560 --> 02:58:27,040 goes uh two suggestions. Uh there's 4230 02:58:27,040 --> 02:58:29,359 probably two things that the normal JQ 4231 02:58:29,359 --> 02:58:32,560 public can do. That's uh see something, 4232 02:58:32,560 --> 02:58:34,960 say something, and then get out and vote 4233 02:58:34,960 --> 02:58:36,800 in November for candidates to go to 4234 02:58:36,800 --> 02:58:38,399 Augusta to represent us that are going 4235 02:58:38,399 --> 02:58:41,600 to take public I'm not campaigning. Uh 4236 02:58:41,600 --> 02:58:42,880 go out and vote for people that are 4237 02:58:42,880 --> 02:58:44,640 going to take public safety seriously. 4238 02:58:44,640 --> 02:58:52,870 That's what you can do as a public. 4239 02:58:52,880 --> 02:58:54,880 » I appreciate everyone coming tonight. 4240 02:58:54,880 --> 02:58:57,359 Thank you for uh the presenters and 4241 02:58:57,359 --> 02:58:59,040 making time this evening. Thank you for 4242 02:58:59,040 --> 02:59:00,720 you all making time this evening to come 4243 02:59:00,720 --> 02:59:02,560 here and thank you for uh I don't know 4244 02:59:02,560 --> 02:59:04,000 how many people aren't watching online 4245 02:59:04,000 --> 02:59:06,080 but thank you very much. Uh public 4246 02:59:06,080 --> 02:59:07,840 safety is a shared responsibility and 4247 02:59:07,840 --> 02:59:09,279 these conversations are important. 4248 02:59:09,279 --> 02:59:12,160 There's many conversations happening um 4249 02:59:12,160 --> 02:59:15,520 at this time and uh and I am encouraged 4250 02:59:15,520 --> 02:59:16,880 by it and I hope more people get 4251 02:59:16,880 --> 02:59:18,960 involved. Um, thank you all and I want 4252 02:59:18,960 --> 02:59:21,600 to thank the counselors uh as well and 4253 02:59:21,600 --> 02:59:24,000 uh a huge shout out uh to staff for uh 4254 02:59:24,000 --> 02:59:25,520 making it possible to meet here both 4255 02:59:25,520 --> 02:59:33,190 city staff and school staff. 4256 02:59:33,200 --> 02:59:36,399 Uh so a couple of things uh uh for 4257 02:59:36,399 --> 02:59:38,399 public comment here. So first off, if 4258 02:59:38,399 --> 02:59:40,399 they're uh some of the presenters, if 4259 02:59:40,399 --> 02:59:42,319 they're still here uh afterwards, you 4260 02:59:42,319 --> 02:59:43,920 can feel free to come up to them and ask 4261 02:59:43,920 --> 02:59:47,040 questions uh after uh public comment. 4262 02:59:47,040 --> 02:59:50,160 And then uh Jake are uh sorry um 4263 02:59:50,160 --> 02:59:53,359 Superintendent Langless uh are those uh 4264 02:59:53,359 --> 02:59:55,279 note cards? 4265 02:59:55,279 --> 02:59:58,720 Yes. So we have uh if you have questions 4266 02:59:58,720 --> 03:00:01,279 uh for the presenters uh we are going to 4267 03:00:01,279 --> 03:00:03,120 compile questions and then you know kind 4268 03:00:03,120 --> 03:00:06,960 of publish a an FAQ later. So uh next to 4269 03:00:06,960 --> 03:00:08,399 Superintendent Langless are not cards 4270 03:00:08,399 --> 03:00:10,319 with pens. So feel free to come and uh 4271 03:00:10,319 --> 03:00:13,359 fill out one. And so yes, we're starting 4272 03:00:13,359 --> 03:00:16,479 public comment in uh just a few seconds. 4273 03:00:16,479 --> 03:00:18,720 So, I want to remind people that this is 4274 03:00:18,720 --> 03:00:20,240 a city council meeting. There will be no 4275 03:00:20,240 --> 03:00:23,200 campaigning. Uh no profanity. Uh this is 4276 03:00:23,200 --> 03:00:25,200 a special uh meeting. So, we need to be 4277 03:00:25,200 --> 03:00:28,160 on topic about youth gun violence. Uh I 4278 03:00:28,160 --> 03:00:29,760 urge all of us to be respectful and 4279 03:00:29,760 --> 03:00:32,800 courteous and uh set a good example for 4280 03:00:32,800 --> 03:00:37,600 our youth. Uh please continue, sir. 4281 03:00:37,600 --> 03:00:39,200 >> Uh guess I have to push the button 4282 03:00:39,200 --> 03:00:39,600 again. 4283 03:00:39,600 --> 03:00:40,479 >> Yeah. 4284 03:00:40,479 --> 03:00:44,720 >> Uh Charles Arthur soul 70 Horn Street. 4285 03:00:44,720 --> 03:00:48,319 um [clears throat] 12 officers down, 4286 03:00:48,319 --> 03:00:51,920 one is on medical leave, but yet they're 4287 03:00:51,920 --> 03:00:55,359 using a drone. They bought the drone, 4288 03:00:55,359 --> 03:00:57,680 and the insurance on that drone will be 4289 03:00:57,680 --> 03:01:02,240 85,000 a year. Wow. I think that would 4290 03:01:02,240 --> 03:01:04,000 get us a couple of officers, maybe one 4291 03:01:04,000 --> 03:01:06,960 or two. Um, another thing is that the 4292 03:01:06,960 --> 03:01:10,479 cameras um I was out two nights ago and 4293 03:01:10,479 --> 03:01:14,000 um because I I'm 73 by the way took a 4294 03:01:14,000 --> 03:01:16,479 nap and I was out a nice night full moon 4295 03:01:16,479 --> 03:01:20,240 and I'm on the corner of um of Horton 4296 03:01:20,240 --> 03:01:25,359 and um Ash and um a ruckus breaks out. 4297 03:01:25,359 --> 03:01:28,000 Eight people fighting in the street 4298 03:01:28,000 --> 03:01:32,720 under a camera, city camera. So, I 4299 03:01:32,720 --> 03:01:35,200 flicked my vehicle lights hoping to get 4300 03:01:35,200 --> 03:01:38,000 the attention of who's ever watching the 4301 03:01:38,000 --> 03:01:40,399 camera. But then after 20 minutes and 4302 03:01:40,399 --> 03:01:42,560 the girl getting her head beat up on the 4303 03:01:42,560 --> 03:01:45,221 asphalt, I um I had to go 4304 03:01:45,221 --> 03:01:45,920 [clears throat] 4305 03:01:45,920 --> 03:01:49,040 get a make a phone call. And then they 4306 03:01:49,040 --> 03:01:53,279 showed up. How nice. Maybe I'll Nobody's 4307 03:01:53,279 --> 03:01:55,040 watching the cameras. Maybe it's because 4308 03:01:55,040 --> 03:01:58,160 of the laxity of no policing. But you 4309 03:01:58,160 --> 03:02:01,439 can spend on a drone, 4310 03:02:01,439 --> 03:02:04,080 you know. Um, another thing is that um, 4311 03:02:04,080 --> 03:02:06,640 no money. This the superintendent of 4312 03:02:06,640 --> 03:02:08,720 school going on almost three years ago 4313 03:02:08,720 --> 03:02:11,359 bought a million-doll building at the 4314 03:02:11,359 --> 03:02:15,920 corner of um, of Sabadis and Main Street 4315 03:02:15,920 --> 03:02:20,319 and um because the roof blew off and um, 4316 03:02:20,319 --> 03:02:23,279 CMMC I guess was was selling it for a 4317 03:02:23,279 --> 03:02:26,800 million dollars. Now the city's uh um 4318 03:02:26,800 --> 03:02:29,200 now and it was used for radiation 4319 03:02:29,200 --> 03:02:32,080 treatment. So now the city's got to do 4320 03:02:32,080 --> 03:02:36,080 the clean up on it and um and then prior 4321 03:02:36,080 --> 03:02:38,160 to that because I'm 73, there used to be 4322 03:02:38,160 --> 03:02:41,520 a a retreading plant for tires in there. 4323 03:02:41,520 --> 03:02:42,080 So 4324 03:02:42,080 --> 03:02:44,080 >> can you please get back on topic? 4325 03:02:44,080 --> 03:02:46,160 >> Excuse me. That's not 4326 03:02:46,160 --> 03:02:47,279 >> Please stay on topic. 4327 03:02:47,279 --> 03:02:49,840 >> That is on I am on topic. That is a 4328 03:02:49,840 --> 03:02:51,279 million dollars that could have went 4329 03:02:51,279 --> 03:02:54,080 into policing. 4330 03:02:54,080 --> 03:02:56,960 The school budget's a disgrace. 4331 03:02:56,960 --> 03:03:00,160 Now, about people, civilry, not seeing 4332 03:03:00,160 --> 03:03:03,120 too many police officers um out on the 4333 03:03:03,120 --> 03:03:05,920 streets when people are passing on the 4334 03:03:05,920 --> 03:03:08,080 left and the right, speeding up the 4335 03:03:08,080 --> 03:03:10,640 street, hear it all night, squealing out 4336 03:03:10,640 --> 03:03:14,640 around corners. Uh the society, I look 4337 03:03:14,640 --> 03:03:18,800 at it, is almost useless in Lewon. Now, 4338 03:03:18,800 --> 03:03:21,680 the only bright star I saw tonight was 4339 03:03:21,680 --> 03:03:26,240 uh uh council from W 2, uh Miss Long 4340 03:03:26,240 --> 03:03:29,520 Champamp. She start when she first came 4341 03:03:29,520 --> 03:03:32,800 into the neighborhood uh in the city, 4342 03:03:32,800 --> 03:03:36,560 she um had children who well, let's face 4343 03:03:36,560 --> 03:03:38,240 it, um they were 4344 03:03:38,240 --> 03:03:40,319 >> That's time. Thank you. 4345 03:03:40,319 --> 03:03:42,160 >> Don't stop your 4346 03:03:42,160 --> 03:03:45,359 >> That is time. You are done. Thank you. 4347 03:03:45,359 --> 03:03:47,680 We're We're going to the next person. 4348 03:03:47,680 --> 03:03:49,200 >> Good. Now, I would 4349 03:03:49,200 --> 03:03:51,359 >> We are going to the next person. 4350 03:03:51,359 --> 03:03:58,710 >> I would also ban Facebook if you would. 4351 03:03:58,720 --> 03:04:05,269 » Yeah. Let's 4352 03:04:05,279 --> 03:04:07,279 » further public comment. Thank you. 4353 03:04:07,279 --> 03:04:10,880 >> Hello, my name is Jess. I live in Lewon. 4354 03:04:10,880 --> 03:04:14,880 Um, I'm feeling very frustrated because 4355 03:04:14,880 --> 03:04:18,720 I've heard the kids, the kids, the kids 4356 03:04:18,720 --> 03:04:21,439 probably about like 50 times tonight. 4357 03:04:21,439 --> 03:04:23,680 But where are the parents? 4358 03:04:23,680 --> 03:04:25,439 I don't see any of the parents here of 4359 03:04:25,439 --> 03:04:28,240 these kids. I don't see any of us going 4360 03:04:28,240 --> 03:04:31,120 into these neighborhoods walking around 4361 03:04:31,120 --> 03:04:33,040 and trying to invite some of these 4362 03:04:33,040 --> 03:04:36,240 people in so that way we can kind of ask 4363 03:04:36,240 --> 03:04:39,040 them what's up. you know, why can't we 4364 03:04:39,040 --> 03:04:40,560 start a little committee to go into 4365 03:04:40,560 --> 03:04:44,560 Kennedy Park? You know, have like trust 4366 03:04:44,560 --> 03:04:48,479 activities. We play kickball, you know, 4367 03:04:48,479 --> 03:04:51,760 uh frisbee, disc frisbee, you know, you 4368 03:04:51,760 --> 03:04:53,439 get an extra five points if you get it 4369 03:04:53,439 --> 03:04:55,840 in off a tree. Then these kids, you 4370 03:04:55,840 --> 03:04:58,240 know, then that doesn't cost anything. 4371 03:04:58,240 --> 03:05:00,399 we can get played against sports or some 4372 03:05:00,399 --> 03:05:02,560 of these other people to donate 4373 03:05:02,560 --> 03:05:05,359 kickballs, basketballs. 4374 03:05:05,359 --> 03:05:06,960 If there's someone in here who knows how 4375 03:05:06,960 --> 03:05:09,279 to skateboard, we'll bring these kids 4376 03:05:09,279 --> 03:05:10,800 over to the skate park and teach them 4377 03:05:10,800 --> 03:05:13,600 how to skate. But we need to get the 4378 03:05:13,600 --> 03:05:17,600 parents more involved. And we need to 4379 03:05:17,600 --> 03:05:19,760 hold them accountable. 4380 03:05:19,760 --> 03:05:22,160 Personally, my whole entire life, I've 4381 03:05:22,160 --> 03:05:24,560 had to be held accountable for more than 4382 03:05:24,560 --> 03:05:27,840 I should have had to be accountable for. 4383 03:05:27,840 --> 03:05:30,560 I'm a new beginnings kid. 4384 03:05:30,560 --> 03:05:33,120 Look at me. You know, I'm doing okay. 4385 03:05:33,120 --> 03:05:35,279 I'm not out shooting people up when I'm 4386 03:05:35,279 --> 03:05:39,200 16. But, you know, as a community, we 4387 03:05:39,200 --> 03:05:44,399 all need together. Come together and and 4388 03:05:44,399 --> 03:05:47,200 come to a board and just kind of bounce 4389 03:05:47,200 --> 03:05:49,359 some ideas. You know, it's not going to 4390 03:05:49,359 --> 03:05:51,840 hurt. What's the one thing that connects 4391 03:05:51,840 --> 03:05:54,720 all of us? Music. 4392 03:05:54,720 --> 03:05:56,720 I personally would like to go out into 4393 03:05:56,720 --> 03:05:59,359 the park and play music and bring these 4394 03:05:59,359 --> 03:06:02,800 kids in and teach them a skill. You 4395 03:06:02,800 --> 03:06:04,960 know, youth build programs need to be 4396 03:06:04,960 --> 03:06:06,880 brought back. You know, where they're in 4397 03:06:06,880 --> 03:06:09,680 the classroom one week and on a job site 4398 03:06:09,680 --> 03:06:11,760 another week and then they get paid a 4399 03:06:11,760 --> 03:06:13,359 little stipen. So, this is like a little 4400 03:06:13,359 --> 03:06:15,439 bit of cash in their pocket. But, you 4401 03:06:15,439 --> 03:06:18,240 know what? They're being taught a skill 4402 03:06:18,240 --> 03:06:21,920 and they're being taught education. 4403 03:06:21,920 --> 03:06:23,840 And I don't know where the pending went 4404 03:06:23,840 --> 03:06:26,319 for that, but I mean, we need to bring 4405 03:06:26,319 --> 03:06:28,080 it back and we need to get the parents 4406 03:06:28,080 --> 03:06:30,720 more involved because tonight I've only 4407 03:06:30,720 --> 03:06:34,319 heard the word parents maybe used five 4408 03:06:34,319 --> 03:06:40,240 or six times. So, you know, it really, really has to do with the 4409 03:06:40,240 --> 03:06:42,319 parents cuz they need to step up. They 4410 03:06:42,319 --> 03:06:44,560 need to be here for their kids. You 4411 03:06:44,560 --> 03:06:46,720 know, these kids are not coming from a 4412 03:06:46,720 --> 03:06:48,080 good background. They don't have any 4413 03:06:48,080 --> 03:06:50,080 role models. Like, what are they going 4414 03:06:50,080 --> 03:06:51,439 to do? So, they don't know how to do any 4415 03:06:51,439 --> 03:06:53,760 of this that we were talking about. They 4416 03:06:53,760 --> 03:06:55,600 need their parents. They need a role 4417 03:06:55,600 --> 03:06:58,319 model. They need a big sister, like a 4418 03:06:58,319 --> 03:07:01,600 big brother club, you know, like there's 4419 03:07:01,600 --> 03:07:04,399 so many solutions that we can do where 4420 03:07:04,399 --> 03:07:07,760 it's not going to cost any money. 4421 03:07:07,760 --> 03:07:09,680 So, that's all I have to say. Thank you 4422 03:07:09,680 --> 03:07:12,000 very much for everybody coming. 4423 03:07:12,000 --> 03:07:13,120 >> Thank you. That's time. 4424 03:07:13,120 --> 03:07:18,230 >> Have a good night. 4425 03:07:18,240 --> 03:07:21,200 Hey guys, Janet Bowden, Ward 2. Uh, we 4426 03:07:21,200 --> 03:07:22,560 finally got an emergency meeting 4427 03:07:22,560 --> 03:07:24,479 tonight. I'm not going to hold back my 4428 03:07:24,479 --> 03:07:26,720 feelings. Um, I don't think this is 4429 03:07:26,720 --> 03:07:29,120 because Carl woke up and decided to lead 4430 03:07:29,120 --> 03:07:31,200 because residents um this is actually 4431 03:07:31,200 --> 03:07:33,120 because a residents and a counselor 4432 03:07:33,120 --> 03:07:34,880 pushed hard enough that he had no 4433 03:07:34,880 --> 03:07:37,600 choice. A month ago, we had a community 4434 03:07:37,600 --> 03:07:39,520 meeting and Carl didn't show. He 4435 03:07:39,520 --> 03:07:40,800 actually said he never planned on 4436 03:07:40,800 --> 03:07:43,120 attending because there was a Republican 4437 03:07:43,120 --> 03:07:44,560 gubanatorial candidate and a 4438 03:07:44,560 --> 03:07:46,479 conservative news outlet that organized 4439 03:07:46,479 --> 03:07:49,520 the event when he wouldn't step up. So, 4440 03:07:49,520 --> 03:07:51,680 he picked politics over people. And 4441 03:07:51,680 --> 03:07:53,680 since then, downtown hasn't gotten any 4442 03:07:53,680 --> 03:07:56,240 safer. It's gotten worse. 4443 03:07:56,240 --> 03:07:58,160 The month of June alone has resulted in 4444 03:07:58,160 --> 03:08:00,080 11 incidents involving juveniles with 4445 03:08:00,080 --> 03:08:01,760 guns. 4446 03:08:01,760 --> 03:08:03,520 We can all see that this isn't just bad 4447 03:08:03,520 --> 03:08:05,600 luck or a handful of incidents. We've 4448 03:08:05,600 --> 03:08:07,680 got a youth justice system that is 4449 03:08:07,680 --> 03:08:09,840 broken. 4450 03:08:09,840 --> 03:08:11,520 Juveniles get released, they end up back 4451 03:08:11,520 --> 03:08:13,359 on the streets, and we have to 4452 03:08:13,359 --> 03:08:14,720 experience the next gun-related 4453 03:08:14,720 --> 03:08:17,520 incident. Restorative justice alone is 4454 03:08:17,520 --> 03:08:19,359 not working. We need higher 4455 03:08:19,359 --> 03:08:20,960 accountability for juveniles caught with 4456 03:08:20,960 --> 03:08:22,800 firearms. We need to stop pretending 4457 03:08:22,800 --> 03:08:25,680 this cycle is going to fix itself. Carl 4458 03:08:25,680 --> 03:08:27,840 refuses to own the problem, refuses to 4459 03:08:27,840 --> 03:08:30,080 engage in the community when we ask him 4460 03:08:30,080 --> 03:08:31,920 to, and then acts like this meeting is 4461 03:08:31,920 --> 03:08:34,399 the solution. It's not. I have 4462 03:08:34,399 --> 03:08:36,000 personally reached out to you through 4463 03:08:36,000 --> 03:08:38,399 text, through Facebook Messenger, 4464 03:08:38,399 --> 03:08:42,240 through um social media asking you for 4465 03:08:42,240 --> 03:08:44,880 what your plan is. What are you doing? 4466 03:08:44,880 --> 03:08:47,520 How are you helping the community in in 4467 03:08:47,520 --> 03:08:50,240 this tragedy? And you have completely 4468 03:08:50,240 --> 03:08:52,080 ignored me. 4469 03:08:52,080 --> 03:08:55,359 So, let's talk about solutions. 4470 03:08:55,359 --> 03:08:58,800 start in Augusta. City Hall 4471 03:08:58,800 --> 03:09:01,359 can respond after the fact, but the laws 4472 03:09:01,359 --> 03:09:03,359 that shape youth accountability and 4473 03:09:03,359 --> 03:09:06,560 public safety come from the state. If we 4474 03:09:06,560 --> 03:09:08,880 keep sending the same people from the 4475 03:09:08,880 --> 03:09:11,520 same political party back to Augusta 4476 03:09:11,520 --> 03:09:14,399 with the same power, absolutely nothing 4477 03:09:14,399 --> 03:09:16,720 is going to change 4478 03:09:16,720 --> 03:09:18,800 this fall. Just vote for different 4479 03:09:18,800 --> 03:09:20,479 representatives. 4480 03:09:20,479 --> 03:09:22,399 real change in leadership, real 4481 03:09:22,399 --> 03:09:24,560 accountability because Lewon can't 4482 03:09:24,560 --> 03:09:26,560 afford another term of wait and see and 4483 03:09:26,560 --> 03:09:33,429 let's look the other way. Thank you. 4484 03:09:33,439 --> 03:09:36,171 » Further public comment. 4485 03:09:36,171 --> 03:09:37,439 [clears throat] 4486 03:09:37,439 --> 03:09:39,359 >> Before I start, I just want to say Carl, 4487 03:09:39,359 --> 03:09:40,880 I don't think a lot of people realize 4488 03:09:40,880 --> 03:09:42,640 that this was an official city council 4489 03:09:42,640 --> 03:09:44,399 meeting and that's why there was 4490 03:09:44,399 --> 03:09:46,319 applause for the presenters. People were 4491 03:09:46,319 --> 03:09:48,960 trying to show appreciation and respect. 4492 03:09:48,960 --> 03:09:51,840 Um, I think maybe you could have made an 4493 03:09:51,840 --> 03:09:53,200 announcement at the beginning that even 4494 03:09:53,200 --> 03:09:54,399 though we're not in city council 4495 03:09:54,399 --> 03:09:57,120 chambers, the same expectations apply. 4496 03:09:57,120 --> 03:09:58,720 Um, but I don't think people were 4497 03:09:58,720 --> 03:10:01,520 intentionally breaking your rules. 4498 03:10:01,520 --> 03:10:04,000 Uh, uh, that wasn't supposed to be part 4499 03:10:04,000 --> 03:10:05,520 of my time. That was just feedback to 4500 03:10:05,520 --> 03:10:07,920 Carl. This has been a long and 4501 03:10:07,920 --> 03:10:09,600 exasperating evening, especially since, 4502 03:10:09,600 --> 03:10:11,439 like Janet said, a bunch of us did this 4503 03:10:11,439 --> 03:10:13,680 already. You just refused to attend. You 4504 03:10:13,680 --> 03:10:15,760 lied about what it was. your your lie is 4505 03:10:15,760 --> 03:10:18,240 in writing that it was some sort of 4506 03:10:18,240 --> 03:10:22,160 candidate event and it wasn't. Um, 4507 03:10:22,160 --> 03:10:24,240 so yeah, we we listened to a lot of that 4508 03:10:24,240 --> 03:10:25,920 and in the beginning it was great and 4509 03:10:25,920 --> 03:10:27,200 then we listened to a lot of people 4510 03:10:27,200 --> 03:10:29,359 patting themselves on the back for not 4511 03:10:29,359 --> 03:10:31,040 solving this problem. I'm absolutely 4512 03:10:31,040 --> 03:10:33,600 mind-b blown that a teenager can shoot 4513 03:10:33,600 --> 03:10:34,880 up an apartment building, go to Long 4514 03:10:34,880 --> 03:10:36,800 Creek and nobody says shooting that 4515 03:10:36,800 --> 03:10:39,600 apartment building was wrong. Nobody 4516 03:10:39,600 --> 03:10:41,840 addresses that with them. What? No 4517 03:10:41,840 --> 03:10:43,200 wonder they get out and do it again. 4518 03:10:43,200 --> 03:10:46,550 This is insane. 4519 03:10:46,560 --> 03:10:48,080 This meeting was supposed to be about 4520 03:10:48,080 --> 03:10:49,279 solving this issue, but it has 4521 03:10:49,279 --> 03:10:50,640 absolutely devolved into turning the 4522 03:10:50,640 --> 03:10:52,080 shooters into the victims. Oh, these 4523 03:10:52,080 --> 03:10:54,160 poor kids. We need to give these poor 4524 03:10:54,160 --> 03:10:56,399 kids more activities. You know what? 4525 03:10:56,399 --> 03:10:58,319 That man over there that you tell to go 4526 03:10:58,319 --> 03:11:00,319 away that you won't let speak. Spends 4527 03:11:00,319 --> 03:11:02,640 time in Kennedy Park. Zero of you have 4528 03:11:02,640 --> 03:11:04,240 been down in Kennedy Park talking to the 4529 03:11:04,240 --> 03:11:06,399 kids. He has. He was shooting basketball 4530 03:11:06,399 --> 03:11:08,160 with kids. He was inviting the community 4531 03:11:08,160 --> 03:11:09,920 to this meeting. He was asking people 4532 03:11:09,920 --> 03:11:12,160 for solutions. 4533 03:11:12,160 --> 03:11:13,760 He spoke to a man who wants to do 4534 03:11:13,760 --> 03:11:15,520 exactly what Mike Roy suggested and 4535 03:11:15,520 --> 03:11:17,520 wants to organize teams of kids to play 4536 03:11:17,520 --> 03:11:21,600 sports. Why can't you connect with your 4537 03:11:21,600 --> 03:11:25,030 community? 4538 03:11:25,040 --> 03:11:27,040 Why does it take a man from Scar Bro 4539 03:11:27,040 --> 03:11:28,479 that you want to lie and say is just a 4540 03:11:28,479 --> 03:11:30,000 blogger to connect with the youth in 4541 03:11:30,000 --> 03:11:35,349 your community about shootings? 4542 03:11:35,359 --> 03:11:37,359 We heard from Chris Bicknell that more 4543 03:11:37,359 --> 03:11:39,040 money would solve this problem. And then 4544 03:11:39,040 --> 03:11:41,040 we heard that he's getting lots of 4545 03:11:41,040 --> 03:11:42,640 money. And just so everyone in this room 4546 03:11:42,640 --> 03:11:45,279 knows, he also got mass shooting money. 4547 03:11:45,279 --> 03:11:47,279 Zero of the nonprofits that got mass 4548 03:11:47,279 --> 03:11:48,880 shooting money did anything to address 4549 03:11:48,880 --> 03:11:51,520 this problem. Eman Osman's nonprofit got 4550 03:11:51,520 --> 03:11:53,520 mass shooting money. Eman Osman left a 4551 03:11:53,520 --> 03:11:55,840 gun in his car unlocked. Eman Osman was 4552 03:11:55,840 --> 03:11:57,760 not charged with criminal negligence. 4553 03:11:57,760 --> 03:11:59,439 Eman Osman was not held accountable by 4554 03:11:59,439 --> 03:12:02,080 the school committee. Eman Osman was 4555 03:12:02,080 --> 03:12:03,840 then put on the ballot illegally and put 4556 03:12:03,840 --> 03:12:06,160 on this city council. You guys are 4557 03:12:06,160 --> 03:12:08,240 intentionally destroying Lewiston and we 4558 03:12:08,240 --> 03:12:10,720 see it. Scott is the only one on that 4559 03:12:10,720 --> 03:12:12,160 council that has power to change it and 4560 03:12:12,160 --> 03:12:14,560 I think he has zero intention. 4561 03:12:14,560 --> 03:12:16,399 I think that because he ignored my email 4562 03:12:16,399 --> 03:12:18,160 when I when I sent him a screenshot of 4563 03:12:18,160 --> 03:12:20,240 his email to a constituent from last 4564 03:12:20,240 --> 03:12:21,520 September where he said he was 4565 03:12:21,520 --> 03:12:23,040 diligently working on this issue and I 4566 03:12:23,040 --> 03:12:25,200 said really how what are you diligently 4567 03:12:25,200 --> 03:12:27,920 doing please? He is my representative in 4568 03:12:27,920 --> 03:12:29,680 Augusta. 4569 03:12:29,680 --> 03:12:32,880 He will not speak to me. He does not 4570 03:12:32,880 --> 03:12:34,960 deserve that seat. I would like people 4571 03:12:34,960 --> 03:12:37,279 to know that there are candidates on the 4572 03:12:37,279 --> 03:12:39,040 ballot that are in this room. Please 4573 03:12:39,040 --> 03:12:42,479 vote for them and not 4574 03:12:42,479 --> 03:12:44,880 come. That's time to stop. I'm just 4575 03:12:44,880 --> 03:12:46,399 going to repeat it till they hear me. So 4576 03:12:46,399 --> 03:12:47,680 just be safe. 4577 03:12:47,680 --> 03:12:49,040 >> Thank you. 4578 03:12:49,040 --> 03:12:51,120 >> Vote for the people that time. There's 4579 03:12:51,120 --> 03:12:57,990 no campaigning. Thank you. 4580 03:12:58,000 --> 03:13:05,750 » Further public comment. Thank you. 4581 03:13:05,760 --> 03:13:07,760 Good evening. My name is Destiny. I'm 4582 03:13:07,760 --> 03:13:10,800 from Windham. I'm not from Lucen. I'm a 4583 03:13:10,800 --> 03:13:13,200 Lucen shooting survivor. 4584 03:13:13,200 --> 03:13:15,359 Like many people in this community, the 4585 03:13:15,359 --> 03:13:18,399 Lucing shooting on October 25th, 2023 4586 03:13:18,399 --> 03:13:21,279 changed my life forever. 18 innocent 4587 03:13:21,279 --> 03:13:23,359 people lost their lives. Many others 4588 03:13:23,359 --> 03:13:26,319 were injured and survivors and families 4589 03:13:26,319 --> 03:13:29,600 continue to carry the trauma every day. 4590 03:13:29,600 --> 03:13:31,920 After everything this community endured, 4591 03:13:31,920 --> 03:13:34,080 many residents expected our leaders to 4592 03:13:34,080 --> 03:13:36,319 focus first and foremost on public 4593 03:13:36,319 --> 03:13:39,279 safety and accountability. Instead, we 4594 03:13:39,279 --> 03:13:41,920 have watched Mayor Carl Shelene devote 4595 03:13:41,920 --> 03:13:44,399 significant time and energy to opposing 4596 03:13:44,399 --> 03:13:47,040 federal federal immigration enforcement 4597 03:13:47,040 --> 03:13:49,359 efforts and supporting policies that 4598 03:13:49,359 --> 03:13:52,319 many residents believe make cooperation 4599 03:13:52,319 --> 03:13:55,120 with federal authorities more difficult. 4600 03:13:55,120 --> 03:13:56,960 The lessons from the Lewis shooting 4601 03:13:56,960 --> 03:13:59,040 should have pushed all of us to focus 4602 03:13:59,040 --> 03:14:01,600 relentlessly on public safety, 4603 03:14:01,600 --> 03:14:03,520 communication between agencies, and 4604 03:14:03,520 --> 03:14:05,279 preventing other tragedies from 4605 03:14:05,279 --> 03:14:08,399 happening again. Many residents feel the 4606 03:14:08,399 --> 03:14:10,080 city leadership has focused more 4607 03:14:10,080 --> 03:14:12,399 attention on political issues than on 4608 03:14:12,399 --> 03:14:14,479 the concerns of the people who live here 4609 03:14:14,479 --> 03:14:17,279 every day. This should not be about 4610 03:14:17,279 --> 03:14:19,680 politics or political parties. It's 4611 03:14:19,680 --> 03:14:22,160 about priorities. 4612 03:14:22,160 --> 03:14:24,880 Mayor, what are you waiting for? Another 4613 03:14:24,880 --> 03:14:27,200 tragedy like the one caused by Robert 4614 03:14:27,200 --> 03:14:31,990 Card on October 25th? 4615 03:14:32,000 --> 03:14:33,920 Questions still remain about your role 4616 03:14:33,920 --> 03:14:36,000 as a board member of the main mill and 4617 03:14:36,000 --> 03:14:37,840 whether the relationship created a 4618 03:14:37,840 --> 03:14:42,870 conflict of interest after $65,521.79 4619 03:14:42,880 --> 03:14:46,479 was directed to the nonprofit. 4620 03:14:46,479 --> 03:14:49,265 Lon deserves leadership that puts 4621 03:14:49,265 --> 03:14:52,720 [sighs] the safety 4622 03:14:52,720 --> 03:14:56,800 in residents first, listens to survivors 4623 03:14:56,800 --> 03:14:58,800 and families, and focuses on rebuilding 4624 03:14:58,800 --> 03:15:01,279 trust in a community. We owe that to the 4625 03:15:01,279 --> 03:15:04,160 18 people who never came out, who never 4626 03:15:04,160 --> 03:15:07,359 came home and to every survivor whose 4627 03:15:07,359 --> 03:15:09,760 life changed forever on October 25th, 4628 03:15:09,760 --> 03:15:15,750 2023. Thank you. 4629 03:15:15,760 --> 03:15:19,040 Further public comment. 4630 03:15:19,040 --> 03:15:21,600 >> Hi, my name is Die Pum Whittier and I'm 4631 03:15:21,600 --> 03:15:24,399 a Louison Ward 2 resident and I'm here 4632 03:15:24,399 --> 03:15:26,880 tonight because I love Louisston young 4633 03:15:26,880 --> 03:15:28,720 people and I want to thank everybody 4634 03:15:28,720 --> 03:15:30,239 that came out tonight and I feel that 4635 03:15:30,239 --> 03:15:32,560 Lon should be really proud of itself 4636 03:15:32,560 --> 03:15:34,160 that there are officials and 4637 03:15:34,160 --> 03:15:37,040 professionals from the state and local 4638 03:15:37,040 --> 03:15:39,600 uh community who want to do something to 4639 03:15:39,600 --> 03:15:42,720 help young people. Uh, I've been uh a 4640 03:15:42,720 --> 03:15:44,479 longtime youth advocate and I've been 4641 03:15:44,479 --> 03:15:46,880 reading a lot lately about juvenile gun 4642 03:15:46,880 --> 03:15:49,680 violence and I found an approach and 4643 03:15:49,680 --> 03:15:52,239 maybe LPD is aware of this. It's called 4644 03:15:52,239 --> 03:15:55,359 violence interruption and it uh reduces 4645 03:15:55,359 --> 03:15:58,319 juvenile gun violence by meaningfully 4646 03:15:58,319 --> 03:16:00,319 engaging with a small number of 4647 03:16:00,319 --> 03:16:02,640 individuals at the center of gun 4648 03:16:02,640 --> 03:16:04,800 violence. And that caught my attention 4649 03:16:04,800 --> 03:16:07,520 because we've repeatedly heard that the 4650 03:16:07,520 --> 03:16:09,520 youth that are involved in gun violence 4651 03:16:09,520 --> 03:16:12,000 tend to be a small group. So, we know 4652 03:16:12,000 --> 03:16:14,960 who they are. And I'm not an expert on 4653 03:16:14,960 --> 03:16:17,200 this subject by any means, and I don't 4654 03:16:17,200 --> 03:16:20,319 mean to use this as any excuse, but 4655 03:16:20,319 --> 03:16:23,040 anger, fighting, and violence within our 4656 03:16:23,040 --> 03:16:26,239 youth often come from a place of trauma, 4657 03:16:26,239 --> 03:16:30,800 pain, no hope, frustration, fear, and no 4658 03:16:30,800 --> 03:16:34,720 support systems. I believe their actions 4659 03:16:34,720 --> 03:16:38,080 deserve consequences and accountability, 4660 03:16:38,080 --> 03:16:40,880 but I also believe that we need to 4661 03:16:40,880 --> 03:16:43,760 remember that these young people are in 4662 03:16:43,760 --> 03:16:46,560 trouble and they're living a downward 4663 03:16:46,560 --> 03:16:48,399 spiral. 4664 03:16:48,399 --> 03:16:51,279 I would propose along with that violence 4665 03:16:51,279 --> 03:16:54,000 interruption approach to seek guidance 4666 03:16:54,000 --> 03:16:56,160 and do some brainstorming from school 4667 03:16:56,160 --> 03:16:59,040 counselors, mental health professionals, 4668 03:16:59,040 --> 03:17:00,720 some of the officers involved in 4669 03:17:00,720 --> 03:17:03,439 community policing and see if we can put 4670 03:17:03,439 --> 03:17:06,800 together some sort of street outreach 4671 03:17:06,800 --> 03:17:09,520 that can meet these kids where they are, 4672 03:17:09,520 --> 03:17:12,080 some type of mentorship connection. I've 4673 03:17:12,080 --> 03:17:13,680 mentioned a young per mentored a young 4674 03:17:13,680 --> 03:17:15,840 person for 26 years. I started when she 4675 03:17:15,840 --> 03:17:18,720 was nine and it's very rewarding and I 4676 03:17:18,720 --> 03:17:20,800 know that there are people in this room 4677 03:17:20,800 --> 03:17:23,040 that love our youth and would be willing 4678 03:17:23,040 --> 03:17:25,439 to you know go along with certain 4679 03:17:25,439 --> 03:17:28,160 guidelines and guidance to reach out and 4680 03:17:28,160 --> 03:17:30,960 really meet these kids where they are. I 4681 03:17:30,960 --> 03:17:34,479 really strongly feel that if um they see 4682 03:17:34,479 --> 03:17:37,279 that we believe in their potential some 4683 03:17:37,279 --> 03:17:39,520 of them might consider something other 4684 03:17:39,520 --> 03:17:42,000 than violence and become role models for 4685 03:17:42,000 --> 03:17:44,800 those around them. And certainly we all 4686 03:17:44,800 --> 03:17:47,040 need someone who believes in us. Thank 4687 03:17:47,040 --> 03:17:53,590 you. 4688 03:17:53,600 --> 03:17:56,800 My name is Amy Ranger and I am um in 4689 03:17:56,800 --> 03:17:59,680 Ward 7 and I teach at Lewon High School. 4690 03:17:59,680 --> 03:18:02,160 And a lot of people have mentioned 4691 03:18:02,160 --> 03:18:04,080 tonight where the parents and I'm coming 4692 03:18:04,080 --> 03:18:06,399 from the perspective of having had a 4693 03:18:06,399 --> 03:18:08,880 student who was involved in one of these 4694 03:18:08,880 --> 03:18:10,800 acts of violence. 4695 03:18:10,800 --> 03:18:14,319 uh knowing him personally the some the 4696 03:18:14,319 --> 03:18:16,000 people I'm thinking of he doesn't have 4697 03:18:16,000 --> 03:18:17,520 parents 4698 03:18:17,520 --> 03:18:20,950 um 4699 03:18:20,960 --> 03:18:22,880 so the conversation about holding 4700 03:18:22,880 --> 03:18:24,160 parents accountable I'm thinking about 4701 03:18:24,160 --> 03:18:29,359 this kid who I know is a good caring 4702 03:18:29,359 --> 03:18:33,439 young young kid 4703 03:18:33,439 --> 03:18:35,359 who 4704 03:18:35,359 --> 03:18:39,200 made a very very very bad choice but has 4705 03:18:39,200 --> 03:18:41,040 no guidance at 4706 03:18:41,040 --> 03:18:43,120 So, I'm really in support of a lot of 4707 03:18:43,120 --> 03:18:45,600 the conversations around 4708 03:18:45,600 --> 03:18:47,520 helping kids find an activity or or 4709 03:18:47,520 --> 03:18:49,359 something that would get them connected 4710 03:18:49,359 --> 03:18:51,359 to the community. And I'm thinking about 4711 03:18:51,359 --> 03:18:55,439 this kid and the the barriers to him 4712 03:18:55,439 --> 03:18:57,439 getting help. Like he he wanted to be in 4713 03:18:57,439 --> 03:18:59,840 sports. I was trying to help him get in 4714 03:18:59,840 --> 03:19:02,000 sports. He didn't have a physical. He 4715 03:19:02,000 --> 03:19:03,120 hadn't had a physical. He didn't have 4716 03:19:03,120 --> 03:19:04,800 health insurance. I'm calling his 4717 03:19:04,800 --> 03:19:06,640 caregiver. It wasn't his parent. It was 4718 03:19:06,640 --> 03:19:09,439 there was so many barriers. and uh he 4719 03:19:09,439 --> 03:19:10,560 didn't end up getting involved in 4720 03:19:10,560 --> 03:19:12,880 sports. And then 4721 03:19:12,880 --> 03:19:17,120 so I I'm I'm in in strong um I'm 4722 03:19:17,120 --> 03:19:19,120 thinking about if if there's a way that 4723 03:19:19,120 --> 03:19:22,399 anyone here 4724 03:19:22,399 --> 03:19:26,160 can be supportive of teachers at Lewis. 4725 03:19:26,160 --> 03:19:28,560 Um 4726 03:19:28,560 --> 03:19:30,080 have conversations with teachers because 4727 03:19:30,080 --> 03:19:31,600 they're the ones that are directly in 4728 03:19:31,600 --> 03:19:34,239 connection with these kids. Um thank you 4729 03:19:34,239 --> 03:19:42,469 so much 4730 03:19:42,479 --> 03:19:46,000 Matthew, Ward 4. Let's start this off 4731 03:19:46,000 --> 03:19:48,960 and be perfectly honest. Teenagers have 4732 03:19:48,960 --> 03:19:51,520 done dumb things since the beginning of 4733 03:19:51,520 --> 03:19:53,200 time, and they're going to continue to 4734 03:19:53,200 --> 03:19:55,520 do them. 4735 03:19:55,520 --> 03:19:58,399 But 4736 03:19:58,399 --> 03:20:01,920 we also need our parents and guardians 4737 03:20:01,920 --> 03:20:05,359 to be the adult role models and yet not 4738 03:20:05,359 --> 03:20:07,600 be afraid that because they're going to 4739 03:20:07,600 --> 03:20:09,840 be this adult role model that they're 4740 03:20:09,840 --> 03:20:12,640 going to be have DHS called on them 4741 03:20:12,640 --> 03:20:18,550 because they're being hard on these kids 4742 03:20:18,560 --> 03:20:21,040 because I listen where has been DHS 4743 03:20:21,040 --> 03:20:22,800 Office of Child Family Services in 4744 03:20:22,800 --> 03:20:26,309 supporting these kids and families? 4745 03:20:26,319 --> 03:20:29,279 We know the sad truth is when these kids 4746 03:20:29,279 --> 03:20:31,920 edge out of the system, there is no 4747 03:20:31,920 --> 03:20:38,790 support from the state. 4748 03:20:38,800 --> 03:20:40,720 Then I have a real good question. How 4749 03:20:40,720 --> 03:20:42,800 many of these guns that have been taken 4750 03:20:42,800 --> 03:20:45,680 off the street were acquired here 4751 03:20:45,680 --> 03:20:49,680 locally within our community not just 4752 03:20:49,680 --> 03:20:53,439 stolen but bought by somebody versus how 4753 03:20:53,439 --> 03:20:56,479 many of them are from away? 4754 03:20:56,479 --> 03:20:59,439 And then have the ones who were 4755 03:20:59,439 --> 03:21:01,920 who weren't stolen but bought and given 4756 03:21:01,920 --> 03:21:06,000 away have they been charged with crimes? 4757 03:21:06,000 --> 03:21:08,080 Our kids need people to believe in them, 4758 03:21:08,080 --> 03:21:10,239 care in them, because when you support 4759 03:21:10,239 --> 03:21:11,680 them, they know there's somebody out 4760 03:21:11,680 --> 03:21:13,840 there who cares about what they do, and 4761 03:21:13,840 --> 03:21:16,640 they'll want to continue this, 4762 03:21:16,640 --> 03:21:18,479 continue your support. I know this 4763 03:21:18,479 --> 03:21:20,560 because I've done it for multiple kids 4764 03:21:20,560 --> 03:21:24,160 and young adults. I just got a kid to go 4765 03:21:24,160 --> 03:21:26,880 back to college after she's been out of 4766 03:21:26,880 --> 03:21:30,319 college for two years 4767 03:21:30,319 --> 03:21:32,080 because she needed someone to believe in 4768 03:21:32,080 --> 03:21:35,990 her that she could do it. 4769 03:21:36,000 --> 03:21:39,040 Now, instead of returning these young 4770 03:21:39,040 --> 03:21:41,840 offenders to their same stomping 4771 03:21:41,840 --> 03:21:45,680 grounds, their same friends, their same 4772 03:21:45,680 --> 03:21:47,680 everything, have we looked at using the 4773 03:21:47,680 --> 03:21:49,840 kinship logic and shipping them to 4774 03:21:49,840 --> 03:21:52,560 family members, maybe outside of their 4775 03:21:52,560 --> 03:21:54,800 exact community? Maybe that will allow 4776 03:21:54,800 --> 03:21:58,880 them to change their trajectory in life. 4777 03:21:58,880 --> 03:22:00,399 But part of the other problem these kids 4778 03:22:00,399 --> 03:22:03,120 are seeing is they're seeing the 4779 03:22:03,120 --> 03:22:05,200 long-term effects of the lack of 4780 03:22:05,200 --> 03:22:08,080 enforcement, be it in drug dealing and 4781 03:22:08,080 --> 03:22:10,800 prostitution here in Lewon, and the lack 4782 03:22:10,800 --> 03:22:14,000 of what I will call the broken window 4783 03:22:14,000 --> 03:22:16,720 crimes. So that they see that there's no 4784 03:22:16,720 --> 03:22:19,680 response, no punishment. Why should we 4785 03:22:19,680 --> 03:22:23,030 change? 4786 03:22:23,040 --> 03:22:26,000 Finally, Long Creek is not a happy 4787 03:22:26,000 --> 03:22:27,439 place. 4788 03:22:27,439 --> 03:22:29,040 where we have to where our kids get 4789 03:22:29,040 --> 03:22:30,640 sent. We used to have a lawn and 4790 03:22:30,640 --> 03:22:33,760 Goodwill Hinckley among others that used 4791 03:22:33,760 --> 03:22:36,000 to run along the very same lines. The 4792 03:22:36,000 --> 03:22:38,800 kids that went there 4793 03:22:38,800 --> 03:22:40,640 earned their way up and out of the 4794 03:22:40,640 --> 03:22:42,880 system by accountability. These kids 4795 03:22:42,880 --> 03:22:45,120 will tell you it was never a nice 4796 03:22:45,120 --> 03:23:01,670 >> Thank you. 4797 03:23:01,680 --> 03:23:03,840 Good evening. My name is Joel Burian and 4798 03:23:03,840 --> 03:23:06,160 I'm a um 4799 03:23:06,160 --> 03:23:09,840 uh live in Lewon and and Susan is uh my 4800 03:23:09,840 --> 03:23:12,000 council person. 4801 03:23:12,000 --> 03:23:15,920 >> Can you see what I can do? Press button. 4802 03:23:15,920 --> 03:23:20,870 How's that? That better? 4803 03:23:20,880 --> 03:23:22,720 just lean in when you talk. 4804 03:23:22,720 --> 03:23:27,680 >> Okay. Uh my uh coming into this meeting, 4805 03:23:27,680 --> 03:23:29,359 I knew that it would probably be very 4806 03:23:29,359 --> 03:23:32,000 difficult to talk. Any type of violence 4807 03:23:32,000 --> 03:23:33,680 issue that you deal with is very 4808 03:23:33,680 --> 03:23:36,399 difficult for anybody community and in 4809 03:23:36,399 --> 03:23:38,560 as well as the victims as well as 4810 03:23:38,560 --> 03:23:40,560 others. I've had the privilege of 4811 03:23:40,560 --> 03:23:42,640 working with a number of trauma victims 4812 03:23:42,640 --> 03:23:44,640 in in my role as a social worker, not 4813 03:23:44,640 --> 03:23:47,025 only here, but in two other states, 4814 03:23:47,025 --> 03:23:50,640 [snorts] including uh suicide as well as 4815 03:23:50,640 --> 03:23:53,680 violence toward others, uh including gun 4816 03:23:53,680 --> 03:23:56,000 violence. What I hear tonight is a 4817 03:23:56,000 --> 03:23:58,319 number of good ideas from a number of 4818 03:23:58,319 --> 03:24:00,479 dedicated people and I think there's 4819 03:24:00,479 --> 03:24:03,439 some solutions here. I know that the 4820 03:24:03,439 --> 03:24:05,359 district attorney has talked about some 4821 03:24:05,359 --> 03:24:07,520 of his needs. The police chief has 4822 03:24:07,520 --> 03:24:09,200 talked about her needs as well as other 4823 03:24:09,200 --> 03:24:11,840 people on the city council. I think one 4824 03:24:11,840 --> 03:24:13,600 of the things is that if we're focusing 4825 03:24:13,600 --> 03:24:15,840 in on maybe the youth violence issue, 4826 03:24:15,840 --> 03:24:18,080 one thing is to make sure that the 4827 03:24:18,080 --> 03:24:20,720 people that are have a stake in this, 4828 03:24:20,720 --> 03:24:22,880 especially the people that are involved 4829 03:24:22,880 --> 03:24:25,359 in doing these things dayto-day have not 4830 03:24:25,359 --> 03:24:27,200 only the resources but also the ability 4831 03:24:27,200 --> 03:24:30,239 to work together. An idea might be that 4832 03:24:30,239 --> 03:24:34,800 when we have kids that commit these crimes or involved in it, there is 4833 03:24:34,800 --> 03:24:37,439 a mechanism to bring community together 4834 03:24:37,439 --> 03:24:39,200 to say this is what we need. This is 4835 03:24:39,200 --> 03:24:41,040 what we need to make sure we're 4836 03:24:41,040 --> 03:24:43,520 protecting the people in the community, 4837 03:24:43,520 --> 03:24:46,160 but also making sure I think a strong 4838 03:24:46,160 --> 03:24:48,399 kind of a wraparound model that was 4839 03:24:48,399 --> 03:24:50,720 described earlier by the Department of 4840 03:24:50,720 --> 03:24:53,120 Corrections might be an option being 4841 03:24:53,120 --> 03:24:55,200 able to do that. The other thing is is 4842 03:24:55,200 --> 03:24:58,080 that coming together as a group in the 4843 03:24:58,080 --> 03:25:00,399 community to talk about issues relating 4844 03:25:00,399 --> 03:25:03,680 to what's needed. It's better to work it 4845 03:25:03,680 --> 03:25:05,279 together and then you approach the 4846 03:25:05,279 --> 03:25:09,680 attorney you I'm sorry you approach the legislature or whoever you want to 4847 03:25:09,680 --> 03:25:11,439 get funding for as a group as a 4848 03:25:11,439 --> 03:25:13,439 community to say this is what we can use 4849 03:25:13,439 --> 03:25:16,560 in Lewon and maybe addressing this issue 4850 03:25:16,560 --> 03:25:18,960 right now might allow other things to 4851 03:25:18,960 --> 03:25:21,600 happen to improve what needs to happen. 4852 03:25:21,600 --> 03:25:23,439 But I think there's a lot of good people 4853 03:25:23,439 --> 03:25:25,680 here. It's just like coming together and 4854 03:25:25,680 --> 03:25:27,200 saying, you know, as a group, we're 4855 03:25:27,200 --> 03:25:29,120 going to do it together. So that's just 4856 03:25:29,120 --> 03:25:31,040 my point. And thank you so much for 4857 03:25:31,040 --> 03:25:41,510 having this meeting tonight. Thank you. 4858 03:25:41,520 --> 03:25:46,229 I'm so short. 4859 03:25:46,239 --> 03:25:48,640 Can you hear me? Okay. My name is 4860 03:25:48,640 --> 03:25:50,560 Melissa Dunn. I'm a community organizer 4861 03:25:50,560 --> 03:25:52,960 in Lewon. I've been doing antiviolence 4862 03:25:52,960 --> 03:25:56,080 efforts since 2018 or even prior than 4863 03:25:56,080 --> 03:25:59,040 that. Um doing peace marches, vigils, 4864 03:25:59,040 --> 03:26:00,800 trying to go to ground zero where 4865 03:26:00,800 --> 03:26:02,640 incidents of violence happened in 4866 03:26:02,640 --> 03:26:05,279 community to um offer community 4867 03:26:05,279 --> 03:26:07,520 response, get comm people connected to 4868 03:26:07,520 --> 03:26:12,319 resources. Network continued uh even a 4869 03:26:12,319 --> 03:26:14,800 two or three summers ago when we started 4870 03:26:14,800 --> 03:26:17,040 having shootings and we went to ground 4871 03:26:17,040 --> 03:26:19,040 zeros. We knocked on doors. We talked to 4872 03:26:19,040 --> 03:26:20,880 neighbors. We talked to impacted 4873 03:26:20,880 --> 03:26:23,200 families. We even talked to youth who 4874 03:26:23,200 --> 03:26:26,640 had bullets in their bodies 4875 03:26:26,640 --> 03:26:29,520 um since then. And so um there's been 4876 03:26:29,520 --> 03:26:31,760 extensive conversations especially 4877 03:26:31,760 --> 03:26:33,760 restorative justice processes and 4878 03:26:33,760 --> 03:26:35,920 restorative practices for impacted 4879 03:26:35,920 --> 03:26:38,000 community especially the youth who may 4880 03:26:38,000 --> 03:26:40,479 have witnessed this this kind of 4881 03:26:40,479 --> 03:26:44,720 violence or became a target because they 4882 03:26:44,720 --> 03:26:47,600 shared the same name as somebody 4883 03:26:47,600 --> 03:26:50,160 wi with in this violence and feared for 4884 03:26:50,160 --> 03:26:53,439 their lives. And um out of our 4885 03:26:53,439 --> 03:26:55,760 discussions for a community program uh 4886 03:26:55,760 --> 03:26:58,720 the mothers and the youth came up with 4887 03:26:58,720 --> 03:27:01,600 an afterchool program to be more 4888 03:27:01,600 --> 03:27:03,520 designed specific to their cultural 4889 03:27:03,520 --> 03:27:07,840 needs and uh so I would ask community to 4890 03:27:07,840 --> 03:27:11,520 trust in community to lead their own uh 4891 03:27:11,520 --> 03:27:14,160 issues especially around prevention and 4892 03:27:14,160 --> 03:27:16,720 awareness. It's a fallacy and it's 4893 03:27:16,720 --> 03:27:19,120 inaccurate information, misinformation, 4894 03:27:19,120 --> 03:27:21,680 disinformation to say that nothing has 4895 03:27:21,680 --> 03:27:23,840 been done about uh antiviolence efforts 4896 03:27:23,840 --> 03:27:26,960 in Lewon. Now, gun violence has always 4897 03:27:26,960 --> 03:27:29,680 existed in Lewon. When I was a teenager, 4898 03:27:29,680 --> 03:27:32,080 I was beat with a handgun from the guy 4899 03:27:32,080 --> 03:27:34,479 that I was with at the time. Broken nose 4900 03:27:34,479 --> 03:27:36,160 concussions, and that was in teen dating 4901 03:27:36,160 --> 03:27:38,960 violence I experienced being trafficked. 4902 03:27:38,960 --> 03:27:43,279 And I know as a 45 year old woman uh 4903 03:27:43,279 --> 03:27:45,600 that uh and experiencing more gun 4904 03:27:45,600 --> 03:27:47,840 violence and domestic violence that 4905 03:27:47,840 --> 03:27:50,560 domestic violence is interconnected to 4906 03:27:50,560 --> 03:27:53,439 gun violence. And so I'd ask people to 4907 03:27:53,439 --> 03:27:55,680 check biases when we're talking about or 4908 03:27:55,680 --> 03:27:58,399 referring to kids who are in survival as 4909 03:27:58,399 --> 03:28:00,560 gangs or gang activity or that the 4910 03:28:00,560 --> 03:28:02,160 assumption they must be involved in 4911 03:28:02,160 --> 03:28:05,359 drugs because um because of my close 4912 03:28:05,359 --> 03:28:06,960 work and I'm not going to share details 4913 03:28:06,960 --> 03:28:11,600 here. Um, I know that uh they're they're 4914 03:28:11,600 --> 03:28:14,080 more so having access to these weapons 4915 03:28:14,080 --> 03:28:16,399 for survival. And it should tell the 4916 03:28:16,399 --> 03:28:18,800 community something 4917 03:28:18,800 --> 03:28:22,160 and what we're feeling in if if youth 4918 03:28:22,160 --> 03:28:24,640 feel they have no other choice for 4919 03:28:24,640 --> 03:28:27,600 safety. If they're resorting to firearms 4920 03:28:27,600 --> 03:28:31,200 for safety or survival and the police, 4921 03:28:31,200 --> 03:28:32,479 we want to believe that they're going to 4922 03:28:32,479 --> 03:28:34,800 save us, but they're not. They don't 4923 03:28:34,800 --> 03:28:36,720 answer the call. They're not there. It's 4924 03:28:36,720 --> 03:28:38,560 community, our connections with one 4925 03:28:38,560 --> 03:28:46,070 another. Thank you, 4926 03:28:46,080 --> 03:28:50,160 » Ronnie Parody, W 6. Uh, I just wanted to 4927 03:28:50,160 --> 03:28:52,160 bring up and I know the city council has 4928 03:28:52,160 --> 03:28:54,800 heard me several times that was 4929 03:28:54,800 --> 03:28:57,680 mentioned about public health. you did 4930 03:28:57,680 --> 03:29:00,479 not pass the public health person that 4931 03:29:00,479 --> 03:29:03,680 we wanted this year. And it's really 4932 03:29:03,680 --> 03:29:06,000 disappointing because we really need a 4933 03:29:06,000 --> 03:29:09,600 public health officer in Lon. If we're 4934 03:29:09,600 --> 03:29:12,000 not using a public health because of 4935 03:29:12,000 --> 03:29:15,200 money, we need to seek a grant or we 4936 03:29:15,200 --> 03:29:17,680 need to use a we're not using a public 4937 03:29:17,680 --> 03:29:20,080 health committee the way it should be 4938 03:29:20,080 --> 03:29:22,479 used. We should be using the committee 4939 03:29:22,479 --> 03:29:24,800 that it comes at least twice a year to 4940 03:29:24,800 --> 03:29:27,279 council. We need meetings on public 4941 03:29:27,279 --> 03:29:30,319 health and gun violence is a public 4942 03:29:30,319 --> 03:29:33,680 health problem. I worked downtown Lon as 4943 03:29:33,680 --> 03:29:38,640 a public health nurse from 2005 to 2015. 4944 03:29:38,640 --> 03:29:41,439 I never had any problems down working 4945 03:29:41,439 --> 03:29:43,439 down in Lon and I've been in every 4946 03:29:43,439 --> 03:29:46,960 single apartment house in downtown Lon, 4947 03:29:46,960 --> 03:29:49,279 believe me. And I grew up in downtown 4948 03:29:49,279 --> 03:29:52,399 Luc when it was really nice. Um but 4949 03:29:52,399 --> 03:29:55,680 anyway, we need public health and we 4950 03:29:55,680 --> 03:29:58,319 need it. We need to get our committees 4951 03:29:58,319 --> 03:30:01,040 from the seniors to the thing. We are 4952 03:30:01,040 --> 03:30:04,000 not using our advisory committees the 4953 03:30:04,000 --> 03:30:06,800 way they should be used. Please do 4954 03:30:06,800 --> 03:30:08,640 something about public health. We need 4955 03:30:08,640 --> 03:30:12,319 that. Look for a grant and everything 4956 03:30:12,319 --> 03:30:15,040 like that. Uh I know you heard me 4957 03:30:15,040 --> 03:30:17,600 before. You'll hear me again at city 4958 03:30:17,600 --> 03:30:20,160 council meetings. I'm pushing for public 4959 03:30:20,160 --> 03:30:23,120 health and it really needs to be in this 4960 03:30:23,120 --> 03:30:29,830 city. Thank you. 4961 03:30:29,840 --> 03:30:32,399 » Hi there. My name is Gail Bander 4962 03:30:32,399 --> 03:30:35,920 Sylvester. I was born in Lewon. I 4963 03:30:35,920 --> 03:30:38,160 graduated from Lewon High School in 4964 03:30:38,160 --> 03:30:39,920 1985. 4965 03:30:39,920 --> 03:30:42,960 I left Maine for a long time, then came 4966 03:30:42,960 --> 03:30:46,640 back to Lewon to be near my parents. I 4967 03:30:46,640 --> 03:30:50,960 was at the door handing out flyers. The 4968 03:30:50,960 --> 03:30:53,920 flyer title is the best gun control 4969 03:30:53,920 --> 03:30:57,680 ever. I'm inviting all of you if you 4970 03:30:57,680 --> 03:31:00,000 weren't if you didn't get my flyer, 4971 03:31:00,000 --> 03:31:03,040 they're on the table. I'm inviting all 4972 03:31:03,040 --> 03:31:06,640 of you to a meet and greet at Nutty 4973 03:31:06,640 --> 03:31:10,479 Netty's on July 25th. 4974 03:31:10,479 --> 03:31:14,560 1:30 to 2:00 will be a meet and greet 4975 03:31:14,560 --> 03:31:18,479 and 2:00 will be the first meeting of a 4976 03:31:18,479 --> 03:31:24,469 new organization called DOA 4977 03:31:24,479 --> 03:31:29,200 and there are three initial goals. 4978 03:31:29,200 --> 03:31:32,800 One is to plan free workshops for 4979 03:31:32,800 --> 03:31:36,319 parents and their children. 2hour 4980 03:31:36,319 --> 03:31:39,600 workshops to be held in different 4981 03:31:39,600 --> 03:31:42,960 locations around the city wherever we 4982 03:31:42,960 --> 03:31:46,160 can do them at businesses at adult 4983 03:31:46,160 --> 03:31:49,279 education in the schools at the 4984 03:31:49,279 --> 03:31:53,120 libraries in the park wherever whoever 4985 03:31:53,120 --> 03:31:56,720 will help help will host a meeting. So, 4986 03:31:56,720 --> 03:31:58,960 I'm looking for volunteers. Whatever 4987 03:31:58,960 --> 03:32:03,200 your interest is, you can teach a 2hour 4988 03:32:03,200 --> 03:32:04,720 workshop. 4989 03:32:04,720 --> 03:32:08,399 It can be about sports, a sports clinic. 4990 03:32:08,399 --> 03:32:11,760 It can be about a uh in the arts, 4991 03:32:11,760 --> 03:32:15,760 something with art, music, business, it 4992 03:32:15,760 --> 03:32:18,319 can be any topic. We need to get our 4993 03:32:18,319 --> 03:32:22,880 kids interested in their own lives. We 4994 03:32:22,880 --> 03:32:26,160 need them to have interests and we need 4995 03:32:26,160 --> 03:32:29,520 to make it possible for them to pursue 4996 03:32:29,520 --> 03:32:32,960 their goals. The second objective is to 4997 03:32:32,960 --> 03:32:37,582 establish a write in a a drop in 4998 03:32:37,582 --> 03:32:39,279 [clears throat] excuse me writing center 4999 03:32:39,279 --> 03:32:42,720 and resource center for adults also at 5000 03:32:42,720 --> 03:32:45,200 the workshops. I forgot to say that 5001 03:32:45,200 --> 03:32:47,920 that's for the parents and the kids. The 5002 03:32:47,920 --> 03:32:50,160 kids will be doing the activities and 5003 03:32:50,160 --> 03:32:53,680 the the adults will be having uh 5004 03:32:53,680 --> 03:32:57,439 education about how they can further 5005 03:32:57,439 --> 03:33:01,439 their children's interests. 5006 03:33:01,439 --> 03:33:04,399 um to establish a writing drop in and 5007 03:33:04,399 --> 03:33:08,319 resource center where kids can come and 5008 03:33:08,319 --> 03:33:12,880 do art and write and where parents can 5009 03:33:12,880 --> 03:33:15,040 pick up equipment, 5010 03:33:15,040 --> 03:33:18,399 paper, whatever they need for their kids 5011 03:33:18,399 --> 03:33:22,640 to do at home. The third initiative is 5012 03:33:22,640 --> 03:33:26,399 adopt a child program. 5013 03:33:26,399 --> 03:33:29,520 partners will seek sponsors for children 5014 03:33:29,520 --> 03:33:31,200 interested in lessons. 5015 03:33:31,200 --> 03:33:32,560 >> That's time. Thank you. 5016 03:33:32,560 --> 03:33:34,720 >> Thank you. Please come and please pick 5017 03:33:34,720 --> 03:33:36,080 up a brochure. 5018 03:33:36,080 --> 03:33:37,920 >> Thank you. That's time. Further public 5019 03:33:37,920 --> 03:33:44,229 comment. 5020 03:33:44,239 --> 03:33:48,160 » My name is Troy and I'm in Ward 4. 5021 03:33:48,160 --> 03:33:50,640 I want to kind of take a different angle 5022 03:33:50,640 --> 03:33:53,520 just a little bit. Uh, I wanted to reach 5023 03:33:53,520 --> 03:33:56,399 out to whoever's watching this online. 5024 03:33:56,399 --> 03:33:58,319 And if you have any friends that aren't 5025 03:33:58,319 --> 03:34:02,399 here, get people more uh involved. It'd 5026 03:34:02,399 --> 03:34:05,279 be nice to have more people show up, 5027 03:34:05,279 --> 03:34:07,040 some different faces to come in here, 5028 03:34:07,040 --> 03:34:09,760 maybe some different opinions. 5029 03:34:09,760 --> 03:34:13,760 Uh, also to kind of get back on topic, I 5030 03:34:13,760 --> 03:34:16,640 would fully support bringing in a 5031 03:34:16,640 --> 03:34:19,040 three-letter agency 5032 03:34:19,040 --> 03:34:22,399 um of any letter combination you want to 5033 03:34:22,399 --> 03:34:27,439 do. IC, FBI, ATF, DEA, whatever. Bring 5034 03:34:27,439 --> 03:34:30,319 those people in here and clean house. 5035 03:34:30,319 --> 03:34:34,160 Get these people out of here. Um, the 5036 03:34:34,160 --> 03:34:39,190 other thing is, 5037 03:34:39,200 --> 03:34:41,279 sorry I lost track of uh where I was 5038 03:34:41,279 --> 03:34:43,760 going with that. 5039 03:34:43,760 --> 03:34:46,560 Oh yes, excuse me. So, the thing that 5040 03:34:46,560 --> 03:34:49,120 really uh ticks me off the most about 5041 03:34:49,120 --> 03:34:52,800 the gun stuff currently is that we've 5042 03:34:52,800 --> 03:34:55,680 been very fortunate 5043 03:34:55,680 --> 03:34:59,439 so far that this hasn't killed anybody 5044 03:34:59,439 --> 03:35:02,800 in this room. hasn't killed. I think one 5045 03:35:02,800 --> 03:35:05,040 person has died. Sorry, I don't have 5046 03:35:05,040 --> 03:35:07,439 those stats on me. I think one person 5047 03:35:07,439 --> 03:35:08,800 has died and that's it. I know some 5048 03:35:08,800 --> 03:35:11,439 people have been hit, haven't died, 5049 03:35:11,439 --> 03:35:14,960 whatever. So far, 5050 03:35:14,960 --> 03:35:17,520 none of us have died, but there's a good 5051 03:35:17,520 --> 03:35:20,880 chance it could come. And uh the thing 5052 03:35:20,880 --> 03:35:23,920 that ticks me off the most is that I'm a 5053 03:35:23,920 --> 03:35:27,520 two-way guy and 5054 03:35:27,520 --> 03:35:29,040 I've done everything by the book my 5055 03:35:29,040 --> 03:35:31,200 whole life. I've paid all my bills. I've 5056 03:35:31,200 --> 03:35:34,560 obeyed the law. I pay my taxes. I mow my 5057 03:35:34,560 --> 03:35:36,800 lawn. I bring my trash out. I have a 5058 03:35:36,800 --> 03:35:39,760 nice place. I do all the right things. 5059 03:35:39,760 --> 03:35:43,680 And some jerk is going to make me 5060 03:35:43,680 --> 03:35:45,600 change my some jerk is going to change 5061 03:35:45,600 --> 03:35:49,439 my life that I never wanted to do 5062 03:35:49,439 --> 03:35:52,960 because they decided that they had a 5063 03:35:52,960 --> 03:35:54,640 different objective and they were going 5064 03:35:54,640 --> 03:35:56,720 to 5065 03:35:56,720 --> 03:36:00,479 insert themselves into my future. 5066 03:36:00,479 --> 03:36:02,319 And I don't want that for me and I don't 5067 03:36:02,319 --> 03:36:04,960 want that for anybody else that protects 5068 03:36:04,960 --> 03:36:07,920 themselves that they have to then defend 5069 03:36:07,920 --> 03:36:11,439 themselves and now they are screwed 5070 03:36:11,439 --> 03:36:13,120 forever because you don't just get to 5071 03:36:13,120 --> 03:36:14,640 protect yourself and go on your merry 5072 03:36:14,640 --> 03:36:18,160 way. It's not how it works. So that's 5073 03:36:18,160 --> 03:36:24,870 what fries my ass. Have a nice day. 5074 03:36:24,880 --> 03:36:27,680 Further public comment. 5075 03:36:27,680 --> 03:36:29,040 Good evening. My name is Rick Lapp 5076 03:36:29,040 --> 03:36:31,680 Chappelle. I am angry that we have 5077 03:36:31,680 --> 03:36:34,080 reached this point. Before we can fix 5078 03:36:34,080 --> 03:36:36,080 these problems, we must be honest about 5079 03:36:36,080 --> 03:36:38,479 how we got here. We must have the 5080 03:36:38,479 --> 03:36:40,640 courage to acknowledge where we have 5081 03:36:40,640 --> 03:36:44,160 failed. Parents, we all have a 5082 03:36:44,160 --> 03:36:45,920 responsibility to raise our children 5083 03:36:45,920 --> 03:36:48,160 with respect, discipline, and 5084 03:36:48,160 --> 03:36:50,720 accountability. Our young people need 5085 03:36:50,720 --> 03:36:52,880 guidance, expectations, and 5086 03:36:52,880 --> 03:36:54,720 consequences. 5087 03:36:54,720 --> 03:36:57,120 To our city council and the mayor, you 5088 03:36:57,120 --> 03:37:00,640 have failed to lead on three serious 5089 03:37:00,640 --> 03:37:03,359 issues facing Lenon. Rather than 5090 03:37:03,359 --> 03:37:05,520 confronting them, you have repeatedly 5091 03:37:05,520 --> 03:37:08,720 refuse to address them. Youth violence, 5092 03:37:08,720 --> 03:37:11,279 the needle epidemic, and the handling of 5093 03:37:11,279 --> 03:37:12,960 funds intended for the victims of the 5094 03:37:12,960 --> 03:37:16,239 Lewon tragedy have demanded action. Yet 5095 03:37:16,239 --> 03:37:18,080 too often they have been met with 5096 03:37:18,080 --> 03:37:21,040 silence or delay. The people of Lewon 5097 03:37:21,040 --> 03:37:23,120 deserve leaders who will face difficult 5098 03:37:23,120 --> 03:37:25,520 issues head-on instead of pushing them 5099 03:37:25,520 --> 03:37:28,960 aside. I want to thank Brett Mel and 5100 03:37:28,960 --> 03:37:30,479 Susan Long Champamps for showing 5101 03:37:30,479 --> 03:37:32,000 leadership on the issue of youth 5102 03:37:32,000 --> 03:37:34,319 violence. We need more people willing to 5103 03:37:34,319 --> 03:37:36,479 step forward and confront the difficult 5104 03:37:36,479 --> 03:37:38,000 problems. 5105 03:37:38,000 --> 03:37:41,439 Our state legislative delegations. All 5106 03:37:41,439 --> 03:37:43,840 four representatives and our senator 5107 03:37:43,840 --> 03:37:46,239 also bear responsibilities. 5108 03:37:46,239 --> 03:37:49,439 Lewon deserves stronger advocacy and 5109 03:37:49,439 --> 03:37:51,840 real action from Augusta. I've only 5110 03:37:51,840 --> 03:37:55,120 noticed one of them here this evening. 5111 03:37:55,120 --> 03:37:57,600 If this meeting is truly about finding 5112 03:37:57,600 --> 03:38:01,439 solutions, we need honest conversations, 5113 03:38:01,439 --> 03:38:03,920 real accountability, and leaders who are 5114 03:38:03,920 --> 03:38:06,399 committed to making Lewon better. Not 5115 03:38:06,399 --> 03:38:08,479 just talking about it, but doing the 5116 03:38:08,479 --> 03:38:11,840 hard work to make it happen. Remember, 5117 03:38:11,840 --> 03:38:14,319 leadership means confronting difficult 5118 03:38:14,319 --> 03:38:20,469 problems, not avoiding them. Thank you. 5119 03:38:20,479 --> 03:38:23,920 » Further public comment. 5120 03:38:23,920 --> 03:38:26,239 >> Hello, my name is Brandy Walton. I'm 5121 03:38:26,239 --> 03:38:29,760 from Ward 4. I've learned so much here 5122 03:38:29,760 --> 03:38:31,760 tonight. Um, this is my first city 5123 03:38:31,760 --> 03:38:34,560 council meeting, so I am in very 5124 03:38:34,560 --> 03:38:37,120 encouraged um to be able to know that 5125 03:38:37,120 --> 03:38:38,479 there are people in the community that 5126 03:38:38,479 --> 03:38:42,640 care about important subjects. Um, I'm 5127 03:38:42,640 --> 03:38:44,479 really here because I heard National 5128 03:38:44,479 --> 03:38:48,080 Guard and in the comments I hear ICE. 5129 03:38:48,080 --> 03:38:52,800 And what would we do to prepare the 5130 03:38:52,800 --> 03:38:55,600 companies, the local businesses that run 5131 03:38:55,600 --> 03:38:58,560 Lewon and have for years and years that 5132 03:38:58,560 --> 03:39:00,640 have the very signs up that don't want 5133 03:39:00,640 --> 03:39:03,200 them there. The people that feel like 5134 03:39:03,200 --> 03:39:05,359 they have been racial prof racially 5135 03:39:05,359 --> 03:39:08,800 profiled. our kids and our neighbors who 5136 03:39:08,800 --> 03:39:10,640 might not look like the kid that came 5137 03:39:10,640 --> 03:39:13,200 from the perfect mom and dad's family 5138 03:39:13,200 --> 03:39:15,840 and may, you know, go go in certain 5139 03:39:15,840 --> 03:39:17,920 parts of the city that might seem that 5140 03:39:17,920 --> 03:39:20,239 they're in there for the wrong reasons. 5141 03:39:20,239 --> 03:39:22,960 Um to basically make sure they feel safe 5142 03:39:22,960 --> 03:39:27,600 as well. the people, the kids that um we 5143 03:39:27,600 --> 03:39:29,920 know the bad taste that ICE and National 5144 03:39:29,920 --> 03:39:31,520 Guard and really a lot of people in 5145 03:39:31,520 --> 03:39:34,960 uniform put in the citizens 5146 03:39:34,960 --> 03:39:37,120 heart now, especially the young people. 5147 03:39:37,120 --> 03:39:39,520 They've seen a lot on TV just on 5148 03:39:39,520 --> 03:39:41,600 Facebook alone. 5149 03:39:41,600 --> 03:39:44,239 the amount of negative, disgusting 5150 03:39:44,239 --> 03:39:47,680 comments that are made and hearing how 5151 03:39:47,680 --> 03:39:49,600 hard that these people in these 5152 03:39:49,600 --> 03:39:51,920 positions are working, knowing that the 5153 03:39:51,920 --> 03:39:54,720 Lewon Police Department is down 11 and 5154 03:39:54,720 --> 03:39:56,800 one on medical leave. You don't know 5155 03:39:56,800 --> 03:39:59,040 that. being a Facebook warrior going 5156 03:39:59,040 --> 03:40:01,600 around and following the biggest news 5157 03:40:01,600 --> 03:40:03,840 and to really get involved and to hear 5158 03:40:03,840 --> 03:40:05,439 what these people are doing and the time 5159 03:40:05,439 --> 03:40:07,439 they're taking away from their families 5160 03:40:07,439 --> 03:40:09,359 to be able to ensure that stuff is 5161 03:40:09,359 --> 03:40:11,920 moving forward. My hats go off to you 5162 03:40:11,920 --> 03:40:14,479 Long Creek and everybody else that's 5163 03:40:14,479 --> 03:40:16,880 doing the work. I'm sure there's common 5164 03:40:16,880 --> 03:40:19,359 ground, but if you're going to be having 5165 03:40:19,359 --> 03:40:22,319 people in the the city that's going to 5166 03:40:22,319 --> 03:40:25,040 be trying to help bring ordinance, and 5167 03:40:25,040 --> 03:40:27,680 it very mel well may be needed where we 5168 03:40:27,680 --> 03:40:31,040 are so short staffed in the agencies, 5169 03:40:31,040 --> 03:40:34,319 but what can we do to help welcome them 5170 03:40:34,319 --> 03:40:36,319 with the people that aren't the bad 5171 03:40:36,319 --> 03:40:38,800 people, that aren't making bad choices, 5172 03:40:38,800 --> 03:40:41,120 um to make them feel safe and want them 5173 03:40:41,120 --> 03:40:43,760 in their neighborhoods, um in their 5174 03:40:43,760 --> 03:40:45,439 schools, around their schools, I 5175 03:40:45,439 --> 03:40:47,840 couldn't imagine going outside on Lisbon 5176 03:40:47,840 --> 03:40:49,840 Street and seeing National Guards 5177 03:40:49,840 --> 03:40:52,880 walking up and down. That alone is scary 5178 03:40:52,880 --> 03:40:55,040 to a lot of people. So, what will we do 5179 03:40:55,040 --> 03:40:56,800 to ease the minds of the people that 5180 03:40:56,800 --> 03:41:00,160 we're trying to protect without, you 5181 03:41:00,160 --> 03:41:02,720 know, I know a lot of you know what I'm 5182 03:41:02,720 --> 03:41:04,080 talking about and I know a lot of you 5183 03:41:04,080 --> 03:41:06,479 won't say anything. So, I'm here today 5184 03:41:06,479 --> 03:41:09,840 to say something. I 5185 03:41:09,840 --> 03:41:12,319 if we can do it with a way that we can 5186 03:41:12,319 --> 03:41:14,399 trust the people in uniform, I think 5187 03:41:14,399 --> 03:41:16,399 it's a great idea. But if we're coming 5188 03:41:16,399 --> 03:41:19,279 in hotaded and get them out of here and 5189 03:41:19,279 --> 03:41:21,760 those people and that's not going to 5190 03:41:21,760 --> 03:41:24,160 solve anything. In fact, I might put a 5191 03:41:24,160 --> 03:41:25,520 sign on my door. 5192 03:41:25,520 --> 03:41:26,800 >> That's time. Thank you. 5193 03:41:26,800 --> 03:41:31,670 >> Thank you. 5194 03:41:31,680 --> 03:41:34,239 » Hi, Wendy McPike. I'm a taxpayer in 5195 03:41:34,239 --> 03:41:39,840 Lewon. Um this has been a very helpful 5196 03:41:39,840 --> 03:41:42,239 evening. I really appreciate all the 5197 03:41:42,239 --> 03:41:43,840 people that have come and shared 5198 03:41:43,840 --> 03:41:45,760 different perspectives 5199 03:41:45,760 --> 03:41:48,319 um different insight of different things 5200 03:41:48,319 --> 03:41:50,399 that they've experienced that they know 5201 03:41:50,399 --> 03:41:53,120 the research things about Long Creek I 5202 03:41:53,120 --> 03:41:55,439 didn't know um things about the school 5203 03:41:55,439 --> 03:41:58,000 and what they're doing. Um I really 5204 03:41:58,000 --> 03:42:01,359 appreciate all of that. Um it's helpful 5205 03:42:01,359 --> 03:42:04,160 and also the resources that are here. 5206 03:42:04,160 --> 03:42:06,800 And one of the things that I've my 5207 03:42:06,800 --> 03:42:08,479 husband and I talk about a lot is there 5208 03:42:08,479 --> 03:42:11,040 are a lot of people in Lewon and a lot 5209 03:42:11,040 --> 03:42:13,120 of organizations and agencies, 5210 03:42:13,120 --> 03:42:16,960 nonprofits doing a lot in Lewon. And I 5211 03:42:16,960 --> 03:42:20,319 I'm hopeful that this um meeting that 5212 03:42:20,319 --> 03:42:21,840 they're going to be having at Nutty 5213 03:42:21,840 --> 03:42:24,640 Netties there, I say that right. um that 5214 03:42:24,640 --> 03:42:26,479 they're going to have some of those 5215 03:42:26,479 --> 03:42:28,800 people come to that meeting to discuss 5216 03:42:28,800 --> 03:42:31,279 what they're doing, where some gaps 5217 03:42:31,279 --> 03:42:33,600 might be, who can fill those gaps within 5218 03:42:33,600 --> 03:42:35,439 those organizations and within those 5219 03:42:35,439 --> 03:42:36,960 communities because these kids we're 5220 03:42:36,960 --> 03:42:40,399 talking about are the future of our 5221 03:42:40,399 --> 03:42:42,319 country, the future of our town, the 5222 03:42:42,319 --> 03:42:45,040 future of this city. So, it's important 5223 03:42:45,040 --> 03:42:48,239 that we don't just dismiss them and that 5224 03:42:48,239 --> 03:42:50,880 we try to look for ways to help them and 5225 03:42:50,880 --> 03:42:53,279 show them that we give a crap. Um, 5226 03:42:53,279 --> 03:42:55,680 because they're they're here. They're 5227 03:42:55,680 --> 03:42:57,600 our future. They're going to be taking 5228 03:42:57,600 --> 03:43:00,479 care of us someday. So, it's we need to 5229 03:43:00,479 --> 03:43:02,960 show that we care and in a way that's 5230 03:43:02,960 --> 03:43:05,439 meaningful. Um, and if it means more 5231 03:43:05,439 --> 03:43:07,359 funding, we're all everybody's short 5232 03:43:07,359 --> 03:43:10,640 staffed everywhere. Um, it's an issue 5233 03:43:10,640 --> 03:43:13,279 and there seems to be some tangible 5234 03:43:13,279 --> 03:43:16,399 things that we can do and just paying 5235 03:43:16,399 --> 03:43:20,960 attention, saying hello, not continuing 5236 03:43:20,960 --> 03:43:22,880 the divide that was talked about earlier 5237 03:43:22,880 --> 03:43:25,520 today. Um, that we come together as a 5238 03:43:25,520 --> 03:43:27,840 community and stop pointing the fingers 5239 03:43:27,840 --> 03:43:30,640 and try to figure out how to help these 5240 03:43:30,640 --> 03:43:34,080 youth that are our future. So, that was 5241 03:43:34,080 --> 03:43:35,439 kind of my thing. I had something else, 5242 03:43:35,439 --> 03:43:37,520 but I didn't write it down. So anyway, 5243 03:43:37,520 --> 03:43:40,560 that's it. 5244 03:43:40,560 --> 03:43:57,110 >> Last call for public comment. 5245 03:43:57,120 --> 03:44:00,800 My name is Robert Blasby. I live in W 6. 5246 03:44:00,800 --> 03:44:02,160 And at this point, I'm just kind of 5247 03:44:02,160 --> 03:44:04,399 hoping I'm not one of those people or 5248 03:44:04,399 --> 03:44:05,920 them. 5249 03:44:05,920 --> 03:44:09,120 Hoping I'm not mistaken as 5250 03:44:09,120 --> 03:44:12,239 one of those or one of them. I hear that 5251 03:44:12,239 --> 03:44:14,640 a lot. Seen it a lot on Facebook. Kind 5252 03:44:14,640 --> 03:44:16,880 of feel like that's where part of this 5253 03:44:16,880 --> 03:44:19,760 problem lies. It's a matter of culture. 5254 03:44:19,760 --> 03:44:22,399 I haven't been here too long in Lewon. 5255 03:44:22,399 --> 03:44:23,920 Um as a matter of fact, today I'm 5256 03:44:23,920 --> 03:44:25,760 breaking one of my cardinal rules, which 5257 03:44:25,760 --> 03:44:27,760 is if I haven't prepared something to 5258 03:44:27,760 --> 03:44:30,479 speak, I don't speak. But today I kind 5259 03:44:30,479 --> 03:44:33,920 of felt compelled to speak 5260 03:44:33,920 --> 03:44:36,880 because I had more hope coming here 5261 03:44:36,880 --> 03:44:39,920 today than I am leaving with hope. Not 5262 03:44:39,920 --> 03:44:45,429 hopeless, but I have less hope. 5263 03:44:45,439 --> 03:44:46,880 I've listened to some of the questions 5264 03:44:46,880 --> 03:44:50,319 being asked which 5265 03:44:50,319 --> 03:44:51,920 we probably could have found out on 5266 03:44:51,920 --> 03:44:56,239 Google. We have AGs here who are working 5267 03:44:56,239 --> 03:44:58,880 tirelessly to protect us. 5268 03:44:58,880 --> 03:45:01,600 We have other people here who work for 5269 03:45:01,600 --> 03:45:04,399 other agencies and we have no idea what 5270 03:45:04,399 --> 03:45:05,760 it takes to do their job. We don't know 5271 03:45:05,760 --> 03:45:07,600 where their funding streams are. We 5272 03:45:07,600 --> 03:45:10,080 don't know that they're underst staffed. 5273 03:45:10,080 --> 03:45:13,199 And what everyone is met with is the one 5274 03:45:13,199 --> 03:45:14,880 thing I didn't come here for, which is 5275 03:45:14,880 --> 03:45:17,279 political debacery. 5276 03:45:17,279 --> 03:45:19,199 Both sides. I don't care who you are. I 5277 03:45:19,199 --> 03:45:21,520 don't care what ward you're from. It's 5278 03:45:21,520 --> 03:45:24,399 them or us. When I moved here, I saw I 5279 03:45:24,399 --> 03:45:26,239 closed on my house hours around the 5280 03:45:26,239 --> 03:45:29,040 shooting and all I saw was Lewon Strong 5281 03:45:29,040 --> 03:45:31,760 all over the place. Blew everywhere. I 5282 03:45:31,760 --> 03:45:35,120 felt included in that. 5283 03:45:35,120 --> 03:45:36,720 I don't know. I kind of feel like it's a 5284 03:45:36,720 --> 03:45:38,000 little bit more divisive now than 5285 03:45:38,000 --> 03:45:39,840 anything else. And that's everyone's 5286 03:45:39,840 --> 03:45:42,239 problem. That's all of your problems who 5287 03:45:42,239 --> 03:45:44,399 represent us and it's everybody else's 5288 03:45:44,399 --> 03:45:46,319 problem who's sitting here. I haven't 5289 03:45:46,319 --> 03:45:48,720 heard anything productive today. I've 5290 03:45:48,720 --> 03:45:50,160 heard a lot of blaming, a lot of 5291 03:45:50,160 --> 03:45:52,080 fingerpointing, but nothing that's going 5292 03:45:52,080 --> 03:45:54,239 to lead to results. I haven't heard a 5293 03:45:54,239 --> 03:45:56,720 lot of good questions. 5294 03:45:56,720 --> 03:45:59,199 How are we going to fund it? There were 5295 03:45:59,199 --> 03:46:01,520 a couple of defin definitely a couple of 5296 03:46:01,520 --> 03:46:02,880 questions about funding streams that 5297 03:46:02,880 --> 03:46:05,040 could point us in the right direction. 5298 03:46:05,040 --> 03:46:07,359 But I've seen 5299 03:46:07,359 --> 03:46:10,000 counselors sitting up here listening to 5300 03:46:10,000 --> 03:46:12,560 people who are killing themselves to do 5301 03:46:12,560 --> 03:46:14,800 this work who have sat there and rolled 5302 03:46:14,800 --> 03:46:19,670 their eyes and snickered. 5303 03:46:19,680 --> 03:46:23,040 It's disrespectful and distasteful. 5304 03:46:23,040 --> 03:46:25,120 And it's not a good representation of 5305 03:46:25,120 --> 03:46:27,760 your ward. Whoever it was, you know who 5306 03:46:27,760 --> 03:46:29,520 it is. 5307 03:46:29,520 --> 03:46:32,080 Anyway, I hope that this becomes a 5308 03:46:32,080 --> 03:46:33,439 little bit more productive down the 5309 03:46:33,439 --> 03:46:35,680 road. I hope that there's a lot more 5310 03:46:35,680 --> 03:46:37,439 cooperation. 5311 03:46:37,439 --> 03:46:39,439 Hope there's a lot more generating of of 5312 03:46:39,439 --> 03:46:42,319 good ideas and collaboration. But from 5313 03:46:42,319 --> 03:46:44,720 what I've seen tonight, I haven't seen 5314 03:46:44,720 --> 03:46:47,920 it from from anyone. 5315 03:46:47,920 --> 03:46:52,790 So, good luck. 5316 03:46:52,800 --> 03:46:58,229 Further public comment. 5317 03:46:58,239 --> 03:47:01,040 » Good evening. Can you hear me? Thank 5318 03:47:01,040 --> 03:47:03,520 you. Um, my name is Fatuma Hussein. I 5319 03:47:03,520 --> 03:47:06,160 actually live in Auburn, but I work in 5320 03:47:06,160 --> 03:47:09,520 Lewon for the last 5321 03:47:09,520 --> 03:47:13,040 24 years. So, I spend more time in Lewon 5322 03:47:13,040 --> 03:47:15,920 than in my city. 5323 03:47:15,920 --> 03:47:18,080 Um, one thing that I want to say is 5324 03:47:18,080 --> 03:47:21,439 first of all, um, the mass mass shooting 5325 03:47:21,439 --> 03:47:23,680 funding that should be fixed. It really 5326 03:47:23,680 --> 03:47:25,600 needs to be fixed and it needs to go to 5327 03:47:25,600 --> 03:47:28,239 right people. So that's one thing. I am 5328 03:47:28,239 --> 03:47:31,439 Somali. I'm a Somali descent. We too are 5329 03:47:31,439 --> 03:47:34,720 victims of crime. We too are victims of 5330 03:47:34,720 --> 03:47:38,479 gun violence. We have a lot of kids. Um, 5331 03:47:38,479 --> 03:47:39,920 I know that's the elephant in the room, 5332 03:47:39,920 --> 03:47:41,760 right? like we talk about this gun 5333 03:47:41,760 --> 03:47:43,760 violence that is in circles, but it's 5334 03:47:43,760 --> 03:47:46,399 actually about Somalis and I I just want 5335 03:47:46,399 --> 03:47:47,840 to say it, you know, right there and 5336 03:47:47,840 --> 03:47:49,359 then so that people are aware of what 5337 03:47:49,359 --> 03:47:51,920 we're talking about. A lot of Somali 5338 03:47:51,920 --> 03:47:55,359 people are good. We are taxpayers. 5339 03:47:55,359 --> 03:47:58,800 We have made Lewon a thriving place. We 5340 03:47:58,800 --> 03:48:01,359 have had a lot of issues along the s 5341 03:48:01,359 --> 03:48:04,080 along the way. A lot of us are women and 5342 03:48:04,080 --> 03:48:07,600 children. We do not have, you know, many 5343 03:48:07,600 --> 03:48:09,840 head of household that are men. we don't 5344 03:48:09,840 --> 03:48:14,080 have a lot of role models and therefore 5345 03:48:14,080 --> 03:48:16,160 um you know accountability I think is 5346 03:48:16,160 --> 03:48:17,760 one of the things that we need to do. I 5347 03:48:17,760 --> 03:48:20,880 think if we have gun problems back in 5348 03:48:20,880 --> 03:48:24,319 2006 we predicted I predicted we have a 5349 03:48:24,319 --> 03:48:28,720 lot of um you know um sorry drug 5350 03:48:28,720 --> 03:48:30,399 problems 5351 03:48:30,399 --> 03:48:32,239 and 5352 03:48:32,239 --> 03:48:35,359 at the time what I said was if we don't 5353 03:48:35,359 --> 03:48:37,359 do anything about drugs we will have a 5354 03:48:37,359 --> 03:48:40,000 lot of gun problems and if we don't do 5355 03:48:40,000 --> 03:48:41,760 anything about gun problems we will have 5356 03:48:41,760 --> 03:48:43,760 bombs and that that I'm going to say it 5357 03:48:43,760 --> 03:48:45,600 on the record because where we're headed 5358 03:48:45,600 --> 03:48:48,319 is not good. It is not good that we have 5359 03:48:48,319 --> 03:48:50,880 leaders who are not getting along. It is 5360 03:48:50,880 --> 03:48:53,680 not good that we we're pointing at each 5361 03:48:53,680 --> 03:48:55,279 other's fingers. We're not coming up 5362 03:48:55,279 --> 03:48:57,920 with solutions. We know that the issue 5363 03:48:57,920 --> 03:49:01,760 is big. We also know that we have 5364 03:49:01,760 --> 03:49:04,080 children who are vulnerable. They don't 5365 03:49:04,080 --> 03:49:06,080 have the services that they need and if 5366 03:49:06,080 --> 03:49:08,880 they do it's limited. We have a lot of 5367 03:49:08,880 --> 03:49:10,640 trauma. We come from war torn countries 5368 03:49:10,640 --> 03:49:13,120 and that is also problematic. I am 5369 03:49:13,120 --> 03:49:14,479 talking to you as a mother of eight 5370 03:49:14,479 --> 03:49:15,920 children. and I have four boys and four 5371 03:49:15,920 --> 03:49:18,560 girls. And I've worked tirelessly to 5372 03:49:18,560 --> 03:49:22,000 ensure that my kids have the best school 5373 03:49:22,000 --> 03:49:24,560 education and support at home. It was 5374 03:49:24,560 --> 03:49:26,640 not easy, but it was really something 5375 03:49:26,640 --> 03:49:29,359 that I had to do. A lot of Somali 5376 03:49:29,359 --> 03:49:31,680 mothers are not the same. We don't speak 5377 03:49:31,680 --> 03:49:33,520 English. We have a lot of issues. And 5378 03:49:33,520 --> 03:49:36,319 therefore, what we need to do is come up 5379 03:49:36,319 --> 03:49:39,120 with a solution that is communitydriven. 5380 03:49:39,120 --> 03:49:40,319 I think there's got to be some 5381 03:49:40,319 --> 03:49:42,239 leadership changes, too. Because if 5382 03:49:42,239 --> 03:49:44,160 leaders are not getting along, they need 5383 03:49:44,160 --> 03:49:46,160 to leave and we need to have the right 5384 03:49:46,160 --> 03:49:48,399 people who are going to make changes. 5385 03:49:48,399 --> 03:49:50,399 And so Lucen is still strong. It is 5386 03:49:50,399 --> 03:49:52,239 always going to be strong. We need to 5387 03:49:52,239 --> 03:49:55,199 work together. And mayor, I implore you 5388 03:49:55,199 --> 03:49:57,279 for you to have a committee that can 5389 03:49:57,279 --> 03:50:00,479 look at this that has no bipartisan. I 5390 03:50:00,479 --> 03:50:00,880 know. 5391 03:50:00,880 --> 03:50:06,000 >> That's Thank you. Thank you. Last 5392 03:50:06,000 --> 03:50:12,710 >> last call for public comment. 5393 03:50:12,720 --> 03:50:17,189 Wow. 5394 03:50:17,199 --> 03:50:19,439 I'm just going to try to summarize some 5395 03:50:19,439 --> 03:50:20,720 of the things I've heard tonight. 5396 03:50:20,720 --> 03:50:21,760 >> You just have your name and where you 5397 03:50:21,760 --> 03:50:22,000 live. 5398 03:50:22,000 --> 03:50:25,040 >> Oh, I'm sorry. Jean Keane, Ward One. 5399 03:50:25,040 --> 03:50:27,520 Um, just want to summarize some of the 5400 03:50:27,520 --> 03:50:29,600 things. Unfortunately, we're at a point 5401 03:50:29,600 --> 03:50:32,399 where it comes to money a little bit 5402 03:50:32,399 --> 03:50:35,600 and you people are responsible for that. 5403 03:50:35,600 --> 03:50:37,920 The state's responsible for it. That's 5404 03:50:37,920 --> 03:50:40,560 where we're at. 5405 03:50:40,560 --> 03:50:43,600 Secondly, and Jake will probably verify 5406 03:50:43,600 --> 03:50:47,439 this as well, this meeting reminds me of 5407 03:50:47,439 --> 03:50:50,319 parent student conferences at schools. 5408 03:50:50,319 --> 03:50:53,199 I'm a 40-year educator, 5409 03:50:53,199 --> 03:50:55,760 taught math, fizzed, 5410 03:50:55,760 --> 03:50:57,920 athletic director, part-time assistant 5411 03:50:57,920 --> 03:50:59,600 principal. 5412 03:50:59,600 --> 03:51:02,000 And what we find when we have parent 5413 03:51:02,000 --> 03:51:04,160 teacher conferences 5414 03:51:04,160 --> 03:51:06,800 is that the parents 5415 03:51:06,800 --> 03:51:11,830 that should be there don't come. 5416 03:51:11,840 --> 03:51:15,199 They don't come. 5417 03:51:15,199 --> 03:51:16,960 And I don't think the people that need 5418 03:51:16,960 --> 03:51:19,439 to hear what was said here tonight are 5419 03:51:19,439 --> 03:51:22,560 here tonight. 5420 03:51:22,560 --> 03:51:25,520 The people that are here tonight are the 5421 03:51:25,520 --> 03:51:26,960 same ones that go to the teacher 5422 03:51:26,960 --> 03:51:30,389 conferences. 5423 03:51:30,399 --> 03:51:32,160 So somehow 5424 03:51:32,160 --> 03:51:35,359 as a council, you need to find a way to 5425 03:51:35,359 --> 03:51:40,870 reach those people. 5426 03:51:40,880 --> 03:51:42,399 other things like gun owner 5427 03:51:42,399 --> 03:51:43,920 responsibility, 5428 03:51:43,920 --> 03:51:46,319 legislation, and so forth. Those are all 5429 03:51:46,319 --> 03:51:49,830 issues. 5430 03:51:49,840 --> 03:51:53,920 The number one issue in my eyes 5431 03:51:53,920 --> 03:51:57,910 is lack of parenting. 5432 03:51:57,920 --> 03:51:59,600 When they come out of the womb, you got 5433 03:51:59,600 --> 03:52:02,479 to start parenting. 5434 03:52:02,479 --> 03:52:05,840 If you wait, it's too late. 5435 03:52:05,840 --> 03:52:08,640 You got to manage social media. You got 5436 03:52:08,640 --> 03:52:11,600 to check their rooms. It's your house, 5437 03:52:11,600 --> 03:52:14,160 not theirs. I'd like to end with two 5438 03:52:14,160 --> 03:52:17,680 stories that from my career that had an 5439 03:52:17,680 --> 03:52:20,640 impact on me. 5440 03:52:20,640 --> 03:52:23,520 At one of the schools I was at when a 5441 03:52:23,520 --> 03:52:25,760 student 5442 03:52:25,760 --> 03:52:27,760 uh disobeyed the drug and alcohol 5443 03:52:27,760 --> 03:52:30,239 policy, it was a 365day 5444 03:52:30,239 --> 03:52:32,080 penalty. 5445 03:52:32,080 --> 03:52:34,160 We had the kid that did that. He came in 5446 03:52:34,160 --> 03:52:36,080 with his parents. We discussed it. the 5447 03:52:36,080 --> 03:52:38,960 parents. Okay, 5448 03:52:38,960 --> 03:52:43,199 we agree with it. 6 months later, 5449 03:52:43,199 --> 03:52:45,199 they came in. 5450 03:52:45,199 --> 03:52:47,359 They had put their son through all kinds 5451 03:52:47,359 --> 03:52:53,359 of uh rehabilitation stuff and so forth. 5452 03:52:53,359 --> 03:52:55,279 We let the kid back in because they 5453 03:52:55,279 --> 03:52:56,960 parented. 5454 03:52:56,960 --> 03:53:01,120 Second story, we wanted to suspend a kid 5455 03:53:01,120 --> 03:53:03,840 because he got in trouble. Parents went 5456 03:53:03,840 --> 03:53:05,359 to bat for the kid and got him out of 5457 03:53:05,359 --> 03:53:06,880 it. 5458 03:53:06,880 --> 03:53:09,520 Six months later, he went to college, 5459 03:53:09,520 --> 03:53:12,399 killed himself. 5460 03:53:12,399 --> 03:53:14,880 Parent came back to me two weeks after 5461 03:53:14,880 --> 03:53:15,279 that. 5462 03:53:15,279 --> 03:53:16,160 >> Thank you. 5463 03:53:16,160 --> 03:53:19,520 >> Parent came back after that and said he 5464 03:53:19,520 --> 03:53:20,319 should have listened. 5465 03:53:20,319 --> 03:53:22,239 >> That's time. Thank you. 5466 03:53:22,239 --> 03:53:24,640 >> Thank you for all you do. 5467 03:53:24,640 --> 03:53:31,830 >> Last last call for public comment. 5468 03:53:31,840 --> 03:53:34,560 Andrew Jones, Ward 2. Uh, we heard a lot 5469 03:53:34,560 --> 03:53:36,080 of comments tonight about uh, 5470 03:53:36,080 --> 03:53:39,120 restorative justice. And I'm not saying 5471 03:53:39,120 --> 03:53:41,040 I disagree with restorative justice. I 5472 03:53:41,040 --> 03:53:42,720 just think it has its place for certain 5473 03:53:42,720 --> 03:53:44,960 things. Uh, restorative justice would be 5474 03:53:44,960 --> 03:53:47,040 great for, you know, like broken windows 5475 03:53:47,040 --> 03:53:50,560 or somebody playing mailbox baseball. Uh 5476 03:53:50,560 --> 03:53:52,880 but when we're talking about uh sailing 5477 03:53:52,880 --> 03:53:55,120 rounds through downtown and potentially 5478 03:53:55,120 --> 03:53:57,040 putting people's lives in danger, I 5479 03:53:57,040 --> 03:53:58,720 think we're way past the point of 5480 03:53:58,720 --> 03:54:00,640 restorative justice and we really need 5481 03:54:00,640 --> 03:54:03,439 to uh involve the criminal criminal 5482 03:54:03,439 --> 03:54:07,680 prosecution of these youths. Um another 5483 03:54:07,680 --> 03:54:10,080 thing I had heard uh from the chief was 5484 03:54:10,080 --> 03:54:15,199 that uh there was isn't a possibility of charging parents for the uh crimes 5485 03:54:15,199 --> 03:54:19,600 committed for their use. And I I I would 5486 03:54:19,600 --> 03:54:22,640 love to know more about that because I 5487 03:54:22,640 --> 03:54:25,279 mean right here in Lewon, the stepfather 5488 03:54:25,279 --> 03:54:28,080 of Jasper Smith is facing a manslaughter 5489 03:54:28,080 --> 03:54:31,600 charge um because Jasper got a hold of 5490 03:54:31,600 --> 03:54:33,760 his handgun and accidentally shot 5491 03:54:33,760 --> 03:54:38,160 himself. Um he he's uh he's in peril of 5492 03:54:38,160 --> 03:54:41,439 losing his freedom. Um and that's right 5493 03:54:41,439 --> 03:54:43,600 here in Lewis to Maine. Uh across the 5494 03:54:43,600 --> 03:54:47,040 nation, uh states are picking up uh the 5495 03:54:47,040 --> 03:54:49,600 ability to uh hold parents accountable 5496 03:54:49,600 --> 03:54:51,920 for when their children do things with 5497 03:54:51,920 --> 03:54:55,920 firearms like shoot up schools. Um you 5498 03:54:55,920 --> 03:54:58,880 know, there's a man in Georgia who is 5499 03:54:58,880 --> 03:55:01,040 gone away for the rest of his life, uh 5500 03:55:01,040 --> 03:55:02,560 charged with murder, even though it was 5501 03:55:02,560 --> 03:55:04,960 his son who used a firearm to murder his 5502 03:55:04,960 --> 03:55:06,242 classmates. 5503 03:55:06,242 --> 03:55:06,640 >> [gasps] 5504 03:55:06,640 --> 03:55:08,880 >> Um, 5505 03:55:08,880 --> 03:55:10,800 another topic I just wanted to touch on 5506 03:55:10,800 --> 03:55:13,199 is, um, 5507 03:55:13,199 --> 03:55:14,720 there's a lot of talk about looking for 5508 03:55:14,720 --> 03:55:16,720 taxpayer money to fund various 5509 03:55:16,720 --> 03:55:21,600 nonprofits to do a lot of work. And I 5510 03:55:21,600 --> 03:55:24,080 would just say that if this council were 5511 03:55:24,080 --> 03:55:27,600 to be in the position to fund such 5512 03:55:27,600 --> 03:55:29,680 things that they scrutinize them, I 5513 03:55:29,680 --> 03:55:32,000 would hate to see a repeat of uh, the 5514 03:55:32,000 --> 03:55:34,000 mass shooting money and how that was 5515 03:55:34,000 --> 03:55:37,760 used. um a member of this council for a 5516 03:55:37,760 --> 03:55:40,399 day was a recipient of that money. Uh he 5517 03:55:40,399 --> 03:55:43,199 is he had a firearm stolen out of his 5518 03:55:43,199 --> 03:55:44,960 vehicle, didn't get charged for that, 5519 03:55:44,960 --> 03:55:46,560 and he's also under indictment for 5520 03:55:46,560 --> 03:55:48,479 trafficking of firearms, which I think 5521 03:55:48,479 --> 03:55:51,279 contributes to this problem in our city. 5522 03:55:51,279 --> 03:55:54,479 Um lastly, another thing that the chief 5523 03:55:54,479 --> 03:55:57,279 touched on um when asked was what is the 5524 03:55:57,279 --> 03:56:00,239 commonality? uh why is why is Lewon such 5525 03:56:00,239 --> 03:56:03,600 a uh a hot spot for this particular 5526 03:56:03,600 --> 03:56:05,840 crime? And I would question the 5527 03:56:05,840 --> 03:56:07,359 demographic of the individuals 5528 03:56:07,359 --> 03:56:09,920 responsible. Granted, I'm not in the 5529 03:56:09,920 --> 03:56:11,520 downtown. I don't see this stuff 5530 03:56:11,520 --> 03:56:13,279 happening myself. You know, I live in 5531 03:56:13,279 --> 03:56:15,600 the suburbs. We don't have this problem. 5532 03:56:15,600 --> 03:56:18,479 Um but we saw the video on Jefferson 5533 03:56:18,479 --> 03:56:20,640 Street. And while we do not know the 5534 03:56:20,640 --> 03:56:22,640 background of that child, we do know 5535 03:56:22,640 --> 03:56:23,840 what he looked like. and I would 5536 03:56:23,840 --> 03:56:25,680 question if there's a commonality 5537 03:56:25,680 --> 03:56:27,439 between him and the other people 5538 03:56:27,439 --> 03:56:32,319 responsible. And uh that's 3 2 1. Have a 5539 03:56:32,319 --> 03:56:34,479 nice night. 5540 03:56:34,479 --> 03:56:37,760 >> Uh any further public comment? 5541 03:56:37,760 --> 03:56:40,720 is now closed. Uh back to 5542 03:56:40,720 --> 03:56:42,960 the council for any final thoughts if 5543 03:56:42,960 --> 03:56:45,920 councilors have them. Uh we're starting 5544 03:56:45,920 --> 03:56:47,439 on the other end this time. Councelor 5545 03:56:47,439 --> 03:56:49,760 Martell, is there anything you'd like to 5546 03:56:49,760 --> 03:56:51,520 say as we're wrapping up? 5547 03:56:51,520 --> 03:56:54,399 >> Nope. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, 5548 03:56:54,399 --> 03:56:56,880 >> councelor Chidum, 5549 03:56:56,880 --> 03:56:58,720 >> merely. Thank you to all of you who 5550 03:56:58,720 --> 03:57:00,720 presented, all of you who spoke, all of 5551 03:57:00,720 --> 03:57:05,199 you who listened. Um, I think there were first steps taken tonight. 5552 03:57:05,199 --> 03:57:08,319 Long way to go. Thank you very much. 5553 03:57:08,319 --> 03:57:11,600 Councelor Noble, 5554 03:57:11,600 --> 03:57:13,600 Councelor Roy, 5555 03:57:13,600 --> 03:57:15,199 >> just want to say thank you to everybody 5556 03:57:15,199 --> 03:57:18,800 and um yeah, thank you for coming out 5557 03:57:18,800 --> 03:57:22,000 and listening and offering up your 5558 03:57:22,000 --> 03:57:24,000 thoughts. 5559 03:57:24,000 --> 03:57:25,920 >> Councelor Harman, 5560 03:57:25,920 --> 03:57:27,680 >> same for me. Thank you to everyone who's 5561 03:57:27,680 --> 03:57:28,880 here. 5562 03:57:28,880 --> 03:57:30,399 >> Councelor Long Champs. 5563 03:57:30,399 --> 03:57:32,399 >> Thank you, Mayor. Yes, thank you uh for 5564 03:57:32,399 --> 03:57:36,399 coming out. Um we have heard a lot um 5565 03:57:36,399 --> 03:57:39,600 about different resources for our youth. 5566 03:57:39,600 --> 03:57:42,479 Um some solutions. We've heard that we 5567 03:57:42,479 --> 03:57:44,880 need a lot of lots of money. But one 5568 03:57:44,880 --> 03:57:46,479 thing that we really haven't talked 5569 03:57:46,479 --> 03:57:48,399 about and I won't talk long about this, 5570 03:57:48,399 --> 03:57:50,800 but what are we doing or what are what 5571 03:57:50,800 --> 03:57:52,720 is our plan to protect the people that 5572 03:57:52,720 --> 03:57:54,640 have nothing to do with this youth gun 5573 03:57:54,640 --> 03:57:56,960 violence where the stray bullets are 5574 03:57:56,960 --> 03:57:58,800 hitting their houses or their cars? 5575 03:57:58,800 --> 03:58:00,399 That's why I called for the National 5576 03:58:00,399 --> 03:58:02,560 Guard to come here, not to intimidate 5577 03:58:02,560 --> 03:58:05,760 people, but to help people. We are 11 5578 03:58:05,760 --> 03:58:09,199 officers down and there is maybe a 5579 03:58:09,199 --> 03:58:11,760 handful of people that and cuz I scanned 5580 03:58:11,760 --> 03:58:14,239 the room and I'm in downtown every 5581 03:58:14,239 --> 03:58:17,120 single day, seven days a week, 12 hours 5582 03:58:17,120 --> 03:58:20,560 a day. And there was maybe a handful of 5583 03:58:20,560 --> 03:58:24,800 people in this room from downtown. 5584 03:58:24,800 --> 03:58:29,120 I hear scared parents, grandmothers 5585 03:58:29,120 --> 03:58:31,439 that will only run to the store quickly 5586 03:58:31,439 --> 03:58:33,600 because they're afraid of a stray bullet 5587 03:58:33,600 --> 03:58:36,080 hitting them. It is our 5588 03:58:36,080 --> 03:58:37,600 responsibilityility 5589 03:58:37,600 --> 03:58:41,520 to help. We are 11 officers down. By 5590 03:58:41,520 --> 03:58:44,399 golly, we need some sort of help. And I 5591 03:58:44,399 --> 03:58:45,920 will continue to say it and I will 5592 03:58:45,920 --> 03:58:48,560 continue to show up. And I love Lewon 5593 03:58:48,560 --> 03:58:50,960 and I love every single person in here. 5594 03:58:50,960 --> 03:58:52,640 black, white, I don't care who you are 5595 03:58:52,640 --> 03:58:55,439 or what you are. And most people, 5596 03:58:55,439 --> 03:58:57,199 everybody that knows me know that that 5597 03:58:57,199 --> 03:59:00,399 knows that that's true, but we have to 5598 03:59:00,399 --> 03:59:02,479 do something. There are people that are 5599 03:59:02,479 --> 03:59:04,880 living in fear every day in the downtown 5600 03:59:04,880 --> 03:59:08,160 area because the reality is is you never 5601 03:59:08,160 --> 03:59:10,239 know if you're going to the damn laundry 5602 03:59:10,239 --> 03:59:11,439 mat, if you're going to get hit with a 5603 03:59:11,439 --> 03:59:13,040 bullet. My mother won't even leave her 5604 03:59:13,040 --> 03:59:14,720 house. She lives on the corner of Horton 5605 03:59:14,720 --> 03:59:16,880 and Pine Street except for to go to a 5606 03:59:16,880 --> 03:59:25,189 church function. 5607 03:59:25,199 --> 03:59:27,600 Thank you, councelor Longs. Um, 5608 03:59:27,600 --> 03:59:30,000 councelor Nene, 5609 03:59:30,000 --> 03:59:31,520 >> thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'd just like to 5610 03:59:31,520 --> 03:59:33,600 say to all the folks that came out um 5611 03:59:33,600 --> 03:59:35,760 tonight, thank you. Uh, everybody 5612 03:59:35,760 --> 03:59:38,160 watching at home, uh, I hope you've 5613 03:59:38,160 --> 03:59:40,479 learned some things. Everybody who works 5614 03:59:40,479 --> 03:59:42,319 in these fields, thank you so very much 5615 03:59:42,319 --> 03:59:44,560 for your time and coming to speak speak 5616 03:59:44,560 --> 03:59:48,160 to us. And just to point out, the room 5617 03:59:48,160 --> 03:59:51,279 was filled with the folks that show up 5618 03:59:51,279 --> 03:59:55,760 at student uh parent parent student 5619 03:59:55,760 --> 04:00:00,000 meetings. This this was in some levels a 5620 04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:01,600 meeting for the suburbs. And so the 5621 04:00:01,600 --> 04:00:04,000 question is how do we bring this message 5622 04:00:04,000 --> 04:00:06,080 to the people who are actually impacted 5623 04:00:06,080 --> 04:00:09,600 by the violence every day? Um and so th 5624 04:00:09,600 --> 04:00:12,960 I think those places are where we have 5625 04:00:12,960 --> 04:00:15,840 to have some of these conversations. 5626 04:00:15,840 --> 04:00:18,560 Thank you. 5627 04:00:18,560 --> 04:00:20,399 >> Uh I really appreciate everyone coming 5628 04:00:20,399 --> 04:00:22,399 out. Thank you for uh thank you for 5629 04:00:22,399 --> 04:00:26,000 speaking. Thank you for uh tuning in. Uh 5630 04:00:26,000 --> 04:00:28,880 you know in this room uh many different 5631 04:00:28,880 --> 04:00:30,800 viewpoints and philosophies are 5632 04:00:30,800 --> 04:00:34,319 represented but I truly believe that uh 5633 04:00:34,319 --> 04:00:36,399 all of us here are coming from a good 5634 04:00:36,399 --> 04:00:38,399 place and we love Lewon. So I appreciate 5635 04:00:38,399 --> 04:00:39,840 you turning out tonight. Thank you so 5636 04:00:39,840 --> 04:00:42,000 much and a huge round of applause again 5637 04:00:42,000 --> 04:00:48,150 for our presenters. 5638 04:00:48,160 --> 04:00:50,560 Uh, may I have a a mo? Yeah, we are at 5639 04:00:50,560 --> 04:00:51,840 an official council meeting. So, may I 5640 04:00:51,840 --> 04:00:54,319 have a motion to adjurnn? Uh, councelor 5641 04:00:54,319 --> 04:00:56,319 Martell, second by councelor Nene. 5642 04:00:56,319 --> 04:01:01,760 Madame clerk, uh, you what? 5643 04:01:01,760 --> 04:01:03,520 Okay, 5644 04:01:03,520 --> 04:01:04,880 we're now adjourned. You all have a 5645 04:01:04,880 --> 04:01:07,279 wonderful evening.