1 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:28,199 Mic check. Mic check. 2 00:00:29,519 --> 00:00:33,560 Mic check. Mic check. 3 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,760 Hello. Welcome to our uh Tuesday evening 4 00:00:48,079 --> 00:00:51,680 special council meeting on youth gun 5 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,960 violence. We're going to kick things off 6 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,039 as we always do with the pledge of 7 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,920 allegiance. And uh we are grateful to 8 00:00:55,039 --> 00:01:01,640 have uh Lieutenant St. Laurent here who 9 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,640 will lead us in the pledge. 10 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,720 and justice for all. 11 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,880 » Thank you very much, Lieutenant. I 12 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:29,119 appreciate it. Uh, okay. Thank you all 13 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:31,119 for coming. Uh, here's a quick rundown 14 00:01:29,119 --> 00:01:33,759 and then we'll get started. So, we are 15 00:01:31,119 --> 00:01:36,320 going to hear from, uh, presenters. They 16 00:01:33,759 --> 00:01:38,479 are Lewon Police Chief uh Carly Connley, 17 00:01:36,320 --> 00:01:40,880 Andrew Scoggin County District Attorney 18 00:01:38,479 --> 00:01:42,640 Neil Mlan, Lewon High School 19 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,320 Superintendent Jake Langless, New 20 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:47,280 Beginnings Executive Director Chris 21 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:49,439 Bicknell, Duncan Pierre, and Christine 22 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,759 Thibo from uh the Department of 23 00:01:49,439 --> 00:01:53,759 Corrections. So, we will hear from each 24 00:01:51,759 --> 00:01:56,399 uh presenter. the chief, as you can see, 25 00:01:53,759 --> 00:01:58,240 uh will go first and then the council 26 00:01:56,399 --> 00:02:00,159 will have time for questions. Uh and 27 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:03,200 then we will uh work through the 28 00:02:00,159 --> 00:02:05,520 presenters and then uh I'll give uh some 29 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,439 time for the council to to weigh in with 30 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,520 their with their thoughts and then we 31 00:02:07,439 --> 00:02:12,160 will head to uh public comment in an 32 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:14,480 orderly fashion. If we can keep uh 33 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,000 chatter in the in the hall to a minimum, 34 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:18,160 if you need to talk, please text 35 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,400 yourselves or uh or head out to the 36 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,560 lobby. And this is also being broadcast 37 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:25,280 online. Uh if you miss any part of it, 38 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:30,680 uh you'll be able to watch it later. Uh 39 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:30,680 thank you all and uh Chief, off to you. 40 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,040 » Thank you for having me. Uh I I want to 41 00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:37,200 just start by saying thank you to 42 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:39,200 everybody for uh taking the time to come 43 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,959 out here this evening and and talk about 44 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,599 this and and hear about this. It's it's 45 00:02:40,959 --> 00:02:45,280 a pretty pretty important topic. Um so 46 00:02:43,599 --> 00:02:47,280 again, I want to say thank you for 47 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:50,000 taking the time out of out of your 48 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:52,959 summer evening to come hear about this. 49 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:54,239 Um, so basically what I'm going to do is 50 00:02:52,959 --> 00:02:56,239 I'm I'm just going to speak a little 51 00:02:54,239 --> 00:02:58,239 bit. I have I have a uh slideshow and 52 00:02:56,239 --> 00:03:00,800 I'm just going to go over some of the 53 00:02:58,239 --> 00:03:03,120 issues that we're seeing um what I would 54 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:05,519 call, you know, the boots on the ground 55 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:09,239 level um as far as what law enforcement 56 00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:09,239 is seeing. Um 57 00:03:12,959 --> 00:03:18,000 so the first slide you're you're going 58 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:21,840 to see here is um just our shooting 59 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:25,599 statistics. Um, we've had in 2026, we've 60 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:27,040 had 19 shootings. And in this slide, 61 00:03:25,599 --> 00:03:29,200 what we're looking to just show you is 62 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:31,760 sort of the comparison. Um, as far as 63 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:34,640 last year, it's actually the same as 64 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:37,840 last year. Um, we break it down by 65 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:41,519 month, and you can see that, um, in 66 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:43,280 April of this year, we really had a a 67 00:03:41,519 --> 00:03:46,280 quite a bit of an increase in our 68 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,280 shootings. 69 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:55,120 This next slide talks about um the adult 70 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,200 versus juvenile involvement in our 71 00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:00,080 shootings. Um I I think we've been 72 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:03,200 pretty open about that. Um we've really 73 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:06,959 really seen a quite quite a rise in 74 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:09,920 shootings um involving juveniles. So in 75 00:04:06,959 --> 00:04:12,560 2026, we have had seven shootings that 76 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:17,159 have involved adults. Um and then we've 77 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:17,159 had 12 that have involved juveniles. 78 00:04:19,199 --> 00:04:24,800 some of the 2026 shooting statistics for 79 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:26,639 the PD. So, this is this is what we look 80 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,560 at when we're looking at um what 81 00:04:26,639 --> 00:04:32,720 shootings were solving, our clearance 82 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:36,160 rates um along with uh gun seizures uh 83 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:40,240 at the police department. So thus far in 84 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:43,680 2026 uh we have solved 13 of the 19 85 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:47,759 shootings which equates to 68%. 86 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:49,680 Um and one thing of note for that 87 00:04:47,759 --> 00:04:51,919 one thing for note of that that I I 88 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:54,320 would I would touch on is that the 89 00:04:51,919 --> 00:04:57,199 national average clearance rate for 90 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,680 shootings uh is 31%. 91 00:04:57,199 --> 00:04:59,600 Uh 92 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:03,919 » We need to put in a full mode instead of 93 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:06,919 the slides instead of no. Hold on one 94 00:05:03,919 --> 00:05:06,919 sec. 95 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,800 I'll do the 96 00:05:11,919 --> 00:05:13,680 » One that's 97 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,960 » We're trying to help here. 98 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:17,039 » Okay. Thank you. 99 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:20,039 » Full mode. Sorry, I'm leaving. 100 00:05:17,039 --> 00:05:20,039 » Yep. 101 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:31,479 » Give us one second, please. 102 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,479 » Give us one second, please. 103 00:06:51,840 --> 00:06:54,240 Did we just stay on the screen that we 104 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,639 were on? 105 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:59,880 » The display settings are at the bottom 106 00:06:56,639 --> 00:06:59,880 of the 107 00:07:03,919 --> 00:07:09,520 or they're at the top there. Yeah, it's 108 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,880 different on our screens because we're 109 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,000 streaming this week. So, 110 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,759 » There we go. 111 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,000 » Thank you. 112 00:07:13,759 --> 00:07:16,880 » We made We made it. Thank you. Chief, 113 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,874 please continue. 114 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,874 » Right. We'll start again. [gasps] 115 00:07:21,599 --> 00:07:27,919 » All right. So, um the slide we left off 116 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,360 on was uh the shooting clearances and 117 00:07:27,919 --> 00:07:32,639 gun seizures at the police department. 118 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:35,440 As I mentioned, um for 2026, we've 119 00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:37,280 solved or cleared uh 68% of our 120 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:39,120 shootings. Um, obviously we'd like to 121 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:42,160 solve all of them. That that's our goal. 122 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:44,000 Um, but, uh, as I mentioned, we're, you 123 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:46,240 know, double more than double the the 124 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,919 national average in that in that regard. 125 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,759 So, we've been very fortunate. Our staff 126 00:07:47,919 --> 00:07:51,199 has done a great job at at really 127 00:07:49,759 --> 00:07:54,319 investigating these and trying to bring 128 00:07:51,199 --> 00:07:57,520 them to closure. Um, out of those 129 00:07:54,319 --> 00:08:00,240 shootings, we've had eight adult arrests 130 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:03,840 and 19. So, you're looking at more than 131 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:06,720 double um, juvenile arrests. 132 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:10,960 In 2026, the Lewis Police Department has 133 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:12,960 seized uh 44 guns. 41 of those handguns 134 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,400 and then three rifles and shotguns. And 135 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,879 the one thing I'll mention about that is 136 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:19,599 when we talk about gun seizures, those 137 00:08:16,879 --> 00:08:23,360 are actual criminal cases where we seize 138 00:08:19,599 --> 00:08:25,680 guns. Um not not guns that we, you know, 139 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:27,440 have because of protection from abuse 140 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:32,120 orders or yellow flags or things like 141 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:32,120 that. These are true uh criminal cases. 142 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:38,959 So as I mentioned, as you saw in the 143 00:08:35,680 --> 00:08:41,839 slide, uh you know, the true increase uh 144 00:08:38,959 --> 00:08:43,680 that we noticed was uh in April, right, 145 00:08:41,839 --> 00:08:47,680 for shootings, we had nine shootings in 146 00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:50,320 April. Um so as a result, uh we respond 147 00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:52,000 our response to that um was to one of 148 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:54,959 the things we did is we increased foot 149 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:59,440 patrols in the city. um in the month of 150 00:08:54,959 --> 00:09:02,080 May and June alone, we did more than 50 151 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:04,399 foot patrols in the city of Lewon. Um 152 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:07,279 reallocated our patrol and specialized 153 00:09:04,399 --> 00:09:10,160 units. So we have a community resource 154 00:09:07,279 --> 00:09:12,640 team. We have a crime reduction unit. Um 155 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:14,160 so so we moved that around. We moved um 156 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,920 some of the you know detectives 157 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:18,080 divisions around and really focused on 158 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:20,480 specific areas, specific times of day, 159 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:22,080 things like that. Um also worked with 160 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:24,640 our federal partners that are in the 161 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:27,600 building. We've conducted saturation 162 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:31,120 details in the city. Um and then the 163 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:35,040 results of of that in May and June, um 164 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:38,160 we had 28 arrests, 21 juveniles, seven 165 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:40,320 adults. We seized 11 guns and five of 166 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,680 those were found to be stolen. And the 167 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:45,200 thing that I'll just point out here in 168 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:47,279 regards to the juveniles, uh five repeat 169 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:50,279 offenders in just just one month's time 170 00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:50,279 frame. 171 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:55,839 some of the resources and investigative 172 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:57,440 tools that that we use and that we work 173 00:09:55,839 --> 00:10:00,000 with as an agency. And obviously this 174 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,760 doesn't encompass all of them, but um 175 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,760 you know, one of one of the things that 176 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,760 we have at at our agency that we're the 177 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:08,880 only police department in the state that 178 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:12,160 has uh basically every federal partner 179 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:13,839 in our building. Um so a lot of police 180 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:16,000 departments in around the state have 181 00:10:13,839 --> 00:10:18,160 what they call task force officers. So 182 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:21,440 they assign those officers, patrol 183 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:24,000 officers or detectives um to work with 184 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:27,200 federal partners. So it could be DEA, 185 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:30,320 ATF, Homeland Security. Uh we do the 186 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:32,240 same. FBI is another one, but every one 187 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:35,440 of those individuals has an office space 188 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,880 at RPD. So that's a huge resource to us 189 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,320 because it makes a diff it's the 190 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,839 difference between walking down the hall 191 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:42,000 and knocking on someone's door and 192 00:10:39,839 --> 00:10:44,959 saying we have a case that we think 193 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,959 might be a good federal case versus 194 00:10:44,959 --> 00:10:50,000 calling them in Portland and trying to 195 00:10:46,959 --> 00:10:52,959 coordinate that way. Um the other thing 196 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:56,160 that that we we have been very fortunate 197 00:10:52,959 --> 00:10:59,120 um to have is our flock system. Um our 198 00:10:56,160 --> 00:11:00,959 automatic license plate reader. uh this 199 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:03,279 year alone since we've had it, it's 200 00:11:00,959 --> 00:11:05,519 assisted in solving six shootings and 201 00:11:03,279 --> 00:11:07,440 recovered three guns. And that's just 202 00:11:05,519 --> 00:11:09,120 the shootings and guns. It's it's been 203 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,600 involved in in helping us with 204 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:14,399 kidnappings, domestic violence, uh you 205 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:16,079 name it. It's been a huge resource. 206 00:11:14,399 --> 00:11:17,760 And then one of the other things, we 207 00:11:16,079 --> 00:11:19,680 don't have this yet, but we're we're 208 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:22,320 pretty excited about getting it. Uh we 209 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:24,800 received this uh this was budgeted and 210 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:27,120 it's called the Skyio first responder 211 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:30,480 drone. Um, so we should be getting that 212 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:33,040 within the next few months. And what 213 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:36,560 this drone does is it has the ability to 214 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:39,120 connect to our dispatch system. So we 215 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:40,560 can set it up. So for example, if we say 216 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,320 we want this thing to respond to 217 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:44,959 shootings, we want this thing to respond 218 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:46,399 to assaults in progress, whatever we 219 00:11:44,959 --> 00:11:49,440 decide we want it to respond to 220 00:11:46,399 --> 00:11:52,160 automatically, it's GPS coordinated. 221 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:54,160 when dispatch gets that call, that drone 222 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,880 responds from our station is on scene 223 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:59,680 before an officer can get there. Um, so 224 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:01,839 that's that's a huge resource to us. It 225 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:04,160 also we you can set it to patrol problem 226 00:12:01,839 --> 00:12:06,639 areas. So if we're having an issue, for 227 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:08,639 example, I can think of one area uh Park 228 00:12:06,639 --> 00:12:12,000 Street recently has been an issue for 229 00:12:08,639 --> 00:12:14,880 us. Uh, we can we can set that drone to 230 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,560 to set up in that area at a certain time 231 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,720 of day and it'll just patrol that area. 232 00:12:16,560 --> 00:12:21,279 It's it it's it's eyes. It's a for us 233 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:23,440 it's a huge force multiplier. We're 11 234 00:12:21,279 --> 00:12:25,120 officers down. Um so we do the best that 235 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:29,680 we can with with the staff that we do, 236 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:31,279 but this will be a huge resource for us. 237 00:12:29,680 --> 00:12:33,040 Um 238 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:35,279 community engagement, connections, 239 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:37,279 resource sharing. We have a community 240 00:12:35,279 --> 00:12:41,040 resource team and I and I use the word 241 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:43,040 team lightly. Um as I just mentioned, 242 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,399 you know, we're down 11 officers and we 243 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:48,079 actually have one out injured. So we're 244 00:12:44,399 --> 00:12:50,079 down 12 officers. um we have one 245 00:12:48,079 --> 00:12:52,560 supervisor and one officer that is 246 00:12:50,079 --> 00:12:54,480 assigned to that unit. Uh historically 247 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:57,120 we had three officers and a supervisor. 248 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:58,800 So we're hopeful that we can get some 249 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,320 men and women to come work for the 250 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:03,200 police department and and get that that 251 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:06,800 that position or that that that unit as 252 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:09,360 a team um shortly. Uh but they they do a 253 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:11,200 lot of work with the little personnel 254 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:14,240 that they have in there. And this is 255 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:16,240 obviously this is just a few things um 256 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:19,040 that that I wanted to highlight that 257 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:20,800 they do. Um one of the things that we're 258 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:23,279 working on this year with the community 259 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:26,560 resource team is called uh Beyond the 260 00:13:23,279 --> 00:13:28,160 Badge event and we're we're hopeful um 261 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:29,920 that this is going to be an annual 262 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:32,240 event. They've worked on this. It's 263 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:35,519 going to be July 23rd in Smart Pain 264 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:37,519 Park. Um and it's really it's going to 265 00:13:35,519 --> 00:13:39,040 involve first responders. We're going to 266 00:13:37,519 --> 00:13:40,480 have the police department there. We're 267 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,680 going to have UAS there. We're going to 268 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:44,240 have the fire department there. We're 269 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:46,399 going to have Lifellight there. Um, and 270 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,079 it it's really just an event with with a 271 00:13:46,399 --> 00:13:49,600 bunch of activities uh for the 272 00:13:48,079 --> 00:13:51,839 community. And and like I said, we're 273 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:54,240 hoping that this is a great engagement 274 00:13:51,839 --> 00:13:56,000 tool and and really sort of uh just the 275 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:58,639 foundation for for something that we can 276 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:01,440 continue to do on a yearly basis. 277 00:13:58,639 --> 00:14:03,760 Um, one of the other things that 278 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,360 we've done this year, uh, and I hate to 279 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:07,279 keep saying it, but you know, we're down 280 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:09,839 a lot of officers. So the challenge for 281 00:14:07,279 --> 00:14:11,920 us when we're down a lot of officers is 282 00:14:09,839 --> 00:14:13,440 um the officers are overworked 283 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,959 sometimes. They're working overtime. 284 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,440 We're not able to fill all of our 285 00:14:14,959 --> 00:14:20,000 special assignments to their their you 286 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:23,040 know normal fulfillment. Um so we wanted 287 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:24,959 to come up with something where we were 288 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,959 still serving the community as much as 289 00:14:24,959 --> 00:14:29,279 we can in the capacity that we're able 290 00:14:26,959 --> 00:14:32,639 to. So we created a program this year 291 00:14:29,279 --> 00:14:35,440 that that is set to to kick off in uh 292 00:14:32,639 --> 00:14:37,839 July. Um, and it it's a community 293 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,519 policing program for officers. So, 294 00:14:37,839 --> 00:14:43,199 they're going to be given a certain 295 00:14:39,519 --> 00:14:46,079 amount of time where they can choose 296 00:14:43,199 --> 00:14:48,320 events or activities. Um, some of those 297 00:14:46,079 --> 00:14:51,600 will be coordinated by the community 298 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:53,680 resource team. So, they can be examples 299 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,519 would be, you know, out on we'd like you 300 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:57,760 to go out on bike patrol, you know, in 301 00:14:55,519 --> 00:14:59,600 the downtown streets or on Lisbon Street 302 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,440 for these two hours. We'd like you to 303 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,040 play basketball at Kennedy Park. we'd 304 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,920 like they're going to come up with some 305 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:07,600 some specific events that the officers 306 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:09,120 will be able to participate in and then 307 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:12,160 the officers will also have the 308 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:14,560 opportunity to create their own events. 309 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,639 So, and when I say that is we have 310 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:19,040 officers with a variety of skill sets. 311 00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:20,880 We al have officers that coach soccer, 312 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:23,839 we have officers that coach baseball, 313 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:25,519 basketball, that that like music. Um so, 314 00:15:23,839 --> 00:15:27,760 we're going to give them the opportunity 315 00:15:25,519 --> 00:15:29,440 to sort of make that community policing 316 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,199 their own and meet with the community in 317 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:33,680 that capacity. 318 00:15:31,199 --> 00:15:36,160 Um, some of the other things that the 319 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:37,839 community resource team does is they 320 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:39,600 work with the LA child and family 321 00:15:37,839 --> 00:15:40,959 well-being collaborative. These are 322 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,199 meetings with many of the community 323 00:15:40,959 --> 00:15:45,440 programs to discuss resources or arrange 324 00:15:43,199 --> 00:15:47,760 education or outreach. They work with 325 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:49,360 the CDC office of injury and violence 326 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:51,440 prevention. 327 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:54,959 Uh, main gun safety coalition and 328 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:56,959 project child safe. And then again it 329 00:15:54,959 --> 00:15:58,720 this outreach, education and resource 330 00:15:56,959 --> 00:16:03,000 sharing it it touches a lot of things 331 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:03,000 but I want to just highlight a few. 332 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,360 So one of the things that we looked at 333 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:10,560 at the police department or we have been 334 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:12,560 looking at um when it comes to the 335 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:14,800 violence. So obviously the first step we 336 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:16,240 see that we have we have an increase in 337 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,759 shootings. Then we've broken it down. 338 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,839 We've determined okay we have an 339 00:16:17,759 --> 00:16:23,759 increase in shootings and it seems to be 340 00:16:19,839 --> 00:16:25,040 specific to juveniles. Um, so one of the 341 00:16:23,759 --> 00:16:27,920 things we look at is what are the 342 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:30,399 obstacles and and really what the 343 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:32,336 obstacles are for that we're seeing is 344 00:16:30,399 --> 00:16:33,440 juvenile repeat offenders, 345 00:16:32,336 --> 00:16:36,079 [clears throat] lack of accountability 346 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:38,639 in the juvenile system, challenges with 347 00:16:36,079 --> 00:16:40,880 detaining and committing juveniles, a 348 00:16:38,639 --> 00:16:43,279 large increase in non-competent 349 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:46,399 designations based on age, trauma, 350 00:16:43,279 --> 00:16:49,120 things along those lines, and then lack 351 00:16:46,399 --> 00:16:50,720 of mandates. Youth intervention, sorry, 352 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,560 I can't read this whole thing here. 353 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,560 youth intervention services for youth 354 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:56,880 involved in the system and or found to 355 00:16:54,560 --> 00:17:00,279 be non-competent and resources for 356 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:00,279 family assistance. 357 00:17:01,759 --> 00:17:09,439 So as an agency uh what our response to 358 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:11,039 these obstacles have been um obviously 359 00:17:09,439 --> 00:17:15,199 we have the initial response right like 360 00:17:11,039 --> 00:17:17,760 our primarily our primary primarily goal 361 00:17:15,199 --> 00:17:20,160 for a police department is enforcement 362 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:22,720 it's to protect and serve but the 363 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:25,439 reality is is that 364 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:27,199 we want to solve the bigger issue right 365 00:17:25,439 --> 00:17:29,280 because really what we're seeing is 366 00:17:27,199 --> 00:17:32,559 we're sort of putting band-aids on a 367 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:34,640 bigger on a bigger issue. Um, so we've 368 00:17:32,559 --> 00:17:37,360 really we've really in the past couple 369 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,799 months had I hate to say it, but a ton 370 00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:40,320 of meetings with people with the other 371 00:17:38,799 --> 00:17:42,799 stakeholders, right, that have an 372 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:45,360 investment in the system because this 373 00:17:42,799 --> 00:17:47,760 really is a system issue. It it's so 374 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:49,120 layered. Um, so so some of the things 375 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,640 we've done is we've had coordination 376 00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:53,360 meetings with the DA's office and the 377 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:55,760 JCCOs's. We had a briefing with uh 378 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:57,840 Senator Susan Collins. We then had a 379 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,919 coordination meeting with the US 380 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:02,720 attorney, Andrew Benson, along with 381 00:17:59,919 --> 00:18:04,320 district attorney McClean. Uh we had a 382 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:06,640 briefing with uh one of the main 383 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:08,080 senators, Bruce Bickford and his staff. 384 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,640 We had a meeting with new beginnings 385 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:12,400 director Chris Bicknull. Um and then we 386 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:14,000 have meetings scheduled with additional 387 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:16,720 members of the main senate and other law 388 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,919 enforcement stakeholders. Uh and then 389 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:19,760 some of the other things that we've done 390 00:18:17,919 --> 00:18:22,000 is we've we've attended every community 391 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:24,000 listening session that's involved gun 392 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,480 violence and and wanted to hear from the 393 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:28,880 community and other stakeholders. Um one 394 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,559 of those was put on by the main wire um 395 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:33,280 at Calvary Church and then we just 396 00:18:30,559 --> 00:18:35,200 attended another one uh last week at 397 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:39,000 Gather to Grow that was put on by Mir 398 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:39,000 and um COA. 399 00:18:39,919 --> 00:18:44,640 So, one of the things that we just 400 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:47,360 wanted I wanted to bring up is is some 401 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:49,039 of the uh common misconceptions. And I 402 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:50,960 and when I say common misconceptions, 403 00:18:49,039 --> 00:18:52,480 these are just things that sometimes we 404 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:54,320 hear from the public and sometimes we 405 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:56,720 hear, you know, why can't you do this? 406 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:59,679 Why? So, one of two of the big things is 407 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:01,840 is the city ordinance thing. And and 408 00:18:59,679 --> 00:19:04,880 what we have is we have a curfew and 409 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:07,600 that's a city ordinance violation. Um, 410 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:10,799 and I think it can be a common misnomer 411 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:13,600 that the city can create ordinances that 412 00:19:10,799 --> 00:19:17,039 help enforce. And while they do, they 413 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:19,679 still don't trump state statute, right? 414 00:19:17,039 --> 00:19:22,320 So, a city ordinance is a great tool for 415 00:19:19,679 --> 00:19:25,120 our officers in all honesty. Um, it it's 416 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:27,520 it gives us the ability to stop and talk 417 00:19:25,120 --> 00:19:30,240 to kids who are out late at night past 418 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:32,720 curfew, but the reality is there's not a 419 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:34,720 lot of teeth long term behind that, 420 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:36,160 right? So what happens is they get a 421 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,919 they get a summon for the curfew 422 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,400 violation. They go back home to mom and 423 00:19:37,919 --> 00:19:42,160 dad and there ends up being a $30 fine. 424 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,160 So an ordinance really can be associated 425 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:47,120 with a fine. It's not associated with 426 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:49,840 any sort of um detainment or anything 427 00:19:47,120 --> 00:19:51,520 along those lines. And then the other 428 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:54,400 thing that we hear a lot is criminally 429 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:56,480 charging parents. That parents should be 430 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:58,960 able to be criminally charged. And the 431 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:01,280 reality is is we can only charge people 432 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:04,960 for statutes and laws that exist on the 433 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:06,799 books. Right? So, I cannot deal with a 434 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:08,559 juvenile that commits an assault and 435 00:20:06,799 --> 00:20:10,400 then charges parent because the juvenile 436 00:20:08,559 --> 00:20:11,760 committed the assault. The reality is we 437 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:14,760 just don't have the authority to do 438 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,760 that. 439 00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:19,200 Um, some of the community 440 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:21,760 recommendations that we have, um, the 441 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:25,919 big one is see something, say something. 442 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:28,880 Uh, you know, we rely heavily on 443 00:20:25,919 --> 00:20:33,200 technology today. Um but the reality is 444 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:35,919 is still the best type of uh we we can't 445 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:37,600 be everywhere, right? So we need the 446 00:20:35,919 --> 00:20:39,280 support of the community. When you see 447 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:41,520 something suspicious, when you see 448 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:43,760 something that doesn't look right, call 449 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:45,919 us um so that we can we can look into 450 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,600 it. I mean, we had I can give an example 451 00:20:45,919 --> 00:20:50,559 of three or four weeks ago where 452 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:52,960 somebody called and said this there's 453 00:20:50,559 --> 00:20:55,280 three juveniles hanging around. One 454 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,720 displayed a gun. They provided a 455 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,159 description. They didn't need to give 456 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,600 their name. They didn't we didn't need 457 00:20:58,159 --> 00:21:01,520 to talk to them. They gave a great 458 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:03,600 details. The officer went to that area, 459 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:06,799 found the juvenile, got the gun, it was 460 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:08,720 stolen, recovered. Um, so we that's 461 00:21:06,799 --> 00:21:11,280 important to us for commu the community 462 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,720 to to report things. And I think one of 463 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:15,120 the big things people get concerned 464 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:17,600 about is um 465 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:19,679 not not wanting to to, you know, wanting 466 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,880 to be anonymous. And there's there's 467 00:21:19,679 --> 00:21:22,640 three different ways that you can do 468 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,880 that. We have you have the ability to 469 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:27,120 call dispatch. you can call dispatch or 470 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:29,039 911 and say, "I don't want my name. I 471 00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:31,120 don't don't tell them who my who I am." 472 00:21:29,039 --> 00:21:32,640 And they won't. Um, and just give them 473 00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:34,320 the information and they'll dispatch an 474 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,919 officer to that location and just try to 475 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,880 provide them as much detail as you can 476 00:21:35,919 --> 00:21:40,640 about that. Um, and then there's a 477 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,640 reporter tip online that we have and 478 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:44,240 there's also a anonymous tip line that 479 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,640 we check on a regular basis that you can 480 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:50,240 call the police department at and all of 481 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:51,520 these are on our website. Um, and then 482 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:53,840 one of the other things is I would say 483 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,280 is, uh, parents are authorized to search 484 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:57,039 their kids' rooms. Parents are 485 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:58,640 authorized to be parents. They're in 486 00:21:57,039 --> 00:22:00,320 control of their family and their 487 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,440 household. And you need to know where 488 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:02,720 your kids are, know what they're 489 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:05,840 involved in, and if you think 490 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:08,000 something's up, something's probably up. 491 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:09,600 So, they have the authority to to check 492 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:11,600 their kids' rooms, search their kids' 493 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,360 rooms, and if they find something that 494 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,880 shouldn't be in their kids' rooms, 495 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:17,440 they're always welcome to call us and 496 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:20,240 and we will deal with it. 497 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:23,760 Um, and then the other big thing is 498 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:26,080 secure your firearms. Um, you know, 499 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:28,320 people talk about where where the guns 500 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:31,200 come from, right? But the reality is is 501 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:33,760 is is Maine is a gun-friendly state. 502 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:35,600 It's a source state. So, a lot of people 503 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:38,159 legally own guns. And there's nothing 504 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:40,640 wrong with that. But what we see a lot 505 00:22:38,159 --> 00:22:43,280 is guns being stolen from cars that 506 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,720 aren't secured. like that is very 507 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:47,760 important to us to if you're going to 508 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:50,760 own a firearm securely um keep that 509 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,760 secure 510 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:59,520 solutions and I know we don't have them 511 00:22:54,720 --> 00:23:01,360 all um but really what we found um in in 512 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:03,440 what we've and we're certainly not the 513 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:05,360 experts on every level. I think you you 514 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:08,240 all are going to hear from some experts 515 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:10,320 in on levels that that we don't operate 516 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:13,120 in on a daily basis here tonight and I'm 517 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:15,280 I'm glad they're here. Um but I think 518 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:17,840 this really comes down to legislation 519 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:19,360 and policy. Uh I believe the state of 520 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,200 Maine is in need of policy and 521 00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:23,600 legislative change that will increase 522 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,120 accountability mandates for youth who 523 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,960 are involved in violent criminal 524 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:28,960 offenses. 525 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:31,360 And I think that youth invent 526 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:33,760 intervention services that's that's a 527 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:35,760 piece of this too. We need effective and 528 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:38,720 sufficiently funded youth intervention 529 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:40,480 services to exist and be available as 530 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:43,039 resources to the juvenile criminal 531 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:44,720 justice system as mandates that youth 532 00:23:43,039 --> 00:23:49,080 involved in violent criminal behavior 533 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:49,080 are required to participate in. 534 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:56,200 » That's all I have. 535 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,200 » Thank you very much, Chief. 536 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:01,120 if we can hold our our applause. Thank 537 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,720 you. Uh thank you very much, Chief. 538 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:04,320 Appreciate you being here. Appreciate uh 539 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,760 many members of the department here and 540 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:08,240 your entire department service to our 541 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:09,760 city. Thank you. Uh we will take 542 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,360 questions from the council and we're 543 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:14,240 just going to go down the line starting 544 00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:15,919 with uh uh councelor from num uh from 545 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:18,919 ward one. Councelor Martell, do you have 546 00:24:15,919 --> 00:24:18,919 anything? 547 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,760 » W 548 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:23,279 seven. 549 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,960 » Thank you. Thank you. Well, we will 550 00:24:23,279 --> 00:24:27,360 still start with seven and we we're 551 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:28,960 going to flip that. Councelor from W 7. 552 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:31,919 Um, councelor Martell, do you have 553 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:34,640 anything? 554 00:24:31,919 --> 00:24:36,080 Thank you. Uh, councelor from W 6. 555 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:38,640 » Go ahead. 556 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,200 » Councelor Martell said not at this time. 557 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:42,159 » Right. 558 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:44,159 » Thank you, sir. Um, I had originally 559 00:24:42,159 --> 00:24:45,600 mailed questions, email questions to all 560 00:24:44,159 --> 00:24:47,840 of the presenters, but the one that I 561 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:51,279 want to ask Chief Connley, do you have 562 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:53,039 any sense as to what makes Lewon the 563 00:24:51,279 --> 00:24:54,720 attractive location for this kind of 564 00:24:53,039 --> 00:24:57,600 behavior? We don't see this in many 565 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:59,279 other communities in Maine, and yet you 566 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:01,679 allude to Maine being a gun-friendly 567 00:24:59,279 --> 00:25:04,240 state, which it is. Why is this 568 00:25:01,679 --> 00:25:07,039 happening in Lewon? Why have they chosen 569 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:09,600 us to bless with this kind of behavior? 570 00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:11,279 Thank you. 571 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:14,279 I honestly don't have the answer to 572 00:25:11,279 --> 00:25:14,279 that. 573 00:25:14,799 --> 00:25:19,039 » If I could, Mr. Mayor, if anyone in this 574 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:21,679 room has the answer to that, that to me 575 00:25:19,039 --> 00:25:23,760 seems like one massive step towards 576 00:25:21,679 --> 00:25:27,279 solving this problem if we can figure 577 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:29,600 out what is encouraging this behavior 578 00:25:27,279 --> 00:25:30,960 and stop that encouragement. Uh there 579 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:33,279 are a lot of different pieces to that, 580 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:35,600 but that seems to me to be key. Thank 581 00:25:33,279 --> 00:25:38,720 you. 582 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:40,480 Uh, Councelor Noble, 583 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:42,542 » She already answered my question. It was 584 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,679 about foot patrols. Thank you. 585 00:25:42,542 --> 00:25:45,440 [laughter] Yeah, no problem. 586 00:25:43,679 --> 00:25:48,960 » Sounds good. Thank you. Uh, Councelor 587 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:50,880 Roy, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, Chief 588 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,559 Connley, thank you for that. Um, couple 589 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:55,200 of questions that I came up with uh 590 00:25:52,559 --> 00:25:56,480 during your presentation. Um, and I 591 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,520 think I know the answer to this one, but 592 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,919 I want to put it out there for 593 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:02,320 everybody. Can a city go above and 594 00:25:59,919 --> 00:26:04,720 beyond what the state has on the books 595 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:08,720 for laws as far as charging juveniles? 596 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:13,279 Can can the city as a body come up with 597 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:16,400 maybe some laws to hold 598 00:26:13,279 --> 00:26:18,400 that's the the the path we want to go. 599 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:20,240 So they can come up with ordinances, but 600 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:22,720 they they'll never be more restrictive 601 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:26,000 necessarily or or punitive, I guess, is 602 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:29,120 the word I would I I would say than a 603 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:30,640 state statute. And and District Attorney 604 00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:32,240 Mlean may be able to answer that a 605 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:34,960 little bit better, but 606 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:37,919 » And I will ask that when at that time. 607 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:40,400 Um that's one of them. Um I do have a 608 00:26:37,919 --> 00:26:43,360 couple more that I saw. 609 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:45,600 Okay, right here. Now, can you hear me? 610 00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:47,440 Can you hear me now? Oh, wow. Hey. All 611 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,279 right. [laughter] 612 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:52,480 Usually I have this booing voice. 613 00:26:49,279 --> 00:26:55,679 Anyways, all right. What happens if um 614 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:59,760 parents are scared to search their kids' 615 00:26:55,679 --> 00:27:02,400 rooms? What can they do for assistance? 616 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:04,960 » I mean, we would certainly assist 617 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:08,240 parents with that if they they needed 618 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:10,720 our help. Um I 619 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:13,520 we are always a phone call away and and 620 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:15,120 we we have officers that you know if it 621 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:18,159 it's some we have a community resource 622 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:22,000 team we do have avenues that if they're 623 00:27:18,159 --> 00:27:24,080 uncomfortable calling you know the 911 624 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,720 emergency line that that we can connect 625 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:30,960 them with somebody. 626 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:34,080 » Thank you. Um let's see. 627 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:35,360 Actually I will hold with that. If I 628 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:38,080 think of any more, I'll try to come 629 00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:40,480 back. Thank you, 630 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:43,760 » Councelor Harman. 631 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:45,120 » My questions have been answered. Thanks, 632 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:47,360 » Councelor Long Champs. 633 00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:49,919 » Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just would like 634 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:51,919 to thank you uh for being here tonight 635 00:27:49,919 --> 00:27:54,159 and presenting all that you all the 636 00:27:51,919 --> 00:27:56,080 facts. Um, I really don't have any 637 00:27:54,159 --> 00:27:57,520 questions. You've answered most of the 638 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:59,360 uh questions that I would have asked. 639 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:01,120 Thank you. 640 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:03,440 » Uh, and last but not least, now the 641 00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:05,039 councelor from 111. Councelor Nene. 642 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:07,200 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you, 643 00:28:05,039 --> 00:28:12,240 Chief, for being here today. Um, I I do 644 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:15,120 have two questions. Um, one is, um, the 645 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:18,559 escalation of crime. So, basically, we 646 00:28:15,120 --> 00:28:20,080 deal with quite a bit of, uh, um, joy 647 00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:22,399 riditing in the city, and I'm wondering 648 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:25,279 if there's any indication that there's 649 00:28:22,399 --> 00:28:29,520 crossover from uh, let's say car 650 00:28:25,279 --> 00:28:31,919 burglary and and and um, u joy riding 651 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:34,799 into uh, some of these gun crimes. I 652 00:28:31,919 --> 00:28:35,039 think is there a connection so to speak? 653 00:28:34,799 --> 00:28:37,840 I 654 00:28:35,039 --> 00:28:40,480 » I I would say for the most part no. Um 655 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:42,080 there may be a few cases, but uh I 656 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:44,559 agree. We we've definitely had an 657 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:46,159 increase in uh stolen motor vehicles uh 658 00:28:44,559 --> 00:28:48,880 specifically with the youth this year, 659 00:28:46,159 --> 00:28:50,880 but we don't necessarily see them the 660 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:52,080 same groups being involved. Okay. 661 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,440 » There may be a little bit of crossover, 662 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,200 but not for the most part. 663 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:57,440 » Okay. And and the second thing and I and 664 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:59,120 I just I don't know if you you're able 665 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,880 to verify this or not, but from my 666 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:03,919 understanding 667 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:09,679 five of the arrestes this year um were 668 00:29:03,919 --> 00:29:12,000 age 20 um young adults of which um three 669 00:29:09,679 --> 00:29:14,720 of them had uh aged out of the foster 670 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:17,200 care system and one of them had been 671 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:20,320 involved in a shooting when when he was 672 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:23,120 18 as well. Um, and I believe all of 673 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:25,679 these uh children had had struggles 674 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:27,520 within the LPS as well. So, I'm just 675 00:29:25,679 --> 00:29:29,279 asking if there's like a connection 676 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:31,200 between 677 00:29:29,279 --> 00:29:32,320 uh maybe the continuum of care for 678 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:35,120 people who are struggling in our 679 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:37,200 community uh to the adult crimes that 680 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:39,200 they were also committing most probably 681 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:41,440 as as juveniles. 682 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:42,640 » So, I I can't speak to all of what you 683 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:45,679 mentioned. I'd have to research that, 684 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:47,200 but I can tell you that I can think of a 685 00:29:45,679 --> 00:29:49,120 few off the top of my head that we've 686 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:52,000 we've dealt with and charged as adults 687 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:55,279 that we dealt with as being involved in 688 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:58,159 shootings as juveniles also. 689 00:29:55,279 --> 00:30:00,799 » Okay. Thank you very much, 690 00:29:58,159 --> 00:30:03,120 Councelor Roy. Back to you. Let's see if 691 00:30:00,799 --> 00:30:05,120 this is on. All right, cool. Thank you. 692 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:07,120 Um, one of the things I don't remember 693 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:09,200 if we've done this before. Have we ever 694 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:11,520 had like a 695 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:12,720 gun buyback program? Has that ever been 696 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:15,720 done? 697 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,720 » Oh, 698 00:30:16,559 --> 00:30:20,880 » No. So, we have not. And I and I can 699 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:22,640 tell you that we have looked into that. 700 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:25,360 We've talked with ATF. We've talked with 701 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:27,760 some of the individuals that do that. 702 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:30,960 Um, and there are some challenges with 703 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:33,120 that. And, uh, 704 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:35,840 what they've seen in the past is is not 705 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:39,360 necessarily getting the guns back that 706 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:42,240 they'd be looking for. um you what what 707 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:43,760 they see is, you know, shotguns and, you 708 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,120 know, grandparents rifles that people 709 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:48,640 are hanging on to that they're turning 710 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:50,240 in. They're not they haven't seen um the 711 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:52,159 results that you we would be looking 712 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:54,159 for, the handguns being turned in that 713 00:30:52,159 --> 00:30:56,960 are involved in violent crime. 714 00:30:54,159 --> 00:31:01,200 » Thank you. 715 00:30:56,960 --> 00:31:02,960 » Uh any other counselors have anything? 716 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:04,399 » Chief, thank you so much for being here. 717 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:06,720 » Thank you. 718 00:31:04,399 --> 00:31:09,679 We will now 719 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:11,919 if we can hold uh audience applause and 720 00:31:09,679 --> 00:31:15,880 everything else. Thank you. Uh we now 721 00:31:11,919 --> 00:31:15,880 have uh Neil Mlan. 722 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:42,840 DA MLAN, thank you so much for uh for 723 00:31:39,519 --> 00:31:42,840 joining us. 724 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:51,120 » Well, thank you all. It's a a pleasure 725 00:31:48,799 --> 00:31:55,360 to be here with you, unfortunately, to 726 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:58,000 discuss a difficult topic that's uh a 727 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:59,840 big problem in uh Lewon and we're trying 728 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:02,159 to get a hold of it. Uh but I do 729 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:03,760 appreciate being invited to uh 730 00:32:02,159 --> 00:32:06,000 participate in the conversation and 731 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:08,480 offer some information uh from the 732 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:11,200 district attorney's office. I do like to 733 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:13,440 begin these conversations about violent 734 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:17,120 crime increases, whatever is happening 735 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:18,880 in Lewon, uh just to say uh that I hope 736 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:21,440 everyone appreciates it would be much 737 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:24,880 worse than it is right now if we did not 738 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:27,880 have Lewon PD doing a fantastic job with 739 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,880 the 740 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:33,120 with the limited resources you just 741 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:35,760 heard uh Chief Connley talk about. That 742 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:37,360 is a serious issue. Uh but nonetheless, 743 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:41,519 I know they're out there every night and 744 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:44,159 all day long uh working on this issue. U 745 00:32:41,519 --> 00:32:47,760 so I was asked I I guess first to just 746 00:32:44,159 --> 00:32:50,399 talk about uh what the DA's office does 747 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:53,279 uh to give a breakdown of of what that 748 00:32:50,399 --> 00:32:56,159 is. Uh and I think it's most easily 749 00:32:53,279 --> 00:32:58,559 described as our primary role primary 750 00:32:56,159 --> 00:33:00,399 role is to uphold the law, protect 751 00:32:58,559 --> 00:33:02,399 public safety, and pursue justice on 752 00:33:00,399 --> 00:33:05,039 behalf of the community. Uh that's what 753 00:33:02,399 --> 00:33:07,120 we do every day. Uh we try to do the 754 00:33:05,039 --> 00:33:09,919 best job that we can, but that is uh 755 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:11,600 what we're tasked with doing. Uh we work 756 00:33:09,919 --> 00:33:14,480 very closely with law enforcement. We 757 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:17,919 work with Lewon PD on a regular basis. 758 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:20,880 Uh we handle every criminal case that 759 00:33:17,919 --> 00:33:23,440 every criminal case that uh comes uh 760 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:25,279 through District 3. District 3 is Oxford 761 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:27,840 County, Andrew Goggen County, and 762 00:33:25,279 --> 00:33:30,399 Franklin County. Uh but we handle every 763 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:33,200 criminal case other than murder and some 764 00:33:30,399 --> 00:33:35,760 of the drug uh felony drug charges. Uh 765 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:38,960 everything else is ours. Uh it is a lot 766 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:41,200 of cases. Uh we work with Lewon PD. We 767 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:43,440 also work uh and I think it's important 768 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:45,600 to keep in mind with 30 other law 769 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:47,440 enforcement agencies. So with the 770 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:49,840 limited resources we have, we're not 771 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:52,080 just supporting Lewon. We're supporting 772 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:54,960 every town and every a law enforcement 773 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:56,880 agency across three counties. Uh and 774 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:58,799 that is important to remember. Uh 775 00:33:56,880 --> 00:34:01,919 because we too have some resource issues 776 00:33:58,799 --> 00:34:04,320 and I'll get to that momentarily. Um 777 00:34:01,919 --> 00:34:06,640 what it is we do with every single case 778 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:08,879 that comes through uh is we are 779 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:11,760 specifically tasked with reviewing and 780 00:34:08,879 --> 00:34:16,000 filing charges uh we're responsible for 781 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:19,440 all the discovery related to those 782 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:22,639 related to those charges uh which is an 783 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:25,359 increasing task on our office uh in the 784 00:34:22,639 --> 00:34:27,119 current era of litigation. Uh but we 785 00:34:25,359 --> 00:34:28,560 have to review all charges. We're 786 00:34:27,119 --> 00:34:30,560 responsible for all the all the 787 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:33,359 discovery that comes in. We think about 788 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:36,240 law enforcement collecting evidence uh 789 00:34:33,359 --> 00:34:38,320 which is true uh and law enforcement 790 00:34:36,240 --> 00:34:40,320 does not work to me for me. They have a 791 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:42,079 very capable chief here in Chief Connley 792 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:44,800 and every department has their own chief 793 00:34:42,079 --> 00:34:46,000 but we are none the none nonetheless in 794 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:48,399 the eyes of the court. We are 795 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:50,079 responsible for law enforcement. Uh so 796 00:34:48,399 --> 00:34:52,159 we are responsible for every piece of 797 00:34:50,079 --> 00:34:55,040 evidence that comes out. Something's 798 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:57,920 missing. It's not right. It's us in the 799 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:59,839 DA's office and the case itself uh that 800 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:01,920 suffer. Not suggesting that's an issue, 801 00:34:59,839 --> 00:35:05,040 but it's another uh large task that 802 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:07,040 we're responsible for. Uh in every case, 803 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:10,480 we're responsible for negotiating all 804 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:12,320 cases prior to trials. Uh we conduct all 805 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:14,800 hearings and trials of every case that 806 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:17,280 go to hearing or trial. Uh we support 807 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:19,359 every victim and survivor. Uh very 808 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:21,119 limited resources and the staff that we 809 00:35:19,359 --> 00:35:23,599 have to do that. Uh but we're 810 00:35:21,119 --> 00:35:26,320 responsible for uh every bit of that 811 00:35:23,599 --> 00:35:28,400 task as well. uh we're responsible for 812 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:30,400 all of the sentencing that happens if 813 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:33,760 we're successful at a hearing or trial 814 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:35,680 or plea negotiation and we handle every 815 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:38,640 appeal and postconviction review that 816 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:42,480 comes through. So those seven tasks all 817 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:47,040 in and of themselves uh very uh uh 818 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:49,200 detailed and um uh uh timeconuming tasks 819 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:54,880 we take care of with every individual 820 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:58,160 case uh in D3 district 3 right now uh 821 00:35:54,880 --> 00:36:03,119 that includes about 3 822 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:04,720 uh 20 uh 3,250 cases uh that we're 823 00:36:03,119 --> 00:36:06,320 responsible to do every one of those 824 00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:10,240 things for every one of those cases. 825 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:13,359 cases. Uh so it's a huge case load. Uh 826 00:36:10,240 --> 00:36:14,960 and uh that just describes the cases 827 00:36:13,359 --> 00:36:17,920 that are pending before the court. That 828 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:20,320 does not include all of the filings, all 829 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:22,240 of the different proc uh cases that we 830 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:24,880 process that don't get plugged into the 831 00:36:22,240 --> 00:36:28,640 court. So your prosecutors are busy 832 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:30,800 every day uh most weekends and well into 833 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:33,520 the evening hours uh trying to keep up 834 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:35,920 with this task. Um, and this is all 835 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:38,400 important to the the violence and 836 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:41,200 because it goes to the resources we have 837 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:44,480 to apply to any individual uh task that 838 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:47,520 we try to be involved in. Uh, we have 16 839 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:49,920 prosecutors uh to handle those 3,250 840 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:51,760 cases. Two of those are drug 841 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:54,240 prosecutors, so they only handle drug 842 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:56,960 cases, which means we really have 14 843 00:36:54,240 --> 00:36:59,440 prosecutors uh to handle all of those 844 00:36:56,960 --> 00:37:02,000 cases. Just by way of a quick 845 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:05,280 comparison, uh we are the third busiest 846 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:08,720 court in the state right now. Uh Lewon 847 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:12,560 dis uh Lewon Court is uh and if you look 848 00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:15,359 at uh D1 uh district 1, which is York 849 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:17,280 County, they have 19 prosecutors. If you 850 00:37:15,359 --> 00:37:19,359 look at Cumberland County, they have 20 851 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:21,520 prosecutors. So we're at a disadvantage 852 00:37:19,359 --> 00:37:24,880 just based on the numbers we have. But 853 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:28,640 what makes it even worse uh is we can't 854 00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:32,480 compete right now uh due to pay par uh 855 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:34,720 pay parody and uh uh quite frankly case 856 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:36,720 loads and a desire to be a prosecutor in 857 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:38,640 today's day and age. We don't see the 858 00:37:36,720 --> 00:37:41,839 same passion any longer, the same desire 859 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:43,599 to join our office. Uh so right now with 860 00:37:41,839 --> 00:37:46,400 that same case load number I talked to 861 00:37:43,599 --> 00:37:49,040 you about, we have eight prosecutors 862 00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:52,160 across all of district three. Uh that 863 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:54,560 means that my deputy uh who's in the 864 00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:56,880 back of the room is we don't we don't 865 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:59,440 have a prosecutor in Oxford County right 866 00:37:56,880 --> 00:38:01,839 now. Uh so the deputy deputy uh Josh 867 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:04,560 Klein Golden is pretty much covering all 868 00:38:01,839 --> 00:38:07,200 of Oxford County. I'm covering Farming 869 00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:09,680 uh Franklin County solo and that leaves 870 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:13,119 six prosecutors to handle the third 871 00:38:09,680 --> 00:38:15,280 busiest court uh in the state. Uh those 872 00:38:13,119 --> 00:38:17,440 uh 1,833 873 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:21,280 of the cases are specific to Andrew 874 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:24,079 Goan. Uh what we have done uh because we 875 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:26,480 are aware of the gun problem uh in 876 00:38:24,079 --> 00:38:29,599 addition to all the other problems is we 877 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:32,480 have created a unit of sorts or we've 878 00:38:29,599 --> 00:38:35,920 assigned two of our best prosecutors to 879 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:38,480 assist Lewon PD uh with all gun violence 880 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:40,960 cases. Uh so if you imagine we only have 881 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:43,280 six, we're assigning two just to this 882 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:45,440 issue right here. They also have to 883 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:47,200 carry a case load outside of this. Uh 884 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:49,680 but they are primarily tasked with this. 885 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:52,000 They're available to law enforcement 24 886 00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:54,240 hours a day. They're on call. Law 887 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:56,000 enforcement has their numbers. Uh so 888 00:38:54,240 --> 00:38:58,320 they're taking calls at 2 or 3 in the 889 00:38:56,000 --> 00:39:00,320 morning when these gun cases arise. Uh 890 00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:02,480 they're helping with search warrants. Uh 891 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:04,000 but they're deeply involved. Uh and 892 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:05,839 again, that's the best we could do with 893 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:08,880 the limited resources. We have two 894 00:39:05,839 --> 00:39:10,720 prosecutors assigned. Uh Deputy Klein 895 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:14,079 Golden also helps out with that. The two 896 00:39:10,720 --> 00:39:16,160 prosecutors are uh Alexander Winter uh 897 00:39:14,079 --> 00:39:18,880 and Brie White and they do a fantastic 898 00:39:16,160 --> 00:39:20,880 job of addressing this in the best way 899 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:22,720 that they can uh with the limited 900 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:24,960 resources. 901 00:39:22,720 --> 00:39:28,160 What do we need to do an even better 902 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:30,960 job? Uh we need more prosecutors. Uh 903 00:39:28,160 --> 00:39:32,640 it's as simple as that. We need at least 904 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:34,480 another prosecutor in all three 905 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:37,520 counties. we could use two new 906 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:38,960 prosecutors uh in Andrewskogen County 907 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:41,119 just to be able to keep up with the 908 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:43,359 cases. So, what you'll hear sometimes is 909 00:39:41,119 --> 00:39:45,520 people will say, "Well, just lower your 910 00:39:43,359 --> 00:39:47,760 case load. It's up to you. You you're 911 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:50,480 the one that uh puts the cases into the 912 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:52,160 court uh processes and files them." But 913 00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:54,400 that's not really true. That's a lazy 914 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:55,760 answer. And I'm uh glad to have that 915 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:58,880 conversation with the people that say 916 00:39:55,760 --> 00:40:00,880 it. Uh because we don't pick crime. We 917 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:02,560 charge crime when Lewon or any other 918 00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:04,960 department sees it. They don't pick 919 00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:07,359 crime. They're not out there committing 920 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:09,440 it. They're addressing it when it's 921 00:40:07,359 --> 00:40:11,599 committed. And it's our responsibility 922 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:15,680 to support them and support you all. And 923 00:40:11,599 --> 00:40:18,400 we do it. Uh we don't uh refuse to uh 924 00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:20,480 prosecute any type of crime. Uh because 925 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:22,800 I've heard loudly from all of you that 926 00:40:20,480 --> 00:40:25,200 you don't want me to do that. Uh so we 927 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:28,400 put our cases forward. Uh we do the best 928 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:30,320 we can, but we need more prosecutors. uh 929 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:33,200 eight prosecutors for a district 930 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:36,560 district like this is impossible. Uh we 931 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:39,119 have lost a prosecutor uh to a better 932 00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:41,920 paying job in another state uh pro uh 933 00:40:39,119 --> 00:40:44,480 another state criminal law office, the 934 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:47,440 uh public defenders office. Uh we lost 935 00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:50,000 out on a higher uh because they could 936 00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:52,400 simply make more money and work a much 937 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:55,359 smaller case load. Uh we've lost a 938 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:56,960 prosecutor to uh the what we refer to as 939 00:40:55,359 --> 00:41:00,640 the contract attorneys because the state 940 00:40:56,960 --> 00:41:02,720 of Maine pays them $150 an hour. Uh the 941 00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:06,319 prosecutor we lost was making just shy 942 00:41:02,720 --> 00:41:10,079 of $40 an hour. Uh so we lost uh that 943 00:41:06,319 --> 00:41:12,880 prosecutor. Uh we lost a prosecutor, one 944 00:41:10,079 --> 00:41:15,920 of the best prosecutors we had. Uh one 945 00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:18,640 of uh arguably as good a prosecutor as 946 00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:20,640 there is in the state. Uh we lost that 947 00:41:18,640 --> 00:41:23,520 prosecutor to burnout. And before 948 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:26,079 anybody thinks burnout is, you know, 949 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:29,119 something someone should be ashamed of, 950 00:41:26,079 --> 00:41:31,200 it's really not. Uh the case loads are 951 00:41:29,119 --> 00:41:34,400 overwhelming. And what you'll see with 952 00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:37,119 prosecutors who really care is they care 953 00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:40,160 about their cases. Uh there's an ethical 954 00:41:37,119 --> 00:41:42,720 requirement that we do our job uh in 955 00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:45,920 every case uh to protect the rights of 956 00:41:42,720 --> 00:41:48,240 the the ch the accused, the victims. Uh 957 00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:50,640 we represent the court. Uh, and as I 958 00:41:48,240 --> 00:41:52,720 said, we have those massive obligations, 959 00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:54,960 seven different obligations with each 960 00:41:52,720 --> 00:41:57,359 individual case. And when a prosecutor 961 00:41:54,960 --> 00:42:02,640 feels like they're failing at their uh, 962 00:41:57,359 --> 00:42:05,520 ethical duty, it creates u u 963 00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:08,640 it it can be really demoralizing, but 964 00:42:05,520 --> 00:42:11,760 when you're dealing with three or 400 965 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:14,079 cases, uh, three or 400 cases, uh, it's 966 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:17,680 also overwhelming. So, add all of that 967 00:42:14,079 --> 00:42:20,400 up. Uh and sometimes uh it it can get 968 00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:22,240 the best of uh the best of us. Uh and 969 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:24,800 we've lost prosecutors for all those 970 00:42:22,240 --> 00:42:26,880 reasons and we're having some difficulty 971 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:29,040 filling them. Again, going back to the 972 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:30,960 pay parody, because we can't compete. 973 00:42:29,040 --> 00:42:33,280 When I go to hire somebody and I tell 974 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:35,040 them, "Come work for me. I'll pay you 975 00:42:33,280 --> 00:42:36,960 much less and give you a much bigger 976 00:42:35,040 --> 00:42:39,599 case load." Nobody's all that 977 00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:41,040 interested. Uh and they know it. Uh they 978 00:42:39,599 --> 00:42:42,800 know they'll make more money in the 979 00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:44,640 other offices. They know they'll have 980 00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:47,200 less cases. they'll have a better 981 00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:49,520 quality of life. Uh and it's a really 982 00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:51,440 difficult time to be a prosecutor uh 983 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:53,440 criminal prosecutor and we need the 984 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:56,480 legislaturator's help uh with that 985 00:42:53,440 --> 00:43:00,720 issue. Uh both the new prosecutors and 986 00:42:56,480 --> 00:43:04,880 the pay parody. I I can say just 987 00:43:00,720 --> 00:43:07,359 ironically, I did just receive a a text 988 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:09,200 uh from somebody in the legislature who 989 00:43:07,359 --> 00:43:11,359 has worked with us in the past and they 990 00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:13,920 still understand the need to address 991 00:43:11,359 --> 00:43:16,240 this pay parody and have just just now 992 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:18,560 suggested they will revisit it. Uh but 993 00:43:16,240 --> 00:43:20,000 we need that to happen. Uh or we're 994 00:43:18,560 --> 00:43:21,119 going to lose more prosecutors and we're 995 00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:24,880 going to not and we're not going to be 996 00:43:21,119 --> 00:43:27,839 able to fill the spots. Um, 997 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:29,839 so I I think with with that in mind, we 998 00:43:27,839 --> 00:43:32,160 have a wonderful relationship with Lewon 999 00:43:29,839 --> 00:43:35,280 PD and most of our police departments. 1000 00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:38,000 Uh, we have had a few of the prosecutors 1001 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:39,599 go on the saturation details with them 1002 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:41,760 to get out there and be with them to 1003 00:43:39,599 --> 00:43:43,599 answer legal questions or to see what 1004 00:43:41,760 --> 00:43:45,440 they're doing, uh, to understand what 1005 00:43:43,599 --> 00:43:47,760 they're doing. We've had people within 1006 00:43:45,440 --> 00:43:49,839 our staff who are county employees as 1007 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:51,760 well as prosecutors do ride alongs. We 1008 00:43:49,839 --> 00:43:54,560 think it's important to know what Lewon 1009 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:56,480 PD is doing and be able to uh experience 1010 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:59,200 it so when we see their cases, we better 1011 00:43:56,480 --> 00:44:01,680 appreciate uh what we're seeing. Uh 1012 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:04,960 we've met with them, as Chief Connley 1013 00:44:01,680 --> 00:44:07,200 pointed out, to discuss uh gun violence, 1014 00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:09,440 uh juvenile incompetency, 1015 00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:11,359 uh and drugs, and everything else within 1016 00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:13,920 the community. We regularly communicate 1017 00:44:11,359 --> 00:44:16,720 and work together. Uh we've met with our 1018 00:44:13,920 --> 00:44:20,000 federal partners. Uh they've offered 1019 00:44:16,720 --> 00:44:21,280 some ideas that we'll follow up on. Uh 1020 00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:23,119 in particular with the juvenile 1021 00:44:21,280 --> 00:44:26,240 competency issue which is playing a big 1022 00:44:23,119 --> 00:44:28,240 role. Uh some thoughts on how maybe uh 1023 00:44:26,240 --> 00:44:31,599 we should be looking at our own experts 1024 00:44:28,240 --> 00:44:34,319 to combat uh some of the uh evaluations 1025 00:44:31,599 --> 00:44:36,319 we're seeing. Uh we'll look into that. 1026 00:44:34,319 --> 00:44:38,400 But we are constantly working to do 1027 00:44:36,319 --> 00:44:42,680 better uh in the areas where we think 1028 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:42,680 we're lacking. Um, 1029 00:44:46,319 --> 00:44:51,599 so I I guess other than that, again, 1030 00:44:48,480 --> 00:44:54,160 we've when we get back to the jun, so we 1031 00:44:51,599 --> 00:44:56,720 do not have a juvenile prosecutor in any 1032 00:44:54,160 --> 00:45:00,720 of the three counties. Uh, you have Josh 1033 00:44:56,720 --> 00:45:04,560 Klein Golden, myself, and a couple of 1034 00:45:00,720 --> 00:45:06,560 other people who assist uh when we need 1035 00:45:04,560 --> 00:45:08,400 it, but you don't have anybody dedicated 1036 00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:11,359 to it. We should have a dedicated 1037 00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:12,720 juvenile prosecutor. Uh because we're so 1038 00:45:11,359 --> 00:45:14,880 overwhelmed, we don't get to do the 1039 00:45:12,720 --> 00:45:16,480 training some other people get to do. 1040 00:45:14,880 --> 00:45:17,760 Training opportunities pop up and it's 1041 00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:19,520 like, well, geez, you have court that 1042 00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:21,520 day. We don't have anybody to cover 1043 00:45:19,520 --> 00:45:23,440 court that day. Uh so we're falling 1044 00:45:21,520 --> 00:45:25,440 behind in some of the training that's so 1045 00:45:23,440 --> 00:45:27,680 important to keep up uh with the latest 1046 00:45:25,440 --> 00:45:29,760 strategies and the latest developments. 1047 00:45:27,680 --> 00:45:31,839 Uh but again, your prosecutors are 1048 00:45:29,760 --> 00:45:34,000 showing up every day uh to work and 1049 00:45:31,839 --> 00:45:37,200 working really hard in the face of all 1050 00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:39,119 of this. Uh, so I'm a fan of the work 1051 00:45:37,200 --> 00:45:40,560 they're doing. I know you don't get to 1052 00:45:39,119 --> 00:45:42,640 see it every day and sometimes you see 1053 00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:44,960 the outcomes and you're not happy, but 1054 00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:46,960 boy, if you saw how they got to the 1055 00:45:44,960 --> 00:45:49,760 outcome and how hard they're working, I 1056 00:45:46,960 --> 00:45:52,240 think you'd be a fan as well. Uh, they 1057 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:54,800 do a a tremendous job with uh very 1058 00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:57,040 little. Um 1059 00:45:54,800 --> 00:46:00,400 we've looked uh one of the prosecutors 1060 00:45:57,040 --> 00:46:03,040 who is really dedicated to this issue uh 1061 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:06,240 provided me with some 1062 00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:07,760 uh some educational uh programs that we 1063 00:46:06,240 --> 00:46:10,880 should consider and we'll look into 1064 00:46:07,760 --> 00:46:12,960 those. I think one of them is uh called 1065 00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:15,440 uh the great program and it's a gang 1066 00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:17,359 resistant education and training program 1067 00:46:15,440 --> 00:46:19,839 where you can use uniform law 1068 00:46:17,359 --> 00:46:21,520 enforcement to work with uh elementary 1069 00:46:19,839 --> 00:46:23,040 and middle school kids to talk to them 1070 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:25,920 about how to avoid this kind of 1071 00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:27,760 behavior. Uh I think some of these may 1072 00:46:25,920 --> 00:46:30,079 be federal programs. So we'll look at 1073 00:46:27,760 --> 00:46:31,760 funding. Uh we certainly don't have 1074 00:46:30,079 --> 00:46:35,040 funding for it. We're funded by the 1075 00:46:31,760 --> 00:46:36,560 county. Uh there's the OJJDP which is 1076 00:46:35,040 --> 00:46:38,720 the Office of Juvenile Justice and 1077 00:46:36,560 --> 00:46:41,440 Delinquency. Uh that is another 1078 00:46:38,720 --> 00:46:43,200 organization we've heard of recently uh 1079 00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:45,280 that we may see if there's anything they 1080 00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:47,680 can offer us. Uh these would be for 1081 00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:50,160 programs to deal with children after 1082 00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:52,880 they've been involved or maybe even 1083 00:46:50,160 --> 00:46:55,760 before uh like like the great program 1084 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:57,839 that would be maybe a a proactive 1085 00:46:55,760 --> 00:46:59,760 approach. Uh and there's a focus 1086 00:46:57,839 --> 00:47:02,000 deterrence program as well that we'll 1087 00:46:59,760 --> 00:47:04,160 look into. Uh so those are things we 1088 00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:06,079 will continue to look into into try to 1089 00:47:04,160 --> 00:47:07,839 do a better job. Uh the last thing I'll 1090 00:47:06,079 --> 00:47:12,400 say, and we've talked uh about the 1091 00:47:07,839 --> 00:47:14,640 juvenile uh gun program, is we hear a 1092 00:47:12,400 --> 00:47:17,920 lot of people talk uh about the 1093 00:47:14,640 --> 00:47:21,280 children. Uh and I went to a meeting uh 1094 00:47:17,920 --> 00:47:22,800 a couple a week or so ago and I heard 1095 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:26,000 somebody say that the children are not 1096 00:47:22,800 --> 00:47:27,839 the problem. So when these cases arise 1097 00:47:26,000 --> 00:47:29,359 on my desk, the children are the 1098 00:47:27,839 --> 00:47:30,960 problem. And they're not children, 1099 00:47:29,359 --> 00:47:32,880 they're juveniles. we should call them 1100 00:47:30,960 --> 00:47:35,680 what they are because when you call them 1101 00:47:32,880 --> 00:47:38,240 children or kiddos which I see way too 1102 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:41,760 often you're minimizing the significance 1103 00:47:38,240 --> 00:47:44,240 of what they're doing. Uh so I am a 1104 00:47:41,760 --> 00:47:45,920 single voice within the system. I'm not 1105 00:47:44,240 --> 00:47:47,440 saying the pro other prosecutors don't 1106 00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:49,920 do the same thing but we don't have the 1107 00:47:47,440 --> 00:47:52,480 support uh for maybe some of that 1108 00:47:49,920 --> 00:47:55,040 ideology with others. But I think we 1109 00:47:52,480 --> 00:47:57,440 should be calling it what it is. These 1110 00:47:55,040 --> 00:47:59,680 uh juveniles have committed very serious 1111 00:47:57,440 --> 00:48:01,040 crimes uh that endanger the lives of 1112 00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:03,280 other people in the community. They they 1113 00:48:01,040 --> 00:48:05,119 endanger their own lives. Uh some of 1114 00:48:03,280 --> 00:48:06,720 these kids that are involved in it or 1115 00:48:05,119 --> 00:48:09,520 these juveniles, sorry, they're involved 1116 00:48:06,720 --> 00:48:11,440 in it. Uh they may be the shooter one 1117 00:48:09,520 --> 00:48:13,119 day, they'll be the victim the next day. 1118 00:48:11,440 --> 00:48:15,040 Uh so we have an obligation to all of 1119 00:48:13,119 --> 00:48:17,200 them. And I think we're failing them if 1120 00:48:15,040 --> 00:48:19,680 we continue to treat them like children. 1121 00:48:17,200 --> 00:48:21,920 The other thing we need to do is we need 1122 00:48:19,680 --> 00:48:24,960 people in elected positions to take this 1123 00:48:21,920 --> 00:48:28,880 serious. Uh not fight amongstel each 1124 00:48:24,960 --> 00:48:30,960 other or themselves not uh be divisive 1125 00:48:28,880 --> 00:48:32,960 in nature. Uh we need people to come 1126 00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:34,960 together and go this is a problem. We 1127 00:48:32,960 --> 00:48:37,520 need to unify to come to terms with how 1128 00:48:34,960 --> 00:48:40,079 we address it. Uh stop blaming it on 1129 00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:42,640 specific groups but also stop pretending 1130 00:48:40,079 --> 00:48:44,559 it doesn't exist where it does. uh we 1131 00:48:42,640 --> 00:48:47,520 have to call uh you know if you know 1132 00:48:44,559 --> 00:48:49,599 where it's happening, who's involved, uh 1133 00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:52,079 we need to call that out. How do we fix 1134 00:48:49,599 --> 00:48:55,040 the problem if we're uh not addressing 1135 00:48:52,079 --> 00:48:56,960 the regions or the areas that the crimes 1136 00:48:55,040 --> 00:48:59,119 are occurring? Uh we need to be 1137 00:48:56,960 --> 00:49:02,400 professional and thoughtful about it. Uh 1138 00:48:59,119 --> 00:49:03,839 but we also can't uh be divisive when we 1139 00:49:02,400 --> 00:49:05,760 try to make a difference in those 1140 00:49:03,839 --> 00:49:07,839 communities because those communities 1141 00:49:05,760 --> 00:49:10,160 deserve their children to be safe and to 1142 00:49:07,839 --> 00:49:12,720 live. uh they don't want their children 1143 00:49:10,160 --> 00:49:15,119 to die at the hand of a juvenile with a 1144 00:49:12,720 --> 00:49:16,800 gun. But we need to be open about the 1145 00:49:15,119 --> 00:49:19,200 conversation. It's not a politically 1146 00:49:16,800 --> 00:49:20,720 correct conversation. Uh we need to have 1147 00:49:19,200 --> 00:49:23,040 it. We need to be honest about the 1148 00:49:20,720 --> 00:49:26,319 language. Uh we need to be honest about 1149 00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:28,480 the facts. Uh and we need to uh do our 1150 00:49:26,319 --> 00:49:30,480 very best to address it. Uh because the 1151 00:49:28,480 --> 00:49:34,720 way I look at it is I'm a father of four 1152 00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:37,040 kids. My four kids are your kids. 1153 00:49:34,720 --> 00:49:39,200 neighbors, friends at the playground, 1154 00:49:37,040 --> 00:49:41,839 they may be your college friends 1155 00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:44,160 someday. They may be your colleagues. 1156 00:49:41,839 --> 00:49:45,760 We're all in it together. Uh there is no 1157 00:49:44,160 --> 00:49:47,200 distinction. A gun doesn't know a 1158 00:49:45,760 --> 00:49:50,160 distinction. A bullet doesn't know a 1159 00:49:47,200 --> 00:49:52,000 distinction. Uh we as the leader should 1160 00:49:50,160 --> 00:49:53,520 should stop making those distinctions. 1161 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:55,520 We should be addressing it for the 1162 00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:57,040 problem that it is and being honest 1163 00:49:55,520 --> 00:49:58,559 about where it's happening, what's 1164 00:49:57,040 --> 00:50:03,359 happening, because that's how we're 1165 00:49:58,559 --> 00:50:04,960 going to fix it. And uh the last thing, 1166 00:50:03,359 --> 00:50:07,680 remember there was an old saying that it 1167 00:50:04,960 --> 00:50:09,440 takes a community to raise a child. I 1168 00:50:07,680 --> 00:50:11,920 never really agreed with that. I 1169 00:50:09,440 --> 00:50:14,640 understand the concept. Uh the community 1170 00:50:11,920 --> 00:50:17,200 does need to provide uh things to make 1171 00:50:14,640 --> 00:50:19,200 the community safe, playgrounds, 1172 00:50:17,200 --> 00:50:21,280 athletic fields, but the community does 1173 00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:23,920 not need to raise the child. The child 1174 00:50:21,280 --> 00:50:26,480 needs to be raised by their parents. And 1175 00:50:23,920 --> 00:50:28,720 we need to start expecting that parents 1176 00:50:26,480 --> 00:50:30,960 will be more involved early on because 1177 00:50:28,720 --> 00:50:32,960 if the parents are doing the best that 1178 00:50:30,960 --> 00:50:34,960 they can. If they need some support, we 1179 00:50:32,960 --> 00:50:38,400 should be there to give it. But that's 1180 00:50:34,960 --> 00:50:41,599 where a juvenile's life 1181 00:50:38,400 --> 00:50:42,960 or track begins. And if they get out in 1182 00:50:41,599 --> 00:50:44,640 the world and they've never been told 1183 00:50:42,960 --> 00:50:46,000 no, they've never been told what you're 1184 00:50:44,640 --> 00:50:48,079 doing is wrong, they've never been 1185 00:50:46,000 --> 00:50:50,079 punished by their parents for do 1186 00:50:48,079 --> 00:50:51,440 misbehaving, they're not going to listen 1187 00:50:50,079 --> 00:50:52,720 to me. They're not going to listen to 1188 00:50:51,440 --> 00:50:54,880 Lewis and PD. they're not going to 1189 00:50:52,720 --> 00:50:56,400 listen to anybody in this room. Uh, and 1190 00:50:54,880 --> 00:50:58,000 that's the problem we're running into 1191 00:50:56,400 --> 00:51:00,640 right now. There's very little respect 1192 00:50:58,000 --> 00:51:02,160 for Lewon PD when they're out there. 1193 00:51:00,640 --> 00:51:04,160 Very little respect for us in the 1194 00:51:02,160 --> 00:51:06,640 courtroom, very little respect for the 1195 00:51:04,160 --> 00:51:10,160 courtroom process itself much of the 1196 00:51:06,640 --> 00:51:13,040 time. I think all of that begins in the 1197 00:51:10,160 --> 00:51:15,440 home. Uh, and it goes to if you're 1198 00:51:13,040 --> 00:51:16,880 seeing guns, you've got to call that in. 1199 00:51:15,440 --> 00:51:19,040 Look out for your own children. Give 1200 00:51:16,880 --> 00:51:22,400 them the guidance they need. uh we'll 1201 00:51:19,040 --> 00:51:25,040 deal uh with it uh the best we can in 1202 00:51:22,400 --> 00:51:27,040 providing services and resources, but 1203 00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:29,920 once it again once it arrives on my 1204 00:51:27,040 --> 00:51:32,559 desk, I'm I'm the mean step parent 1205 00:51:29,920 --> 00:51:34,160 because it's now time to start talking 1206 00:51:32,559 --> 00:51:36,720 about accountability, responsibility, 1207 00:51:34,160 --> 00:51:38,400 and uh punitively what needs to be done 1208 00:51:36,720 --> 00:51:41,280 to make sure these kids don't kill 1209 00:51:38,400 --> 00:51:44,880 somebody or kill themselves. Uh and 1210 00:51:41,280 --> 00:51:47,119 lastly, Carly was so right. People need 1211 00:51:44,880 --> 00:51:49,599 to fund this stuff. we don't have a lot 1212 00:51:47,119 --> 00:51:51,599 of money. But if we don't start changing 1213 00:51:49,599 --> 00:51:53,760 some of the laws and statutes out of 1214 00:51:51,599 --> 00:51:56,480 Augusta, and if we don't start funding 1215 00:51:53,760 --> 00:51:58,160 the resources we need, those two things, 1216 00:51:56,480 --> 00:52:00,400 if we don't do it because we don't like 1217 00:51:58,160 --> 00:52:02,960 to spend money, we might as well just 1218 00:52:00,400 --> 00:52:05,040 watch this escalate even further. Uh so 1219 00:52:02,960 --> 00:52:07,599 we need people to take it serious in 1220 00:52:05,040 --> 00:52:10,400 Augusta, we need them to help us out uh 1221 00:52:07,599 --> 00:52:13,680 with funding and statutes. I'd love to 1222 00:52:10,400 --> 00:52:16,160 revisit the competency statute. Uh the 1223 00:52:13,680 --> 00:52:18,800 chronological immaturity is a concept 1224 00:52:16,160 --> 00:52:21,839 that I really struggle with. I think it 1225 00:52:18,800 --> 00:52:25,200 I will read a incompetency evaluation 1226 00:52:21,839 --> 00:52:27,200 and go great kids competent. I'll get to 1227 00:52:25,200 --> 00:52:29,119 the last two pages and chronological 1228 00:52:27,200 --> 00:52:31,839 immaturity will undercut it almost every 1229 00:52:29,119 --> 00:52:33,839 time. We should revisit the definition 1230 00:52:31,839 --> 00:52:35,599 at the very least. Remove it. I'm all 1231 00:52:33,839 --> 00:52:37,920 for that. I know that won't have a lot 1232 00:52:35,599 --> 00:52:40,720 of support, but we need to start doing a 1233 00:52:37,920 --> 00:52:42,400 better job. Remember juveniles, we're 1234 00:52:40,720 --> 00:52:44,559 not hurting them when we hold them 1235 00:52:42,400 --> 00:52:47,680 accountable. We're helping them because 1236 00:52:44,559 --> 00:52:49,119 we're keeping them from continuing to do 1237 00:52:47,680 --> 00:52:52,920 the things that are going to hurt 1238 00:52:49,119 --> 00:52:52,920 somebody else or themselves. 1239 00:52:55,920 --> 00:52:59,200 » Thank you, 1240 00:52:57,440 --> 00:53:01,040 » Dan Mlan. Thank you very much for being 1241 00:52:59,200 --> 00:53:02,640 here and thank you uh for your entire 1242 00:53:01,040 --> 00:53:04,800 team and all the work you guys do. I 1243 00:53:02,640 --> 00:53:06,720 appreciate it. Uh we're going to start 1244 00:53:04,800 --> 00:53:08,160 on this side of the table. Ward one. 1245 00:53:06,720 --> 00:53:10,480 Councelor Nene, did you have any 1246 00:53:08,160 --> 00:53:13,520 questions? 1247 00:53:10,480 --> 00:53:17,440 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, yeah, I I do. 1248 00:53:13,520 --> 00:53:22,640 Uh, about the uh uh funding sources. So, 1249 00:53:17,440 --> 00:53:23,680 the county pays for um staff at the DA's 1250 00:53:22,640 --> 00:53:26,240 office. 1251 00:53:23,680 --> 00:53:28,160 » It does. It's we are a hybrid office is 1252 00:53:26,240 --> 00:53:30,000 how I refer to it. The attorneys are all 1253 00:53:28,160 --> 00:53:33,040 state employees. And I'd love to change 1254 00:53:30,000 --> 00:53:34,720 this as well. Uh I'd love to be have us 1255 00:53:33,040 --> 00:53:38,480 all under the state umbrella so we can 1256 00:53:34,720 --> 00:53:41,760 properly be funded, but instead uh the 1257 00:53:38,480 --> 00:53:44,000 attorneys are are funded by the state. 1258 00:53:41,760 --> 00:53:46,400 Everything else is funded by you all, 1259 00:53:44,000 --> 00:53:49,520 the count the the county of uh Andrew 1260 00:53:46,400 --> 00:53:51,359 Scoggin, Oxford, and Franklin, which is 1261 00:53:49,520 --> 00:53:53,760 a huge burden to put on you all. We do 1262 00:53:51,359 --> 00:53:56,559 our best not to be uh to spend a lot of 1263 00:53:53,760 --> 00:53:58,319 money, but we know uh reassessments are 1264 00:53:56,559 --> 00:54:01,119 out there, taxes are high, people don't 1265 00:53:58,319 --> 00:54:02,880 have a lot of money, and uh we're asking 1266 00:54:01,119 --> 00:54:05,440 for money to be able to do what we need 1267 00:54:02,880 --> 00:54:07,760 to do. Uh and it comes from the county. 1268 00:54:05,440 --> 00:54:09,440 Uh so not specifically from Lewon, but 1269 00:54:07,760 --> 00:54:10,960 as I understand it, Lewon pays a big 1270 00:54:09,440 --> 00:54:12,640 chunk of that county budget. 1271 00:54:10,960 --> 00:54:14,880 » We not only pay a big chunk of the 1272 00:54:12,640 --> 00:54:18,720 county budget, but it also increased by 1273 00:54:14,880 --> 00:54:21,599 20% this year um for for our taxpayers. 1274 00:54:18,720 --> 00:54:24,960 Are there cases in which municipalities 1275 00:54:21,599 --> 00:54:28,160 pay for for instance an attorney? 1276 00:54:24,960 --> 00:54:29,920 » The attorneys are all uh licensed and uh 1277 00:54:28,160 --> 00:54:32,559 we are all part of the attorney 1278 00:54:29,920 --> 00:54:34,960 general's office. Uh we've had Lewis 1279 00:54:32,559 --> 00:54:37,280 we've had police departments very kindly 1280 00:54:34,960 --> 00:54:38,640 offer to off we'll give you a 1281 00:54:37,280 --> 00:54:41,440 prosecutor. We'll put it right here in 1282 00:54:38,640 --> 00:54:42,960 our our building. Uh but it it's not 1283 00:54:41,440 --> 00:54:44,559 something we can do to the best of my 1284 00:54:42,960 --> 00:54:46,720 knowledge and if we did we need the 1285 00:54:44,559 --> 00:54:48,559 approval of the attorney general. And 1286 00:54:46,720 --> 00:54:50,400 and the last question I have is just so 1287 00:54:48,559 --> 00:54:53,359 when cases come to you, juvenile cases 1288 00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:56,400 come to you, they're they're handled uh 1289 00:54:53,359 --> 00:54:58,240 only as criminal cases, correct? 1290 00:54:56,400 --> 00:55:01,520 Are there referrals to is there any 1291 00:54:58,240 --> 00:55:06,240 system of uh family or juvenile courts 1292 00:55:01,520 --> 00:55:08,160 that are that are not uh 1293 00:55:06,240 --> 00:55:10,319 I I assume normally you're dealing with 1294 00:55:08,160 --> 00:55:13,520 only felonies. Um if you could just 1295 00:55:10,319 --> 00:55:15,440 speak to to how that's divided out. No, 1296 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:18,400 that we we deal with every juvenile 1297 00:55:15,440 --> 00:55:19,599 crime that comes in. Uh we have juvenile 1298 00:55:18,400 --> 00:55:21,680 community corrections officers who 1299 00:55:19,599 --> 00:55:24,240 oftentimes will review the cases, the 1300 00:55:21,680 --> 00:55:26,160 low-level cases in advance. And I should 1301 00:55:24,240 --> 00:55:28,160 I I think it's worth noting we have some 1302 00:55:26,160 --> 00:55:30,559 really incredible juvenile community 1303 00:55:28,160 --> 00:55:32,640 corrections officers here in Andrew 1304 00:55:30,559 --> 00:55:34,720 Scoggin County. I know they work really 1305 00:55:32,640 --> 00:55:36,480 hard uh and they're very supportive of 1306 00:55:34,720 --> 00:55:40,000 what we do and they've met with Lewon 1307 00:55:36,480 --> 00:55:41,599 PD. Uh but they will review cases uh 1308 00:55:40,000 --> 00:55:44,079 some of the low-level cases up front. 1309 00:55:41,599 --> 00:55:47,359 they may handle them through resources 1310 00:55:44,079 --> 00:55:49,760 and uh uh diversion programs before they 1311 00:55:47,359 --> 00:55:52,480 even get to our uh desk. But if a 1312 00:55:49,760 --> 00:55:54,960 juvenile doesn't cooperate andor there's 1313 00:55:52,480 --> 00:55:59,040 a history there, uh we get everything 1314 00:55:54,960 --> 00:56:00,960 from uh disorderly conduct to a bag 1315 00:55:59,040 --> 00:56:02,319 assault with a weapon. Uh the 1316 00:56:00,960 --> 00:56:04,160 interesting thing about the juvenile 1317 00:56:02,319 --> 00:56:06,400 system as well is you can get the same 1318 00:56:04,160 --> 00:56:08,960 sentence for all of those. uh they carry 1319 00:56:06,400 --> 00:56:11,920 classifications on the just like they 1320 00:56:08,960 --> 00:56:15,680 would with the uh adult, you know, class 1321 00:56:11,920 --> 00:56:17,520 ABC D or E. Uh but you can get the same 1322 00:56:15,680 --> 00:56:19,119 sentence for a class E disorderly 1323 00:56:17,520 --> 00:56:22,079 conduct that you can get for a class A 1324 00:56:19,119 --> 00:56:23,839 offense, which is uh a commitment. Uh so 1325 00:56:22,079 --> 00:56:27,280 it's it's a completely different beast, 1326 00:56:23,839 --> 00:56:30,480 which is why we need a prosecutor who 1327 00:56:27,280 --> 00:56:34,240 really understands the code, title 15. 1328 00:56:30,480 --> 00:56:36,480 Uh and right now uh we understand it but 1329 00:56:34,240 --> 00:56:39,440 we're not uh we're switching gears to 1330 00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:41,280 adult adult uh juvenile adult juvenile 1331 00:56:39,440 --> 00:56:44,760 and it's really something that deserves 1332 00:56:41,280 --> 00:56:44,760 specific focus. 1333 00:56:45,119 --> 00:56:49,314 » Councelor Long Champs. 1334 00:56:47,200 --> 00:56:51,334 » Thank you, Mayor. 1335 00:56:49,314 --> 00:56:51,334 [clears throat] 1336 00:56:51,440 --> 00:56:56,079 » Thank you so much uh for being here and 1337 00:56:54,000 --> 00:56:58,960 sharing all of the information that you 1338 00:56:56,079 --> 00:57:00,480 did. Um that it was a lot it's a lot to 1339 00:56:58,960 --> 00:57:04,240 digest. 1340 00:57:00,480 --> 00:57:07,760 Um, I think you have said it very direct 1341 00:57:04,240 --> 00:57:10,640 and very clear. Uh, your office is doing 1342 00:57:07,760 --> 00:57:13,440 everything they can uh when criminals uh 1343 00:57:10,640 --> 00:57:17,200 get to your desk, but you're lacking 1344 00:57:13,440 --> 00:57:21,440 staff. Um, and I think a lot of that, as 1345 00:57:17,200 --> 00:57:24,799 you shared, is uh pay scale. Um, the 1346 00:57:21,440 --> 00:57:26,480 truth is is Augusta needs to do better. 1347 00:57:24,799 --> 00:57:29,280 Um, 1348 00:57:26,480 --> 00:57:31,119 we're saying that as loudly as we can. 1349 00:57:29,280 --> 00:57:34,640 You hear that we're suffering here in 1350 00:57:31,119 --> 00:57:37,599 Lewon. You hear our date, our DA's 1351 00:57:34,640 --> 00:57:39,760 office basically crying out that they 1352 00:57:37,599 --> 00:57:43,359 are overloaded. 1353 00:57:39,760 --> 00:57:45,359 If you don't help us, shame on you. So, 1354 00:57:43,359 --> 00:57:46,799 the person that sent you the text, which 1355 00:57:45,359 --> 00:57:50,960 you do not have to share the name with 1356 00:57:46,799 --> 00:57:53,359 me, nor am I asking you to, but I hope 1357 00:57:50,960 --> 00:57:55,520 that as soon as you leave this table, 1358 00:57:53,359 --> 00:58:00,559 they set up a meeting with you because 1359 00:57:55,520 --> 00:58:00,559 we need it. Thank you. 1360 00:58:02,000 --> 00:58:04,400 And I know this wasn't a question, but I 1361 00:58:03,680 --> 00:58:05,520 do 1362 00:58:04,400 --> 00:58:07,520 » Sorry. Go ahead. Uh 1363 00:58:05,520 --> 00:58:10,000 » I just feel like it's I I'm speaking 1364 00:58:07,520 --> 00:58:11,760 about Andrew Scoggin because uh that's 1365 00:58:10,000 --> 00:58:13,599 where we are. Uh and that's what you all 1366 00:58:11,760 --> 00:58:15,200 care about. Uh but I do think it's 1367 00:58:13,599 --> 00:58:17,520 important to say this is true of every 1368 00:58:15,200 --> 00:58:20,000 district attorney's office. Uh they all 1369 00:58:17,520 --> 00:58:21,760 need uh help. So it's a much broader 1370 00:58:20,000 --> 00:58:23,680 problem. Uh and I just think it's 1371 00:58:21,760 --> 00:58:25,280 important uh especially when other 1372 00:58:23,680 --> 00:58:27,359 people are listening that people don't 1373 00:58:25,280 --> 00:58:29,920 think I'm saying this is just our 1374 00:58:27,359 --> 00:58:32,000 problem. uh the help is most necessary 1375 00:58:29,920 --> 00:58:34,400 because it affects every prosecutor's 1376 00:58:32,000 --> 00:58:35,599 office across the state. 1377 00:58:34,400 --> 00:58:38,880 » Council Long Champs. 1378 00:58:35,599 --> 00:58:41,599 » Thank you, Mayor. Um so I would also 1379 00:58:38,880 --> 00:58:43,440 just like to say that um I I don't think 1380 00:58:41,599 --> 00:58:45,200 this is just a problem that's happening 1381 00:58:43,440 --> 00:58:47,359 in Lewon. I think it's, you know, 1382 00:58:45,200 --> 00:58:50,960 happening throughout our state. So 1383 00:58:47,359 --> 00:58:54,640 again, uh this the the state needs to do 1384 00:58:50,960 --> 00:58:56,480 better in helping. Thank you. 1385 00:58:54,640 --> 00:58:57,520 » Councelor Haramman, did you have 1386 00:58:56,480 --> 00:58:59,760 something? 1387 00:58:57,520 --> 00:59:02,160 Yes, thank you. Thanks for being here. 1388 00:58:59,760 --> 00:59:04,640 Um, I wondered if I could learn more 1389 00:59:02,160 --> 00:59:09,119 about the non-competent designations. 1390 00:59:04,640 --> 00:59:11,599 Um, who makes those and what happens 1391 00:59:09,119 --> 00:59:14,000 when that designation is made and are 1392 00:59:11,599 --> 00:59:17,119 you seeing that happening at a different 1393 00:59:14,000 --> 00:59:19,680 rate than in the past or has it been 1394 00:59:17,119 --> 00:59:22,079 fairly steady? 1395 00:59:19,680 --> 00:59:25,280 » So, it's different from when I handled 1396 00:59:22,079 --> 00:59:27,839 juveniles 15 years ago. So yes, uh I 1397 00:59:25,280 --> 00:59:30,640 haven't done juveniles specifically 1398 00:59:27,839 --> 00:59:33,200 uh for about 15 years. So when I don't 1399 00:59:30,640 --> 00:59:36,160 know how recently it's changed, uh but 1400 00:59:33,200 --> 00:59:39,040 this this system uh and the way the 1401 00:59:36,160 --> 00:59:40,960 evaluations are interpreted uh does seem 1402 00:59:39,040 --> 00:59:43,200 very new to me and I could be wrong. It 1403 00:59:40,960 --> 00:59:45,440 could be 5 to 10 years old, but it's 1404 00:59:43,200 --> 00:59:48,160 it's newer than when I last did it. And 1405 00:59:45,440 --> 00:59:51,040 I think what's problematic about it is 1406 00:59:48,160 --> 00:59:53,920 uh it runs through some of the same 1407 00:59:51,040 --> 00:59:55,440 criteria uh that the adult system would 1408 00:59:53,920 --> 00:59:57,200 would do. The ability to help your 1409 00:59:55,440 --> 00:59:59,440 attorney to understand the charges to 1410 00:59:57,200 --> 01:00:00,640 understand what people are doing uh to 1411 00:59:59,440 --> 01:00:03,119 be able to communicate with your 1412 01:00:00,640 --> 01:00:04,640 attorney to appear in court. Uh all of 1413 01:00:03,119 --> 01:00:07,040 those things just like they might be in 1414 01:00:04,640 --> 01:00:10,640 the adult analysis are there. But those 1415 01:00:07,040 --> 01:00:14,240 are the parts that I regularly 1416 01:00:10,640 --> 01:00:16,960 that I see frequently I should say uh 1417 01:00:14,240 --> 01:00:19,359 seem to be met. But the juvenile what 1418 01:00:16,960 --> 01:00:22,720 what I see that's different uh is that 1419 01:00:19,359 --> 01:00:25,119 chronological immaturity component. And 1420 01:00:22,720 --> 01:00:26,880 I think when they get to that uh again 1421 01:00:25,119 --> 01:00:29,599 if I'm speaking freely it I mean 1422 01:00:26,880 --> 01:00:32,079 sometimes they'll include things like he 1423 01:00:29,599 --> 01:00:34,319 the child the juvenile misbehaves at 1424 01:00:32,079 --> 01:00:36,720 school. They have a they don't pay 1425 01:00:34,319 --> 01:00:39,200 attention. And I'm thinking you just 1426 01:00:36,720 --> 01:00:40,960 described my children. Uh but what 1427 01:00:39,200 --> 01:00:44,079 ultimately happens is it turns into a 1428 01:00:40,960 --> 01:00:46,000 non-competent because of an age. And I 1429 01:00:44,079 --> 01:00:47,920 think that's really dangerous. Uh 1430 01:00:46,000 --> 01:00:50,480 because we're failing the kids when we 1431 01:00:47,920 --> 01:00:51,599 do that. Understand I'm not picking on 1432 01:00:50,480 --> 01:00:54,480 uh the people that are making the 1433 01:00:51,599 --> 01:00:56,720 analysis or the good heart or the uh 1434 01:00:54,480 --> 01:00:58,240 intention behind it. I just really 1435 01:00:56,720 --> 01:01:00,559 believe and we're seeing the escalation 1436 01:00:58,240 --> 01:01:01,599 now that we're failing the children if 1437 01:01:00,559 --> 01:01:05,040 that's what you want to call them, the 1438 01:01:01,599 --> 01:01:07,680 juveniles, the kids. Uh but it's really 1439 01:01:05,040 --> 01:01:09,119 that component. Uh it can be trauma. It 1440 01:01:07,680 --> 01:01:12,160 can be trauma you experienced when you 1441 01:01:09,119 --> 01:01:17,200 were three years old. Uh that you know 1442 01:01:12,160 --> 01:01:20,319 now 15 or 10 14 years later uh they're 1443 01:01:17,200 --> 01:01:23,839 using as part of an analysis uh to find 1444 01:01:20,319 --> 01:01:27,280 incompetence. I my assessment is and 1445 01:01:23,839 --> 01:01:32,400 it's state forensics uh that does it's 1446 01:01:27,280 --> 01:01:35,280 it's a state um entity. uh and again I'm 1447 01:01:32,400 --> 01:01:38,079 not picking at any individual analysis 1448 01:01:35,280 --> 01:01:40,799 an uh evaluator 1449 01:01:38,079 --> 01:01:42,559 uh but uh they do them uh they make 1450 01:01:40,799 --> 01:01:44,640 their analysis they're very educated 1451 01:01:42,559 --> 01:01:46,799 they know they know that uh the 1452 01:01:44,640 --> 01:01:50,079 psychology and all of those things that 1453 01:01:46,799 --> 01:01:51,839 uh one might say I don't uh but I also 1454 01:01:50,079 --> 01:01:54,480 feel sometimes that what I'm actually 1455 01:01:51,839 --> 01:01:57,200 seeing are juveniles duping uh 1456 01:01:54,480 --> 01:01:59,440 malingering doing 1457 01:01:57,200 --> 01:02:01,599 saying what needs to be said to get to 1458 01:01:59,440 --> 01:02:05,520 an outcome come uh and once we get to 1459 01:02:01,599 --> 01:02:07,760 that outcome uh I think it starts to 1460 01:02:05,520 --> 01:02:10,079 become a slippery slope uh if they make 1461 01:02:07,760 --> 01:02:13,200 that finding of incompetent 1462 01:02:10,079 --> 01:02:18,000 u and we we get to revisiting it I think 1463 01:02:13,200 --> 01:02:19,680 it's 60 days 180 days a year uh but 1464 01:02:18,000 --> 01:02:22,319 after the year and and that's if they 1465 01:02:19,680 --> 01:02:24,880 find there's a substantial likelihood uh 1466 01:02:22,319 --> 01:02:26,400 that they they might be able to be 1467 01:02:24,880 --> 01:02:30,160 competent so they have to make that 1468 01:02:26,400 --> 01:02:32,480 finding as well um and that is in there 1469 01:02:30,160 --> 01:02:36,319 a lot. The part I don't understand is 1470 01:02:32,480 --> 01:02:38,240 you see a 13-year-old kid uh get that an 1471 01:02:36,319 --> 01:02:40,400 analysis and when I read it, the reason 1472 01:02:38,240 --> 01:02:43,920 they're finding is chronological 1473 01:02:40,400 --> 01:02:45,440 immaturity. And I am not a doctor, but 1474 01:02:43,920 --> 01:02:46,960 I'm thinking in a year they're going to 1475 01:02:45,440 --> 01:02:48,079 be 14. They're still going to be 1476 01:02:46,960 --> 01:02:49,520 incompetent. I don't even know why 1477 01:02:48,079 --> 01:02:53,839 you're putting us through the nonsense 1478 01:02:49,520 --> 01:02:56,799 of uh they might be because really it's 1479 01:02:53,839 --> 01:03:00,720 14 and under. I've seen them in that 15 1480 01:02:56,799 --> 01:03:03,040 to 16 range using the same language. Um, 1481 01:03:00,720 --> 01:03:05,280 and I I just think it's a system that we 1482 01:03:03,040 --> 01:03:08,720 should all take a step back, relook at 1483 01:03:05,280 --> 01:03:11,760 it, apply it to the way uh, children, 1484 01:03:08,720 --> 01:03:14,559 juveniles, adolescence are acting today. 1485 01:03:11,760 --> 01:03:16,480 Uh, and really ask ourselves if we're 1486 01:03:14,559 --> 01:03:18,319 helping them uh, or if we're not just 1487 01:03:16,480 --> 01:03:19,920 making more excuses for them. Because 1488 01:03:18,319 --> 01:03:23,119 this is the the other thing I'll say 1489 01:03:19,920 --> 01:03:25,440 about that, councelor Haramman, is the 1490 01:03:23,119 --> 01:03:28,240 other thing we see, and I we see this 1491 01:03:25,440 --> 01:03:30,240 way too often, is somebody will be 1492 01:03:28,240 --> 01:03:31,760 incompetent, put back out on the street, 1493 01:03:30,240 --> 01:03:33,280 put right back in the same environment 1494 01:03:31,760 --> 01:03:35,039 they just came from, the same 1495 01:03:33,280 --> 01:03:37,280 neighborhood, the same family, the same 1496 01:03:35,039 --> 01:03:39,200 friends, nothing's changed. We're 1497 01:03:37,280 --> 01:03:41,440 setting them up for failure. They fail 1498 01:03:39,200 --> 01:03:43,200 again. Uh we've seen it where and I 1499 01:03:41,440 --> 01:03:44,960 think Chief talked about someone who'd 1500 01:03:43,200 --> 01:03:48,880 been caught and released five times. 1501 01:03:44,960 --> 01:03:53,039 We're seeing incompetence one two uh 1502 01:03:48,880 --> 01:03:55,359 times uh in the juvenile system and when 1503 01:03:53,039 --> 01:03:58,079 they turn 18 two months later they're 1504 01:03:55,359 --> 01:04:00,079 competent. Uh and my thought is they 1505 01:03:58,079 --> 01:04:01,839 were always competent uh and we failed 1506 01:04:00,079 --> 01:04:03,760 them and now they're going to prison. 1507 01:04:01,839 --> 01:04:06,559 And I think that's the problem with the 1508 01:04:03,760 --> 01:04:08,720 system right now. 1509 01:04:06,559 --> 01:04:10,400 Thank you, 1510 01:04:08,720 --> 01:04:12,240 » Councelor Roy. And if I can get 1511 01:04:10,400 --> 01:04:14,079 counselor to speak uh directly into the 1512 01:04:12,240 --> 01:04:16,640 mic so the entire audience can hear. 1513 01:04:14,079 --> 01:04:19,200 Thank you. 1514 01:04:16,640 --> 01:04:21,760 » Thank you. Uh my questions were answered 1515 01:04:19,200 --> 01:04:22,559 at this time. Thank you, councelor 1516 01:04:21,760 --> 01:04:24,799 Noble. 1517 01:04:22,559 --> 01:04:29,200 » Mine were also it was just about how 1518 01:04:24,799 --> 01:04:31,200 they figured out the competency part. 1519 01:04:29,200 --> 01:04:33,280 » Councelor Chidum, 1520 01:04:31,200 --> 01:04:35,440 thank you. I appreciate your uh 1521 01:04:33,280 --> 01:04:37,520 presentation. 1522 01:04:35,440 --> 01:04:39,200 I understand that the district 1523 01:04:37,520 --> 01:04:42,960 attorney's office is underfunded, 1524 01:04:39,200 --> 01:04:45,039 understaffed, overworked. Um, this 1525 01:04:42,960 --> 01:04:48,160 discussion tonight is specifically about 1526 01:04:45,039 --> 01:04:49,920 gun violence in Lewon. And 1527 01:04:48,160 --> 01:04:52,880 first question to you is, do we see gun 1528 01:04:49,920 --> 01:04:54,400 violence in South Paris, in Oxford, in 1529 01:04:52,880 --> 01:04:57,680 Auburn, 1530 01:04:54,400 --> 01:05:00,240 or is it nearly exclusively, if not 1531 01:04:57,680 --> 01:05:04,240 exclusively, uh, a creature of Lewon, 1532 01:05:00,240 --> 01:05:07,359 Maine? I I think in Lewon we have or in 1533 01:05:04,240 --> 01:05:10,160 Androskogan County. Um I don't I didn't 1534 01:05:07,359 --> 01:05:13,039 break it down by city. Uh but in 1535 01:05:10,160 --> 01:05:15,520 Androskogen County we have 29 juvenile 1536 01:05:13,039 --> 01:05:17,200 cases pending uh that involve firearms. 1537 01:05:15,520 --> 01:05:19,520 They're not all violent crimes. They 1538 01:05:17,200 --> 01:05:22,640 might be concealed weapons, but 29 1539 01:05:19,520 --> 01:05:25,680 pending. Uh in the other two counties, a 1540 01:05:22,640 --> 01:05:27,839 much lower uh number, but it's also a 1541 01:05:25,680 --> 01:05:29,839 much lower population. It's a much more 1542 01:05:27,839 --> 01:05:30,960 rural area. quite frankly, they're 1543 01:05:29,839 --> 01:05:32,240 probably doing things with guns they 1544 01:05:30,960 --> 01:05:34,079 shouldn't be, but nobody knows because 1545 01:05:32,240 --> 01:05:36,720 they're out in the woods. Uh, but when 1546 01:05:34,079 --> 01:05:39,920 you're in downtown in a highly populated 1547 01:05:36,720 --> 01:05:41,920 area and you're firing off guns, uh, 1548 01:05:39,920 --> 01:05:43,200 people notice, people hear it and they 1549 01:05:41,920 --> 01:05:44,799 want law enforcement to do something 1550 01:05:43,200 --> 01:05:46,640 about it and then they want us to do 1551 01:05:44,799 --> 01:05:48,880 something about it. So, I think the 1552 01:05:46,640 --> 01:05:51,440 answer is we see it more here. Uh, but 1553 01:05:48,880 --> 01:05:54,640 that's probably because it's in a highly 1554 01:05:51,440 --> 01:05:55,760 visible populated area. 1555 01:05:54,640 --> 01:05:57,280 » Okay. Thank you. Okay. Well, that sort 1556 01:05:55,760 --> 01:05:59,359 of leads into my question about what 1557 01:05:57,280 --> 01:06:01,920 what about Lewon is an attractor for 1558 01:05:59,359 --> 01:06:03,760 this kind of behavior. Um, which is is a 1559 01:06:01,920 --> 01:06:05,599 question I'm going to have for everybody 1560 01:06:03,760 --> 01:06:09,359 everybody in this room. Actually, we 1561 01:06:05,599 --> 01:06:11,599 have 150 people in this room, 150 minds 1562 01:06:09,359 --> 01:06:14,000 that we could be applying to solve this 1563 01:06:11,599 --> 01:06:16,640 problem. Um, I don't doubt that we're 1564 01:06:14,000 --> 01:06:20,000 all trying, but we obviously need to try 1565 01:06:16,640 --> 01:06:21,520 harder. And I don't think it would be 1566 01:06:20,000 --> 01:06:23,119 wonderful if we could throw money at 1567 01:06:21,520 --> 01:06:25,039 this problem. That's a that's a poor 1568 01:06:23,119 --> 01:06:27,280 phrase, but we do not have the money to 1569 01:06:25,039 --> 01:06:29,920 do that. That's a constraint that our 1570 01:06:27,280 --> 01:06:32,640 citizens have given to us. We need to 1571 01:06:29,920 --> 01:06:35,280 figure out a way to address this problem 1572 01:06:32,640 --> 01:06:37,520 without financial resources, at least 1573 01:06:35,280 --> 01:06:39,920 financial resources coming from Lewon 1574 01:06:37,520 --> 01:06:41,920 taxpayers. Uh we've already cut budgets 1575 01:06:39,920 --> 01:06:42,400 to the bone. We've seen dramatic 1576 01:06:41,920 --> 01:06:44,240 increases. 1577 01:06:42,400 --> 01:06:45,520 » Excuse me. Uh councelor, uh there's 1578 01:06:44,240 --> 01:06:46,240 going to be time for general comments 1579 01:06:45,520 --> 01:06:47,920 later. Do you have 1580 01:06:46,240 --> 01:06:50,559 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for for bringing 1581 01:06:47,920 --> 01:06:53,280 me back on track. Yes. Uh what specific 1582 01:06:50,559 --> 01:06:56,640 actions can the city council of Lewon 1583 01:06:53,280 --> 01:07:00,599 Maine do to assist you in uh performing 1584 01:06:56,640 --> 01:07:00,599 your duties and your responsibilities? 1585 01:07:03,760 --> 01:07:10,640 I'm not sure uh directly how much uh can 1586 01:07:08,240 --> 01:07:12,799 be done uh again directly with our 1587 01:07:10,640 --> 01:07:15,119 office but I think the things that are 1588 01:07:12,799 --> 01:07:17,440 helpful uh and we've heard lots of 1589 01:07:15,119 --> 01:07:20,000 people talk about these these issues but 1590 01:07:17,440 --> 01:07:22,640 it would be to provide alternatives for 1591 01:07:20,000 --> 01:07:25,119 kids within the community uh whether it 1592 01:07:22,640 --> 01:07:28,079 be fields after school activities I know 1593 01:07:25,119 --> 01:07:31,599 that uh that a lot of that is being done 1594 01:07:28,079 --> 01:07:34,720 uh but things that occupy kids, uh, 1595 01:07:31,599 --> 01:07:37,119 adolescence, uh, other than social 1596 01:07:34,720 --> 01:07:39,119 media. If you can pass an ordinance that 1597 01:07:37,119 --> 01:07:40,480 they can't have a phone and it, uh, look 1598 01:07:39,119 --> 01:07:43,280 at social media, that would probably 1599 01:07:40,480 --> 01:07:45,359 solve a lot of your problems. Uh, but if 1600 01:07:43,280 --> 01:07:47,760 you can't do that, uh, then you have to 1601 01:07:45,359 --> 01:07:50,079 offer them alternatives. Uh, they're 1602 01:07:47,760 --> 01:07:51,440 kids. Uh, and I know I was just saying I 1603 01:07:50,079 --> 01:07:53,039 I don't like to call them that, but 1604 01:07:51,440 --> 01:07:55,920 before they get to my desk, they're 1605 01:07:53,039 --> 01:07:57,760 kids. Uh, and again, I have my own. uh 1606 01:07:55,920 --> 01:07:59,680 and they're silly and they do stupid 1607 01:07:57,760 --> 01:08:01,039 things and they make stupid mistakes, 1608 01:07:59,680 --> 01:08:03,280 but they should do it in a way that 1609 01:08:01,039 --> 01:08:04,799 doesn't endanger everyone around them. 1610 01:08:03,280 --> 01:08:07,599 Uh they should ride a bike without a 1611 01:08:04,799 --> 01:08:10,559 helmet and not shoot a gun in downtown. 1612 01:08:07,599 --> 01:08:13,200 uh but if we can offer them things to do 1613 01:08:10,559 --> 01:08:16,080 uh or you all can do that uh and again 1614 01:08:13,200 --> 01:08:17,920 I'll say it uh and I 1615 01:08:16,080 --> 01:08:20,719 mean no disrespect by this but if this 1616 01:08:17,920 --> 01:08:24,400 committee can stay together uh and not 1617 01:08:20,719 --> 01:08:26,319 uh infight over things uh and really uh 1618 01:08:24,400 --> 01:08:29,600 remember that we're all trying to do the 1619 01:08:26,319 --> 01:08:32,640 same thing uh and help uh the kids out 1620 01:08:29,600 --> 01:08:34,400 in the community uh there are things 1621 01:08:32,640 --> 01:08:37,440 that can be done after school ba 1622 01:08:34,400 --> 01:08:39,759 basketball uh extracurricular activities 1623 01:08:37,440 --> 01:08:42,640 uh whatever you can be done that may not 1624 01:08:39,759 --> 01:08:47,279 even be super expensive. Uh just opening 1625 01:08:42,640 --> 01:08:49,679 up options uh to them. Uh work programs 1626 01:08:47,279 --> 01:08:51,520 uh things that help build some instill 1627 01:08:49,679 --> 01:08:53,600 within them a desire to work and make 1628 01:08:51,520 --> 01:08:56,080 money for themselves. Uh things that 1629 01:08:53,600 --> 01:08:58,480 they can do around town. Uh I know I've 1630 01:08:56,080 --> 01:09:01,199 had a conversation with somebody about 1631 01:08:58,480 --> 01:09:03,920 uh something like that. even if it's uh 1632 01:09:01,199 --> 01:09:05,759 school kids helping with graffiti or tra 1633 01:09:03,920 --> 01:09:08,400 I mean things that that you can get them 1634 01:09:05,759 --> 01:09:11,920 out there uh get them working build that 1635 01:09:08,400 --> 01:09:14,239 part of their personality uh or that 1636 01:09:11,920 --> 01:09:16,480 part of their character uh and provide 1637 01:09:14,239 --> 01:09:18,719 them things to do that are fun. Uh I was 1638 01:09:16,480 --> 01:09:21,199 at the basilica and my family were 1639 01:09:18,719 --> 01:09:24,000 getting ready to go into church and uh I 1640 01:09:21,199 --> 01:09:25,920 saw three kids playing soccer in the 1641 01:09:24,000 --> 01:09:28,239 parking lot that was completely lined 1642 01:09:25,920 --> 01:09:31,040 with vehicles uh losing the ball under 1643 01:09:28,239 --> 01:09:32,640 the under the uh the vehicles and then 1644 01:09:31,040 --> 01:09:34,799 being worried they might get in trouble 1645 01:09:32,640 --> 01:09:36,000 to go grab it. And all I can think is 1646 01:09:34,799 --> 01:09:38,159 there's going to be a better place for 1647 01:09:36,000 --> 01:09:40,560 them to play soccer uh because it it's 1648 01:09:38,159 --> 01:09:42,159 pretty clear they want to. Uh so I think 1649 01:09:40,560 --> 01:09:46,960 if we provide them the things that they 1650 01:09:42,159 --> 01:09:48,880 need uh to to be able to be active in 1651 01:09:46,960 --> 01:09:50,880 healthy activities, 1652 01:09:48,880 --> 01:09:52,719 I mean I know that's simple answer, 1653 01:09:50,880 --> 01:09:55,840 easier said than done, but I think 1654 01:09:52,719 --> 01:09:58,239 that's a part of it. 1655 01:09:55,840 --> 01:10:00,400 » Thank you. And one follow-up question. 1656 01:09:58,239 --> 01:10:02,320 Um 1657 01:10:00,400 --> 01:10:05,760 these children, these kids, these 1658 01:10:02,320 --> 01:10:07,760 juveniles, uh have spare time. Juveniles 1659 01:10:05,760 --> 01:10:10,560 do silly things in spare time, but they 1660 01:10:07,760 --> 01:10:12,880 also are incentivized. Have you, in your 1661 01:10:10,560 --> 01:10:15,360 experience, found that there are drivers 1662 01:10:12,880 --> 01:10:17,520 of this behavior. For example, I'm 1663 01:10:15,360 --> 01:10:19,840 leading the question now. Uh, do we have 1664 01:10:17,520 --> 01:10:22,960 drug activity that's encouraging our 1665 01:10:19,840 --> 01:10:24,960 youth in Lewon to go down these paths 1666 01:10:22,960 --> 01:10:27,920 that we're trying to block off so 1667 01:10:24,960 --> 01:10:29,760 diligently right now? 1668 01:10:27,920 --> 01:10:32,239 » So, I don't know if I can speak to that 1669 01:10:29,760 --> 01:10:35,199 on the grander scale, but do I see it in 1670 01:10:32,239 --> 01:10:37,440 situational instances? of course uh 1671 01:10:35,199 --> 01:10:39,600 there's drugs uh there's peer pressure 1672 01:10:37,440 --> 01:10:42,560 there's social media there's all kinds 1673 01:10:39,600 --> 01:10:45,679 of bad influences out there uh once they 1674 01:10:42,560 --> 01:10:48,719 leave their home which again uh is why I 1675 01:10:45,679 --> 01:10:50,560 think that that nurturing belongs begins 1676 01:10:48,719 --> 01:10:52,400 and should stay on some level within the 1677 01:10:50,560 --> 01:10:54,719 home uh because once they get out 1678 01:10:52,400 --> 01:10:56,880 they're exposed to uh again bad 1679 01:10:54,719 --> 01:10:59,520 influences peer pressure a desire to 1680 01:10:56,880 --> 01:11:04,080 elevate themselves within the community 1681 01:10:59,520 --> 01:11:05,920 um we I talked a little bit about not 1682 01:11:04,080 --> 01:11:07,199 being afraid being not being politically 1683 01:11:05,920 --> 01:11:09,840 correct and being afraid to say 1684 01:11:07,199 --> 01:11:12,560 something. I had a conversation uh once 1685 01:11:09,840 --> 01:11:14,880 about how to fix uh things and I used 1686 01:11:12,560 --> 01:11:16,880 the terms gangs and I was told to stop 1687 01:11:14,880 --> 01:11:20,080 saying that because that encourages 1688 01:11:16,880 --> 01:11:22,159 people uh to think they're in a gang and 1689 01:11:20,080 --> 01:11:24,159 I'm thinking they are in gangs. I don't 1690 01:11:22,159 --> 01:11:25,760 know what you what what part of that you 1691 01:11:24,159 --> 01:11:28,320 don't understand but uh we need to call 1692 01:11:25,760 --> 01:11:30,320 it what it is. Uh and that's what they 1693 01:11:28,320 --> 01:11:32,159 see. So they see that they see a free 1694 01:11:30,320 --> 01:11:34,960 pair of Nike sneakers to do something 1695 01:11:32,159 --> 01:11:36,880 stupid that they otherwise can't afford. 1696 01:11:34,960 --> 01:11:38,640 And that's a that's an adolescent thing. 1697 01:11:36,880 --> 01:11:41,920 We all could fall susceptible to that. 1698 01:11:38,640 --> 01:11:45,199 It's it's economics. It's impo it's it's 1699 01:11:41,920 --> 01:11:47,360 poverty. It's being in an area 1700 01:11:45,199 --> 01:11:50,400 very urban area that doesn't have a lot 1701 01:11:47,360 --> 01:11:52,560 to offer uh for outdoor activities. Uh 1702 01:11:50,400 --> 01:11:55,679 but yes, you see that on a small scale. 1703 01:11:52,560 --> 01:11:58,239 Drugs is always a problem. Uh drugs come 1704 01:11:55,679 --> 01:12:00,159 with guns. Guns come with drugs. So they 1705 01:11:58,239 --> 01:12:03,440 do interrelate I think on some level. I 1706 01:12:00,159 --> 01:12:05,760 don't know on what percentage of cases. 1707 01:12:03,440 --> 01:12:07,440 » Thank you very much 1708 01:12:05,760 --> 01:12:09,199 councelor Martell. 1709 01:12:07,440 --> 01:12:11,280 » Thank you Mr. Mayor. Thank you district 1710 01:12:09,199 --> 01:12:16,320 attorney uh man for being here your 1711 01:12:11,280 --> 01:12:18,640 presentation. Um first question. So 1712 01:12:16,320 --> 01:12:20,960 I I was told I I I guess you're the best 1713 01:12:18,640 --> 01:12:22,400 person to answer this. Uh I had a 1714 01:12:20,960 --> 01:12:24,800 conversation as someone relayed to me 1715 01:12:22,400 --> 01:12:26,800 that they believe there were statutes uh 1716 01:12:24,800 --> 01:12:29,920 from Augusta that limit how long a 1717 01:12:26,800 --> 01:12:32,560 juvenile can be held prior to conviction 1718 01:12:29,920 --> 01:12:34,800 and sentencing on a crime. Is there any 1719 01:12:32,560 --> 01:12:36,480 any truth to that or is there anything 1720 01:12:34,800 --> 01:12:38,320 uh I guess that what I'm trying to dig 1721 01:12:36,480 --> 01:12:40,880 down on is how are these kids shooting 1722 01:12:38,320 --> 01:12:43,120 up our city on Friday and back at the 1723 01:12:40,880 --> 01:12:45,679 dinner table on Monday so consistently 1724 01:12:43,120 --> 01:12:48,239 or maybe not at the dinner table but out 1725 01:12:45,679 --> 01:12:49,679 shooting again on Monday? 1726 01:12:48,239 --> 01:12:51,440 » No. And I I think that's one of the 1727 01:12:49,679 --> 01:12:53,760 greatest frustrations. Uh and I think 1728 01:12:51,440 --> 01:12:55,520 you will hear a speaker that will know 1729 01:12:53,760 --> 01:12:58,000 much more about the statutes as they 1730 01:12:55,520 --> 01:13:00,960 relate to DOC. I think uh they will have 1731 01:12:58,000 --> 01:13:04,400 a probably a better uh more meaningful 1732 01:13:00,960 --> 01:13:06,880 answer. Um you can hold a kid, a kid can 1733 01:13:04,400 --> 01:13:08,880 be detained at Long Creek uh pending 1734 01:13:06,880 --> 01:13:10,880 hearing. It's just about the criteria 1735 01:13:08,880 --> 01:13:13,360 that needs to be met. And uh the 1736 01:13:10,880 --> 01:13:15,760 juvenile justice system is about least 1737 01:13:13,360 --> 01:13:18,640 restrictive. Uh so as long as there's an 1738 01:13:15,760 --> 01:13:21,280 alternative uh and I think again 1739 01:13:18,640 --> 01:13:25,040 personally maybe to a flaw as long as 1740 01:13:21,280 --> 01:13:27,199 there's an alternative an aunt cousin uh 1741 01:13:25,040 --> 01:13:29,679 a friend that's responsible uh the 1742 01:13:27,199 --> 01:13:32,159 JCCOs's are going to do their best uh to 1743 01:13:29,679 --> 01:13:34,320 find a place for them not to be in Long 1744 01:13:32,159 --> 01:13:36,960 Creek because there is a belief uh that 1745 01:13:34,320 --> 01:13:39,040 they don't really get a lot of positive 1746 01:13:36,960 --> 01:13:40,960 experiences in Long Creek and they are 1747 01:13:39,040 --> 01:13:42,480 still juveniles. I'm not defending it 1748 01:13:40,960 --> 01:13:45,360 but that's I think that's sort of the 1749 01:13:42,480 --> 01:13:47,199 philosophy. Uh so no I I don't there is 1750 01:13:45,360 --> 01:13:49,520 no no rule that says they can't be 1751 01:13:47,199 --> 01:13:53,520 detained until a hearing. Uh in fact it 1752 01:13:49,520 --> 01:13:55,679 does happen. Uh but there are there are 1753 01:13:53,520 --> 01:13:58,320 trigger dates you know after they are 1754 01:13:55,679 --> 01:14:00,640 picked up 48 hours to be seen by a 1755 01:13:58,320 --> 01:14:03,040 judge. Um 1756 01:14:00,640 --> 01:14:06,400 quite frankly if a juvenile is detained 1757 01:14:03,040 --> 01:14:09,199 there are regular uh reassessments or we 1758 01:14:06,400 --> 01:14:10,719 revisit it every 30 days. uh next 1759 01:14:09,199 --> 01:14:12,640 juvenile date, we're looking at it again 1760 01:14:10,719 --> 01:14:15,600 and saying, "Did you find a place? Are 1761 01:14:12,640 --> 01:14:17,679 there some resources uh that we can put 1762 01:14:15,600 --> 01:14:20,560 in place while they're out that will be 1763 01:14:17,679 --> 01:14:23,440 helpful?" Uh someone here uh mentioned 1764 01:14:20,560 --> 01:14:27,280 to me ankle bracelets uh or ankle 1765 01:14:23,440 --> 01:14:28,880 monitors, I should say. Uh we we uh we 1766 01:14:27,280 --> 01:14:30,640 used to use those in Waldo County. 1767 01:14:28,880 --> 01:14:31,840 They're effective. Uh but you need 1768 01:14:30,640 --> 01:14:33,040 somebody to pay for them. You need 1769 01:14:31,840 --> 01:14:35,040 somebody to monitor them. It's usually 1770 01:14:33,040 --> 01:14:36,800 one of the departments. Uh typically 1771 01:14:35,040 --> 01:14:39,199 it's been the sheriff's departments in 1772 01:14:36,800 --> 01:14:42,320 places I've been. Uh but that's that's 1773 01:14:39,199 --> 01:14:45,679 worth a discussion. The problem is 1774 01:14:42,320 --> 01:14:48,480 nobody believes pre-commitment. 1775 01:14:45,679 --> 01:14:51,199 Uh nobody 1776 01:14:48,480 --> 01:14:53,040 in a meaningful place position. I I do 1777 01:14:51,199 --> 01:14:55,280 believe there are juveniles that belong 1778 01:14:53,040 --> 01:14:58,560 detained until hearings. Absolutely. Uh 1779 01:14:55,280 --> 01:15:00,159 but in I think most people uh with some 1780 01:14:58,560 --> 01:15:01,520 exceptions believe it's not a good 1781 01:15:00,159 --> 01:15:04,320 place. We should get them out, get them 1782 01:15:01,520 --> 01:15:06,320 to a place where they can uh 1783 01:15:04,320 --> 01:15:07,760 rehabilitate uh while they wait for the 1784 01:15:06,320 --> 01:15:09,199 hearing. Of course, they're they're 1785 01:15:07,760 --> 01:15:11,600 innocent at that point. They haven't 1786 01:15:09,199 --> 01:15:14,400 been adjudicated of anything. Uh and 1787 01:15:11,600 --> 01:15:16,880 that is what you see. Um you see them 1788 01:15:14,400 --> 01:15:20,080 being released uh usually with 1789 01:15:16,880 --> 01:15:22,960 conditions of release uh with a JCCO to 1790 01:15:20,080 --> 01:15:25,520 monitor uh monitor them while they're 1791 01:15:22,960 --> 01:15:27,360 out. Uh that is another thing we I did 1792 01:15:25,520 --> 01:15:30,080 not address, but it goes to this point. 1793 01:15:27,360 --> 01:15:32,800 We need DHS to step up uh when people 1794 01:15:30,080 --> 01:15:35,440 are found incompetent. I think we have a 1795 01:15:32,800 --> 01:15:37,920 horrible system in place to uh to help 1796 01:15:35,440 --> 01:15:39,120 kids. Uh just because they're 1797 01:15:37,920 --> 01:15:40,480 incompetent doesn't mean they should 1798 01:15:39,120 --> 01:15:42,719 just be thrown back out on the street. 1799 01:15:40,480 --> 01:15:45,920 Uh and DHS should do should do a better 1800 01:15:42,719 --> 01:15:48,719 job of working with them. Uh and 1801 01:15:45,920 --> 01:15:50,800 resources generally. Uh we need whether 1802 01:15:48,719 --> 01:15:53,199 it be an ankle monitor or some other 1803 01:15:50,800 --> 01:15:55,840 system in place. Uh those are resource 1804 01:15:53,199 --> 01:15:57,679 driven and again those cost money but 1805 01:15:55,840 --> 01:16:00,400 those are the things I think would make 1806 01:15:57,679 --> 01:16:02,480 people feel safer. 1807 01:16:00,400 --> 01:16:05,040 Thank you. Um I do believe that there is 1808 01:16:02,480 --> 01:16:06,960 some flawed logic in that. So we want 1809 01:16:05,040 --> 01:16:09,040 especially for juveniles for the 1810 01:16:06,960 --> 01:16:12,159 criminal justice system to be 1811 01:16:09,040 --> 01:16:17,280 rehabilitative and that makes sense. But 1812 01:16:12,159 --> 01:16:20,480 the idea that we're going to avoid um 1813 01:16:17,280 --> 01:16:23,920 holding these juveniles at all costs for 1814 01:16:20,480 --> 01:16:25,679 every possibility. So the at least 1815 01:16:23,920 --> 01:16:27,360 myself I struggle with the idea that 1816 01:16:25,679 --> 01:16:28,800 okay so it's not good for these kids. 1817 01:16:27,360 --> 01:16:30,800 there's not a lot of good happening for 1818 01:16:28,800 --> 01:16:32,159 them uh if they're at Long Creek. 1819 01:16:30,800 --> 01:16:33,760 There's not a lot of good happening in 1820 01:16:32,159 --> 01:16:36,080 our community when they're released back 1821 01:16:33,760 --> 01:16:38,640 out to it. And when bullets fly and they 1822 01:16:36,080 --> 01:16:40,719 don't discriminate against who they hit, 1823 01:16:38,640 --> 01:16:42,159 um I think at some point we we have to 1824 01:16:40,719 --> 01:16:44,000 look at the good of the community over 1825 01:16:42,159 --> 01:16:45,280 the good of the individual. Uh the good 1826 01:16:44,000 --> 01:16:51,360 of the many over the good of the 1827 01:16:45,280 --> 01:16:53,600 individual sometimes. Um and 1828 01:16:51,360 --> 01:16:56,960 you know, I hear you talk about programs 1829 01:16:53,600 --> 01:16:58,560 and alternatives and options. Um, you 1830 01:16:56,960 --> 01:17:00,800 know, the carrot and stick approach only 1831 01:16:58,560 --> 01:17:02,960 works when you have a proper stick. And 1832 01:17:00,800 --> 01:17:05,040 I think that 1833 01:17:02,960 --> 01:17:07,520 um, you know, I think so, so an example 1834 01:17:05,040 --> 01:17:09,520 like ankle monitors sounds 1835 01:17:07,520 --> 01:17:12,400 like a like a great idea, could be 1836 01:17:09,520 --> 01:17:16,159 expensive. Um, if kids are shooting up 1837 01:17:12,400 --> 01:17:18,320 our city and they're not being held for 1838 01:17:16,159 --> 01:17:20,000 doing so, uh, if they cut off their 1839 01:17:18,320 --> 01:17:23,280 ankle monitor, their very expensive 1840 01:17:20,000 --> 01:17:24,719 ankle monitor, uh, what what's the 1841 01:17:23,280 --> 01:17:26,719 punishment for that? I I would argue 1842 01:17:24,719 --> 01:17:28,640 that shooting at someone is worse than 1843 01:17:26,719 --> 01:17:30,880 cutting off an ankle monitor. So, if 1844 01:17:28,640 --> 01:17:32,159 we're not holding kids or juveniles for 1845 01:17:30,880 --> 01:17:33,760 shooting, 1846 01:17:32,159 --> 01:17:35,040 » Uh we're going to have time for general 1847 01:17:33,760 --> 01:17:35,360 comments later. Do you have any other 1848 01:17:35,040 --> 01:17:37,360 questions? 1849 01:17:35,360 --> 01:17:40,159 » Yes, I do have another question. Um you 1850 01:17:37,360 --> 01:17:43,920 you uh you and the chief spoke about 1851 01:17:40,159 --> 01:17:46,560 Augusta and legislation in statute. Uh 1852 01:17:43,920 --> 01:17:48,080 what's the most uh can can you point out 1853 01:17:46,560 --> 01:17:51,920 a couple statutes right now that you 1854 01:17:48,080 --> 01:17:54,400 find make it difficult to um prosecute 1855 01:17:51,920 --> 01:17:56,960 or hold some of these uh more serious 1856 01:17:54,400 --> 01:17:59,040 violent offenders 1857 01:17:56,960 --> 01:18:00,880 » And don the juvenile offenders? 1858 01:17:59,040 --> 01:18:02,400 » Yeah. What could be changed that that is 1859 01:18:00,880 --> 01:18:03,679 in place now that would help you do your 1860 01:18:02,400 --> 01:18:05,920 job and protect the community a little 1861 01:18:03,679 --> 01:18:08,640 bit more from your your job? 1862 01:18:05,920 --> 01:18:11,040 » Yeah. And so to be clear uh it is a 1863 01:18:08,640 --> 01:18:12,800 system problem. Uh so when I was giving 1864 01:18:11,040 --> 01:18:15,040 those examples, that's the system 1865 01:18:12,800 --> 01:18:16,719 speaking. You did a very good job of 1866 01:18:15,040 --> 01:18:18,400 making the argument we make when we're 1867 01:18:16,719 --> 01:18:20,800 before the judge. Those are the 1868 01:18:18,400 --> 01:18:23,920 arguments we make. Uh but those aren't 1869 01:18:20,800 --> 01:18:27,520 necessarily the arguments that win. Uh 1870 01:18:23,920 --> 01:18:30,000 the the statutes, as I said, I'd love uh 1871 01:18:27,520 --> 01:18:32,320 for us to revisit the the competency 1872 01:18:30,000 --> 01:18:35,840 statute. I think that's turning that's 1873 01:18:32,320 --> 01:18:37,600 providing a lot of uh problems right now 1874 01:18:35,840 --> 01:18:39,679 and I think it makes sense to revisit 1875 01:18:37,600 --> 01:18:43,840 the language at the very least the 1876 01:18:39,679 --> 01:18:46,159 requirements uh the detention uh so uh 1877 01:18:43,840 --> 01:18:48,640 JCCOs are very limited in how they can 1878 01:18:46,159 --> 01:18:51,920 detain somebody they're very strict 1879 01:18:48,640 --> 01:18:54,239 criteria on what they can do uh to hold 1880 01:18:51,920 --> 01:18:55,760 somebody that Lewon PD or any other PD 1881 01:18:54,239 --> 01:18:57,920 picks up at 2 in the morning and if they 1882 01:18:55,760 --> 01:19:00,239 don't meet that criteria uh they're sent 1883 01:18:57,920 --> 01:19:01,760 back to the home not because the JCCO 1884 01:19:00,239 --> 01:19:03,760 wants to, but because it's not within 1885 01:19:01,760 --> 01:19:05,920 the statute for them to hold. So, that's 1886 01:19:03,760 --> 01:19:08,800 something that we should look at. Uh, we 1887 01:19:05,920 --> 01:19:10,880 have the ability to override them. Uh, 1888 01:19:08,800 --> 01:19:13,040 and we do. We do it respectfully. We do 1889 01:19:10,880 --> 01:19:15,280 it in communications. Uh, our 1890 01:19:13,040 --> 01:19:17,440 prosecutors regularly will say the law 1891 01:19:15,280 --> 01:19:19,280 enforcement will override them. Only 1892 01:19:17,440 --> 01:19:22,080 problem is we only override them until 1893 01:19:19,280 --> 01:19:24,880 the next hearing 48 hours later because 1894 01:19:22,080 --> 01:19:26,960 then it's the same process. Uh, and if 1895 01:19:24,880 --> 01:19:29,040 we haven't checked those boxes, we made 1896 01:19:26,960 --> 01:19:31,040 the community safe for the weekend. uh 1897 01:19:29,040 --> 01:19:33,679 in our opinion, but we haven't made any 1898 01:19:31,040 --> 01:19:36,880 long-term gain. So maybe revisiting what 1899 01:19:33,679 --> 01:19:39,520 that looks like. Uh maybe restructuring 1900 01:19:36,880 --> 01:19:41,600 uh how a JCCO can give them more 1901 01:19:39,520 --> 01:19:43,360 flexibility about detaining people 1902 01:19:41,600 --> 01:19:45,920 initially. It's not just the gun 1903 01:19:43,360 --> 01:19:48,000 charges. It's a kid out stealing a car 1904 01:19:45,920 --> 01:19:50,800 and driving it and not stopping for law 1905 01:19:48,000 --> 01:19:54,000 enforcement. uh and you pull them over 1906 01:19:50,800 --> 01:19:55,760 and again that should be a felony but if 1907 01:19:54,000 --> 01:19:57,600 if they are released they're going right 1908 01:19:55,760 --> 01:20:00,000 back to the home they just snuck out to 1909 01:19:57,600 --> 01:20:02,640 to steal the car. Uh so we should look 1910 01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:06,400 at that statue. Uh I think a lot of 1911 01:20:02,640 --> 01:20:09,520 statutes need to be looked at but 1912 01:20:06,400 --> 01:20:11,360 um and then lastly real quick um so do 1913 01:20:09,520 --> 01:20:12,960 these non-competitity 1914 01:20:11,360 --> 01:20:17,440 non-competency 1915 01:20:12,960 --> 01:20:19,679 tags uh definitions or so once a once a 1916 01:20:17,440 --> 01:20:21,520 juvenile has had that that they're not 1917 01:20:19,679 --> 01:20:24,320 competent does that follow them for 1918 01:20:21,520 --> 01:20:26,800 further cases? So is that if if say it's 1919 01:20:24,320 --> 01:20:29,120 a crime one deemed not competent when 1920 01:20:26,800 --> 01:20:31,440 they come back if they come back say 3 1921 01:20:29,120 --> 01:20:34,560 weeks later on another felony level or 1922 01:20:31,440 --> 01:20:35,840 gunrelated or or not crime uh I imagine 1923 01:20:34,560 --> 01:20:37,679 is that the first thing the defense 1924 01:20:35,840 --> 01:20:40,239 attorney goes to is like this person is 1925 01:20:37,679 --> 01:20:43,280 not competent is that does that hurt in 1926 01:20:40,239 --> 01:20:44,800 future charges in future prosecutions 1927 01:20:43,280 --> 01:20:46,400 » I think if they're within the year of 1928 01:20:44,800 --> 01:20:47,520 that finding it does 1929 01:20:46,400 --> 01:20:49,199 » Okay 1930 01:20:47,520 --> 01:20:50,000 » But that's true of the adult system as 1931 01:20:49,199 --> 01:20:52,239 well by the way 1932 01:20:50,000 --> 01:20:54,640 » So it's not on a case by case basis it 1933 01:20:52,239 --> 01:20:56,880 stay with that defendant throughout 1934 01:20:54,640 --> 01:20:58,239 multiple charges. 1935 01:20:56,880 --> 01:20:59,520 » Uh, usually if they have multiple 1936 01:20:58,239 --> 01:21:00,960 charges, depending if I'm hearing you 1937 01:20:59,520 --> 01:21:02,800 correctly, we would we would do it for 1938 01:21:00,960 --> 01:21:05,360 all of them. They would all be dealt 1939 01:21:02,800 --> 01:21:06,320 with as a as a global or as an aggregate 1940 01:21:05,360 --> 01:21:09,520 sum. 1941 01:21:06,320 --> 01:21:12,320 » Thank you very much, 1942 01:21:09,520 --> 01:21:13,840 » Councelor Naene. Back to you. 1943 01:21:12,320 --> 01:21:16,239 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to 1944 01:21:13,840 --> 01:21:18,960 follow up uh on the competency uh piece 1945 01:21:16,239 --> 01:21:21,679 as well. So, ju just to verify, if a 1946 01:21:18,960 --> 01:21:22,800 juvenile is uh is deemed to be 1947 01:21:21,679 --> 01:21:25,440 incompetent, that means they're 1948 01:21:22,800 --> 01:21:28,640 incompetent to stand trial or they're 1949 01:21:25,440 --> 01:21:30,400 incompetent to be held accountable 1950 01:21:28,640 --> 01:21:32,400 through the criminal system. 1951 01:21:30,400 --> 01:21:34,480 » They're held incompetent to appear for a 1952 01:21:32,400 --> 01:21:36,800 hearing to be part of a hearing. 1953 01:21:34,480 --> 01:21:39,199 » So, so a case that's brought forward for 1954 01:21:36,800 --> 01:21:41,600 somebody who's decide when somebody has 1955 01:21:39,199 --> 01:21:43,920 decided 1956 01:21:41,600 --> 01:21:45,360 incompetent, they never actually go 1957 01:21:43,920 --> 01:21:47,199 through a trial process at all. So 1958 01:21:45,360 --> 01:21:48,080 there's no alternative sentencing or any 1959 01:21:47,199 --> 01:21:51,040 of those pieces 1960 01:21:48,080 --> 01:21:54,159 » Unless they re regain competency. There 1961 01:21:51,040 --> 01:21:57,040 are things I think this goes back to DHS 1962 01:21:54,159 --> 01:21:58,639 uh and again I'm not the expert as I 1963 01:21:57,040 --> 01:22:01,199 should be because it's not a case load I 1964 01:21:58,639 --> 01:22:03,040 regularly carry but I think there uh in 1965 01:22:01,199 --> 01:22:07,120 the interim the judge does have the 1966 01:22:03,040 --> 01:22:10,000 ability to order some DHS or involvement 1967 01:22:07,120 --> 01:22:13,199 uh that would provide some uh some 1968 01:22:10,000 --> 01:22:14,400 structure uh or treatment maybe things 1969 01:22:13,199 --> 01:22:17,679 that might so if they're found 1970 01:22:14,400 --> 01:22:20,000 incompetent but the uh the evaluator 1971 01:22:17,679 --> 01:22:23,440 says these three things would might help 1972 01:22:20,000 --> 01:22:26,960 them regain competency. Uh then a judge 1973 01:22:23,440 --> 01:22:31,520 uh can uh order that they maybe have 1974 01:22:26,960 --> 01:22:33,520 those uh treatment uh poss treatment uh 1975 01:22:31,520 --> 01:22:34,960 options available to them. It doesn't 1976 01:22:33,520 --> 01:22:37,600 mean they get them, but I think that's 1977 01:22:34,960 --> 01:22:38,719 that's something the court uh might be a 1978 01:22:37,600 --> 01:22:40,639 question for the court. I think that 1979 01:22:38,719 --> 01:22:42,239 frustrates them some. 1980 01:22:40,639 --> 01:22:44,000 » Thank you. I appreciate that. I'm just 1981 01:22:42,239 --> 01:22:45,679 very surprised that it actually stops 1982 01:22:44,000 --> 01:22:47,760 the criminal justice system and then 1983 01:22:45,679 --> 01:22:48,480 also doesn't force alternative 1984 01:22:47,760 --> 01:22:50,560 treatment. 1985 01:22:48,480 --> 01:22:52,800 » It pardons it. Yeah, I think the 1986 01:22:50,560 --> 01:22:55,600 language I use it pauses it. Y 1987 01:22:52,800 --> 01:22:56,960 » Thank you, 1988 01:22:55,600 --> 01:23:00,239 Councelor Long Champs. 1989 01:22:56,960 --> 01:23:02,800 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, 1990 01:23:00,239 --> 01:23:04,719 this is quite disturbing. Um, and it 1991 01:23:02,800 --> 01:23:06,800 seems like that's 1992 01:23:04,719 --> 01:23:08,239 » Sorry, D. Mlan, do you mind turning off 1993 01:23:06,800 --> 01:23:09,440 your mic while you're not speaking? 1994 01:23:08,239 --> 01:23:12,320 Okay, thank you. 1995 01:23:09,440 --> 01:23:14,400 » It it appears as though that may be one 1996 01:23:12,320 --> 01:23:18,320 of our biggest issues that we're running 1997 01:23:14,400 --> 01:23:21,120 up against. So, I would ask um 1998 01:23:18,320 --> 01:23:25,280 how do we go about trying to get a 1999 01:23:21,120 --> 01:23:28,400 meeting with the right people to see how 2000 01:23:25,280 --> 01:23:31,040 we can tweak some of these uh uh laws 2001 01:23:28,400 --> 01:23:32,639 and policies. Uh again, I don't think 2002 01:23:31,040 --> 01:23:35,120 this is something that should wait a 2003 01:23:32,639 --> 01:23:38,320 year or two years. Uh I think this is 2004 01:23:35,120 --> 01:23:40,480 something that if possible, um we get 2005 01:23:38,320 --> 01:23:42,560 that meeting going right away. So, I I 2006 01:23:40,480 --> 01:23:44,320 don't know how we can help as council uh 2007 01:23:42,560 --> 01:23:46,639 to make that loud and clear, but I'm 2008 01:23:44,320 --> 01:23:49,639 pretty much suggesting that loud and 2009 01:23:46,639 --> 01:23:49,639 clear 2010 01:23:51,199 --> 01:23:55,040 » If we can have the audience members uh 2011 01:23:53,600 --> 01:23:58,560 refrain from speaking. We're going to 2012 01:23:55,040 --> 01:24:01,520 have public comment later. 2013 01:23:58,560 --> 01:24:03,679 » So, we in the past, Lewon PD and and uh 2014 01:24:01,520 --> 01:24:06,960 my office has met with our delegation in 2015 01:24:03,679 --> 01:24:09,040 the past uh the Lewon uh delegation from 2016 01:24:06,960 --> 01:24:12,320 Augusta and discussed things. I think we 2017 01:24:09,040 --> 01:24:14,239 did some legislation for guns in school 2018 01:24:12,320 --> 01:24:16,639 uh and Jake was a part of that as well. 2019 01:24:14,239 --> 01:24:18,480 So, we've had success doing that. Uh so, 2020 01:24:16,639 --> 01:24:20,159 we can meet with the delegation, but 2021 01:24:18,480 --> 01:24:23,040 what we ultimately need to do is find 2022 01:24:20,159 --> 01:24:25,840 someone within the legislature uh that 2023 01:24:23,040 --> 01:24:27,920 is willing to uh propose a bill for that 2024 01:24:25,840 --> 01:24:31,080 change. That's how I think we typically 2025 01:24:27,920 --> 01:24:31,080 do it. 2026 01:24:32,719 --> 01:24:37,600 » Thank you. Um, so that would be my 2027 01:24:35,120 --> 01:24:39,520 suggestion is that we find someone that 2028 01:24:37,600 --> 01:24:43,679 is willing to do that if that is our 2029 01:24:39,520 --> 01:24:45,199 only path forward. Um, and uh, get that 2030 01:24:43,679 --> 01:24:48,000 ball rolling because again that seems 2031 01:24:45,199 --> 01:24:50,560 like that's a pretty big wall that's um, 2032 01:24:48,000 --> 01:24:52,560 that's holding up a lot of um, 2033 01:24:50,560 --> 01:24:55,040 accountability which is a serious 2034 01:24:52,560 --> 01:24:56,159 problem and I really appreciate the 2035 01:24:55,040 --> 01:24:59,600 statements that you said that 2036 01:24:56,159 --> 01:25:03,199 accountability um, to me is a form of 2037 01:24:59,600 --> 01:25:04,800 caring about someone. um if we continue 2038 01:25:03,199 --> 01:25:09,600 to 2039 01:25:04,800 --> 01:25:11,600 um let these juveniles um 2040 01:25:09,600 --> 01:25:12,719 in my opinion fall through the cracks 2041 01:25:11,600 --> 01:25:14,560 because we're not holding them 2042 01:25:12,719 --> 01:25:18,000 accountable is showing them really that 2043 01:25:14,560 --> 01:25:20,960 that that we don't care. Um so thank 2044 01:25:18,000 --> 01:25:25,480 you. 2045 01:25:20,960 --> 01:25:25,480 » Uh further questions from the council 2046 01:25:26,000 --> 01:25:31,159 » DA. Thank you so much for being here. We 2047 01:25:27,760 --> 01:25:31,159 appreciate you. 2048 01:25:31,199 --> 01:25:34,760 We will now 2049 01:25:36,159 --> 01:25:40,960 we will now hear from uh our very own 2050 01:25:39,199 --> 01:25:44,440 Superintendent Jin Lingless. If you can 2051 01:25:40,960 --> 01:25:44,440 please join us. 2052 01:25:55,040 --> 01:25:58,560 Let's start by saying thank you to 2053 01:25:56,639 --> 01:26:00,320 everyone for being here. um being 2054 01:25:58,560 --> 01:26:02,639 mindful of time. I think community voice 2055 01:26:00,320 --> 01:26:04,639 is incredibly important. Um I was 2056 01:26:02,639 --> 01:26:06,719 looking over my slides as we as we were 2057 01:26:04,639 --> 01:26:08,400 listening. So without being repetitive, 2058 01:26:06,719 --> 01:26:10,159 I've removed a number of things, but if 2059 01:26:08,400 --> 01:26:11,440 anyone has questions uh following or 2060 01:26:10,159 --> 01:26:13,280 down the road, please feel free to reach 2061 01:26:11,440 --> 01:26:15,760 out to me. Uh but I do want to be 2062 01:26:13,280 --> 01:26:17,120 mindful of time. 2063 01:26:15,760 --> 01:26:19,360 I want to start by saying we can't give 2064 01:26:17,120 --> 01:26:21,679 up on our kids. Um they are the most 2065 01:26:19,360 --> 01:26:24,639 proximate to their choices and we have 2066 01:26:21,679 --> 01:26:26,800 to remember that. um there there's no 2067 01:26:24,639 --> 01:26:30,480 place to send people that it just fixes 2068 01:26:26,800 --> 01:26:32,480 everything. Uh so we have to be mindful 2069 01:26:30,480 --> 01:26:34,159 also that kids influence each other more 2070 01:26:32,480 --> 01:26:36,239 than you may realize. I know from a 2071 01:26:34,159 --> 01:26:38,320 school perspective we hear a lot from 2072 01:26:36,239 --> 01:26:40,400 kids who have seen something who have 2073 01:26:38,320 --> 01:26:42,320 said something. Uh and so it's it's a 2074 01:26:40,400 --> 01:26:44,719 powerful tool. We're growing that in our 2075 01:26:42,320 --> 01:26:46,480 community. We worked with LPD on it uh 2076 01:26:44,719 --> 01:26:48,639 as well. 2077 01:26:46,480 --> 01:26:51,120 And that research tells us uh done a lot 2078 01:26:48,639 --> 01:26:52,480 of looking lately that success can be 2079 01:26:51,120 --> 01:26:53,760 found in communities that are facing 2080 01:26:52,480 --> 01:26:56,800 these kinds of challenges through 2081 01:26:53,760 --> 01:26:58,320 multis- sector collaboration amongst all 2082 01:26:56,800 --> 01:26:59,920 uh all of us everyone in the room 2083 01:26:58,320 --> 01:27:01,280 families uh from parenting all the way 2084 01:26:59,920 --> 01:27:03,840 up through schools businesses and 2085 01:27:01,280 --> 01:27:05,679 others. 2086 01:27:03,840 --> 01:27:08,080 I do want to talk about some of the 2087 01:27:05,679 --> 01:27:09,440 lines that we can draw as a school and 2088 01:27:08,080 --> 01:27:11,120 I'll I'll spare the legislation 2089 01:27:09,440 --> 01:27:12,320 conversation but whoever gets elected I 2090 01:27:11,120 --> 01:27:14,960 have a number of things I'd love to 2091 01:27:12,320 --> 01:27:17,840 submit for legislation. Um but just to 2092 01:27:14,960 --> 01:27:20,480 start with what lines can a school hold? 2093 01:27:17,840 --> 01:27:23,520 Um we became frustrated uh the school 2094 01:27:20,480 --> 01:27:25,920 committee uh and I and and city uh 2095 01:27:23,520 --> 01:27:27,679 school leadership with the fact that 2096 01:27:25,920 --> 01:27:30,000 there's been a number of tools stripped 2097 01:27:27,679 --> 01:27:32,000 away from us. Uh but there's there's the 2098 01:27:30,000 --> 01:27:35,280 one tool that remains is that you can 2099 01:27:32,000 --> 01:27:37,360 take kids uh through a due process um 2100 01:27:35,280 --> 01:27:40,000 that has intervention layers at school, 2101 01:27:37,360 --> 01:27:41,840 intervention layers uh with me and then 2102 01:27:40,000 --> 01:27:44,480 ultimately you can take kids to what is 2103 01:27:41,840 --> 01:27:46,080 considered a quasi judicial process 2104 01:27:44,480 --> 01:27:47,920 which is a disciplinary hearing with the 2105 01:27:46,080 --> 01:27:50,000 school committee. There's a number of 2106 01:27:47,920 --> 01:27:52,800 steps involved. Um, but anytime there is 2107 01:27:50,000 --> 01:27:55,360 a firearm or a serious violent incident 2108 01:27:52,800 --> 01:27:57,120 that connects to our kids and I have to 2109 01:27:55,360 --> 01:27:58,960 think of the kids sitting sitting next 2110 01:27:57,120 --> 01:28:01,040 to maybe one of your students in math 2111 01:27:58,960 --> 01:28:03,199 class on Tuesday after being released. 2112 01:28:01,040 --> 01:28:05,920 We've decided that that's not an option. 2113 01:28:03,199 --> 01:28:08,400 And so we have uh taken steps to draw 2114 01:28:05,920 --> 01:28:10,159 those lines. It's not perfect. I don't 2115 01:28:08,400 --> 01:28:12,080 think expelling a student fixes 2116 01:28:10,159 --> 01:28:14,080 everything. Uh but I do think we need to 2117 01:28:12,080 --> 01:28:17,199 have lines and we'll continue to work 2118 01:28:14,080 --> 01:28:19,360 through that. When students are expelled 2119 01:28:17,199 --> 01:28:21,760 from Lewis public schools, there is an 2120 01:28:19,360 --> 01:28:24,480 opportunity for a re-entry plan and we 2121 01:28:21,760 --> 01:28:27,600 have not given up on that investment. 2122 01:28:24,480 --> 01:28:29,440 And so I wanted to share that it's nice 2123 01:28:27,600 --> 01:28:32,159 to say that we draw a line, but it 2124 01:28:29,440 --> 01:28:34,080 doesn't fix any problems. Uh and so we 2125 01:28:32,159 --> 01:28:35,840 continue to work with specific re-entry 2126 01:28:34,080 --> 01:28:38,800 plans with kids that we develop together 2127 01:28:35,840 --> 01:28:40,480 with them knowing their full situation. 2128 01:28:38,800 --> 01:28:42,800 Uh there are volunteer requirements, 2129 01:28:40,480 --> 01:28:43,840 counseling requirements often. Uh we do 2130 01:28:42,800 --> 01:28:46,159 have opportunities for teaching and 2131 01:28:43,840 --> 01:28:48,560 learning and and share some uh novel 2132 01:28:46,159 --> 01:28:49,840 experiences with community partners and 2133 01:28:48,560 --> 01:28:51,280 there there's still an opportunity for 2134 01:28:49,840 --> 01:28:52,480 some kids to earn at least a limited 2135 01:28:51,280 --> 01:28:55,120 amount of credit because we don't want 2136 01:28:52,480 --> 01:28:56,639 them to just work on self and lose full 2137 01:28:55,120 --> 01:28:59,040 progress on school because what happens 2138 01:28:56,639 --> 01:29:01,920 is they'll drop out and we've just 2139 01:28:59,040 --> 01:29:04,239 reinvented the same issue uh likely down 2140 01:29:01,920 --> 01:29:07,280 the road. 2141 01:29:04,239 --> 01:29:09,840 But also note that some kids have done 2142 01:29:07,280 --> 01:29:11,120 something or things that's gotten them 2143 01:29:09,840 --> 01:29:12,880 to a point where they have work to do 2144 01:29:11,120 --> 01:29:14,880 before they can even access the re-entry 2145 01:29:12,880 --> 01:29:16,320 plan. So it's not really common 2146 01:29:14,880 --> 01:29:17,440 knowledge unless you're living it as a 2147 01:29:16,320 --> 01:29:19,760 student or if maybe you're a school 2148 01:29:17,440 --> 01:29:21,840 committee member who's held the line. Um 2149 01:29:19,760 --> 01:29:24,159 but there are steps to these processes 2150 01:29:21,840 --> 01:29:26,639 and we do um work hard to hold those 2151 01:29:24,159 --> 01:29:27,920 lines. 2152 01:29:26,639 --> 01:29:31,080 I also want to share some things that 2153 01:29:27,920 --> 01:29:31,080 I'm hearing. 2154 01:29:31,120 --> 01:29:34,639 I had a kid tell me recently who was 2155 01:29:32,880 --> 01:29:36,800 involved in a firearm incident, which I 2156 01:29:34,639 --> 01:29:39,199 have a a unique role in which I get to 2157 01:29:36,800 --> 01:29:40,560 talk to them as as students and try to 2158 01:29:39,199 --> 01:29:42,239 figure out what's the next best thing 2159 01:29:40,560 --> 01:29:43,440 for them. And I'm also the person who 2160 01:29:42,239 --> 01:29:45,920 makes the decision whether or not they 2161 01:29:43,440 --> 01:29:47,040 go to a disciplinary hearing, but I do 2162 01:29:45,920 --> 01:29:48,639 try to build relationships with the kids 2163 01:29:47,040 --> 01:29:49,840 and and really just talk about what's 2164 01:29:48,639 --> 01:29:51,040 going on in your world and try to 2165 01:29:49,840 --> 01:29:53,199 navigate and problem solve everything 2166 01:29:51,040 --> 01:29:54,560 that we can. But I had a kid tell me 2167 01:29:53,199 --> 01:29:56,800 recently who was involved in a firearm 2168 01:29:54,560 --> 01:29:59,520 incident that the way he gets guns is he 2169 01:29:56,800 --> 01:30:01,120 profiles vehicles. He looks for things 2170 01:29:59,520 --> 01:30:02,880 that are unlocked. He's not stealing 2171 01:30:01,120 --> 01:30:04,880 money. He's not anything else. Just look 2172 01:30:02,880 --> 01:30:06,719 for a firearm. But he said he'll look 2173 01:30:04,880 --> 01:30:09,040 for trucks. And trucks are commonly 2174 01:30:06,719 --> 01:30:11,520 unlocked. And people with trucks are 2175 01:30:09,040 --> 01:30:13,280 more likely to have guns. This kid is 2176 01:30:11,520 --> 01:30:16,320 12. 2177 01:30:13,280 --> 01:30:18,560 12 years old. He told me this. 2178 01:30:16,320 --> 01:30:20,400 So, please lock up your firearms. Don't 2179 01:30:18,560 --> 01:30:23,360 leave them in your vehicles. Get them 2180 01:30:20,400 --> 01:30:25,120 locked up and put away. 2181 01:30:23,360 --> 01:30:26,480 Everyone's posting with the guns. We're 2182 01:30:25,120 --> 01:30:28,159 seeing this uh rampantly through 2183 01:30:26,480 --> 01:30:32,080 schools. It causes a lot of issues as 2184 01:30:28,159 --> 01:30:34,719 others have mentioned. Um, and so if if 2185 01:30:32,080 --> 01:30:37,199 everyone's posing with a gun or 2186 01:30:34,719 --> 01:30:39,440 something that looks like a gun, others 2187 01:30:37,199 --> 01:30:41,520 want to also look that cool, feel that 2188 01:30:39,440 --> 01:30:43,120 awesome, have that sense of adequacy. 2189 01:30:41,520 --> 01:30:46,080 It's a problem. Some of those kids are 2190 01:30:43,120 --> 01:30:49,520 posing with a pellet gun or a BB gun and 2191 01:30:46,080 --> 01:30:51,520 others are po posing with 45s, 2192 01:30:49,520 --> 01:30:54,520 handguns that can take someone's life. 2193 01:30:51,520 --> 01:30:54,520 Absolutely. 2194 01:30:54,639 --> 01:30:59,040 I had one kid tell me that he shoots 2195 01:30:56,239 --> 01:31:00,320 buildings because an adult told him to. 2196 01:30:59,040 --> 01:31:01,679 And I say, "We need to find out who 2197 01:31:00,320 --> 01:31:04,560 these adults are that are taking 2198 01:31:01,679 --> 01:31:06,400 advantage of our kids." And I'm talking 2199 01:31:04,560 --> 01:31:08,480 intentionally taking advantage of our 2200 01:31:06,400 --> 01:31:10,560 kids. Not just any kid. Usually kids 2201 01:31:08,480 --> 01:31:12,719 that have a low cognitive ability who 2202 01:31:10,560 --> 01:31:13,920 really want to fit in anywhere they can. 2203 01:31:12,719 --> 01:31:15,199 They're carrying guns and they're 2204 01:31:13,920 --> 01:31:17,040 carrying out tasks for other people who 2205 01:31:15,199 --> 01:31:19,280 are asking them to do it. So they feel 2206 01:31:17,040 --> 01:31:21,280 cool. So they feel awesome. They have no 2207 01:31:19,280 --> 01:31:23,280 intentions of killing someone, but if 2208 01:31:21,280 --> 01:31:25,040 they can light up a building at 1:00 in 2209 01:31:23,280 --> 01:31:27,760 the morning and people think they're 2210 01:31:25,040 --> 01:31:29,840 awesome for doing it, they'll do it. We 2211 01:31:27,760 --> 01:31:31,840 need to continue to track this and solve 2212 01:31:29,840 --> 01:31:33,760 these problems. I've also had kids tell 2213 01:31:31,840 --> 01:31:35,760 me they just don't feel safe. We've had 2214 01:31:33,760 --> 01:31:37,679 kids that we've we've had to search and 2215 01:31:35,760 --> 01:31:39,840 take things off of. Never firearm in the 2216 01:31:37,679 --> 01:31:42,239 school, but we do search and we've done 2217 01:31:39,840 --> 01:31:44,639 many searches. Um, but often times we 2218 01:31:42,239 --> 01:31:46,719 find kids with a knife. Why are you 2219 01:31:44,639 --> 01:31:47,920 carrying a knife at school? 2220 01:31:46,719 --> 01:31:49,760 It's because I don't feel safe when I'm 2221 01:31:47,920 --> 01:31:51,440 walking to or from school. And so these 2222 01:31:49,760 --> 01:31:54,760 are concerns that we we we just can't 2223 01:31:51,440 --> 01:31:54,760 allow it. 2224 01:31:55,199 --> 01:31:58,880 Something that humbled me recently that 2225 01:31:56,560 --> 01:32:00,480 I want to share with the entire group. 2226 01:31:58,880 --> 01:32:03,199 There's an old approach to instead of 2227 01:32:00,480 --> 01:32:04,480 saying hello or hi, how are you? Uh and 2228 01:32:03,199 --> 01:32:06,239 I forget where this came from and I 2229 01:32:04,480 --> 01:32:09,120 apologize to wherever this originated 2230 01:32:06,239 --> 01:32:10,880 from, but the greeting was how are the 2231 01:32:09,120 --> 01:32:13,199 kids doing? 2232 01:32:10,880 --> 01:32:14,800 And it made me pause. 2233 01:32:13,199 --> 01:32:16,880 Imagine if everywhere we went in our 2234 01:32:14,800 --> 01:32:18,960 community, we said to each other, "How 2235 01:32:16,880 --> 01:32:21,280 are the kids doing?" Because if they're 2236 01:32:18,960 --> 01:32:22,960 not okay, we have a lot of work to do. 2237 01:32:21,280 --> 01:32:26,440 And if they are okay, then we have to 2238 01:32:22,960 --> 01:32:26,440 maintain that effort. 2239 01:32:27,199 --> 01:32:30,400 I'm an educator, so you're going to hear 2240 01:32:28,480 --> 01:32:32,159 it from me. I do have thoughts. 2241 01:32:30,400 --> 01:32:35,120 Obviously, ensure healthy relationships 2242 01:32:32,159 --> 01:32:36,639 exist. Start by talking to the kids. 2243 01:32:35,120 --> 01:32:39,280 They're the ones most proximate to it, 2244 01:32:36,639 --> 01:32:40,639 and it's not a ton of kids. I know that 2245 01:32:39,280 --> 01:32:42,880 I I live in a world where there's a lot 2246 01:32:40,639 --> 01:32:44,960 of stereotypes of those kids, those 2247 01:32:42,880 --> 01:32:46,320 people. It's not that. It's it's 2248 01:32:44,960 --> 01:32:48,880 actually a little more mixed than you 2249 01:32:46,320 --> 01:32:50,000 think. Uh not not making accusations, 2250 01:32:48,880 --> 01:32:52,320 but a little more mixed than a lot of 2251 01:32:50,000 --> 01:32:54,639 people think. And it's a relatively 2252 01:32:52,320 --> 01:32:56,639 small group of kids. And I think we need 2253 01:32:54,639 --> 01:32:58,560 to build in more sense of adequacy in 2254 01:32:56,639 --> 01:33:00,239 our community where kids can develop 2255 01:32:58,560 --> 01:33:02,320 their identity and and grow through 2256 01:33:00,239 --> 01:33:04,239 that. We need to find a way to wrap 2257 01:33:02,320 --> 01:33:05,840 around supports. As Neil mentioned, uh 2258 01:33:04,239 --> 01:33:07,440 we know the high-risisk kids who have 2259 01:33:05,840 --> 01:33:09,760 been involved in numerous numerous 2260 01:33:07,440 --> 01:33:10,960 things. And so from Chief and Neil and 2261 01:33:09,760 --> 01:33:12,719 others that are going to speak tonight, 2262 01:33:10,960 --> 01:33:15,199 we need to find a way to wrap supports 2263 01:33:12,719 --> 01:33:16,719 around those kids uh and do something 2264 01:33:15,199 --> 01:33:18,719 differently. 2265 01:33:16,719 --> 01:33:20,480 And then I challenge everyone to take 10 2266 01:33:18,719 --> 01:33:22,480 good minutes to get to know a kid that 2267 01:33:20,480 --> 01:33:24,000 you don't already know because it's 2268 01:33:22,480 --> 01:33:25,920 worth it when you sit and talk with a 2269 01:33:24,000 --> 01:33:27,760 kid who might be troubled who might be a 2270 01:33:25,920 --> 01:33:30,239 great kid might change your your 2271 01:33:27,760 --> 01:33:32,000 perception of that kid or a specific 2272 01:33:30,239 --> 01:33:34,320 population that that are our neighbors 2273 01:33:32,000 --> 01:33:35,760 but 10 good minutes talking with a kid. 2274 01:33:34,320 --> 01:33:37,280 I learned a lot about a kid who got shot 2275 01:33:35,760 --> 01:33:39,679 recently. 2276 01:33:37,280 --> 01:33:43,800 It was a great conversation 2277 01:33:39,679 --> 01:33:43,800 but he was there and that happens. 2278 01:33:45,120 --> 01:33:49,520 I'll take questions. Uh again, I took 2279 01:33:47,920 --> 01:33:50,719 some slides out. One thing I'd like to 2280 01:33:49,520 --> 01:33:52,480 mention before I take any questions 2281 01:33:50,719 --> 01:33:54,560 though, the working relationship that we 2282 01:33:52,480 --> 01:33:57,040 have as a school system with Neil and 2283 01:33:54,560 --> 01:34:01,040 Lewis Police Department and our JCCOs's 2284 01:33:57,040 --> 01:34:02,320 is without its flaws. We talk all the 2285 01:34:01,040 --> 01:34:04,000 time. Whenever we need something, we 2286 01:34:02,320 --> 01:34:05,440 talk to each other. We communicate. 2287 01:34:04,000 --> 01:34:07,280 There are limitations and constraints 2288 01:34:05,440 --> 01:34:12,239 because of rights and and and whatnot, 2289 01:34:07,280 --> 01:34:13,840 but um we work together all the time. 2290 01:34:12,239 --> 01:34:18,280 » Thank you very much, Superintendent. I 2291 01:34:13,840 --> 01:34:18,280 appreciate you being here. Councelor 2292 01:34:18,639 --> 01:34:22,760 Martell, we're starting with you. 2293 01:34:23,199 --> 01:34:29,440 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, uh, 2294 01:34:25,280 --> 01:34:31,040 Superintendent. Um, 2295 01:34:29,440 --> 01:34:34,840 why don't I write down I have a question 2296 01:34:31,040 --> 01:34:34,840 here. Um, 2297 01:34:35,840 --> 01:34:38,800 you know, I'll hold it for now. Um, 2298 01:34:37,840 --> 01:34:39,920 thank you very much for your 2299 01:34:38,800 --> 01:34:42,239 presentation. I appreciate what you do 2300 01:34:39,920 --> 01:34:44,960 in the schools. 2301 01:34:42,239 --> 01:34:46,320 » Councelor Chidum, no questions. Thank 2302 01:34:44,960 --> 01:34:48,400 you, Mr. Mayor. 2303 01:34:46,320 --> 01:34:50,000 » Uh, councelor Noble, 2304 01:34:48,400 --> 01:34:53,480 » Nothing. 2305 01:34:50,000 --> 01:34:53,480 » Councelor Roy, 2306 01:34:54,159 --> 01:34:59,440 um, one of the questions uh, that I 2307 01:34:56,000 --> 01:35:01,280 have, are there any incentives for maybe 2308 01:34:59,440 --> 01:35:03,600 some teachers to build up some pickup 2309 01:35:01,280 --> 01:35:05,679 sports after school? Um, can we look 2310 01:35:03,600 --> 01:35:08,239 into something like that that helps 2311 01:35:05,679 --> 01:35:10,639 maybe keep kids in a good activity after 2312 01:35:08,239 --> 01:35:13,199 school? [gasps] 2313 01:35:10,639 --> 01:35:14,960 » The easy answer is yes. Uh it it does 2314 01:35:13,199 --> 01:35:17,679 take money in space, but we have 2315 01:35:14,960 --> 01:35:19,760 afternoon uh programming that goes uh 2316 01:35:17,679 --> 01:35:21,920 well into when community partners have 2317 01:35:19,760 --> 01:35:23,679 kids in their spaces um and they're 2318 01:35:21,920 --> 01:35:27,040 keeping kids uh later in the evening. 2319 01:35:23,679 --> 01:35:29,280 And so I think the key is getting kids 2320 01:35:27,040 --> 01:35:30,400 that need that thing to do in the space 2321 01:35:29,280 --> 01:35:31,679 where it's already happening. I think 2322 01:35:30,400 --> 01:35:33,520 the city's done a good job committing 2323 01:35:31,679 --> 01:35:34,960 resources. I know we as a school system 2324 01:35:33,520 --> 01:35:36,400 have continued to seek grants and the 2325 01:35:34,960 --> 01:35:38,639 school committee has supported after 2326 01:35:36,400 --> 01:35:40,800 school programming and summer related uh 2327 01:35:38,639 --> 01:35:42,719 programming. So I think it could always 2328 01:35:40,800 --> 01:35:44,159 get better. Um, I do look at things like 2329 01:35:42,719 --> 01:35:46,960 some of our sports teams. The numbers 2330 01:35:44,159 --> 01:35:48,719 are just abysmally low. Um, and and I 2331 01:35:46,960 --> 01:35:50,800 think that's a maybe a generational 2332 01:35:48,719 --> 01:35:52,639 thing. Like it's it's it's way more 2333 01:35:50,800 --> 01:35:54,080 interesting to make sure your your posts 2334 01:35:52,639 --> 01:35:55,440 are active and you know what's going on 2335 01:35:54,080 --> 01:35:57,120 with everyone than it is to be on a 2336 01:35:55,440 --> 01:35:59,440 practice field and and be two hours 2337 01:35:57,120 --> 01:36:00,880 without it. But just another notice to 2338 01:35:59,440 --> 01:36:02,239 everyone that there'll be no cell phones 2339 01:36:00,880 --> 01:36:03,679 in the high school next year. That's 2340 01:36:02,239 --> 01:36:06,639 that's a law that's been passed and we 2341 01:36:03,679 --> 01:36:08,159 move forward with that. 2342 01:36:06,639 --> 01:36:10,000 I I do think that would be helpful. But 2343 01:36:08,159 --> 01:36:11,199 I I agree. We we just got to get kids 2344 01:36:10,000 --> 01:36:13,520 engaged. When I talk about sense of 2345 01:36:11,199 --> 01:36:15,600 adequacy, I I really mean it can be 2346 01:36:13,520 --> 01:36:18,320 almost anything. If you build a 2347 01:36:15,600 --> 01:36:20,080 birdhouse or a foot stool or something 2348 01:36:18,320 --> 01:36:22,800 and you can bring it home and be like, I 2349 01:36:20,080 --> 01:36:23,920 did this [snorts] that matters. And our 2350 01:36:22,800 --> 01:36:25,280 kids right now, they're stuck to their 2351 01:36:23,920 --> 01:36:27,120 phones and they're not doing those 2352 01:36:25,280 --> 01:36:28,960 things. And so their sense of adequacy 2353 01:36:27,120 --> 01:36:31,520 is how awesome did someone or how many 2354 01:36:28,960 --> 01:36:32,960 likes did they have or it's it's so 2355 01:36:31,520 --> 01:36:34,800 superficial like we got to get deeper 2356 01:36:32,960 --> 01:36:36,400 with our kids. 2357 01:36:34,800 --> 01:36:39,040 » Thank you for that. I actually have that 2358 01:36:36,400 --> 01:36:41,199 with um businesses maybe sponsoring an 2359 01:36:39,040 --> 01:36:43,440 internship or a mentorship with some of 2360 01:36:41,199 --> 01:36:45,199 the stuff that they do within the comm 2361 01:36:43,440 --> 01:36:48,080 uh the community. One of the other 2362 01:36:45,199 --> 01:36:50,400 questions I have is in in uh have we 2363 01:36:48,080 --> 01:36:53,199 looked into why 2364 01:36:50,400 --> 01:36:56,159 um when we expel youth and all that 2365 01:36:53,199 --> 01:36:59,199 stuff, are we looking deeper into why 2366 01:36:56,159 --> 01:37:01,119 youth are are going down that hole and 2367 01:36:59,199 --> 01:37:06,639 maybe trying to figure out how to 2368 01:37:01,119 --> 01:37:08,880 prevent others from going down that? 2369 01:37:06,639 --> 01:37:10,639 » So the short answer is yes, the long 2370 01:37:08,880 --> 01:37:14,159 answer is really long. Every kid is an 2371 01:37:10,639 --> 01:37:15,679 individualized uh scenario. Um, one 2372 01:37:14,159 --> 01:37:17,040 thing that I want to really spend more 2373 01:37:15,679 --> 01:37:18,159 time on if there are researchers in the 2374 01:37:17,040 --> 01:37:21,280 room, and I know Bates has been helpful 2375 01:37:18,159 --> 01:37:23,360 with this kind of conversation, is 2376 01:37:21,280 --> 01:37:25,679 second generation 2377 01:37:23,360 --> 01:37:28,800 males especially, 2378 01:37:25,679 --> 01:37:31,119 seem to have um a different kind of need 2379 01:37:28,800 --> 01:37:33,280 to please their peers than than I've 2380 01:37:31,119 --> 01:37:35,920 seen before. And so I want to know more 2381 01:37:33,280 --> 01:37:37,600 about that. But those kids are also role 2382 01:37:35,920 --> 01:37:39,679 models for their younger siblings. And 2383 01:37:37,600 --> 01:37:41,920 and I I want to understand that that 2384 01:37:39,679 --> 01:37:44,159 influence and how that that's happening. 2385 01:37:41,920 --> 01:37:45,760 we are seeing uh you know for for better 2386 01:37:44,159 --> 01:37:48,639 or worse I've been in administration in 2387 01:37:45,760 --> 01:37:50,239 Lewis public school since 2012. So in 2388 01:37:48,639 --> 01:37:52,080 that time frame I've spent a lot of time 2389 01:37:50,239 --> 01:37:53,920 with with kids who are now the adults 2390 01:37:52,080 --> 01:37:55,679 that Neil's mentioning the young adults 2391 01:37:53,920 --> 01:37:57,520 and their siblings who are some of them 2392 01:37:55,679 --> 01:38:00,000 currently in school. So I know a lot 2393 01:37:57,520 --> 01:38:02,960 about the family dynamics and and it it 2394 01:38:00,000 --> 01:38:04,719 all plays in. Um, but I will say this, 2395 01:38:02,960 --> 01:38:07,440 all the things we can identify, for the 2396 01:38:04,719 --> 01:38:09,760 vast vast majority of them, we're not 2397 01:38:07,440 --> 01:38:11,920 filling what their needs are. From 2398 01:38:09,760 --> 01:38:14,000 counseling to, 2399 01:38:11,920 --> 01:38:18,520 you know, trauma to adequacy, you name 2400 01:38:14,000 --> 01:38:18,520 it. Um, there's a lot going on, 2401 01:38:22,320 --> 01:38:27,960 » Test, 2402 01:38:24,400 --> 01:38:27,960 can you hear me now? 2403 01:38:30,880 --> 01:38:39,119 testing test came back there. Okay. 2404 01:38:36,560 --> 01:38:40,639 » All right. Um couple more um things that 2405 01:38:39,119 --> 01:38:43,040 I thought about. I'm glad you touched 2406 01:38:40,639 --> 01:38:44,719 upon Bates College maybe, you know, 2407 01:38:43,040 --> 01:38:46,320 partnering up with Bates College to 2408 01:38:44,719 --> 01:38:48,719 invest a little bit in the community 2409 01:38:46,320 --> 01:38:50,400 with the school system to try to build 2410 01:38:48,719 --> 01:38:52,239 those after school programs and all that 2411 01:38:50,400 --> 01:38:58,199 stuff too. I think that's something that 2412 01:38:52,239 --> 01:38:58,199 I was thinking about. Um let's see. 2413 01:38:59,040 --> 01:39:03,119 that'll uh how about peerto-peer 2414 01:39:01,360 --> 01:39:06,560 peer-to-p peer homework help you know 2415 01:39:03,119 --> 01:39:09,840 stuff like that because again if we get 2416 01:39:06,560 --> 01:39:12,800 a lot of our youth engaging with other 2417 01:39:09,840 --> 01:39:14,159 youth maybe work habits and you know 2418 01:39:12,800 --> 01:39:17,920 healthy boundaries and all that stuff 2419 01:39:14,159 --> 01:39:20,000 maybe that might be a way to go too. 2420 01:39:17,920 --> 01:39:22,560 Yeah, all good ideas. Happy happy to 2421 01:39:20,000 --> 01:39:24,639 explore those. 2422 01:39:22,560 --> 01:39:26,159 » Councelor Haramman, 2423 01:39:24,639 --> 01:39:27,760 » I don't have any questions right now. 2424 01:39:26,159 --> 01:39:29,679 Thanks, 2425 01:39:27,760 --> 01:39:33,360 » Councelor Long Champs. 2426 01:39:29,679 --> 01:39:36,639 » Thank you, Mayor. Um, Mr. Langless, uh, 2427 01:39:33,360 --> 01:39:38,400 do we still have truent officers? 2428 01:39:36,639 --> 01:39:40,159 » So, the question was, do we have truency 2429 01:39:38,400 --> 01:39:43,199 officers? And and so the answer to that 2430 01:39:40,159 --> 01:39:45,440 question is no, but yes. So, we used to 2431 01:39:43,199 --> 01:39:47,199 have a dedicated person u many years ago 2432 01:39:45,440 --> 01:39:50,080 that this is part of what they did as a 2433 01:39:47,199 --> 01:39:52,080 job. Um now it's it's morphed to uh 2434 01:39:50,080 --> 01:39:54,320 school administrators. Uh oftentimes 2435 01:39:52,080 --> 01:39:56,239 we'll go with an SRO to try to contact a 2436 01:39:54,320 --> 01:39:58,639 kid we've been missing for a while. Um a 2437 01:39:56,239 --> 01:40:00,000 truency is a a serious problem. Um and 2438 01:39:58,639 --> 01:40:01,679 when I talk a whole community, I don't 2439 01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:04,320 mean just it takes everybody for that 2440 01:40:01,679 --> 01:40:06,239 afternoon on the field. I mean the the 2441 01:40:04,320 --> 01:40:07,840 standards that we hold for each other 2442 01:40:06,239 --> 01:40:09,679 are incredibly important and kids are 2443 01:40:07,840 --> 01:40:10,960 watching all the time. And so when they 2444 01:40:09,679 --> 01:40:13,199 feel safe because people are drawing 2445 01:40:10,960 --> 01:40:14,480 lines, they they'll behave that way. 2446 01:40:13,199 --> 01:40:17,199 It's it's it's a really interesting 2447 01:40:14,480 --> 01:40:19,840 piece at least more so um as it relates 2448 01:40:17,199 --> 01:40:21,520 to truency, it's just I'm trying to 2449 01:40:19,840 --> 01:40:23,280 connect the two because if you're not 2450 01:40:21,520 --> 01:40:25,280 going to school and having a responsible 2451 01:40:23,280 --> 01:40:28,159 routine for yourself or as a parent 2452 01:40:25,280 --> 01:40:30,960 making sure your kids get to that space, 2453 01:40:28,159 --> 01:40:32,400 we're missing big pieces of why kids 2454 01:40:30,960 --> 01:40:35,360 often start misbehaving in school 2455 01:40:32,400 --> 01:40:37,760 because they feel lost academically. And 2456 01:40:35,360 --> 01:40:39,679 so it that's another piece is community 2457 01:40:37,760 --> 01:40:41,440 effort. I I'd love to see chronic 2458 01:40:39,679 --> 01:40:42,719 absenteeism and truency be reduced, but 2459 01:40:41,440 --> 01:40:44,800 it's going to take everybody to be like, 2460 01:40:42,719 --> 01:40:46,480 "Hey, why aren't you in school? It's 2461 01:40:44,800 --> 01:40:48,000 it's not acceptable that you're not." 2462 01:40:46,480 --> 01:40:50,639 And and that's going to take a parent 2463 01:40:48,000 --> 01:40:52,960 getting up, right? Like so many of us in 2464 01:40:50,639 --> 01:40:55,760 this room have kids that have are still 2465 01:40:52,960 --> 01:40:57,679 growing or have grown. And you know, I'm 2466 01:40:55,760 --> 01:41:00,159 a superintendent. This morning, my kid 2467 01:40:57,679 --> 01:41:02,239 was here to do a workout uh as a summer 2468 01:41:00,159 --> 01:41:03,760 program. He did not get up the first 2469 01:41:02,239 --> 01:41:05,119 time I knocked on the door. He did not 2470 01:41:03,760 --> 01:41:06,480 get up the second time. He got up the 2471 01:41:05,119 --> 01:41:09,920 third time when I ripped a blanket off 2472 01:41:06,480 --> 01:41:11,760 of him. But that's that's my job you as 2473 01:41:09,920 --> 01:41:14,080 a dad, right? Because he's going at 7 2474 01:41:11,760 --> 01:41:15,520 o'clock for workouts. But but that's my 2475 01:41:14,080 --> 01:41:17,840 job as a dad. And we have a lot of kids 2476 01:41:15,520 --> 01:41:19,360 that their parents, 2477 01:41:17,840 --> 01:41:21,119 they don't even know that that's a 2478 01:41:19,360 --> 01:41:22,639 thing. They they don't realize that 2479 01:41:21,119 --> 01:41:24,239 there's something at 7:00 tomorrow 2480 01:41:22,639 --> 01:41:25,520 morning that their kids should be there 2481 01:41:24,239 --> 01:41:26,800 for and they're definitely not getting 2482 01:41:25,520 --> 01:41:28,719 them up for it. So we got to do better 2483 01:41:26,800 --> 01:41:31,520 across the board. 2484 01:41:28,719 --> 01:41:36,000 » Uh thank you. Um so we don't have a 2485 01:41:31,520 --> 01:41:38,320 truency uh officer. We are hopeful that 2486 01:41:36,000 --> 01:41:39,920 the parents will do a better job and I 2487 01:41:38,320 --> 01:41:42,000 am hopeful too and I know how critical 2488 01:41:39,920 --> 01:41:43,679 that is but the reality is it's not 2489 01:41:42,000 --> 01:41:47,840 happening. 2490 01:41:43,679 --> 01:41:51,440 So I think we need a truency officer 2491 01:41:47,840 --> 01:41:54,159 um to make sure that if a kid uh is not 2492 01:41:51,440 --> 01:41:56,320 attending school after so many days 2493 01:41:54,159 --> 01:41:59,440 they're the ones uh knocking on their 2494 01:41:56,320 --> 01:42:02,480 door like we had uh years ago. I think 2495 01:41:59,440 --> 01:42:05,520 that was uh very useful and very helpful 2496 01:42:02,480 --> 01:42:09,280 from what I could uh see. 2497 01:42:05,520 --> 01:42:13,840 The second question I have um 2498 01:42:09,280 --> 01:42:16,960 the small group of individuals that you 2499 01:42:13,840 --> 01:42:19,280 were um 2500 01:42:16,960 --> 01:42:21,520 saying uh you know are basically the 2501 01:42:19,280 --> 01:42:24,520 ones committing these uh the gun 2502 01:42:21,520 --> 01:42:24,520 violence. 2503 01:42:25,040 --> 01:42:32,000 Are they in school that you know of or 2504 01:42:27,679 --> 01:42:34,400 are they kids that um are not currently 2505 01:42:32,000 --> 01:42:35,920 going to school? Well, not this summer, 2506 01:42:34,400 --> 01:42:37,679 but 2507 01:42:35,920 --> 01:42:39,280 » I I looked over some things. I I think I 2508 01:42:37,679 --> 01:42:41,520 have my my data accurate, but I'd have 2509 01:42:39,280 --> 01:42:43,520 to dig some more. I believe there's been 2510 01:42:41,520 --> 01:42:45,440 one student that's had anything gun 2511 01:42:43,520 --> 01:42:47,600 rellated in the last two years that was 2512 01:42:45,440 --> 01:42:50,960 not already expelled from school for 2513 01:42:47,600 --> 01:42:52,960 other violent acts. 2514 01:42:50,960 --> 01:42:54,560 The other thing I would just suggest, 2515 01:42:52,960 --> 01:42:56,320 um, and I'd like to ask you if you think 2516 01:42:54,560 --> 01:42:57,840 it would be helpful, and it seems as 2517 01:42:56,320 --> 01:43:00,719 though the answer is probably going to 2518 01:42:57,840 --> 01:43:03,440 be yes, I hope. Um, it seems like when 2519 01:43:00,719 --> 01:43:06,239 you identify kids that are struggling 2520 01:43:03,440 --> 01:43:09,840 and, you know, may go down a path, uh, 2521 01:43:06,239 --> 01:43:13,360 we need some sort of system to prevent 2522 01:43:09,840 --> 01:43:15,440 uh any anything further from happening. 2523 01:43:13,360 --> 01:43:17,840 Um, and I don't mean just an 2524 01:43:15,440 --> 01:43:19,440 organization that comes up tomorrow and 2525 01:43:17,840 --> 01:43:22,480 says, "Oh, I'll be great at it." so they 2526 01:43:19,440 --> 01:43:25,360 can get a ton of money or uh but I think 2527 01:43:22,480 --> 01:43:28,719 we need real professional people, case 2528 01:43:25,360 --> 01:43:32,960 management people um once the school 2529 01:43:28,719 --> 01:43:35,199 identifies uh the students to step in uh 2530 01:43:32,960 --> 01:43:37,760 I believe that would be really helpful. 2531 01:43:35,199 --> 01:43:40,639 Um we we can't lose sight of of helping 2532 01:43:37,760 --> 01:43:43,119 these uh young people. Thank you. I 2533 01:43:40,639 --> 01:43:44,400 » I would agree. Just just real quickly if 2534 01:43:43,119 --> 01:43:46,320 someone called me tomorrow and said, "We 2535 01:43:44,400 --> 01:43:47,679 have this program. What kids do you 2536 01:43:46,320 --> 01:43:48,719 think should be in it?" There's there's 2537 01:43:47,679 --> 01:43:50,480 plenty of people in this room that could 2538 01:43:48,719 --> 01:43:52,400 probably tell you exactly who could 2539 01:43:50,480 --> 01:43:54,320 benefit from additional supports, but we 2540 01:43:52,400 --> 01:43:55,760 do need the system and the resources. 2541 01:43:54,320 --> 01:43:57,199 And from a truency officer perspective, 2542 01:43:55,760 --> 01:43:58,560 I want folks to know that we mail a 2543 01:43:57,199 --> 01:44:01,360 letter to parents and we let them know 2544 01:43:58,560 --> 01:44:04,320 after 10 absences that your your your 2545 01:44:01,360 --> 01:44:05,920 child is truent and that if you don't 2546 01:44:04,320 --> 01:44:08,800 send your student to school, you'll be 2547 01:44:05,920 --> 01:44:10,560 fined up to $250. We have to submit the 2548 01:44:08,800 --> 01:44:13,679 language to the district attorney's 2549 01:44:10,560 --> 01:44:15,760 office who is already 700 cases behind. 2550 01:44:13,679 --> 01:44:18,000 and to prioritize a truency case for a 2551 01:44:15,760 --> 01:44:19,600 $250 fine is not making the priority 2552 01:44:18,000 --> 01:44:20,719 list. That's not on them. That's just a 2553 01:44:19,600 --> 01:44:22,880 reality. I just want to share that 2554 01:44:20,719 --> 01:44:24,239 upfront with people. 2555 01:44:22,880 --> 01:44:24,880 » Councelor Long Champs, did you have 2556 01:44:24,239 --> 01:44:26,639 something else? 2557 01:44:24,880 --> 01:44:29,440 » Yes. Thank you, Mayor. So, uh what I 2558 01:44:26,639 --> 01:44:31,920 would just say to that is 2559 01:44:29,440 --> 01:44:33,920 we probably just need a truency officer 2560 01:44:31,920 --> 01:44:35,840 that can go knock on the door after a 2561 01:44:33,920 --> 01:44:37,760 few days of making no uh you know, 2562 01:44:35,840 --> 01:44:39,040 having no contact with this kid so that 2563 01:44:37,760 --> 01:44:40,880 they can see what condition they're 2564 01:44:39,040 --> 01:44:43,360 living in or what is going on. And then 2565 01:44:40,880 --> 01:44:46,639 DHS needs to do a better job at helping 2566 01:44:43,360 --> 01:44:49,360 also. Thank you. 2567 01:44:46,639 --> 01:44:51,040 » Uh any further? Councelor Nene, did you 2568 01:44:49,360 --> 01:44:54,000 have something? 2569 01:44:51,040 --> 01:44:56,080 » I did. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, um how 2570 01:44:54,000 --> 01:44:59,320 many uh students have been expelled uh 2571 01:44:56,080 --> 01:44:59,320 this year? 2572 01:44:59,679 --> 01:45:06,880 » This year, I think we're approaching 15. 2573 01:45:03,119 --> 01:45:10,360 » 15. And um were all the expulsions based 2574 01:45:06,880 --> 01:45:10,360 on violent acts? 2575 01:45:14,159 --> 01:45:19,119 Yeah, I yes, all violent acts. Um, but I 2576 01:45:16,960 --> 01:45:20,800 do want to clarify too, um, we've 2577 01:45:19,119 --> 01:45:21,920 crossed a bridge. So, I don't know if 2578 01:45:20,800 --> 01:45:23,679 the legal team wants to block their 2579 01:45:21,920 --> 01:45:25,679 ears, but we we crossed a bridge as a 2580 01:45:23,679 --> 01:45:27,760 school system and said even if the 2581 01:45:25,679 --> 01:45:30,080 violent act happens outside of school, 2582 01:45:27,760 --> 01:45:32,159 but it has the opportunity to disrupt 2583 01:45:30,080 --> 01:45:34,400 the peace and use of the school itself, 2584 01:45:32,159 --> 01:45:35,760 we are still carrying that forward. 2585 01:45:34,400 --> 01:45:37,520 We're not we're not waiting for it to 2586 01:45:35,760 --> 01:45:39,280 happen at school. If it happens, it 2587 01:45:37,520 --> 01:45:40,480 happened. and we're taking action on 2588 01:45:39,280 --> 01:45:42,880 that. 2589 01:45:40,480 --> 01:45:44,800 » Okay. And just as a followup on that, 2590 01:45:42,880 --> 01:45:46,320 what is LPS's responsibility for 2591 01:45:44,800 --> 01:45:47,920 placement of that child in an 2592 01:45:46,320 --> 01:45:51,199 educational system once they are 2593 01:45:47,920 --> 01:45:52,880 expelled from school? 2594 01:45:51,199 --> 01:45:54,880 So, in statute, you have limited 2595 01:45:52,880 --> 01:45:56,480 responsibilities. Um, if there's an IEP, 2596 01:45:54,880 --> 01:45:58,880 you have some instructional obligations. 2597 01:45:56,480 --> 01:46:00,880 If you if they do not have an IEP, your 2598 01:45:58,880 --> 01:46:02,719 responsibility to have a re-entry plan. 2599 01:46:00,880 --> 01:46:04,320 We go beyond that and provide supports 2600 01:46:02,719 --> 01:46:06,639 to to try to maintain opportunities for 2601 01:46:04,320 --> 01:46:08,800 volunteering, experiences, learning, 2602 01:46:06,639 --> 01:46:11,119 counseling. Um, but that's all off-site. 2603 01:46:08,800 --> 01:46:12,800 They're not allowed on school grounds. 2604 01:46:11,119 --> 01:46:14,320 Thank you. And the last question that I 2605 01:46:12,800 --> 01:46:16,880 have just to follow up with all of those 2606 01:46:14,320 --> 01:46:19,520 pieces is what are the processes in 2607 01:46:16,880 --> 01:46:21,600 which we uh as a school system identify 2608 01:46:19,520 --> 01:46:25,280 at risk youth and what tools are we 2609 01:46:21,600 --> 01:46:27,360 using in order to avoid the expulsion 2610 01:46:25,280 --> 01:46:32,080 which then uh and I'm just going to use 2611 01:46:27,360 --> 01:46:34,000 this framework but in most cases um 2612 01:46:32,080 --> 01:46:38,159 unless there's incredible engagement 2613 01:46:34,000 --> 01:46:41,920 from the parents of of that youth uh 2614 01:46:38,159 --> 01:46:43,520 basically throws that kid away. Um so 2615 01:46:41,920 --> 01:46:46,800 there's there's traditional constructs 2616 01:46:43,520 --> 01:46:48,480 to identify at risk grades, attendance, 2617 01:46:46,800 --> 01:46:50,719 uh skipping tardies, things of that 2618 01:46:48,480 --> 01:46:52,639 nature. Um we go beyond that with with 2619 01:46:50,719 --> 01:46:55,199 some of our systems with uh behavioral 2620 01:46:52,639 --> 01:46:57,840 analysis, uh trajectory or projection to 2621 01:46:55,199 --> 01:46:59,760 graduate or not or and what where you're 2622 01:46:57,840 --> 01:47:01,679 at in that pace. There's a there's a 2623 01:46:59,760 --> 01:47:02,800 metric for that in our system. But we've 2624 01:47:01,679 --> 01:47:04,880 also done some things that are not 2625 01:47:02,800 --> 01:47:07,360 traditional. Um our SRO's have done some 2626 01:47:04,880 --> 01:47:08,560 great things in the schools. I it's 2627 01:47:07,360 --> 01:47:09,920 interesting to see in the schools. And I 2628 01:47:08,560 --> 01:47:12,560 know some people have bigger feelings 2629 01:47:09,920 --> 01:47:14,480 about SRO's um in a different light, but 2630 01:47:12,560 --> 01:47:16,239 I watch our SRO's get fist bumps and 2631 01:47:14,480 --> 01:47:17,520 hugs and all kinds of things in our 2632 01:47:16,239 --> 01:47:20,080 schools and I think that's an important 2633 01:47:17,520 --> 01:47:22,480 step that we've taken. Um we also have 2634 01:47:20,080 --> 01:47:24,000 been working with um the community based 2635 01:47:22,480 --> 01:47:26,000 organizations who have brought staff 2636 01:47:24,000 --> 01:47:27,520 into our schools. So kids who have like 2637 01:47:26,000 --> 01:47:29,440 a hot spot moment, they can go see 2638 01:47:27,520 --> 01:47:30,719 someone. Um, you're going to hear from 2639 01:47:29,440 --> 01:47:31,920 Duncan, so I'm sure he'll talk about 2640 01:47:30,719 --> 01:47:33,679 some of the things that he's done in 2641 01:47:31,920 --> 01:47:35,600 collaboration with with school and kids 2642 01:47:33,679 --> 01:47:37,440 who are facing or have faced 2643 01:47:35,600 --> 01:47:39,440 consequences with with school and 2644 01:47:37,440 --> 01:47:40,960 community. Um, so we're we're looking to 2645 01:47:39,440 --> 01:47:43,280 fold in as many people as we can and 2646 01:47:40,960 --> 01:47:44,639 break down the barrier of it's a school, 2647 01:47:43,280 --> 01:47:46,560 so you can't do that here. We're saying 2648 01:47:44,639 --> 01:47:47,600 it's a school. How can you help us uh 2649 01:47:46,560 --> 01:47:49,280 get in front of some of these 2650 01:47:47,600 --> 01:47:50,560 situations? 2651 01:47:49,280 --> 01:47:52,880 » So ultimately, you're providing 2652 01:47:50,560 --> 01:47:54,560 additional resources outside of family 2653 01:47:52,880 --> 01:47:56,880 and recovery courts, which are clearly 2654 01:47:54,560 --> 01:47:58,400 are not either either not functioning in 2655 01:47:56,880 --> 01:48:01,920 this 2656 01:47:58,400 --> 01:48:02,639 uh in this state or or or not fully 2657 01:48:01,920 --> 01:48:03,440 functioning. 2658 01:48:02,639 --> 01:48:06,000 » Yes. 2659 01:48:03,440 --> 01:48:08,719 » Okay. Thank you. 2660 01:48:06,000 --> 01:48:10,320 » Uh superintendent, uh you mentioned 15 2661 01:48:08,719 --> 01:48:12,480 students have been expelled this year. 2662 01:48:10,320 --> 01:48:13,920 Uh can you give us a breakdown based on 2663 01:48:12,480 --> 01:48:15,679 school? Were most of those in the high 2664 01:48:13,920 --> 01:48:16,400 school or were some in elementary or 2665 01:48:15,679 --> 01:48:17,920 middle? 2666 01:48:16,400 --> 01:48:20,080 » It's a great question. So, you cannot 2667 01:48:17,920 --> 01:48:21,920 expel a student who is fifth grade or 2668 01:48:20,080 --> 01:48:24,320 lower unless there's a gun rellated 2669 01:48:21,920 --> 01:48:27,199 incident. Um we've had only one 2670 01:48:24,320 --> 01:48:28,639 expulsion this year. Uh that was uh it 2671 01:48:27,199 --> 01:48:30,400 was actually a fifth grader. So for the 2672 01:48:28,639 --> 01:48:32,800 younger ages, everything else has been 2673 01:48:30,400 --> 01:48:34,719 middle and high school. And that's 2674 01:48:32,800 --> 01:48:36,480 really about the constraints. I there's 2675 01:48:34,719 --> 01:48:38,080 there's we've had some situations with 2676 01:48:36,480 --> 01:48:41,280 very young kids that they're not gun 2677 01:48:38,080 --> 01:48:43,520 related. Um but we have 2678 01:48:41,280 --> 01:48:44,960 I I'll say this if if the next session 2679 01:48:43,520 --> 01:48:46,239 is willing to hear some language around 2680 01:48:44,960 --> 01:48:47,840 some things we might be able to do as a 2681 01:48:46,239 --> 01:48:50,159 school system to help mitigate, I have 2682 01:48:47,840 --> 01:48:52,560 ideas. 2683 01:48:50,159 --> 01:48:55,520 » Thank you. Uh further questions uh from 2684 01:48:52,560 --> 01:48:57,040 the council. 2685 01:48:55,520 --> 01:49:00,199 Superintendent, thank you very much for 2686 01:48:57,040 --> 01:49:00,199 being here. 2687 01:49:02,159 --> 01:49:06,000 We are now going to hear from the New 2688 01:49:04,239 --> 01:49:09,000 Beginnings executive director, Chris 2689 01:49:06,000 --> 01:49:09,000 Bnau. 2690 01:49:12,960 --> 01:49:18,719 Thank you for joining us, Director Bnau. 2691 01:49:16,159 --> 01:49:20,800 » Thank you for inviting me. Um, I was 2692 01:49:18,719 --> 01:49:23,679 invited here because of my experience 2693 01:49:20,800 --> 01:49:25,280 and expertise in systems and funding. 2694 01:49:23,679 --> 01:49:27,679 And so that's primarily what I'm going 2695 01:49:25,280 --> 01:49:30,639 to talk about. Um I believe that the 2696 01:49:27,679 --> 01:49:33,040 responsibility for solving this problem, 2697 01:49:30,639 --> 01:49:35,679 the financial problem of getting money 2698 01:49:33,040 --> 01:49:40,080 to resolve this sits with state and 2699 01:49:35,679 --> 01:49:42,159 local officials, period. Um 2700 01:49:40,080 --> 01:49:45,679 I don't I do know that without 2701 01:49:42,159 --> 01:49:47,520 significant investment in multiple 2702 01:49:45,679 --> 01:49:50,320 different 2703 01:49:47,520 --> 01:49:52,960 domains that this is not going to get 2704 01:49:50,320 --> 01:49:54,320 resolved. And I did hear the mayor say 2705 01:49:52,960 --> 01:49:57,679 that he has heard clearly from the 2706 01:49:54,320 --> 01:49:59,440 citizens of Lon that he doesn't want 2707 01:49:57,679 --> 01:50:01,280 municipal dollars being spent. If you 2708 01:49:59,440 --> 01:50:02,480 don't want to spend money on this, 2709 01:50:01,280 --> 01:50:06,159 you're not going to get a solution. 2710 01:50:02,480 --> 01:50:07,840 That's just a reality. Um, one 2711 01:50:06,159 --> 01:50:10,000 contributing factor to the inadequate 2712 01:50:07,840 --> 01:50:11,760 response is that the city of Lewon does 2713 01:50:10,000 --> 01:50:13,360 not have a public health department. 2714 01:50:11,760 --> 01:50:15,920 This is a public health crisis. This is 2715 01:50:13,360 --> 01:50:18,400 not a criminal justice crisis. 2716 01:50:15,920 --> 01:50:21,199 These are children who are living in 2717 01:50:18,400 --> 01:50:23,600 fear in the community and they are 2718 01:50:21,199 --> 01:50:27,280 children. They are not juveniles. 2719 01:50:23,600 --> 01:50:29,440 When a child witnesses a friend die, 2720 01:50:27,280 --> 01:50:32,080 they do not they do not respond from a 2721 01:50:29,440 --> 01:50:35,520 logical place. They do not respond from 2722 01:50:32,080 --> 01:50:37,440 an adult thinking process. They are 2723 01:50:35,520 --> 01:50:40,639 developmentally different from adults. 2724 01:50:37,440 --> 01:50:42,880 They are incapable of making rational 2725 01:50:40,639 --> 01:50:46,719 decisions about their behavior when they 2726 01:50:42,880 --> 01:50:46,719 are in fear. Period. 2727 01:50:47,199 --> 01:50:52,560 uh whether whether or not the city uh 2728 01:50:49,199 --> 01:50:54,560 hires uh a public health official to 2729 01:50:52,560 --> 01:50:56,960 kind of oversee this process is not in 2730 01:50:54,560 --> 01:50:59,199 my power, but uh engaging with the main 2731 01:50:56,960 --> 01:51:00,880 CDC and the office of injury and 2732 01:50:59,199 --> 01:51:02,880 violence prevention and the children's 2733 01:51:00,880 --> 01:51:06,639 cabinet are critical for this city to 2734 01:51:02,880 --> 01:51:09,040 engage with. They have the capacity to 2735 01:51:06,639 --> 01:51:10,480 engage in this conversation. Um to this 2736 01:51:09,040 --> 01:51:12,400 end, I reached out to the children's 2737 01:51:10,480 --> 01:51:14,639 cabinet. What I heard back from the 2738 01:51:12,400 --> 01:51:17,440 children's cabinet's representative was 2739 01:51:14,639 --> 01:51:19,760 they don't have discretionary dollars to 2740 01:51:17,440 --> 01:51:21,040 invest in this. I personally have 2741 01:51:19,760 --> 01:51:23,040 problem with that. These are state 2742 01:51:21,040 --> 01:51:24,960 agencies that do have discretionary 2743 01:51:23,040 --> 01:51:27,440 dollars that they're choosing to 2744 01:51:24,960 --> 01:51:29,600 administer in different ways. And so I 2745 01:51:27,440 --> 01:51:31,600 feel putting pressure on the state 2746 01:51:29,600 --> 01:51:33,199 departments that have responsibility 2747 01:51:31,600 --> 01:51:34,639 here. We're talking about the CDC, 2748 01:51:33,199 --> 01:51:37,119 Department of Health and Human Services, 2749 01:51:34,639 --> 01:51:39,760 Department of Public Safety. those 2750 01:51:37,119 --> 01:51:42,639 departments have the capacity to make 2751 01:51:39,760 --> 01:51:45,199 internal changes and assign personnel to 2752 01:51:42,639 --> 01:51:48,080 different tasks uh to address this 2753 01:51:45,199 --> 01:51:50,880 issue. 2754 01:51:48,080 --> 01:51:52,320 Um if the children's cabinet in fact 2755 01:51:50,880 --> 01:51:55,119 doesn't have any money and it's a dead 2756 01:51:52,320 --> 01:51:57,520 end um there are pretty much two other 2757 01:51:55,119 --> 01:52:00,480 courses of action to acquire this money 2758 01:51:57,520 --> 01:52:02,960 maybe three. Uh one is the opioid 2759 01:52:00,480 --> 01:52:05,599 response funds. The the state has spent 2760 01:52:02,960 --> 01:52:07,119 1.4 million of 3.4 4 million in opioid 2761 01:52:05,599 --> 01:52:11,960 response funds. There's plenty of money 2762 01:52:07,119 --> 01:52:11,960 there. The city has $631,22.18 2763 01:52:12,480 --> 01:52:17,360 in unspent opioid response money that 2764 01:52:15,040 --> 01:52:20,880 can be spent to help resolve this issue. 2765 01:52:17,360 --> 01:52:23,440 Um the second option is uh seeking 2766 01:52:20,880 --> 01:52:25,199 foundation and corporate support. Uh I 2767 01:52:23,440 --> 01:52:26,960 don't think that any foundation or 2768 01:52:25,199 --> 01:52:28,480 corporation would invest in something 2769 01:52:26,960 --> 01:52:30,880 that this community is not willing to 2770 01:52:28,480 --> 01:52:32,639 invest in itself. And so you need to get 2771 01:52:30,880 --> 01:52:34,159 beyond the fact that you you don't want 2772 01:52:32,639 --> 01:52:36,560 to spend money. there's a problem in 2773 01:52:34,159 --> 01:52:40,239 this community that requires resources 2774 01:52:36,560 --> 01:52:41,920 and that means money. Um 2775 01:52:40,239 --> 01:52:43,599 the third access is there's something 2776 01:52:41,920 --> 01:52:45,679 called the JJ, the juvenile justice 2777 01:52:43,599 --> 01:52:48,719 advisory group and they have do have 2778 01:52:45,679 --> 01:52:50,080 some discretionary grant funding and I 2779 01:52:48,719 --> 01:52:51,360 haven't reached out to them personally 2780 01:52:50,080 --> 01:52:53,280 but there are folks in the room who are 2781 01:52:51,360 --> 01:52:55,599 connected as I am who will be looking at 2782 01:52:53,280 --> 01:52:57,199 those dollars and the potential for some 2783 01:52:55,599 --> 01:52:59,199 of those dollars to be addressing this 2784 01:52:57,199 --> 01:53:00,880 situation. Those are the the three 2785 01:52:59,199 --> 01:53:04,159 sources of money that I've been able to 2786 01:53:00,880 --> 01:53:06,639 kind of research and find out there. Um 2787 01:53:04,159 --> 01:53:08,159 my recommendation is that this community 2788 01:53:06,639 --> 01:53:11,599 uh respond to this as a public health 2789 01:53:08,159 --> 01:53:13,440 emergency and that it has uh a public 2790 01:53:11,599 --> 01:53:16,080 safety component. Like I'm not denying 2791 01:53:13,440 --> 01:53:18,480 that these children are shooting guns in 2792 01:53:16,080 --> 01:53:20,480 the street. Like that has to stop. 2793 01:53:18,480 --> 01:53:22,800 Absolutely has to stop. So there is a a 2794 01:53:20,480 --> 01:53:27,679 public safety component to a public 2795 01:53:22,800 --> 01:53:30,239 health crisis. Uh, and all of the issues 2796 01:53:27,679 --> 01:53:32,639 and concerns around how do we detain 2797 01:53:30,239 --> 01:53:35,119 kids or hold kids accountable, I think 2798 01:53:32,639 --> 01:53:37,440 are all valid, but trying to treat 2799 01:53:35,119 --> 01:53:38,960 children like adults is not a response 2800 01:53:37,440 --> 01:53:42,239 that's going to get you the result 2801 01:53:38,960 --> 01:53:43,520 you're looking for. Um, I think the city 2802 01:53:42,239 --> 01:53:45,760 should immediately hire a director of 2803 01:53:43,520 --> 01:53:48,320 public health to begin coordinating this 2804 01:53:45,760 --> 01:53:50,080 response. U the city should uh 2805 01:53:48,320 --> 01:53:53,599 immediately approach the children's 2806 01:53:50,080 --> 01:53:56,239 cabinet and the CDC to ask formally for 2807 01:53:53,599 --> 01:53:58,639 funds and resources. Uh the city should 2808 01:53:56,239 --> 01:54:00,800 petition uh the state to release some of 2809 01:53:58,639 --> 01:54:02,000 their opioid settlement funds. Uh and 2810 01:54:00,800 --> 01:54:04,800 they should release some of their own 2811 01:54:02,000 --> 01:54:07,360 opioid settlement funds. Um, I also 2812 01:54:04,800 --> 01:54:09,520 think that there are community partners 2813 01:54:07,360 --> 01:54:12,400 who are doing work with these young 2814 01:54:09,520 --> 01:54:14,400 people in the community that are being 2815 01:54:12,400 --> 01:54:16,239 effective, but they are doing it with 2816 01:54:14,400 --> 01:54:18,719 existing resources that they are 2817 01:54:16,239 --> 01:54:21,760 stretching to meet a grand need in this 2818 01:54:18,719 --> 01:54:24,800 community. And if those community 2819 01:54:21,760 --> 01:54:27,760 partners had funding, they could expand 2820 01:54:24,800 --> 01:54:29,920 the response and go deep into community 2821 01:54:27,760 --> 01:54:32,159 to help support the families and the 2822 01:54:29,920 --> 01:54:34,800 siblings and the kids that are suffering 2823 01:54:32,159 --> 01:54:38,560 here. This is about fear, children in 2824 01:54:34,800 --> 01:54:41,280 fear. Um, and really there's someone had 2825 01:54:38,560 --> 01:54:42,880 mentioned a a child and LA child and 2826 01:54:41,280 --> 01:54:44,800 well-being collaborative. That's a 2827 01:54:42,880 --> 01:54:47,599 really great group. There is a lot of 2828 01:54:44,800 --> 01:54:50,400 brain power in that group. That group 2829 01:54:47,599 --> 01:54:53,199 can create a strategy that the funding 2830 01:54:50,400 --> 01:54:56,719 that is brought to bear can be used to 2831 01:54:53,199 --> 01:55:00,400 effectively mitigate this problem. And 2832 01:54:56,719 --> 01:55:02,239 that's kind of where I sit. 2833 01:55:00,400 --> 01:55:03,360 » Thank you very much, director. Uh we're 2834 01:55:02,239 --> 01:55:07,000 going to take questions. We're going to 2835 01:55:03,360 --> 01:55:07,000 start with councelor Nene. 2836 01:55:07,119 --> 01:55:11,440 » At the moment I actually don't have any 2837 01:55:08,960 --> 01:55:13,840 questions. U although I we're long 2838 01:55:11,440 --> 01:55:17,040 overdue for a conversation. 2839 01:55:13,840 --> 01:55:20,159 » Thank you councelor Long Champs. 2840 01:55:17,040 --> 01:55:21,920 » Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um so what I'm 2841 01:55:20,159 --> 01:55:25,760 hearing from you is that it seems as 2842 01:55:21,920 --> 01:55:27,520 though there's a funding issue. Um 2843 01:55:25,760 --> 01:55:28,480 correct? 2844 01:55:27,520 --> 01:55:31,679 » Correct. 2845 01:55:28,480 --> 01:55:35,119 » Thank you. That's really all. 2846 01:55:31,679 --> 01:55:37,760 » Councelor Harman, 2847 01:55:35,119 --> 01:55:40,480 » Thank you for being here. Um, I guess my 2848 01:55:37,760 --> 01:55:42,960 question is in your work with New 2849 01:55:40,480 --> 01:55:45,040 Beginnings, do you see much overlap 2850 01:55:42,960 --> 01:55:46,480 between the youth that you serve and the 2851 01:55:45,040 --> 01:55:49,280 youth who are involved in these 2852 01:55:46,480 --> 01:55:51,360 activities or is it is it kind of 2853 01:55:49,280 --> 01:55:54,480 separate groups of people and do you 2854 01:55:51,360 --> 01:55:57,599 have any insights as to why the answer 2855 01:55:54,480 --> 01:56:00,400 might be the way it is? 2856 01:55:57,599 --> 01:56:02,000 uh we we see a slight amount of overlap. 2857 01:56:00,400 --> 01:56:04,639 Our outreach team goes out throughout 2858 01:56:02,000 --> 01:56:07,119 the city. Um but the young people who 2859 01:56:04,639 --> 01:56:08,480 seek services at New Beginnings are not 2860 01:56:07,119 --> 01:56:11,840 the young people who are involved in 2861 01:56:08,480 --> 01:56:13,199 these activities. And so I'm I'm one 2862 01:56:11,840 --> 01:56:15,760 step removed from this and that's why 2863 01:56:13,199 --> 01:56:18,800 I'm not offering uh solutions because I 2864 01:56:15,760 --> 01:56:21,520 am not a gun violence expert. Um and I 2865 01:56:18,800 --> 01:56:23,199 do not primarily work in this particular 2866 01:56:21,520 --> 01:56:24,320 neighborhood or community. And so I 2867 01:56:23,199 --> 01:56:26,080 don't want to step on other people's 2868 01:56:24,320 --> 01:56:27,599 toes who are much more deeply connected 2869 01:56:26,080 --> 01:56:29,280 and understand the problem better than I 2870 01:56:27,599 --> 01:56:31,360 do. 2871 01:56:29,280 --> 01:56:34,239 » Thank you, 2872 01:56:31,360 --> 01:56:36,560 » Council Roy. 2873 01:56:34,239 --> 01:56:39,360 » Thank you. Um I just want to say thank 2874 01:56:36,560 --> 01:56:41,840 you for putting this together and taking 2875 01:56:39,360 --> 01:56:43,440 the time to um to really dig deep and 2876 01:56:41,840 --> 01:56:45,199 and come up with your thoughts. Thank 2877 01:56:43,440 --> 01:56:46,800 you, 2878 01:56:45,199 --> 01:56:49,520 » Councelor Noble. 2879 01:56:46,800 --> 01:56:53,920 » My questions were about the program, but 2880 01:56:49,520 --> 01:56:56,159 he's not here to talk about that. So, 2881 01:56:53,920 --> 01:56:58,400 » Councelor Chidum, 2882 01:56:56,159 --> 01:57:00,400 thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Mr. McNel, 2883 01:56:58,400 --> 01:57:03,360 thank you very much for being here. Um, 2884 01:57:00,400 --> 01:57:06,320 I appreciate your perspective that more 2885 01:57:03,360 --> 01:57:09,599 money could help solve the problem. Um, 2886 01:57:06,320 --> 01:57:13,080 thank you for your viewpoint. 2887 01:57:09,599 --> 01:57:13,080 » Councelor Martell. 2888 01:57:15,440 --> 01:57:19,960 » Uh, yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, 2889 01:57:20,320 --> 01:57:25,199 I struggle to to square some of some of 2890 01:57:23,760 --> 01:57:27,360 what you said. So, we just got done 2891 01:57:25,199 --> 01:57:30,080 listening to the superintendent explain 2892 01:57:27,360 --> 01:57:32,239 to us how a 12-year-old seems to be 2893 01:57:30,080 --> 01:57:34,960 using pretty high level logical and 2894 01:57:32,239 --> 01:57:36,639 deductive reasoning skills, figuring out 2895 01:57:34,960 --> 01:57:38,000 where to best find a gun, whether that's 2896 01:57:36,639 --> 01:57:41,520 in a pickup truck and whether they're 2897 01:57:38,000 --> 01:57:44,239 unlocked or whatnot. um that that 2898 01:57:41,520 --> 01:57:46,560 doesn't necessarily scream to me a a 2899 01:57:44,239 --> 01:57:48,480 juvenile that's incompetent of making 2900 01:57:46,560 --> 01:57:51,119 competent decisions is what I believe I 2901 01:57:48,480 --> 01:57:53,119 wrote down what you said or or a child 2902 01:57:51,119 --> 01:57:55,119 living in fear that seems like a 2903 01:57:53,119 --> 01:57:59,760 criminal mindset 2904 01:57:55,119 --> 01:58:04,080 that is uh reasoned and logic based and 2905 01:57:59,760 --> 01:58:07,440 uh results driven. Um could you help me 2906 01:58:04,080 --> 01:58:10,239 square those two things? 2907 01:58:07,440 --> 01:58:12,320 » Sure. I didn't say that children are not 2908 01:58:10,239 --> 01:58:14,800 excellent creative problem solvers. I 2909 01:58:12,320 --> 01:58:17,440 did not say that children who are backed 2910 01:58:14,800 --> 01:58:20,000 into a corner and have no adult supports 2911 01:58:17,440 --> 01:58:23,040 can't get their needs met by strategies 2912 01:58:20,000 --> 01:58:26,960 that don't meet adult expectations. I 2913 01:58:23,040 --> 01:58:29,599 see every day in my life children who 2914 01:58:26,960 --> 01:58:33,040 have little to no support structure in 2915 01:58:29,599 --> 01:58:35,760 their lives, who do the absolute best 2916 01:58:33,040 --> 01:58:39,040 that they can to solve the problem that 2917 01:58:35,760 --> 01:58:41,760 they are presented with and can argue me 2918 01:58:39,040 --> 01:58:44,000 up and down until I am exhausted and can 2919 01:58:41,760 --> 01:58:45,599 no longer keep up with their circular 2920 01:58:44,000 --> 01:58:47,920 argument. That does not mean that they 2921 01:58:45,599 --> 01:58:50,560 are developmentally 2922 01:58:47,920 --> 01:58:52,800 thinking the way that adults do. The 2923 01:58:50,560 --> 01:58:54,960 biology of children is very different 2924 01:58:52,800 --> 01:58:56,800 from the biology of adults. The human 2925 01:58:54,960 --> 01:58:59,280 brain does not finish developing in a 2926 01:58:56,800 --> 01:59:02,159 female until age 24 and in a male until 2927 01:58:59,280 --> 01:59:04,239 26. At the age of 13 or 14, we are 2928 01:59:02,159 --> 01:59:05,840 talking about children who are 2929 01:59:04,239 --> 01:59:08,000 terrified. I don't know if anybody in 2930 01:59:05,840 --> 01:59:10,719 here has seen a friend of theirs die in 2931 01:59:08,000 --> 01:59:13,760 the streets before the age of 16. I 2932 01:59:10,719 --> 01:59:15,440 have. My response was not rational. I 2933 01:59:13,760 --> 01:59:17,599 was terrified. I had no adults in my 2934 01:59:15,440 --> 01:59:19,760 life to protect me. I did what I did to 2935 01:59:17,599 --> 01:59:22,400 protect myself out of fear so I wouldn't 2936 01:59:19,760 --> 01:59:24,480 be the next one. I luckily survived 2937 01:59:22,400 --> 01:59:26,080 that. These kids are facing the same 2938 01:59:24,480 --> 01:59:28,159 thing. They don't know what the 2939 01:59:26,080 --> 01:59:30,800 going on. They are doing what they can 2940 01:59:28,159 --> 01:59:33,840 to keep themselves alive based on 2941 01:59:30,800 --> 01:59:37,239 visceral reactions to horrible realities 2942 01:59:33,840 --> 01:59:37,239 in the street. 2943 01:59:38,320 --> 01:59:41,280 » I appreciate you coming tonight. I 2944 01:59:39,920 --> 01:59:44,239 fundamentally disagree with everything 2945 01:59:41,280 --> 01:59:47,679 you said. 2946 01:59:44,239 --> 01:59:50,000 any uh and I appreciate your your 2947 01:59:47,679 --> 01:59:51,360 fervor, but if we can uh refrain from 2948 01:59:50,000 --> 01:59:53,520 profanity here, that would be great. 2949 01:59:51,360 --> 01:59:56,159 » I'm sorry. I apologize to everybody. 2950 01:59:53,520 --> 01:59:58,719 » You are good. Um further questions uh 2951 01:59:56,159 --> 02:00:00,560 from the council. 2952 01:59:58,719 --> 02:00:02,000 Director Bricknell, uh I appreciate your 2953 02:00:00,560 --> 02:00:05,880 service to our city. Thank you so much 2954 02:00:02,000 --> 02:00:05,880 and thank you for being here. 2955 02:00:09,840 --> 02:00:15,440 We are now bringing up uh Duncan Pierre 2956 02:00:13,440 --> 02:00:19,639 uh from Restorative Justice Project. 2957 02:00:15,440 --> 02:00:19,639 Thank you so much for being here Duncan. 2958 02:00:27,840 --> 02:00:35,360 » Good evening y'all. How you doing? 2959 02:00:30,400 --> 02:00:37,119 Um, I'm here as a father and um as a 2960 02:00:35,360 --> 02:00:38,719 husband even though I work for 2961 02:00:37,119 --> 02:00:40,560 Restorative Justice Project. I'm 2962 02:00:38,719 --> 02:00:43,440 actually on vacation, you know, sporting 2963 02:00:40,560 --> 02:00:44,480 a t-shirt and shorts. Um, but I work 2964 02:00:43,440 --> 02:00:47,840 with these young people in this 2965 02:00:44,480 --> 02:00:50,560 community every single day. Um, and what 2966 02:00:47,840 --> 02:00:52,560 I'm seeing is uh they don't lack for 2967 02:00:50,560 --> 02:00:55,760 accountability. We live in a society 2968 02:00:52,560 --> 02:01:00,480 that um enforces that. What I'm seeing 2969 02:00:55,760 --> 02:01:02,080 is a lack of support. Um, as the 2970 02:01:00,480 --> 02:01:05,679 superintendent mentioned, a lot of these 2971 02:01:02,080 --> 02:01:09,119 youth are expelled. So, if I'm 12 or 13 2972 02:01:05,679 --> 02:01:11,599 and um, I spend the day not in school 2973 02:01:09,119 --> 02:01:12,960 and my parents are at work, the people 2974 02:01:11,599 --> 02:01:14,880 are supposed to be supporting me, like 2975 02:01:12,960 --> 02:01:17,360 what am I supposed to do? I find myself 2976 02:01:14,880 --> 02:01:21,119 outside with another group of expelled 2977 02:01:17,360 --> 02:01:23,280 kids. So, for me, um, I saw this coming 2978 02:01:21,119 --> 02:01:25,679 few years ago and I thought to myself, 2979 02:01:23,280 --> 02:01:28,719 how could I intervene? Even though, like 2980 02:01:25,679 --> 02:01:30,480 I said, you know, I work with youth, I 2981 02:01:28,719 --> 02:01:33,360 try to go above and beyond what I do 2982 02:01:30,480 --> 02:01:36,080 just as a private citizen. And I think 2983 02:01:33,360 --> 02:01:38,800 my call to action to the community would 2984 02:01:36,080 --> 02:01:40,800 be to anybody who cares enough, cuz 2985 02:01:38,800 --> 02:01:43,920 that's not going to be everybody, but if 2986 02:01:40,800 --> 02:01:45,199 anybody who cares enough to want to come 2987 02:01:43,920 --> 02:01:47,520 into the community and support these 2988 02:01:45,199 --> 02:01:49,599 youth, um, as we're mentioned, we're 2989 02:01:47,520 --> 02:01:52,080 talking about 29 youth, maybe in 2990 02:01:49,599 --> 02:01:55,840 peripheral like 50. 2991 02:01:52,080 --> 02:01:57,679 uh you know if took him to McDonald's, 2992 02:01:55,840 --> 02:01:59,440 sat him down, had a conversation about 2993 02:01:57,679 --> 02:02:01,199 like what's your life like? What's going 2994 02:01:59,440 --> 02:02:02,719 on around you? You know, what are the 2995 02:02:01,199 --> 02:02:05,199 things that you've seen and how has life 2996 02:02:02,719 --> 02:02:08,000 impacted you? And I, you know, for me 2997 02:02:05,199 --> 02:02:10,400 personally as my testimony um as a man 2998 02:02:08,000 --> 02:02:11,920 of faith, there are things that, you 2999 02:02:10,400 --> 02:02:14,800 know, I didn't know as a young child 3000 02:02:11,920 --> 02:02:16,639 that I had to grow to understand. And it 3001 02:02:14,800 --> 02:02:19,040 took people to come into my life to help 3002 02:02:16,639 --> 02:02:20,719 and support me to get me where where I 3003 02:02:19,040 --> 02:02:23,920 am today. And I'm very grateful for 3004 02:02:20,719 --> 02:02:26,239 those people. And I'm hoping that as a 3005 02:02:23,920 --> 02:02:28,400 community we can have some people 3006 02:02:26,239 --> 02:02:29,599 because we don't have money. So we can 3007 02:02:28,400 --> 02:02:31,360 wait for the money. We can wait for the 3008 02:02:29,599 --> 02:02:32,800 legislators. That's going to take time. 3009 02:02:31,360 --> 02:02:35,040 But as of right now, what we can do 3010 02:02:32,800 --> 02:02:37,360 tomorrow, we can go out on the street 3011 02:02:35,040 --> 02:02:39,599 and talk to some kids. We can try to 3012 02:02:37,360 --> 02:02:42,719 take the effort to find out who they are 3013 02:02:39,599 --> 02:02:44,960 and spend some time with them. Um today 3014 02:02:42,719 --> 02:02:46,880 I was supporting some young people. Took 3015 02:02:44,960 --> 02:02:48,159 them McDonald's. We were making a bench. 3016 02:02:46,880 --> 02:02:50,159 You mean like there's so many things 3017 02:02:48,159 --> 02:02:52,960 that we could potentially do within your 3018 02:02:50,159 --> 02:02:54,719 scope and power of influence. So that's 3019 02:02:52,960 --> 02:02:58,199 all I got to say. Thank you guys for 3020 02:02:54,719 --> 02:02:58,199 giving me the time. 3021 02:02:58,400 --> 02:03:02,719 » Thank you very much, Duncan. Uh we're 3022 02:03:01,119 --> 02:03:07,159 going to start with uh Councelor 3023 02:03:02,719 --> 02:03:07,159 Martell. Do you have uh questions? 3024 02:03:08,000 --> 02:03:13,760 » No, thank you, Mr. Mayor. 3025 02:03:10,639 --> 02:03:15,599 » Councelor Chidum. 3026 02:03:13,760 --> 02:03:17,360 Thank you, Mr. Pierre. No, I have no 3027 02:03:15,599 --> 02:03:19,520 questions other than how do I get in 3028 02:03:17,360 --> 02:03:21,760 touch with you? 3029 02:03:19,520 --> 02:03:24,320 » We will coordinate that. Councelor 3030 02:03:21,760 --> 02:03:27,199 Noble, 3031 02:03:24,320 --> 02:03:30,639 » I don't have any questions at this time. 3032 02:03:27,199 --> 02:03:33,800 » Councelor Roy, councelor Chidum, uh be 3033 02:03:30,639 --> 02:03:33,800 me to 3034 02:03:34,239 --> 02:03:39,679 » Uh councelor Herman. Yes, 3035 02:03:36,800 --> 02:03:42,400 » Thank you for being here. Um I guess in 3036 02:03:39,679 --> 02:03:45,040 your experience with the with the youth 3037 02:03:42,400 --> 02:03:46,719 you work with, question. 3038 02:03:45,040 --> 02:03:51,760 » Uh, in your experience with the youth 3039 02:03:46,719 --> 02:03:54,239 that you work with, do you see any any 3040 02:03:51,760 --> 02:03:56,400 I'm sure there are some common threads 3041 02:03:54,239 --> 02:03:59,440 that of things that they're 3042 02:03:56,400 --> 02:04:02,560 experiencing. Um, are there any that you 3043 02:03:59,440 --> 02:04:06,880 see that that we could just as a 3044 02:04:02,560 --> 02:04:10,080 community be aware of to look for um and 3045 02:04:06,880 --> 02:04:13,280 possibly support them through whatever 3046 02:04:10,080 --> 02:04:16,719 challenges they're facing? 3047 02:04:13,280 --> 02:04:19,040 Um what I would say is uh there's 3048 02:04:16,719 --> 02:04:21,360 actually not a lack of resources that 3049 02:04:19,040 --> 02:04:23,280 could help them, but it's a matter of 3050 02:04:21,360 --> 02:04:25,440 are they engaging in those resources, 3051 02:04:23,280 --> 02:04:28,719 right? So take an expelled kid who has a 3052 02:04:25,440 --> 02:04:30,719 re-entry plan. Um how do we get them to 3053 02:04:28,719 --> 02:04:32,719 engage in that re-entry plan that will 3054 02:04:30,719 --> 02:04:34,000 actually help them get back in school? 3055 02:04:32,719 --> 02:04:36,159 you know, what are the supports that 3056 02:04:34,000 --> 02:04:38,239 they need to calm their body, calm their 3057 02:04:36,159 --> 02:04:39,440 minds, you know, work through and heal 3058 02:04:38,239 --> 02:04:40,880 through some of the trauma that they're 3059 02:04:39,440 --> 02:04:43,119 experienced so that they can get to the 3060 02:04:40,880 --> 02:04:44,880 point where, you know, they could go 3061 02:04:43,119 --> 02:04:46,080 back to school, get an education, do the 3062 02:04:44,880 --> 02:04:47,599 things that they need to succeed in 3063 02:04:46,080 --> 02:04:48,960 life. Like, we have we know what they 3064 02:04:47,599 --> 02:04:52,320 got to do. It's just a matter of helping 3065 02:04:48,960 --> 02:04:54,000 them to do it. And, um, I don't think, 3066 02:04:52,320 --> 02:04:56,000 this is my personal opinion, I don't 3067 02:04:54,000 --> 02:04:58,400 think that is it lies on the 3068 02:04:56,000 --> 02:05:00,159 professionals, you know. Um, I'm 3069 02:04:58,400 --> 02:05:02,159 grateful for all you guys, but I'm 3070 02:05:00,159 --> 02:05:05,280 hoping to plead to your humanity as 3071 02:05:02,159 --> 02:05:07,280 people, not mayor, police commissioner, 3072 02:05:05,280 --> 02:05:09,280 superintendent. Like, it's it's your 3073 02:05:07,280 --> 02:05:11,360 humanity that cares for a 13-year-old 3074 02:05:09,280 --> 02:05:14,080 who shoots a 14-year-old that says, "Yo, 3075 02:05:11,360 --> 02:05:16,880 this ain't right. What can we do to 3076 02:05:14,080 --> 02:05:18,800 intervene in their lives to help them?" 3077 02:05:16,880 --> 02:05:21,920 And that is supporting them so that they 3078 02:05:18,800 --> 02:05:24,639 can engage in the counseling and the 3079 02:05:21,920 --> 02:05:27,639 school and the, you know, the the 3080 02:05:24,639 --> 02:05:27,639 parenting. 3081 02:05:27,840 --> 02:05:32,159 Thank you, 3082 02:05:30,400 --> 02:05:34,159 » Councelor Long Champs. 3083 02:05:32,159 --> 02:05:37,119 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you for 3084 02:05:34,159 --> 02:05:40,480 being here. 3085 02:05:37,119 --> 02:05:41,760 » I think it's going to take a lot of uh 3086 02:05:40,480 --> 02:05:44,560 we're going to have to come up with lots 3087 02:05:41,760 --> 02:05:46,960 of different ways to um there's many 3088 02:05:44,560 --> 02:05:49,599 layers to this and you're absolutely 3089 02:05:46,960 --> 02:05:52,159 right. Um, I see you almost every day at 3090 02:05:49,599 --> 02:05:53,679 the store, uh, with a lot of the 3091 02:05:52,159 --> 02:05:57,040 teenagers, 3092 02:05:53,679 --> 02:05:59,840 um, that come in that I love dearly, uh, 3093 02:05:57,040 --> 02:06:01,679 and that I think care about me, too. Um, 3094 02:05:59,840 --> 02:06:03,599 but you're right, it is taking a moment. 3095 02:06:01,679 --> 02:06:06,000 I will say that it does make a 3096 02:06:03,599 --> 02:06:09,840 difference. And although we're here to 3097 02:06:06,000 --> 02:06:11,679 really, uh, touch on gun violence, but, 3098 02:06:09,840 --> 02:06:14,400 you know, a lot of the kids that are 3099 02:06:11,679 --> 02:06:16,480 committing these crimes, uh, they don't 3100 02:06:14,400 --> 02:06:18,239 have good mentors. 3101 02:06:16,480 --> 02:06:19,840 And although we can sit here and say, 3102 02:06:18,239 --> 02:06:23,119 "Well, it's not our responsibility. 3103 02:06:19,840 --> 02:06:25,599 They're not our kids." Um, it is our 3104 02:06:23,119 --> 02:06:28,800 responsibility. It doesn't take long. 3105 02:06:25,599 --> 02:06:32,400 Um, I I'll share that I know it makes a 3106 02:06:28,800 --> 02:06:36,000 difference and it is a part of 3107 02:06:32,400 --> 02:06:38,239 um really getting to uh hopefully solve 3108 02:06:36,000 --> 02:06:40,719 some of these bigger issues that we're 3109 02:06:38,239 --> 02:06:44,320 having. So, I'm grateful that you spend 3110 02:06:40,719 --> 02:06:47,199 so much time uh in the downtown area. 3111 02:06:44,320 --> 02:06:50,880 I'm grateful that um you are a man of 3112 02:06:47,199 --> 02:06:53,840 humanity and you really care about our 3113 02:06:50,880 --> 02:06:57,920 youth and it is a large part of helping 3114 02:06:53,840 --> 02:07:00,400 solve this problem. So thank you 3115 02:06:57,920 --> 02:07:02,400 » Councelor Naene. 3116 02:07:00,400 --> 02:07:04,960 » Thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh thank you for 3117 02:07:02,400 --> 02:07:08,639 being here. Um one of the things that 3118 02:07:04,960 --> 02:07:10,400 you brought up resonates completely. Um 3119 02:07:08,639 --> 02:07:12,239 the piece that you're talking about with 3120 02:07:10,400 --> 02:07:14,960 the 13 and the 14y old that was my 3121 02:07:12,239 --> 02:07:16,560 neighborhood. Um, 3122 02:07:14,960 --> 02:07:20,239 one of the things that I've heard 3123 02:07:16,560 --> 02:07:24,159 repetitively, um, not only it's a 3124 02:07:20,239 --> 02:07:26,719 question of fear, as as Superintendent 3125 02:07:24,159 --> 02:07:29,199 Langlas had said, but it's a question of 3126 02:07:26,719 --> 02:07:32,400 care, right? I've heard kids literally 3127 02:07:29,199 --> 02:07:35,040 say, "Nobody cares if I carry a gun. 3128 02:07:32,400 --> 02:07:37,119 Nobody cares where I'm at, what I'm 3129 02:07:35,040 --> 02:07:38,320 doing at any given time." And so, I 3130 02:07:37,119 --> 02:07:41,520 think you you've made a lot of good 3131 02:07:38,320 --> 02:07:44,239 points. I think the challenge is 3132 02:07:41,520 --> 02:07:46,719 getting kids to engage in systems that 3133 02:07:44,239 --> 02:07:48,000 improve uh their lives, deal with the 3134 02:07:46,719 --> 02:07:50,960 trauma that they're dealing with, all 3135 02:07:48,000 --> 02:07:53,440 these other pieces. And unfortunately, 3136 02:07:50,960 --> 02:07:56,239 we don't have a mandate to make that 3137 02:07:53,440 --> 02:07:58,639 happen. And so, you're right, if more 3138 02:07:56,239 --> 02:08:01,599 people cared, I think it's possible, but 3139 02:07:58,639 --> 02:08:03,119 there has to be a way to to 3140 02:08:01,599 --> 02:08:04,880 um 3141 02:08:03,119 --> 02:08:06,800 let our kids know in our community that 3142 02:08:04,880 --> 02:08:09,840 that they are our kids and we do care 3143 02:08:06,800 --> 02:08:09,840 about them, you know. 3144 02:08:11,679 --> 02:08:15,920 Further uh further questions from the 3145 02:08:13,920 --> 02:08:17,280 council. 3146 02:08:15,920 --> 02:08:20,280 Duncan, thank you so much for being 3147 02:08:17,280 --> 02:08:20,280 here. 3148 02:08:24,239 --> 02:08:28,960 » We will now be joined by Christine uh 3149 02:08:26,880 --> 02:08:31,040 Thibo uh who's also bringing a 3150 02:08:28,960 --> 02:08:33,760 colleague. Uh they're both from the 3151 02:08:31,040 --> 02:08:36,320 Department of Corrections. Uh if you can 3152 02:08:33,760 --> 02:08:39,960 please introduce yourself uh once you're 3153 02:08:36,320 --> 02:08:39,960 once you're ready. 3154 02:08:46,239 --> 02:08:49,520 » Good evening everyone. My name is 3155 02:08:47,679 --> 02:08:51,119 Christine Tibo. I am the associate 3156 02:08:49,520 --> 02:08:52,880 commissioner for the department of 3157 02:08:51,119 --> 02:08:55,199 corrections division of juvenile 3158 02:08:52,880 --> 02:08:56,880 services. Uh for those of you that 3159 02:08:55,199 --> 02:08:59,920 aren't familiar with that branch of the 3160 02:08:56,880 --> 02:09:01,520 department, we oversee 3161 02:08:59,920 --> 02:09:03,119 Juvenile Community Corrections, which 3162 02:09:01,520 --> 02:09:05,679 you've heard about a little this 3163 02:09:03,119 --> 02:09:06,960 evening, and Long Creek Youth 3164 02:09:05,679 --> 02:09:09,360 Development Center, which I'm sure 3165 02:09:06,960 --> 02:09:12,159 you're all familiar with. Um but the big 3166 02:09:09,360 --> 02:09:15,119 secret that I like to let out of the bag 3167 02:09:12,159 --> 02:09:17,920 is that we also invest $4.6 $6 million 3168 02:09:15,119 --> 02:09:21,840 in the community in many of the programs 3169 02:09:17,920 --> 02:09:24,320 uh like mentoring uh restorative justice 3170 02:09:21,840 --> 02:09:27,040 MST and FFT for the clinicians in the 3171 02:09:24,320 --> 02:09:30,239 room things that we're hoping will keep 3172 02:09:27,040 --> 02:09:31,920 youth out of the system as well. Um so 3173 02:09:30,239 --> 02:09:34,159 so that's what the division does, but 3174 02:09:31,920 --> 02:09:34,800 I'll allow Jill to introduce herself as 3175 02:09:34,159 --> 02:09:37,040 well. 3176 02:09:34,800 --> 02:09:39,040 » Thank you, Christine. My name is Jill 3177 02:09:37,040 --> 02:09:40,480 O'Brien. I'm the director of government 3178 02:09:39,040 --> 02:09:42,960 affairs for the Department of 3179 02:09:40,480 --> 02:09:44,719 Corrections, which means I go to the 3180 02:09:42,960 --> 02:09:46,719 legislative committee hearings where 3181 02:09:44,719 --> 02:09:49,119 they're debating the bills that we were 3182 02:09:46,719 --> 02:09:51,119 talking about. Um I there are bills that 3183 02:09:49,119 --> 02:09:53,520 the department wants passed over the 3184 02:09:51,119 --> 02:09:55,679 course of the session. Um and I work 3185 02:09:53,520 --> 02:09:58,159 with all of the different divisions of 3186 02:09:55,679 --> 02:09:59,679 corrections to identify what's working, 3187 02:09:58,159 --> 02:10:02,560 what's not, and coordinate with other 3188 02:09:59,679 --> 02:10:05,199 agencies. As Christine mentioned, the 3189 02:10:02,560 --> 02:10:06,800 Department of Corrections is involved 3190 02:10:05,199 --> 02:10:09,040 through our juvenile community 3191 02:10:06,800 --> 02:10:10,400 corrections. So, juvenile probation is 3192 02:10:09,040 --> 02:10:13,440 administered by the department of 3193 02:10:10,400 --> 02:10:15,199 corrections in Maine. And we also run 3194 02:10:13,440 --> 02:10:18,400 Long Creek Youth Development Center, 3195 02:10:15,199 --> 02:10:20,719 which holds both detained and committed 3196 02:10:18,400 --> 02:10:23,040 youth. So, detained youth are those that 3197 02:10:20,719 --> 02:10:25,599 are going through the juvenile process, 3198 02:10:23,040 --> 02:10:27,520 but no determination has been made yet 3199 02:10:25,599 --> 02:10:30,320 as to whether they committed a juvenile 3200 02:10:27,520 --> 02:10:32,320 crime or not. And then the committed are 3201 02:10:30,320 --> 02:10:34,239 those who have been found to have 3202 02:10:32,320 --> 02:10:36,639 committed the offense. And a judge has a 3203 02:10:34,239 --> 02:10:38,639 few options. One of them is to commit 3204 02:10:36,639 --> 02:10:40,639 the juvenile to Long Creek to the 3205 02:10:38,639 --> 02:10:43,199 Department of Corrections custody and 3206 02:10:40,639 --> 02:10:45,840 usually until a certain age, be it 18, 3207 02:10:43,199 --> 02:10:47,599 21, or for six or nine months, whatever 3208 02:10:45,840 --> 02:10:50,000 period of time the court decides is 3209 02:10:47,599 --> 02:10:52,960 appropriate. 3210 02:10:50,000 --> 02:10:55,840 As Christine mentioned, uh we spent $4.6 3211 02:10:52,960 --> 02:10:59,119 million statewide for community programs 3212 02:10:55,840 --> 02:11:01,119 and over $1.4 million of that for region 3213 02:10:59,119 --> 02:11:03,199 2, the region that includes Lewon. And 3214 02:11:01,119 --> 02:11:06,159 we fight every budget cycle to keep 3215 02:11:03,199 --> 02:11:08,320 those programs going. It's not a matter 3216 02:11:06,159 --> 02:11:10,400 of the state having a lot of money that 3217 02:11:08,320 --> 02:11:12,560 they're just not giving out. The budget 3218 02:11:10,400 --> 02:11:14,400 is tight there, too. And we we find this 3219 02:11:12,560 --> 02:11:16,560 extraordinarily important and Christine 3220 02:11:14,400 --> 02:11:18,880 has done a lot um and the department has 3221 02:11:16,560 --> 02:11:21,599 done a lot to make sure those programs 3222 02:11:18,880 --> 02:11:23,040 keep going. 3223 02:11:21,599 --> 02:11:24,560 We heard about this meeting and we 3224 02:11:23,040 --> 02:11:26,560 inserted ourselves because we think 3225 02:11:24,560 --> 02:11:28,239 we're an important part of this process. 3226 02:11:26,560 --> 02:11:31,520 And I think Christine can clear up 3227 02:11:28,239 --> 02:11:34,239 there's some uh the juvenile court 3228 02:11:31,520 --> 02:11:35,920 system is complicated and the 3229 02:11:34,239 --> 02:11:38,560 determinations the judge makes about 3230 02:11:35,920 --> 02:11:41,280 competence are based on experts opinions 3231 02:11:38,560 --> 02:11:42,960 of competence. So without delving into 3232 02:11:41,280 --> 02:11:46,159 the specifics of each case that's hard 3233 02:11:42,960 --> 02:11:47,840 to do. Um and legislative changes are 3234 02:11:46,159 --> 02:11:50,719 can be challenging and there's been a 3235 02:11:47,840 --> 02:11:52,960 push over the last few years to have 3236 02:11:50,719 --> 02:11:55,040 detention to be a a more difficult thing 3237 02:11:52,960 --> 02:11:58,239 for a judge to order. And so that's a 3238 02:11:55,040 --> 02:12:02,840 policy decision that you can all tell 3239 02:11:58,239 --> 02:12:02,840 your legislators how you feel about it. 3240 02:12:03,599 --> 02:12:07,520 So just to give you a little bit of my 3241 02:12:05,920 --> 02:12:10,480 background, I've been working in Maine's 3242 02:12:07,520 --> 02:12:13,119 juvenile justice system for 30 years. 3243 02:12:10,480 --> 02:12:16,320 And I see juvenile justice as an art. 3244 02:12:13,119 --> 02:12:18,719 And the art of juvenile justice is 3245 02:12:16,320 --> 02:12:20,639 figuring out that individual kid. Much 3246 02:12:18,719 --> 02:12:23,360 like Superintendent Langless said, each 3247 02:12:20,639 --> 02:12:26,079 kid comes to us as an individual. Some 3248 02:12:23,360 --> 02:12:28,639 of the youth we see I I would describe 3249 02:12:26,079 --> 02:12:29,920 as normative delinquent behavior. I'm 3250 02:12:28,639 --> 02:12:31,280 not going to ask you to raise your hand 3251 02:12:29,920 --> 02:12:35,199 if you broke the law when you were a 3252 02:12:31,280 --> 02:12:40,079 teenager, but statistics say most of us 3253 02:12:35,199 --> 02:12:42,000 did and we were fine. Um those youth we 3254 02:12:40,079 --> 02:12:44,079 like to divert. We don't believe they 3255 02:12:42,000 --> 02:12:47,040 need the courts. Uh we don't believe 3256 02:12:44,079 --> 02:12:49,679 they need expensive programming to fix 3257 02:12:47,040 --> 02:12:52,320 problems that may not exist. So, we like 3258 02:12:49,679 --> 02:12:54,400 to divert them with as light a touch as 3259 02:12:52,320 --> 02:12:56,960 possible and we rely on our community- 3260 02:12:54,400 --> 02:12:59,840 based organizations. 3261 02:12:56,960 --> 02:13:02,320 Secondly, we see kids that aren't really 3262 02:12:59,840 --> 02:13:05,599 risk of causing problems in the 3263 02:13:02,320 --> 02:13:08,159 community, big problems, but they have 3264 02:13:05,599 --> 02:13:11,119 huge needs. And you've heard others this 3265 02:13:08,159 --> 02:13:14,000 evening talk about the needs, housing, 3266 02:13:11,119 --> 02:13:17,360 poverty, um mental health, substance 3267 02:13:14,000 --> 02:13:18,880 use, those challenges that we have uh 3268 02:13:17,360 --> 02:13:21,599 that we see in the Department of 3269 02:13:18,880 --> 02:13:25,679 Corrections. Those youth need a lot of 3270 02:13:21,599 --> 02:13:28,320 services and support. Um but at the end 3271 02:13:25,679 --> 02:13:30,719 of the day, they are not likely to be 3272 02:13:28,320 --> 02:13:32,960 long-term recidivists. 3273 02:13:30,719 --> 02:13:34,960 A small number. And I'm pleased to tell 3274 02:13:32,960 --> 02:13:36,560 you that I think this is a minority of 3275 02:13:34,960 --> 02:13:41,520 the youth that we see in juvenile 3276 02:13:36,560 --> 02:13:43,440 justice are youth who are very high risk 3277 02:13:41,520 --> 02:13:46,239 youth for reaffending. And that's part 3278 02:13:43,440 --> 02:13:48,719 of our job is to do assessments and 3279 02:13:46,239 --> 02:13:52,079 figure out what what's the youth before 3280 02:13:48,719 --> 02:13:54,159 us. Is this a high needs kid? maybe DHS 3281 02:13:52,079 --> 02:13:57,840 needs to do more. If there's a risk that 3282 02:13:54,159 --> 02:14:00,480 that youth is going to continue to be a 3283 02:13:57,840 --> 02:14:02,639 uh a danger to themselves as well as all 3284 02:14:00,480 --> 02:14:06,079 of you, we want to take a different 3285 02:14:02,639 --> 02:14:08,000 approach and address those risks. And 3286 02:14:06,079 --> 02:14:10,800 science tells us and there are programs 3287 02:14:08,000 --> 02:14:13,760 that tell us what works. And so we're 3288 02:14:10,800 --> 02:14:15,520 really trying to prioritize what we know 3289 02:14:13,760 --> 02:14:17,760 works for those high-risisk kids. And 3290 02:14:15,520 --> 02:14:20,639 you've heard it from uh from others 3291 02:14:17,760 --> 02:14:23,440 before me. Mentoring 3292 02:14:20,639 --> 02:14:26,159 um that is a big a big one. And 3293 02:14:23,440 --> 02:14:28,960 engagement requires us to find the right 3294 02:14:26,159 --> 02:14:32,480 people. Um although we may all want to 3295 02:14:28,960 --> 02:14:34,960 reach out to the kids in Lewon and help, 3296 02:14:32,480 --> 02:14:37,760 we know that there are individuals that 3297 02:14:34,960 --> 02:14:41,119 are younger that are more um in line 3298 02:14:37,760 --> 02:14:42,800 with their cultural backgrounds. They're 3299 02:14:41,119 --> 02:14:45,040 going to be more effective. So we spend 3300 02:14:42,800 --> 02:14:47,360 time trying to find the right kid, the 3301 02:14:45,040 --> 02:14:49,599 right supports for the right youth in 3302 02:14:47,360 --> 02:14:51,920 our mentoring programs. Restorative 3303 02:14:49,599 --> 02:14:53,920 justice, um, Mr. Pierre works for 3304 02:14:51,920 --> 02:14:56,560 Restorative Justice uh, Project of 3305 02:14:53,920 --> 02:14:58,719 Maine. We help fund them. We actually 3306 02:14:56,560 --> 02:15:00,880 have a contract with them to provide 3307 02:14:58,719 --> 02:15:05,280 restorative justice for all of region 2, 3308 02:15:00,880 --> 02:15:08,239 which includes uh, Lewon. We h have 3309 02:15:05,280 --> 02:15:11,360 adopted new models of supervising youth 3310 02:15:08,239 --> 02:15:13,840 and and we supervise DOC supervise youth 3311 02:15:11,360 --> 02:15:15,520 from the point of arrest all the way 3312 02:15:13,840 --> 02:15:17,280 until they leave the juvenile justice 3313 02:15:15,520 --> 02:15:19,520 system. So if they're on conditions of 3314 02:15:17,280 --> 02:15:21,280 release, if they're on probation, if 3315 02:15:19,520 --> 02:15:24,159 they're at Long Creek, that juvenile 3316 02:15:21,280 --> 02:15:26,880 community corrections officer is the 3317 02:15:24,159 --> 02:15:28,639 constant most of the time, not always, 3318 02:15:26,880 --> 02:15:31,599 but most of the time the constant 3319 02:15:28,639 --> 02:15:37,520 through that youth's life. So we focus 3320 02:15:31,599 --> 02:15:39,199 on uh JCCOs as coaches not referees. We 3321 02:15:37,520 --> 02:15:42,320 want to provide supports. We want to 3322 02:15:39,199 --> 02:15:46,000 provide incentives. We want to help 3323 02:15:42,320 --> 02:15:50,719 reduce the risk by increasing strengths 3324 02:15:46,000 --> 02:15:53,599 and assets. Um and we we also have 3325 02:15:50,719 --> 02:15:55,760 family engaged CA case planning. That's 3326 02:15:53,599 --> 02:15:57,599 part of the Annie Casey Foundation 3327 02:15:55,760 --> 02:15:59,679 program that we're working with juvenile 3328 02:15:57,599 --> 02:16:02,400 probation transformation. And it relies 3329 02:15:59,679 --> 02:16:05,679 heavily on family engagement because we 3330 02:16:02,400 --> 02:16:07,440 recognize that youth will always have 3331 02:16:05,679 --> 02:16:09,280 their family. They'll always go back to 3332 02:16:07,440 --> 02:16:12,159 their family. So, we need to work with 3333 02:16:09,280 --> 02:16:15,280 them as a whole unit. 3334 02:16:12,159 --> 02:16:17,520 Um, just to give you some some numbers, 3335 02:16:15,280 --> 02:16:20,000 today there are 49 residents of Long 3336 02:16:17,520 --> 02:16:21,840 Creek and there are a lot of myths and 3337 02:16:20,000 --> 02:16:24,960 misconceptions about what happens at 3338 02:16:21,840 --> 02:16:27,119 Long Creek. And I won't pretend that 3339 02:16:24,960 --> 02:16:29,840 it's all wonderful, but there are good 3340 02:16:27,119 --> 02:16:33,040 things that happen at Long Creek. 49 of 3341 02:16:29,840 --> 02:16:35,439 the residents today, uh, of those 20 are 3342 02:16:33,040 --> 02:16:38,000 committed, as Jill said, they are youth 3343 02:16:35,439 --> 02:16:39,519 who've been adjudicated and sentenced to 3344 02:16:38,000 --> 02:16:43,200 stay at Long Creek and do a 3345 02:16:39,519 --> 02:16:45,599 rehabilitative program. And 29 of those 3346 02:16:43,200 --> 02:16:47,840 youth are detained. And to circle back 3347 02:16:45,599 --> 02:16:50,160 to a question that was answered earlier, 3348 02:16:47,840 --> 02:16:53,120 are there limitations on how long a 3349 02:16:50,160 --> 02:16:55,359 juvenile can be detained at Long Creek? 3350 02:16:53,120 --> 02:16:58,800 Yes, but it's a very narrow limitation. 3351 02:16:55,359 --> 02:17:01,920 If a youth is under age 12, which would 3352 02:16:58,800 --> 02:17:04,399 basically be an 11year-old who's at Long 3353 02:17:01,920 --> 02:17:07,439 Creek, that youth can only be detained 3354 02:17:04,399 --> 02:17:08,960 more than seven days, uh, if both the 3355 02:17:07,439 --> 02:17:12,000 prosecutor and the defense attorney 3356 02:17:08,960 --> 02:17:15,359 agree. I'm happy to say we do not have 3357 02:17:12,000 --> 02:17:17,760 any 11 year olds at Long Creek. We do 3358 02:17:15,359 --> 02:17:20,080 have youth who've been there for a day 3359 02:17:17,760 --> 02:17:24,399 and then they're released um by the 3360 02:17:20,080 --> 02:17:26,800 courts or or sometimes by us and we have 3361 02:17:24,399 --> 02:17:29,920 youth who've been there over well over a 3362 02:17:26,800 --> 02:17:31,840 year. One of the benefits of Long Creek 3363 02:17:29,920 --> 02:17:35,519 and this kind of ties in the competence 3364 02:17:31,840 --> 02:17:38,080 issue. If even if a youth is in the 3365 02:17:35,519 --> 02:17:40,399 juvenile process and a competent comp 3366 02:17:38,080 --> 02:17:42,240 competence determination is being made, 3367 02:17:40,399 --> 02:17:44,319 the judge hasn't decided yet. They're 3368 02:17:42,240 --> 02:17:46,880 still doing the evaluations. 3369 02:17:44,319 --> 02:17:49,280 That youth can be detained at Long 3370 02:17:46,880 --> 02:17:51,599 Creek. 3371 02:17:49,280 --> 02:17:54,399 Recently, in the p within the past year 3372 02:17:51,599 --> 02:17:56,880 or so, um there has been one youth who 3373 02:17:54,399 --> 02:17:59,280 is there for a very serious crime who 3374 02:17:56,880 --> 02:18:02,719 was found not competent but possibly 3375 02:17:59,280 --> 02:18:05,359 could become competent. DOC worked with 3376 02:18:02,719 --> 02:18:06,800 the state forensic services, um the 3377 02:18:05,359 --> 02:18:09,120 department of health, health and human 3378 02:18:06,800 --> 02:18:11,439 services, office of behavioral health 3379 02:18:09,120 --> 02:18:14,160 and our clinical providers, Wellpath, 3380 02:18:11,439 --> 02:18:16,960 who do tremendous amount of work with 3381 02:18:14,160 --> 02:18:19,519 all the youth there to develop a system 3382 02:18:16,960 --> 02:18:21,120 for establishing competence for those 3383 02:18:19,519 --> 02:18:23,760 juveniles. 3384 02:18:21,120 --> 02:18:26,080 And uh so that juvenile was first found 3385 02:18:23,760 --> 02:18:28,800 not competent but possibly could be 3386 02:18:26,080 --> 02:18:30,399 competent. at the next court date, the 3387 02:18:28,800 --> 02:18:32,880 court found that that youth was 3388 02:18:30,399 --> 02:18:35,679 competent as a result of the services 3389 02:18:32,880 --> 02:18:39,040 that were pro provided to that resident 3390 02:18:35,679 --> 02:18:43,359 while at Long Creek. So, there is a lot 3391 02:18:39,040 --> 02:18:46,800 of good being done there as well. Um, 3392 02:18:43,359 --> 02:18:48,719 you know, our our system is complex and 3393 02:18:46,800 --> 02:18:50,880 I I'm going to repeat what you've heard 3394 02:18:48,719 --> 02:18:53,120 several times tonight. We're proud to 3395 02:18:50,880 --> 02:18:56,559 work with local law enforcement, 3396 02:18:53,120 --> 02:18:58,639 community programs, the schools because 3397 02:18:56,559 --> 02:19:01,120 we recognize this is not a problem that 3398 02:18:58,639 --> 02:19:04,880 we are going to solve alone. Uh this is 3399 02:19:01,120 --> 02:19:07,920 a big community pro problem. Um I will 3400 02:19:04,880 --> 02:19:10,479 defer to Jill about any legislative 3401 02:19:07,920 --> 02:19:15,679 questions or did you want to add 3402 02:19:10,479 --> 02:19:17,280 anything? Just that uh certainly 3403 02:19:15,679 --> 02:19:19,760 not every youth's experience at Long 3404 02:19:17,280 --> 02:19:22,559 Creek is wonderful. it for detained 3405 02:19:19,760 --> 02:19:24,559 youth it is a stable environment staffed 3406 02:19:22,559 --> 02:19:27,599 by people who care tremendously for the 3407 02:19:24,559 --> 02:19:30,479 youth. It is without a doubt disruptive. 3408 02:19:27,599 --> 02:19:33,200 Um by the way the system is set up youth 3409 02:19:30,479 --> 02:19:35,280 at Long Creek if they're detained their 3410 02:19:33,200 --> 02:19:37,280 home schools are still responsible for 3411 02:19:35,280 --> 02:19:39,439 their education. So it's remote school 3412 02:19:37,280 --> 02:19:41,120 that's disruptive um for committed 3413 02:19:39,439 --> 02:19:43,280 youth. Long Creek has an accredited 3414 02:19:41,120 --> 02:19:45,439 school. Um there are a lot of wonderful 3415 02:19:43,280 --> 02:19:48,319 things going on there. Um but certainly 3416 02:19:45,439 --> 02:19:51,120 it is disruptive and better for people 3417 02:19:48,319 --> 02:19:52,800 to remain in a home that is supportive. 3418 02:19:51,120 --> 02:19:54,640 Happy to answer questions I can about 3419 02:19:52,800 --> 02:19:57,640 the legislative process and the 3420 02:19:54,640 --> 02:19:57,640 department. 3421 02:19:58,800 --> 02:20:04,080 » Uh we uh yes we will now uh take 3422 02:20:02,240 --> 02:20:06,880 questions from counselors. Uh councelor 3423 02:20:04,080 --> 02:20:09,280 Nene. 3424 02:20:06,880 --> 02:20:12,640 » Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um I I do have a 3425 02:20:09,280 --> 02:20:16,080 couple of questions about um when you're 3426 02:20:12,640 --> 02:20:18,319 releasing uh juvenile 3427 02:20:16,080 --> 02:20:20,399 it's a I guess it's a procedural 3428 02:20:18,319 --> 02:20:22,399 question but in many cases it seems that 3429 02:20:20,399 --> 02:20:24,960 we release juveniles before they appear 3430 02:20:22,399 --> 02:20:28,160 before a judge uh for especially for 3431 02:20:24,960 --> 02:20:31,200 like let's say misdemeanor crimes um if 3432 02:20:28,160 --> 02:20:34,479 you've for instance stolen a vehicle 3433 02:20:31,200 --> 02:20:36,240 right which we call joy riding you don't 3434 02:20:34,479 --> 02:20:39,840 actually appear before a judge before 3435 02:20:36,240 --> 02:20:43,280 you're released is the Is that correct? 3436 02:20:39,840 --> 02:20:44,800 » It's complicated. So, um, we are subject 3437 02:20:43,280 --> 02:20:46,720 to all of the laws that are in the 3438 02:20:44,800 --> 02:20:50,800 juvenile code, the same laws that govern 3439 02:20:46,720 --> 02:20:53,040 the DA's office, and there are clear 3440 02:20:50,800 --> 02:20:55,359 statutory guidelines on when a youth can 3441 02:20:53,040 --> 02:20:57,680 be detained at Longre. First, you need 3442 02:20:55,359 --> 02:21:00,720 to have a criteria for detention, which 3443 02:20:57,680 --> 02:21:03,760 means the youth has to have had uh 3444 02:21:00,720 --> 02:21:06,160 felony level allegations or they've 3445 02:21:03,760 --> 02:21:11,040 violated a condition of probation or 3446 02:21:06,160 --> 02:21:13,680 condition of release um or they are um 3447 02:21:11,040 --> 02:21:16,479 have a failure a warrant. There there 3448 02:21:13,680 --> 02:21:19,439 are certain criteria that exceptions, 3449 02:21:16,479 --> 02:21:21,760 but by and large, if a youth commits a 3450 02:21:19,439 --> 02:21:25,280 misdemeanor level offense and they don't 3451 02:21:21,760 --> 02:21:28,160 have history in the system, the law does 3452 02:21:25,280 --> 02:21:30,960 not allow that juvenile to be detained. 3453 02:21:28,160 --> 02:21:32,160 If it's a felony, then detention is 3454 02:21:30,960 --> 02:21:34,000 possible. 3455 02:21:32,160 --> 02:21:36,479 » Thank you very much. Uh second question 3456 02:21:34,000 --> 02:21:39,280 would be when a determination of 3457 02:21:36,479 --> 02:21:43,280 competency competency or non-competency 3458 02:21:39,280 --> 02:21:47,359 is is found um can that be challenged or 3459 02:21:43,280 --> 02:21:50,640 is that just accepted um as 3460 02:21:47,359 --> 02:21:53,600 what it is? 3461 02:21:50,640 --> 02:21:55,840 » The competence determination is made in 3462 02:21:53,600 --> 02:21:58,560 my experience so should be made solely 3463 02:21:55,840 --> 02:22:00,720 by the judge. Um and often it's with a 3464 02:21:58,560 --> 02:22:02,399 hearing not always. Sometimes it's very 3465 02:22:00,720 --> 02:22:04,880 clear one way or the other whether the 3466 02:22:02,399 --> 02:22:07,520 juvenile is or is not competent. But a 3467 02:22:04,880 --> 02:22:10,479 judge makes a determination on whether 3468 02:22:07,520 --> 02:22:13,600 the juvenile is competent. If the 3469 02:22:10,479 --> 02:22:16,000 juvenile is found not competent and not 3470 02:22:13,600 --> 02:22:19,840 likely to become competent, the judge 3471 02:22:16,000 --> 02:22:22,399 has three statutory options. One, the 3472 02:22:19,840 --> 02:22:24,160 judge could place the juvenile in DHS 3473 02:22:22,399 --> 02:22:26,720 custody. 3474 02:22:24,160 --> 02:22:28,800 Two, they can refer the juvenile to the 3475 02:22:26,720 --> 02:22:30,640 Department of Health and Human Services 3476 02:22:28,800 --> 02:22:33,520 for what's essentially voluntary 3477 02:22:30,640 --> 02:22:36,640 services. So DHS works with the family 3478 02:22:33,520 --> 02:22:39,359 to provide whatever they need or the 3479 02:22:36,640 --> 02:22:41,520 judge can order nothing. At the end of 3480 02:22:39,359 --> 02:22:44,160 that decision, between those three 3481 02:22:41,520 --> 02:22:46,800 choices, the juvenile charge is 3482 02:22:44,160 --> 02:22:50,000 dismissed. So there's nothing further 3483 02:22:46,800 --> 02:22:53,600 pending in the court. Now, 3484 02:22:50,000 --> 02:22:56,640 could could an attorney for either side 3485 02:22:53,600 --> 02:22:59,200 appeal a competence decision to the 3486 02:22:56,640 --> 02:23:01,520 Supreme Court? Yes. I to the best of my 3487 02:22:59,200 --> 02:23:03,280 knowledge, there has not been any appeal 3488 02:23:01,520 --> 02:23:06,960 on a a juvenile competence 3489 02:23:03,280 --> 02:23:08,800 determination, but in theory, yes. And 3490 02:23:06,960 --> 02:23:10,319 and the last question that I have is if 3491 02:23:08,800 --> 02:23:12,720 we're releasing juveniles that have 3492 02:23:10,319 --> 02:23:16,560 commit committed misdemeanors 3493 02:23:12,720 --> 02:23:18,160 um before um 3494 02:23:16,560 --> 02:23:20,880 well basically without without holding 3495 02:23:18,160 --> 02:23:24,399 them, do we then determine after we 3496 02:23:20,880 --> 02:23:27,040 release these juveniles if their uh home 3497 02:23:24,399 --> 02:23:30,479 life is stable and supportive and their 3498 02:23:27,040 --> 02:23:32,560 community uh situation is is such that 3499 02:23:30,479 --> 02:23:36,640 their their likelihood of recidivism is 3500 02:23:32,560 --> 02:23:38,640 low or do we not care about juvenile 3501 02:23:36,640 --> 02:23:41,760 um misdemeanor crimes. As far as 3502 02:23:38,640 --> 02:23:44,720 determining those pieces, 3503 02:23:41,760 --> 02:23:47,359 » We definitely care. So, the youth gets 3504 02:23:44,720 --> 02:23:49,840 referred from law enforcement to DOC and 3505 02:23:47,359 --> 02:23:52,080 the JCCOS's will do an initial meeting 3506 02:23:49,840 --> 02:23:55,040 with the family, talk about what's going 3507 02:23:52,080 --> 02:23:58,160 on, uh asks about strengths and 3508 02:23:55,040 --> 02:24:00,960 challenges in the home, and if it's a 3509 02:23:58,160 --> 02:24:02,560 minor offense and the DA approves, we 3510 02:24:00,960 --> 02:24:05,040 can divert that case and handle it 3511 02:24:02,560 --> 02:24:07,760 informally. If there appears to be a 3512 02:24:05,040 --> 02:24:10,080 need for more intervention and perhaps 3513 02:24:07,760 --> 02:24:12,319 court-ordered services, then the case 3514 02:24:10,080 --> 02:24:16,399 goes on to court. But every case that 3515 02:24:12,319 --> 02:24:18,479 comes to the DOC, we do uh what's called 3516 02:24:16,399 --> 02:24:21,760 the youth level of service inventory. 3517 02:24:18,479 --> 02:24:25,200 It's a it's a risk assessment that kind 3518 02:24:21,760 --> 02:24:27,840 of helps us identify which youth are 3519 02:24:25,200 --> 02:24:31,359 doing okay, don't really need a lot of 3520 02:24:27,840 --> 02:24:32,880 intervention, and those that need more. 3521 02:24:31,359 --> 02:24:34,720 Thank you so much very much for all 3522 02:24:32,880 --> 02:24:36,479 that. 3523 02:24:34,720 --> 02:24:39,439 Councelor Long Champs. 3524 02:24:36,479 --> 02:24:42,399 » Thank you, Mayor. Um, could you remind 3525 02:24:39,439 --> 02:24:45,280 me of that uh dollar value, the the 3526 02:24:42,399 --> 02:24:47,680 amount of money that is uh going out to 3527 02:24:45,280 --> 02:24:52,720 organizations? 3528 02:24:47,680 --> 02:24:55,520 Can you remind uh me of that 4 million 3529 02:24:52,720 --> 02:24:58,880 that's going out to organizations? 3530 02:24:55,520 --> 02:25:02,319 » Yes, counselor. Statewide 4.6 6 million 3531 02:24:58,880 --> 02:25:04,319 in fiscal year 2026 and for region 2 it 3532 02:25:02,319 --> 02:25:07,280 was 1.4 million. 3533 02:25:04,319 --> 02:25:08,720 » And what organizations uh is that being 3534 02:25:07,280 --> 02:25:10,399 uh given to? 3535 02:25:08,720 --> 02:25:12,000 » There's approximately 10. 3536 02:25:10,399 --> 02:25:13,920 » May I have the names? 3537 02:25:12,000 --> 02:25:15,760 » Uh New Beginnings. We support New 3538 02:25:13,920 --> 02:25:17,520 Beginnings Shelter, Tree Street, 3539 02:25:15,760 --> 02:25:19,840 Spurwink, Main Behavioral Health, 3540 02:25:17,520 --> 02:25:22,160 Restorative Justice Project, the 3541 02:25:19,840 --> 02:25:25,840 statewide regional care teams, Prebble 3542 02:25:22,160 --> 02:25:27,600 Street, etc. Was 3543 02:25:25,840 --> 02:25:28,640 was that 10? 3544 02:25:27,600 --> 02:25:30,240 » Uh, 3545 02:25:28,640 --> 02:25:31,600 » We have a few others 3546 02:25:30,240 --> 02:25:33,920 » That you can't share or 3547 02:25:31,600 --> 02:25:36,080 » No, I'm I'm happy to keep going. Um, 3548 02:25:33,920 --> 02:25:38,000 » Please. 3549 02:25:36,080 --> 02:25:40,160 » Youth advocate program, Tree Street, 3550 02:25:38,000 --> 02:25:42,560 Journey.do, main immigrant and refugee 3551 02:25:40,160 --> 02:25:43,600 services, several several community 3552 02:25:42,560 --> 02:25:46,319 programs. 3553 02:25:43,600 --> 02:25:49,359 » Thank you. Um, 3554 02:25:46,319 --> 02:25:51,520 how do you track the success coming from 3555 02:25:49,359 --> 02:25:54,560 uh those programs? Do you and how do 3556 02:25:51,520 --> 02:25:55,359 you? So we certainly Christine, would 3557 02:25:54,560 --> 02:25:59,040 you like to? 3558 02:25:55,359 --> 02:26:02,319 » Yeah. So we have a fabulous uh contract 3559 02:25:59,040 --> 02:26:04,240 manager who keeps reports. She requires 3560 02:26:02,319 --> 02:26:06,560 monthly reports from all of those 3561 02:26:04,240 --> 02:26:09,760 organizations on the number of youth 3562 02:26:06,560 --> 02:26:12,240 they've served. Uh a program like MST 3563 02:26:09,760 --> 02:26:15,120 with multi-istic therapy. We don't 3564 02:26:12,240 --> 02:26:17,760 necessarily get into the details of what 3565 02:26:15,120 --> 02:26:19,840 that was about, but that whether the 3566 02:26:17,760 --> 02:26:22,080 youth and the family engaged in the 3567 02:26:19,840 --> 02:26:23,920 services or whether they were closed out 3568 02:26:22,080 --> 02:26:26,160 prematurely for some reason, we keep 3569 02:26:23,920 --> 02:26:28,960 that kind of data. Um, all of the 3570 02:26:26,160 --> 02:26:30,800 programs do have to provide some 3571 02:26:28,960 --> 02:26:34,720 documentation of how they're using the 3572 02:26:30,800 --> 02:26:37,520 funds that we uh allocate to them. So, 3573 02:26:34,720 --> 02:26:40,319 sometimes we ask for receipts and 3574 02:26:37,520 --> 02:26:42,560 documentation on spending. 3575 02:26:40,319 --> 02:26:46,319 » Thank you. Um, 3576 02:26:42,560 --> 02:26:49,520 I know there are uh a large number of 3577 02:26:46,319 --> 02:26:52,479 folks that disagree or would rather uh 3578 02:26:49,520 --> 02:26:54,880 not see Long Creek exist. Um, I think 3579 02:26:52,479 --> 02:26:58,960 Long Creek is very important. I did a 3580 02:26:54,880 --> 02:27:00,960 lot of volunteering there. Um, and I I 3581 02:26:58,960 --> 02:27:04,960 think it's very important to have a safe 3582 02:27:00,960 --> 02:27:07,760 place um for juveniles to go when they 3583 02:27:04,960 --> 02:27:09,840 have committed crimes. So, I hope uh 3584 02:27:07,760 --> 02:27:13,920 Long Creek plans to stay for a long 3585 02:27:09,840 --> 02:27:18,200 time. I think it's very needed. Um, 3586 02:27:13,920 --> 02:27:18,200 I did have one more question, 3587 02:27:19,040 --> 02:27:23,040 » But I can't remember. 3588 02:27:20,319 --> 02:27:27,359 » We can come back to you, counselor. 3589 02:27:23,040 --> 02:27:29,680 Uh, councelor councelor Herman, 3590 02:27:27,359 --> 02:27:31,520 » Thank you both for being here. Um, 3591 02:27:29,680 --> 02:27:34,720 councelor Nene touched on this a little 3592 02:27:31,520 --> 02:27:37,840 bit, but when you when you make the 3593 02:27:34,720 --> 02:27:40,399 decision to release someone uh release a 3594 02:27:37,840 --> 02:27:42,080 juvenile to their family, um you 3595 02:27:40,399 --> 02:27:44,960 mentioned that that that family 3596 02:27:42,080 --> 02:27:47,840 engagement is important. What happens if 3597 02:27:44,960 --> 02:27:52,000 the family for whatever reason, whether 3598 02:27:47,840 --> 02:27:54,319 it's um lack of resources or um you 3599 02:27:52,000 --> 02:27:57,439 know, whatever reason it is, they're not 3600 02:27:54,319 --> 02:28:00,880 really able to support that juvenile in 3601 02:27:57,439 --> 02:28:05,200 the way they need. Um what what sorts of 3602 02:28:00,880 --> 02:28:08,080 what sorts of options are there then? 3603 02:28:05,200 --> 02:28:09,840 » So, one of our contracts is with two 3604 02:28:08,080 --> 02:28:13,359 separate agencies, the Opportunity 3605 02:28:09,840 --> 02:28:16,080 Alliance and Wings. They cover different 3606 02:28:13,359 --> 02:28:18,880 parts of the state and they have 3607 02:28:16,080 --> 02:28:21,520 highfidelity wraparound programs. That 3608 02:28:18,880 --> 02:28:24,960 is a system that's designed for exactly 3609 02:28:21,520 --> 02:28:27,600 those youth to uh help identify natural 3610 02:28:24,960 --> 02:28:30,479 supports in the community. Um support 3611 02:28:27,600 --> 02:28:34,240 parents as best they can but supplement 3612 02:28:30,479 --> 02:28:36,399 where the parents are are not able to do 3613 02:28:34,240 --> 02:28:39,040 all that they need. mentoring programs. 3614 02:28:36,399 --> 02:28:42,720 We have the youth advocate program. Uh 3615 02:28:39,040 --> 02:28:44,640 and and as even though they are very 3616 02:28:42,720 --> 02:28:46,560 very caring and they do a great job, 3617 02:28:44,640 --> 02:28:48,800 they are struggling with staffing. To 3618 02:28:46,560 --> 02:28:51,760 echo another concern that you've heard 3619 02:28:48,800 --> 02:28:53,680 several times, um their staffing is 3620 02:28:51,760 --> 02:28:56,240 difficult for them to retain and and 3621 02:28:53,680 --> 02:28:58,479 keep long term. But those kinds of 3622 02:28:56,240 --> 02:29:01,600 things we do we we recognize that not 3623 02:28:58,479 --> 02:29:04,720 all parents have the resources that that 3624 02:29:01,600 --> 02:29:07,600 we that the kids need. 3625 02:29:04,720 --> 02:29:10,080 Okay. Thank you, 3626 02:29:07,600 --> 02:29:13,040 » Councelor Roy. 3627 02:29:10,080 --> 02:29:14,640 » Thank you. Um, one of the questions I 3628 02:29:13,040 --> 02:29:16,880 hope that you might be able to answer 3629 02:29:14,640 --> 02:29:19,040 is, um, 3630 02:29:16,880 --> 02:29:22,479 what is the approach if you have a youth 3631 02:29:19,040 --> 02:29:26,800 that goes before you 3632 02:29:22,479 --> 02:29:28,720 and you let go for doing a crime and 3633 02:29:26,800 --> 02:29:31,439 then they come back within a month or 3634 02:29:28,720 --> 02:29:32,800 maybe even a week or two? Is there an 3635 02:29:31,439 --> 02:29:36,160 approach that you follow? cuz we heard 3636 02:29:32,800 --> 02:29:38,800 earlier that we're having repeat youth 3637 02:29:36,160 --> 02:29:42,160 out there and it just they keep uh the 3638 02:29:38,800 --> 02:29:44,399 youth keep getting uh let back into the 3639 02:29:42,160 --> 02:29:47,600 city. So 3640 02:29:44,399 --> 02:29:49,520 » So every youth who is arrested by law 3641 02:29:47,600 --> 02:29:51,520 enforcement and detained at Long Creek 3642 02:29:49,520 --> 02:29:54,720 appears before a judge within 48 3643 02:29:51,520 --> 02:29:57,760 business hours. That judge can decide 3644 02:29:54,720 --> 02:30:01,680 whether to release the youth at court on 3645 02:29:57,760 --> 02:30:04,160 that day and and sometimes they do. Um, 3646 02:30:01,680 --> 02:30:07,120 the judge may order that the youth be 3647 02:30:04,160 --> 02:30:10,000 detained at Long Creek, but allow the 3648 02:30:07,120 --> 02:30:14,640 JCCO, the discretion, to release that 3649 02:30:10,000 --> 02:30:16,560 youth once services are in place, or the 3650 02:30:14,640 --> 02:30:19,439 judge can order that the youth be held 3651 02:30:16,560 --> 02:30:22,399 with no right to release, meaning only a 3652 02:30:19,439 --> 02:30:26,160 judge can now release that youth from 3653 02:30:22,399 --> 02:30:29,520 Long Creek. Um, so if the JCCO happens 3654 02:30:26,160 --> 02:30:31,920 to be uh have that discretion, usually 3655 02:30:29,520 --> 02:30:35,439 what happens is we have a team meeting 3656 02:30:31,920 --> 02:30:37,680 where we pull together attorneys and uh 3657 02:30:35,439 --> 02:30:39,600 JCCO if there's a community case 3658 02:30:37,680 --> 02:30:42,399 manager. 3659 02:30:39,600 --> 02:30:45,120 The expectation is that within 5 days of 3660 02:30:42,399 --> 02:30:47,200 that original detention that the JCCOs 3661 02:30:45,120 --> 02:30:49,120 have pulled together the supports for 3662 02:30:47,200 --> 02:30:53,120 that youth and and everybody comes 3663 02:30:49,120 --> 02:30:55,760 together to make a release plan. Um, so 3664 02:30:53,120 --> 02:30:57,680 is it perfect? Absolutely not. Um, but 3665 02:30:55,760 --> 02:31:02,000 we certainly do look at all of the 3666 02:30:57,680 --> 02:31:04,080 factors and the risks of of reaffending. 3667 02:31:02,000 --> 02:31:06,080 Uh, I had a psychologist tell me once 3668 02:31:04,080 --> 02:31:08,720 the best predictor of future behavior is 3669 02:31:06,080 --> 02:31:11,200 past behavior. So, we look at, you know, 3670 02:31:08,720 --> 02:31:13,439 the history and and the domains, not 3671 02:31:11,200 --> 02:31:14,880 just what's happening on the streets of 3672 02:31:13,439 --> 02:31:16,960 Lewon, but what's happening in the 3673 02:31:14,880 --> 02:31:19,680 school, what's happening in the home, 3674 02:31:16,960 --> 02:31:21,359 uh, what are the support resources. So, 3675 02:31:19,680 --> 02:31:23,680 it's not a knee-jerk. we're gonna 3676 02:31:21,359 --> 02:31:24,960 release this youth and hope for the best 3677 02:31:23,680 --> 02:31:27,280 there. It's a very thoughtful 3678 02:31:24,960 --> 02:31:29,840 decision-making process. 3679 02:31:27,280 --> 02:31:32,479 » Thank you for that. Um, so going into 3680 02:31:29,840 --> 02:31:35,040 that, are what are the rehabilitation 3681 02:31:32,479 --> 02:31:39,000 services that you have at Long Creek to 3682 02:31:35,040 --> 02:31:39,000 help prevent patterns? 3683 02:31:39,280 --> 02:31:45,680 » So, thank you for this opportunity to 3684 02:31:42,000 --> 02:31:47,520 debunk some myths. um youth. So, as as 3685 02:31:45,680 --> 02:31:50,319 Jill mentioned, youth are there either 3686 02:31:47,520 --> 02:31:52,880 on a detained status or on a committed 3687 02:31:50,319 --> 02:31:55,280 status. Youth who are detained have not 3688 02:31:52,880 --> 02:31:57,680 yet been adjudicated. They are presumed 3689 02:31:55,280 --> 02:32:00,479 innocent. They have due process rights. 3690 02:31:57,680 --> 02:32:03,280 We don't dive into the behaviors that 3691 02:32:00,479 --> 02:32:05,760 they've been alleged to commit. What we 3692 02:32:03,280 --> 02:32:09,840 do provide to youth who are they 3693 02:32:05,760 --> 02:32:12,560 detained status is clinical support. 3694 02:32:09,840 --> 02:32:16,000 Pardon me. uh clinical support. We have 3695 02:32:12,560 --> 02:32:18,000 on-site and on call uh clinical 3696 02:32:16,000 --> 02:32:21,840 behavioral specialists. We have a 3697 02:32:18,000 --> 02:32:25,040 psychiatric nurse practitioner, doctors, 3698 02:32:21,840 --> 02:32:28,080 dentist. Um all of those services that 3699 02:32:25,040 --> 02:32:30,399 help stabilize the youth in that 3700 02:32:28,080 --> 02:32:32,479 environment, we provide to the detained 3701 02:32:30,399 --> 02:32:36,160 youth. So, if they're having a a mental 3702 02:32:32,479 --> 02:32:38,479 health crisis or engaging in self harm, 3703 02:32:36,160 --> 02:32:40,640 we respond to that. We have an excellent 3704 02:32:38,479 --> 02:32:42,800 team of Wellpath clinicians that respond 3705 02:32:40,640 --> 02:32:45,520 to that immediately 3706 02:32:42,800 --> 02:32:48,240 once the youth is adjudicated and if 3707 02:32:45,520 --> 02:32:50,640 they are committed to Long Creek, we do 3708 02:32:48,240 --> 02:32:52,640 30 days of assessments on education 3709 02:32:50,640 --> 02:32:55,760 needs. Oh, let me back up. Detained 3710 02:32:52,640 --> 02:32:58,160 youth, uh, as Jill said, they remain the 3711 02:32:55,760 --> 02:33:00,720 responsibility of the home school, but 3712 02:32:58,160 --> 02:33:03,359 the homeschool can choose to have them 3713 02:33:00,720 --> 02:33:06,080 attend classes at our internal school, 3714 02:33:03,359 --> 02:33:08,720 AR Gold, and award credits. And most of 3715 02:33:06,080 --> 02:33:10,560 the time that's what the schools will do 3716 02:33:08,720 --> 02:33:14,160 uh just because it is less disruptive 3717 02:33:10,560 --> 02:33:15,760 than sending in independent teachers. So 3718 02:33:14,160 --> 02:33:18,399 for the detained kids they get 3719 02:33:15,760 --> 02:33:20,240 education, they get uh stabilization, 3720 02:33:18,399 --> 02:33:23,200 mental health stabilization, medical 3721 02:33:20,240 --> 02:33:26,080 needs. Uh they get to be part of all of 3722 02:33:23,200 --> 02:33:28,319 the activities that are going on in the 3723 02:33:26,080 --> 02:33:31,359 facility. They're not precluded from 3724 02:33:28,319 --> 02:33:33,680 having visitors or engaging. We had a a 3725 02:33:31,359 --> 02:33:35,760 fun summer fun day last week. They get 3726 02:33:33,680 --> 02:33:38,640 to participate in all of that stuff. The 3727 02:33:35,760 --> 02:33:42,000 only thing they don't get is an 3728 02:33:38,640 --> 02:33:44,479 exploration of what led to that criminal 3729 02:33:42,000 --> 02:33:46,720 conduct. That happens exclusively with 3730 02:33:44,479 --> 02:33:49,120 youth who are committed after they've 3731 02:33:46,720 --> 02:33:51,280 been adjudicated and after there's been 3732 02:33:49,120 --> 02:33:53,200 an assessment. We have sexual behavior 3733 02:33:51,280 --> 02:33:57,120 treatment if that's part of the issue. 3734 02:33:53,200 --> 02:34:00,160 Substance use treatment is is almost 3735 02:33:57,120 --> 02:34:02,160 universal. Not always but uh the youth 3736 02:34:00,160 --> 02:34:04,319 who are detained do get substance use 3737 02:34:02,160 --> 02:34:07,600 education as well. They get some of that 3738 02:34:04,319 --> 02:34:10,880 work. Uh certainly anger management we 3739 02:34:07,600 --> 02:34:13,600 have a tool called the savvery um that 3740 02:34:10,880 --> 02:34:15,120 assesses risk of violence and depending 3741 02:34:13,600 --> 02:34:17,359 on how the youth comes out on that 3742 02:34:15,120 --> 02:34:20,240 assessment. We do different types of 3743 02:34:17,359 --> 02:34:22,640 intervention around um you know helping 3744 02:34:20,240 --> 02:34:25,600 to prevent future violence, 3745 02:34:22,640 --> 02:34:27,120 self-regulation skills, uh trauma work, 3746 02:34:25,600 --> 02:34:29,200 all of the things you've heard about. 3747 02:34:27,120 --> 02:34:32,319 that uh but that again is a very 3748 02:34:29,200 --> 02:34:34,720 thoughtful and well-informed process. It 3749 02:34:32,319 --> 02:34:36,560 takes about 30 days to really gather 3750 02:34:34,720 --> 02:34:39,040 psychological testing, education 3751 02:34:36,560 --> 02:34:41,920 testing, IEPs if they have them from 3752 02:34:39,040 --> 02:34:44,240 schools. So there there's a lot that 3753 02:34:41,920 --> 02:34:46,080 happens there that you you don't read 3754 02:34:44,240 --> 02:34:48,399 about that in the paper, but there is a 3755 02:34:46,080 --> 02:34:50,560 lot happening there. 3756 02:34:48,399 --> 02:34:52,880 » Thank you for that. And two really quick 3757 02:34:50,560 --> 02:34:56,080 questions. Um one, what happens if they 3758 02:34:52,880 --> 02:34:59,680 don't participate? Is there fall fall 3759 02:34:56,080 --> 02:35:02,880 back for or is there like a way 3760 02:34:59,680 --> 02:35:06,160 repercussions? Thank you. 3761 02:35:02,880 --> 02:35:07,600 » Well, certainly we can't force a youth 3762 02:35:06,160 --> 02:35:10,800 to do something they don't want to do, 3763 02:35:07,600 --> 02:35:13,040 but we try to incentivize them. So, we 3764 02:35:10,800 --> 02:35:15,280 have level systems. We have, you know, 3765 02:35:13,040 --> 02:35:16,960 the the higher you are on the level, the 3766 02:35:15,280 --> 02:35:18,720 more privileges you get. We have an 3767 02:35:16,960 --> 02:35:20,960 earned living unit for those youth that 3768 02:35:18,720 --> 02:35:22,800 are really engaging. They get to wear 3769 02:35:20,960 --> 02:35:25,840 jeans and they get to walk through the 3770 02:35:22,800 --> 02:35:28,160 halls unescorted and they get a lot they 3771 02:35:25,840 --> 02:35:31,120 get more offgrounds privileges and do 3772 02:35:28,160 --> 02:35:33,120 more activities. So yeah, we can't you 3773 02:35:31,120 --> 02:35:35,200 know any of you have had teenagers try 3774 02:35:33,120 --> 02:35:38,800 and force them to do anything but you 3775 02:35:35,200 --> 02:35:43,600 can incentivize and and we do as best as 3776 02:35:38,800 --> 02:35:46,399 we can to incentivize u teenagers. 3777 02:35:43,600 --> 02:35:48,880 And then my last question would be um in 3778 02:35:46,399 --> 02:35:51,880 your experience when do behaviors become 3779 02:35:48,880 --> 02:35:51,880 patterns? 3780 02:35:53,439 --> 02:35:58,880 » In my experience and in speaking with 3781 02:35:56,319 --> 02:36:02,960 many forensic psychologists over my 3782 02:35:58,880 --> 02:36:05,520 career, um what what I believe and I'm 3783 02:36:02,960 --> 02:36:07,760 not a psychologist is that there are 3784 02:36:05,520 --> 02:36:10,560 indicators that a youth is going to be 3785 02:36:07,760 --> 02:36:14,000 what they call life course persistent. 3786 02:36:10,560 --> 02:36:17,280 And some of those are um perhaps the 3787 02:36:14,000 --> 02:36:20,640 most predictive is very early onset of 3788 02:36:17,280 --> 02:36:24,880 violence. I'm talking and I've seen this 3789 02:36:20,640 --> 02:36:28,160 in my prior to coming to doc uh a youth 3790 02:36:24,880 --> 02:36:30,319 who was six years old and choking out 3791 02:36:28,160 --> 02:36:33,200 another girl at the daycare with a ne 3792 02:36:30,319 --> 02:36:36,319 with her necklace. That kind of behavior 3793 02:36:33,200 --> 02:36:40,080 which is not normative and is very early 3794 02:36:36,319 --> 02:36:43,200 onset tends to be a predictor of a youth 3795 02:36:40,080 --> 02:36:47,439 who's probably going to continue to be 3796 02:36:43,200 --> 02:36:49,200 um disruptive into adulthood. Whereas a 3797 02:36:47,439 --> 02:36:50,880 young per and this is why getting a 3798 02:36:49,200 --> 02:36:53,600 history and an accurate history is so 3799 02:36:50,880 --> 02:36:56,399 important to us is you've heard someone 3800 02:36:53,600 --> 02:36:58,720 else say I think it was Mr. fake nail or 3801 02:36:56,399 --> 02:37:01,359 or one of the others. Teenagers do 3802 02:36:58,720 --> 02:37:03,439 stupid things. And sometimes those 3803 02:37:01,359 --> 02:37:05,920 stupid things result in consequences 3804 02:37:03,439 --> 02:37:08,720 they didn't intend that are very bad. 3805 02:37:05,920 --> 02:37:10,640 But when you look at that youth, 3806 02:37:08,720 --> 02:37:12,479 you have a different lens of this is 3807 02:37:10,640 --> 02:37:15,439 probably not going to be a life course 3808 02:37:12,479 --> 02:37:19,040 persistent offender. Uh we need to help 3809 02:37:15,439 --> 02:37:21,600 them deal with what they've done. And 3810 02:37:19,040 --> 02:37:23,680 accountability might be apologizing. 3811 02:37:21,600 --> 02:37:26,399 Restorative justice is a is a form of 3812 02:37:23,680 --> 02:37:29,600 accountability but it's a different 3813 02:37:26,399 --> 02:37:32,560 approach than those uh that we can 3814 02:37:29,600 --> 02:37:35,359 identify again with the assistance of 3815 02:37:32,560 --> 02:37:37,359 psychologists and experts in that area 3816 02:37:35,359 --> 02:37:39,840 of those youth that are going to be 3817 02:37:37,359 --> 02:37:42,240 problems into adulthood. 3818 02:37:39,840 --> 02:37:45,040 » Thank you 3819 02:37:42,240 --> 02:37:47,120 counselor Noble. 3820 02:37:45,040 --> 02:37:51,200 » I heard you talk about the wraparound 3821 02:37:47,120 --> 02:37:53,840 services FFT [snorts] and MST. How long 3822 02:37:51,200 --> 02:37:55,680 does it take for those services to be 3823 02:37:53,840 --> 02:37:58,680 put in place for the support of the 3824 02:37:55,680 --> 02:37:58,680 family? 3825 02:37:59,920 --> 02:38:05,760 It depends. So, right now, the state of 3826 02:38:04,000 --> 02:38:08,960 Maine, the Department of Behavioral 3827 02:38:05,760 --> 02:38:10,960 Health Services has a system that has 3828 02:38:08,960 --> 02:38:14,399 just been in place as of February. Some 3829 02:38:10,960 --> 02:38:16,800 of you may have heard about a federal 3830 02:38:14,399 --> 02:38:18,960 um Department of Justice action against 3831 02:38:16,800 --> 02:38:22,000 the state. And as a result of that 3832 02:38:18,960 --> 02:38:25,040 settlement agreement, the Department of 3833 02:38:22,000 --> 02:38:27,200 Health and Human Services uh is required 3834 02:38:25,040 --> 02:38:29,760 to do a what's called a single 3835 02:38:27,200 --> 02:38:32,880 assessment for any youth that needs that 3836 02:38:29,760 --> 02:38:35,680 level of care. They need to first get an 3837 02:38:32,880 --> 02:38:37,439 assessment by Entra. 3838 02:38:35,680 --> 02:38:41,520 Aentra determines whether they're 3839 02:38:37,439 --> 02:38:44,560 eligible for MST, FFT, those kinds of 3840 02:38:41,520 --> 02:38:46,960 services. Uh and if so, then the 3841 02:38:44,560 --> 02:38:49,359 services are paid for by main care. If 3842 02:38:46,960 --> 02:38:52,800 the youth is not covered by main care, 3843 02:38:49,359 --> 02:38:54,640 DOC provides funding that we will pay 3844 02:38:52,800 --> 02:38:57,680 the cost of those services for 3845 02:38:54,640 --> 02:39:01,439 non-covered youth. That's much quicker 3846 02:38:57,680 --> 02:39:02,080 than having to go through that process. 3847 02:39:01,439 --> 02:39:05,359 » Thank you. 3848 02:39:02,080 --> 02:39:08,800 » I think on and I have heard again that 3849 02:39:05,359 --> 02:39:12,319 it varies from region to region um on 3850 02:39:08,800 --> 02:39:13,840 availability of those services. I think 3851 02:39:12,319 --> 02:39:17,120 in what I would call the the rim 3852 02:39:13,840 --> 02:39:18,479 counties, Oxford County, uh, Waldo, 3853 02:39:17,120 --> 02:39:21,040 Washington County, some of those 3854 02:39:18,479 --> 02:39:24,040 counties, I think the services are less 3855 02:39:21,040 --> 02:39:24,040 accessible. 3856 02:39:24,720 --> 02:39:28,880 » Council Chitten. 3857 02:39:26,800 --> 02:39:30,240 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, first of all, 3858 02:39:28,880 --> 02:39:31,439 I'd like to say that I wish there were 3859 02:39:30,240 --> 02:39:33,680 not a need for the Department of 3860 02:39:31,439 --> 02:39:35,439 Corrections at all. Uh, I wish that you 3861 02:39:33,680 --> 02:39:39,120 were both out of jobs. I bet you do, 3862 02:39:35,439 --> 02:39:42,000 too. Um, the most important thing I've 3863 02:39:39,120 --> 02:39:44,880 heard you say tonight is this $4.6 3864 02:39:42,000 --> 02:39:48,160 million state community programming that 3865 02:39:44,880 --> 02:39:49,359 applies before the situation. Most of 3866 02:39:48,160 --> 02:39:51,600 what we've heard about from many 3867 02:39:49,359 --> 02:39:54,240 speakers tonight, yourselves included, 3868 02:39:51,600 --> 02:39:57,120 happens after the fact. And the goal 3869 02:39:54,240 --> 02:39:59,760 here is to prevent the activity, the 3870 02:39:57,120 --> 02:40:01,600 gunfire, the violence in the first 3871 02:39:59,760 --> 02:40:06,240 place. So, I'm encouraged to hear about 3872 02:40:01,600 --> 02:40:10,080 this 4.6 million. Um, my question to you 3873 02:40:06,240 --> 02:40:13,200 is, is this a legislative budget that is 3874 02:40:10,080 --> 02:40:15,439 given to you? Is it 4.6 year after year? 3875 02:40:13,200 --> 02:40:17,520 Is there hope for growth of that? I want 3876 02:40:15,439 --> 02:40:20,000 obviously more of that money to come to 3877 02:40:17,520 --> 02:40:22,080 the organizations in Lewon to address 3878 02:40:20,000 --> 02:40:24,720 the problem that we're gathered here 3879 02:40:22,080 --> 02:40:26,800 tonight to address gun violence by youth 3880 02:40:24,720 --> 02:40:29,359 in Lewon. 3881 02:40:26,800 --> 02:40:30,800 That that's my question. Is is there a 3882 02:40:29,359 --> 02:40:35,760 chance of getting more money to come to 3883 02:40:30,800 --> 02:40:37,200 Lewon to sol to address this? Thank you. 3884 02:40:35,760 --> 02:40:39,680 » Thank you for the question, counselor. 3885 02:40:37,200 --> 02:40:42,160 We absolutely advocate for more than 3886 02:40:39,680 --> 02:40:44,319 this every year. We put into our budget 3887 02:40:42,160 --> 02:40:46,399 what we would like to see. It doesn't 3888 02:40:44,319 --> 02:40:48,080 always make it into the final budget 3889 02:40:46,399 --> 02:40:50,479 that's presented to the legislature and 3890 02:40:48,080 --> 02:40:53,359 then what the legislature decides is 3891 02:40:50,479 --> 02:40:55,040 never as much as an agency asks for. So, 3892 02:40:53,359 --> 02:40:56,720 I would encourage you all to reach out 3893 02:40:55,040 --> 02:41:00,800 to your legislators and tell them how 3894 02:40:56,720 --> 02:41:03,040 important community programs are. 3895 02:41:00,800 --> 02:41:05,600 » Just to follow up on that, u could you 3896 02:41:03,040 --> 02:41:08,560 offline give me the account number, the 3897 02:41:05,600 --> 02:41:10,960 accounting, the specific asks to go to 3898 02:41:08,560 --> 02:41:13,120 our legislators with uh you have my 3899 02:41:10,960 --> 02:41:14,399 email address. You can get that to me uh 3900 02:41:13,120 --> 02:41:17,359 afterwards. 3901 02:41:14,399 --> 02:41:18,720 » Absolutely. Thank you, 3902 02:41:17,359 --> 02:41:20,319 » Councelor Martell. 3903 02:41:18,720 --> 02:41:23,840 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you guys 3904 02:41:20,319 --> 02:41:26,000 for being here tonight. Um so just in uh 3905 02:41:23,840 --> 02:41:29,040 my own personal experience I remember 3906 02:41:26,000 --> 02:41:34,960 growing up and being a teenager uh it 3907 02:41:29,040 --> 02:41:38,560 seemed like there was much more punitive 3908 02:41:34,960 --> 02:41:41,600 uh punishment accountability for crimes 3909 02:41:38,560 --> 02:41:43,600 and poor behaviors. It seems at some 3910 02:41:41,600 --> 02:41:45,920 point there was a shift made to I've 3911 02:41:43,600 --> 02:41:50,080 hear you use terms like uh restorative 3912 02:41:45,920 --> 02:41:53,040 justice and uh this indicate the the 3913 02:41:50,080 --> 02:41:56,319 moving towards trying to keep juveniles 3914 02:41:53,040 --> 02:41:58,880 at all costs for any reason out of uh 3915 02:41:56,319 --> 02:42:01,520 Long Creek or being detained. 3916 02:41:58,880 --> 02:42:03,920 uh how when when did that transition or 3917 02:42:01,520 --> 02:42:05,520 when did this movement towards this type 3918 02:42:03,920 --> 02:42:08,479 of 3919 02:42:05,520 --> 02:42:11,840 um I don't know adjudication or or 3920 02:42:08,479 --> 02:42:14,240 dealing with juvenile crime 3921 02:42:11,840 --> 02:42:18,240 when did that shift happen and how long 3922 02:42:14,240 --> 02:42:20,640 have we been uh trying to to operate 3923 02:42:18,240 --> 02:42:23,640 under that plan or that path or that 3924 02:42:20,640 --> 02:42:23,640 strategy? 3925 02:42:25,840 --> 02:42:31,520 I'm going to try to answer this as best 3926 02:42:28,080 --> 02:42:33,680 I can. I think some of you that were 3927 02:42:31,520 --> 02:42:36,479 around in the early 90s remember the 3928 02:42:33,680 --> 02:42:38,080 super predator scare and that there was 3929 02:42:36,479 --> 02:42:40,560 a 3930 02:42:38,080 --> 02:42:43,600 actually a researcher who said that 3931 02:42:40,560 --> 02:42:45,680 youth in that period of time were 3932 02:42:43,600 --> 02:42:48,880 without a conscience, without a soul. 3933 02:42:45,680 --> 02:42:51,280 They were um just awful and we were 3934 02:42:48,880 --> 02:42:53,600 going to have a blood bath in 10 or 15 3935 02:42:51,280 --> 02:42:55,280 years when those youth grew up. 3936 02:42:53,600 --> 02:42:57,280 And even though that's what the data 3937 02:42:55,280 --> 02:43:00,720 said, that's not what happened. And what 3938 02:42:57,280 --> 02:43:04,000 we've actually seen is a a sharp and 3939 02:43:00,720 --> 02:43:05,760 consistent decline in juvenile crime in 3940 02:43:04,000 --> 02:43:10,560 the community. 3941 02:43:05,760 --> 02:43:13,120 In my experience, um punishment and 3942 02:43:10,560 --> 02:43:16,560 accountability are terms that often 3943 02:43:13,120 --> 02:43:19,680 people ascribe their own meaning to. 3944 02:43:16,560 --> 02:43:22,960 Accountability doesn't mean it's easy. 3945 02:43:19,680 --> 02:43:25,600 It doesn't mean nothing happens. Um, in 3946 02:43:22,960 --> 02:43:29,600 my experience, if you have a youth who 3947 02:43:25,600 --> 02:43:31,680 has harmed their neighbor and you say to 3948 02:43:29,600 --> 02:43:34,000 that and the judge says to that youth, 3949 02:43:31,680 --> 02:43:37,120 you're going to do four days at Long 3950 02:43:34,000 --> 02:43:39,120 Creek Youth Development Center or you're 3951 02:43:37,120 --> 02:43:41,760 going to sit down with that neighbor and 3952 02:43:39,120 --> 02:43:44,160 apologize to them and you're going to do 3953 02:43:41,760 --> 02:43:46,880 something to repair the harm that you've 3954 02:43:44,160 --> 02:43:49,359 done. I can't think of a single juvenile 3955 02:43:46,880 --> 02:43:52,319 that will pick the restorative justice. 3956 02:43:49,359 --> 02:43:55,600 they will pick the easy way out. So I 3957 02:43:52,319 --> 02:43:59,279 think if you think about accountability 3958 02:43:55,600 --> 02:44:01,520 in terms of helping the youth grow from 3959 02:43:59,279 --> 02:44:04,479 their mistake, that doesn't mean it's 3960 02:44:01,520 --> 02:44:07,760 easy. It doesn't mean the kids like it, 3961 02:44:04,479 --> 02:44:11,840 but it means we are giving them tools to 3962 02:44:07,760 --> 02:44:15,359 grow from that mistake, not simply 3963 02:44:11,840 --> 02:44:17,120 imposing a discomfort that doesn't get 3964 02:44:15,359 --> 02:44:20,399 us where we want to be, which is a 3965 02:44:17,120 --> 02:44:23,120 reduction in that behavior. So, in my 3966 02:44:20,399 --> 02:44:26,479 experience, accountability is often 3967 02:44:23,120 --> 02:44:30,240 times more painful for youth if it's 3968 02:44:26,479 --> 02:44:33,200 restorative, if it's um talking about 3969 02:44:30,240 --> 02:44:35,439 behaviors. Show me a teenager that wants 3970 02:44:33,200 --> 02:44:37,040 to sit down and talk about their sexual 3971 02:44:35,439 --> 02:44:40,160 behaviors 3972 02:44:37,040 --> 02:44:42,000 as a condition of probation for a an 3973 02:44:40,160 --> 02:44:45,520 offense they might have occurred. They 3974 02:44:42,000 --> 02:44:48,319 will take a month, a year at Long Creek 3975 02:44:45,520 --> 02:44:50,640 rather than do that treatment. But 3976 02:44:48,319 --> 02:44:53,279 that's accountability is you harm 3977 02:44:50,640 --> 02:44:54,960 someone by this behavior. Here's what 3978 02:44:53,279 --> 02:44:56,800 we're going to do to make sure that 3979 02:44:54,960 --> 02:45:00,399 doesn't happen again or at least reduce 3980 02:44:56,800 --> 02:45:01,840 the likelihood of it. So, 3981 02:45:00,399 --> 02:45:04,319 » Thank you for that. My question though 3982 02:45:01,840 --> 02:45:07,359 was when did the shift in approach start 3983 02:45:04,319 --> 02:45:10,000 and roughly how long has that been? 3984 02:45:07,359 --> 02:45:13,200 So, I' I've been in juvenile justice for 3985 02:45:10,000 --> 02:45:17,439 30ish years, and I would say that it has 3986 02:45:13,200 --> 02:45:19,840 been a good 20 years since we learned 3987 02:45:17,439 --> 02:45:22,880 more about adolescent development, more 3988 02:45:19,840 --> 02:45:26,479 about, as Mr. Bnell said, about brain 3989 02:45:22,880 --> 02:45:29,920 development. And um so I would say that 3990 02:45:26,479 --> 02:45:35,120 the switch switch from a punitive model 3991 02:45:29,920 --> 02:45:37,680 to a more holistic model was probably 3992 02:45:35,120 --> 02:45:39,279 20 to 25 years ago. 3993 02:45:37,680 --> 02:45:42,560 » And you're suggesting that there's been 3994 02:45:39,279 --> 02:45:44,560 a stark drop in juvenile crime since 3995 02:45:42,560 --> 02:45:47,040 that's been the approach. 3996 02:45:44,560 --> 02:45:48,160 » I'm not suggesting it. The data clearly 3997 02:45:47,040 --> 02:45:50,720 shows it. 3998 02:45:48,160 --> 02:45:51,920 » Okay. Um, it just feels like the the 3999 02:45:50,720 --> 02:45:53,920 situation that we're dealing with, at 4000 02:45:51,920 --> 02:45:56,319 least here locally, doesn't seem to 4001 02:45:53,920 --> 02:45:57,920 reflect that. And that's kind of the the 4002 02:45:56,319 --> 02:46:00,160 square I'm trying to circle. That's all. 4003 02:45:57,920 --> 02:46:02,080 I'm not questioning uh your data or what 4004 02:46:00,160 --> 02:46:03,760 you're saying. I'm just trying to make 4005 02:46:02,080 --> 02:46:05,600 sense of it. Uh, it seems like we've got 4006 02:46:03,760 --> 02:46:08,640 a juvenile shooting once a week, if not 4007 02:46:05,600 --> 02:46:10,399 more often in Lewon. And uh, Councelor 4008 02:46:08,640 --> 02:46:13,520 Tridum stated or at least pointed out 4009 02:46:10,399 --> 02:46:15,359 that this seems to be more uh more 4010 02:46:13,520 --> 02:46:17,680 serious in Lewon rather than other 4011 02:46:15,359 --> 02:46:20,560 cities. So, uh, maybe there's other 4012 02:46:17,680 --> 02:46:22,160 reasons for that, but, um, when I'm 4013 02:46:20,560 --> 02:46:24,000 reading the news each day, it doesn't 4014 02:46:22,160 --> 02:46:27,279 particularly feel like, uh, we're seeing 4015 02:46:24,000 --> 02:46:29,600 less juvenile violent crime. 4016 02:46:27,279 --> 02:46:32,479 » Um, that's all. Thank you. 4017 02:46:29,600 --> 02:46:35,600 » I I I I will say the data does support 4018 02:46:32,479 --> 02:46:38,399 your your, um, assertion that there is 4019 02:46:35,600 --> 02:46:41,680 more gun violence and it is certainly 4020 02:46:38,399 --> 02:46:45,359 not unique to Lewon, but it is more 4021 02:46:41,680 --> 02:46:49,680 common in Lewon. And I won't even 4022 02:46:45,359 --> 02:46:51,920 venture a guess um as to why Lewon as 4023 02:46:49,680 --> 02:46:53,840 opposed to other communities, but I do 4024 02:46:51,920 --> 02:46:57,760 think one thing that has changed 4025 02:46:53,840 --> 02:47:00,640 tremendously in my time in the system is 4026 02:46:57,760 --> 02:47:02,880 that the availability of weapons, and 4027 02:47:00,640 --> 02:47:06,880 you've heard that from others as well. I 4028 02:47:02,880 --> 02:47:11,920 think guns were less available to youth 4029 02:47:06,880 --> 02:47:14,319 25 years ago than they are today. 4030 02:47:11,920 --> 02:47:16,640 Thank you uh both for being here. Uh you 4031 02:47:14,319 --> 02:47:19,680 me, if I heard you right, there's uh 4032 02:47:16,640 --> 02:47:21,439 approximately 50 uh youth at Long Creek 4033 02:47:19,680 --> 02:47:22,479 at this moment. 4034 02:47:21,439 --> 02:47:25,120 » 49. Yes. 4035 02:47:22,479 --> 02:47:27,120 » Yeah. Okay. 49. And then the breakdown 4036 02:47:25,120 --> 02:47:29,920 by county, does that is that 4037 02:47:27,120 --> 02:47:33,439 proportional by population or is one 4038 02:47:29,920 --> 02:47:36,640 county have u proportionally more? Uh 4039 02:47:33,439 --> 02:47:38,479 are you able to share that? 4040 02:47:36,640 --> 02:47:40,560 » I do keep that data, but I don't have it 4041 02:47:38,479 --> 02:47:43,840 at the top of my head. I will say that 4042 02:47:40,560 --> 02:47:45,920 there are uh fewer detentions when you 4043 02:47:43,840 --> 02:47:49,040 get into region three, which is 4044 02:47:45,920 --> 02:47:50,960 essentially the top seven counties. And 4045 02:47:49,040 --> 02:47:53,279 I suspect that's because law 4046 02:47:50,960 --> 02:47:55,520 enforcement, unlike having county jails 4047 02:47:53,279 --> 02:47:57,920 where law enforcement can bring someone 4048 02:47:55,520 --> 02:47:59,840 they've arrested to the county jail, if 4049 02:47:57,920 --> 02:48:02,080 a youth is arrested in Caribou, they've 4050 02:47:59,840 --> 02:48:04,800 got to be brought to South Portland. 4051 02:48:02,080 --> 02:48:07,359 that I think is a natural deterrent for 4052 02:48:04,800 --> 02:48:09,520 law enforcement to call and request that 4053 02:48:07,359 --> 02:48:12,960 a youth be detained unless they really 4054 02:48:09,520 --> 02:48:16,640 really need to be detained. Um so it is 4055 02:48:12,960 --> 02:48:19,680 less the the data it's not proportionate 4056 02:48:16,640 --> 02:48:21,840 per county by any means. Um, but I will 4057 02:48:19,680 --> 02:48:24,960 say that 4058 02:48:21,840 --> 02:48:28,160 Gusta South or you know is probably the 4059 02:48:24,960 --> 02:48:32,240 bigger twothirds of the at least 2/3 if 4060 02:48:28,160 --> 02:48:34,160 not 75% of the population. 4061 02:48:32,240 --> 02:48:35,760 » Understood. Thank you. Uh, further qu 4062 02:48:34,160 --> 02:48:36,560 Yes Yes. Councelor Longs, did you have 4063 02:48:35,760 --> 02:48:39,200 something? 4064 02:48:36,560 --> 02:48:40,800 » Thank you, Mayor. Um, I would just like 4065 02:48:39,200 --> 02:48:43,840 to thank you ladies again for coming 4066 02:48:40,800 --> 02:48:47,359 here and uh contacting us to be a part 4067 02:48:43,840 --> 02:48:50,240 of this meeting. Um, it's not definitely 4068 02:48:47,359 --> 02:48:53,040 not an easy meeting. Um, I believe in 4069 02:48:50,240 --> 02:48:54,800 Long Creek. I I think you need to uh 4070 02:48:53,040 --> 02:48:57,200 continue doing what you're doing and and 4071 02:48:54,800 --> 02:49:00,640 thank you. 4072 02:48:57,200 --> 02:49:04,560 » Further questions from council. 4073 02:49:00,640 --> 02:49:06,560 Thank you both for being here. 4074 02:49:04,560 --> 02:49:10,760 » Yes. Uh, a huge round of applause for 4075 02:49:06,560 --> 02:49:10,760 all of our presenters, please. 4076 02:49:14,640 --> 02:49:21,840 We will now uh take um uh comments from 4077 02:49:18,720 --> 02:49:23,600 from counselors. Uh counselors uh I am 4078 02:49:21,840 --> 02:49:25,680 not timing you, but if you could keep it 4079 02:49:23,600 --> 02:49:27,439 to to three minutes, that'd be that'd be 4080 02:49:25,680 --> 02:49:29,439 great for general remarks. We're going 4081 02:49:27,439 --> 02:49:32,319 to start with uh the councelor forward 4082 02:49:29,439 --> 02:49:34,080 one, Josh Nene. Councelor Nene. 4083 02:49:32,319 --> 02:49:36,240 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, first and 4084 02:49:34,080 --> 02:49:38,800 foremost, 4085 02:49:36,240 --> 02:49:41,920 I want to thank everybody for coming uh 4086 02:49:38,800 --> 02:49:44,640 tonight. Uh I'd like to also say that 4087 02:49:41,920 --> 02:49:46,800 the availability of guns in our 4088 02:49:44,640 --> 02:49:50,720 community that youth have is a major 4089 02:49:46,800 --> 02:49:55,120 problem. That that is that is uh one 4090 02:49:50,720 --> 02:49:56,960 tier uh of the issue. Um if kids don't 4091 02:49:55,120 --> 02:50:00,080 have guns, which they shouldn't have 4092 02:49:56,960 --> 02:50:03,120 guns, ever have guns, then they can't 4093 02:50:00,080 --> 02:50:06,240 commit crimes with guns. So uh we need 4094 02:50:03,120 --> 02:50:12,399 to figure out an angle there. I would 4095 02:50:06,240 --> 02:50:14,880 also say that there are huge gaps in uh 4096 02:50:12,399 --> 02:50:18,640 supports for at risk children before 4097 02:50:14,880 --> 02:50:21,120 they become uh 4098 02:50:18,640 --> 02:50:22,880 uh children who are shooting at children 4099 02:50:21,120 --> 02:50:25,520 and and unfortunately these are kids. 4100 02:50:22,880 --> 02:50:28,080 They're 100% kids but they're committing 4101 02:50:25,520 --> 02:50:31,120 adult crimes and and and that's very 4102 02:50:28,080 --> 02:50:33,680 challenging for this community. Um 4103 02:50:31,120 --> 02:50:36,240 people don't feel safe. Um kids don't 4104 02:50:33,680 --> 02:50:38,720 feel safe. Um, we've got a problem 4105 02:50:36,240 --> 02:50:40,800 there, a huge problem, and we don't have 4106 02:50:38,720 --> 02:50:43,760 the 4107 02:50:40,800 --> 02:50:46,800 resources financially to fix this. So, 4108 02:50:43,760 --> 02:50:48,560 we do need to work together to ask for 4109 02:50:46,800 --> 02:50:49,760 more financial resources to deal with 4110 02:50:48,560 --> 02:50:52,240 some of these things. And there and 4111 02:50:49,760 --> 02:50:55,840 there are systemic issues with all of 4112 02:50:52,240 --> 02:50:59,279 these pieces. when you're not compelled 4113 02:50:55,840 --> 02:51:01,680 uh to improve uh 4114 02:50:59,279 --> 02:51:06,240 the life of a child um because they 4115 02:51:01,680 --> 02:51:07,760 haven't committed a crime big enough. Um 4116 02:51:06,240 --> 02:51:09,600 we're we're literally letting those 4117 02:51:07,760 --> 02:51:14,319 children 4118 02:51:09,600 --> 02:51:16,399 just continue a path that that leads to 4119 02:51:14,319 --> 02:51:19,200 uh 4120 02:51:16,399 --> 02:51:22,080 danger for themselves and others and and 4121 02:51:19,200 --> 02:51:23,439 it's just not correct. Um, but I 4122 02:51:22,080 --> 02:51:26,960 appreciate everybody coming forward 4123 02:51:23,439 --> 02:51:28,560 today uh to present. Um, I I still have 4124 02:51:26,960 --> 02:51:31,200 a lot of questions about how we make 4125 02:51:28,560 --> 02:51:34,640 sure that we both both keep kids and our 4126 02:51:31,200 --> 02:51:36,720 communities safe um because there are 4127 02:51:34,640 --> 02:51:38,000 glaring gaps in that system. 4128 02:51:36,720 --> 02:51:39,760 » Thank you, 4129 02:51:38,000 --> 02:51:42,080 » Kyle. A long trip. 4130 02:51:39,760 --> 02:51:43,439 » Kyle, is it is the public going to get a 4131 02:51:42,080 --> 02:51:45,680 chance to speak tonight or 4132 02:51:43,439 --> 02:51:47,840 » Uh Yes. Yes. We're we're moving quickly 4133 02:51:45,680 --> 02:51:48,000 towards that. If you can take your take 4134 02:51:47,840 --> 02:51:51,200 your 4135 02:51:48,000 --> 02:51:53,120 » Seat. Could you also um give us a break? 4136 02:51:51,200 --> 02:51:55,200 Uh maybe a five minute break. I think 4137 02:51:53,120 --> 02:51:57,120 the crowd could use it. You lost. 4138 02:51:55,200 --> 02:51:58,960 » You could take a break right now, sir. 4139 02:51:57,120 --> 02:52:00,800 And we will get back to public comment. 4140 02:51:58,960 --> 02:52:03,359 Uh we we will get to public comment in a 4141 02:52:00,800 --> 02:52:05,760 little bit. Thank you. 4142 02:52:03,359 --> 02:52:07,600 » Please take a seat. Thank you. 4143 02:52:05,760 --> 02:52:11,680 » Uh councelor Long Champs. 4144 02:52:07,600 --> 02:52:16,319 » Thank you, uh Mr. Mayor. Um 4145 02:52:11,680 --> 02:52:18,399 we've heard a lot tonight. Um, 4146 02:52:16,319 --> 02:52:21,200 but I'm not sure that we've heard of 4147 02:52:18,399 --> 02:52:24,880 anything that will really immediately um 4148 02:52:21,200 --> 02:52:27,040 help us with the current situation. 4149 02:52:24,880 --> 02:52:29,840 Um, 4150 02:52:27,040 --> 02:52:35,680 we're experiencing gun violence almost 4151 02:52:29,840 --> 02:52:38,160 daily. Um, it once, you know, was really 4152 02:52:35,680 --> 02:52:40,640 uh more so happening at night. Now it's 4153 02:52:38,160 --> 02:52:42,560 happening in the broad daylight. Uh you 4154 02:52:40,640 --> 02:52:45,680 heard our chief say that we are 11 4155 02:52:42,560 --> 02:52:48,960 officers down. 4156 02:52:45,680 --> 02:52:51,600 Everyone is underst staffed 4157 02:52:48,960 --> 02:52:53,680 in my opinion. And no one's going to 4158 02:52:51,600 --> 02:52:55,600 like to hear this or not no no one but 4159 02:52:53,680 --> 02:52:58,720 there will be some fan uh some people 4160 02:52:55,600 --> 02:53:01,680 that are not fans of this but I believe 4161 02:52:58,720 --> 02:53:04,080 this is a call for our national guard to 4162 02:53:01,680 --> 02:53:06,800 come and help us. 4163 02:53:04,080 --> 02:53:09,200 Um, 4164 02:53:06,800 --> 02:53:11,840 I would I'm hoping that Governor Mills 4165 02:53:09,200 --> 02:53:14,080 will sit with our law enforcement, our 4166 02:53:11,840 --> 02:53:17,200 DA's office 4167 02:53:14,080 --> 02:53:19,600 uh to really come up with a plan. 4168 02:53:17,200 --> 02:53:22,479 We need a deterrent out there and our 4169 02:53:19,600 --> 02:53:25,479 officers need to focus on violent 4170 02:53:22,479 --> 02:53:25,479 crimes. 4171 02:53:26,080 --> 02:53:34,080 This to me really calls for uh state 4172 02:53:30,160 --> 02:53:36,399 help. Again, 4173 02:53:34,080 --> 02:53:38,720 there's really no real target when these 4174 02:53:36,399 --> 02:53:42,000 young folks are shooting. 4175 02:53:38,720 --> 02:53:45,359 They're shooting at cars, apartment 4176 02:53:42,000 --> 02:53:47,120 buildings. There are families living in 4177 02:53:45,359 --> 02:53:49,680 the downtown 4178 02:53:47,120 --> 02:53:51,600 that don't have 4179 02:53:49,680 --> 02:53:53,279 they they don't have the financials to 4180 02:53:51,600 --> 02:53:56,160 move like some of us that are sitting in 4181 02:53:53,279 --> 02:53:58,880 this room. They are stuck there. A lot 4182 02:53:56,160 --> 02:54:00,960 of people are poor. There are families 4183 02:53:58,880 --> 02:54:03,600 that are staying in the back of their 4184 02:54:00,960 --> 02:54:05,439 apartments to protect their families 4185 02:54:03,600 --> 02:54:08,240 from a stray bullet. That's 4186 02:54:05,439 --> 02:54:10,000 unacceptable. 4187 02:54:08,240 --> 02:54:14,240 We have to do something. And the 4188 02:54:10,000 --> 02:54:17,200 National Guard could come and help. 4189 02:54:14,240 --> 02:54:21,120 Walk around our streets and let our 4190 02:54:17,200 --> 02:54:24,240 police work on other crimes. We are 11 4191 02:54:21,120 --> 02:54:27,279 officers down. We need to do something 4192 02:54:24,240 --> 02:54:30,640 to help protect the citizens here. 4193 02:54:27,279 --> 02:54:34,359 So, I am hoping 4194 02:54:30,640 --> 02:54:34,359 that um 4195 02:54:35,040 --> 02:54:38,439 Governor Mills 4196 02:54:38,720 --> 02:54:44,399 would take um what what I'm asking into 4197 02:54:41,680 --> 02:54:47,040 serious uh consideration 4198 02:54:44,399 --> 02:54:49,760 and and help us here in Lewon. That's 4199 02:54:47,040 --> 02:54:53,240 all I have for now. Thank you, 4200 02:54:49,760 --> 02:54:53,240 Councelor Harmon. 4201 02:54:58,800 --> 02:55:03,120 I just want to thank everyone who came 4202 02:55:00,479 --> 02:55:05,760 out tonight both to present and answer 4203 02:55:03,120 --> 02:55:07,840 questions and those in the audience. Um, 4204 02:55:05,760 --> 02:55:10,640 I definitely learned a lot about this 4205 02:55:07,840 --> 02:55:14,160 topic and I look forward to continuing 4206 02:55:10,640 --> 02:55:18,120 to work on solutions. 4207 02:55:14,160 --> 02:55:18,120 Uh, Councelor Roy, 4208 02:55:18,160 --> 02:55:24,240 » Just want to thank everybody that came 4209 02:55:19,600 --> 02:55:30,439 out to uh offer up some great um um 4210 02:55:24,240 --> 02:55:30,439 insight into some backgrounds. Um, 4211 02:55:30,640 --> 02:55:34,800 I would really like to hear what 4212 02:55:32,960 --> 02:55:38,399 everybody else has to say right now 4213 02:55:34,800 --> 02:55:40,160 because I think together we can gain 4214 02:55:38,399 --> 02:55:42,960 some ideas. I know I've got some ideas, 4215 02:55:40,160 --> 02:55:44,960 too. work on some community, you know, 4216 02:55:42,960 --> 02:55:46,720 resources and programs and incentives. 4217 02:55:44,960 --> 02:55:50,160 And um I'd like to hear what everybody 4218 02:55:46,720 --> 02:55:53,640 else says. So, I'm going to pass that. 4219 02:55:50,160 --> 02:55:53,640 » Councelor Noble. 4220 02:55:56,080 --> 02:56:01,439 Uh councelor Chidum. 4221 02:55:58,880 --> 02:56:04,000 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um there's been a 4222 02:56:01,439 --> 02:56:05,760 lot of discussion tonight. I hope that 4223 02:56:04,000 --> 02:56:07,600 the folks in the audience have learned 4224 02:56:05,760 --> 02:56:09,920 as much as I have about some of the 4225 02:56:07,600 --> 02:56:13,600 intractical problems that we're we're 4226 02:56:09,920 --> 02:56:15,920 facing. I think the most concrete 4227 02:56:13,600 --> 02:56:17,600 suggestion that I heard tonight, and I 4228 02:56:15,920 --> 02:56:20,319 would urge everyone in this room to take 4229 02:56:17,600 --> 02:56:22,960 it home and spread it, is to lock up 4230 02:56:20,319 --> 02:56:25,279 your guns. Do not leave your guns on the 4231 02:56:22,960 --> 02:56:27,359 front seat of your pickup truck so that 4232 02:56:25,279 --> 02:56:30,640 a 12year-old can be told by an 4233 02:56:27,359 --> 02:56:32,960 11year-old there's easy pickings. That's 4234 02:56:30,640 --> 02:56:34,960 your fault if your gun is stolen. And 4235 02:56:32,960 --> 02:56:36,399 I'd like to see some consequences for 4236 02:56:34,960 --> 02:56:38,399 people who have guns stolen from 4237 02:56:36,399 --> 02:56:40,560 unlocked vehicles or people who have 4238 02:56:38,399 --> 02:56:43,200 their guns in their vehicles. Anyway, 4239 02:56:40,560 --> 02:56:45,520 that's the most concrete uh item that I 4240 02:56:43,200 --> 02:56:49,040 picked up from tonight and I hope all of 4241 02:56:45,520 --> 02:56:50,640 you have learned something. Thank you, 4242 02:56:49,040 --> 02:56:52,800 » Councelor Martell. 4243 02:56:50,640 --> 02:56:56,479 » Thank you. Um I want to speak on guns, 4244 02:56:52,800 --> 02:56:57,840 too. Uh here's the thing. Every juvenile 4245 02:56:56,479 --> 02:56:59,600 that's going around in our community 4246 02:56:57,840 --> 02:57:02,560 carrying a gun or shooting a gun is 4247 02:56:59,600 --> 02:57:05,359 already breaking a law. Any adult that 4248 02:57:02,560 --> 02:57:08,560 has put the gun a gun in the hands of a 4249 02:57:05,359 --> 02:57:11,279 juvenile broke a law doing so. Uh more 4250 02:57:08,560 --> 02:57:13,760 gun laws only serve to disarm 4251 02:57:11,279 --> 02:57:15,359 law-abiding citizens from protecting 4252 02:57:13,760 --> 02:57:18,319 themselves. The people that are running 4253 02:57:15,359 --> 02:57:19,920 around breaking these laws right now are 4254 02:57:18,319 --> 02:57:22,000 comfortable breaking the laws that are 4255 02:57:19,920 --> 02:57:24,160 in place. I have I see no indication 4256 02:57:22,000 --> 02:57:27,120 that new or furthering laws are going to 4257 02:57:24,160 --> 02:57:29,520 change that. The only uh people that 4258 02:57:27,120 --> 02:57:31,439 laws new laws affect are law-abiding 4259 02:57:29,520 --> 02:57:33,040 citizens. And I think it's clear that 4260 02:57:31,439 --> 02:57:35,359 the people committing these crimes 4261 02:57:33,040 --> 02:57:36,960 aren't by definition law- abiding 4262 02:57:35,359 --> 02:57:39,120 citizens. 4263 02:57:36,960 --> 02:57:41,520 Um, 4264 02:57:39,120 --> 02:57:43,760 everyone wants to say a lot of times I 4265 02:57:41,520 --> 02:57:45,120 hear uh it's not political. You know, 4266 02:57:43,760 --> 02:57:47,200 kids shooting kids shouldn't be 4267 02:57:45,120 --> 02:57:49,920 political. This shouldn't be political. 4268 02:57:47,200 --> 02:57:54,319 This is a political issue. The problem 4269 02:57:49,920 --> 02:57:56,399 that we have um 4270 02:57:54,319 --> 02:57:58,319 this problem didn't happen overnight and 4271 02:57:56,399 --> 02:58:01,439 it isn't going to be solved overnight. 4272 02:57:58,319 --> 02:58:04,960 And there's a certain ideological 4273 02:58:01,439 --> 02:58:06,800 political slant that I believe has 4274 02:58:04,960 --> 02:58:09,840 fostered the environment that created 4275 02:58:06,800 --> 02:58:14,720 this situation and allowed it to worsen. 4276 02:58:09,840 --> 02:58:17,520 So uh two things the almost universally 4277 02:58:14,720 --> 02:58:20,720 our speakers tonight said legislature 4278 02:58:17,520 --> 02:58:24,560 Augusta laws representatives coming from 4279 02:58:20,720 --> 02:58:27,040 the state. So um as far as the public 4280 02:58:24,560 --> 02:58:29,359 goes uh two suggestions. Uh there's 4281 02:58:27,040 --> 02:58:32,560 probably two things that the normal JQ 4282 02:58:29,359 --> 02:58:34,960 public can do. That's uh see something, 4283 02:58:32,560 --> 02:58:36,800 say something, and then get out and vote 4284 02:58:34,960 --> 02:58:38,399 in November for candidates to go to 4285 02:58:36,800 --> 02:58:41,600 Augusta to represent us that are going 4286 02:58:38,399 --> 02:58:42,880 to take public I'm not campaigning. Uh 4287 02:58:41,600 --> 02:58:44,640 go out and vote for people that are 4288 02:58:42,880 --> 02:58:48,840 going to take public safety seriously. 4289 02:58:44,640 --> 02:58:48,840 That's what you can do as a public. 4290 02:58:52,880 --> 02:58:57,359 » I appreciate everyone coming tonight. 4291 02:58:54,880 --> 02:58:59,040 Thank you for uh the presenters and 4292 02:58:57,359 --> 02:59:00,720 making time this evening. Thank you for 4293 02:58:59,040 --> 02:59:02,560 you all making time this evening to come 4294 02:59:00,720 --> 02:59:04,000 here and thank you for uh I don't know 4295 02:59:02,560 --> 02:59:06,080 how many people aren't watching online 4296 02:59:04,000 --> 02:59:07,840 but thank you very much. Uh public 4297 02:59:06,080 --> 02:59:09,279 safety is a shared responsibility and 4298 02:59:07,840 --> 02:59:12,160 these conversations are important. 4299 02:59:09,279 --> 02:59:15,520 There's many conversations happening um 4300 02:59:12,160 --> 02:59:16,880 at this time and uh and I am encouraged 4301 02:59:15,520 --> 02:59:18,960 by it and I hope more people get 4302 02:59:16,880 --> 02:59:21,600 involved. Um, thank you all and I want 4303 02:59:18,960 --> 02:59:24,000 to thank the counselors uh as well and 4304 02:59:21,600 --> 02:59:25,520 uh a huge shout out uh to staff for uh 4305 02:59:24,000 --> 02:59:30,040 making it possible to meet here both 4306 02:59:25,520 --> 02:59:30,040 city staff and school staff. 4307 02:59:33,200 --> 02:59:38,399 Uh so a couple of things uh uh for 4308 02:59:36,399 --> 02:59:40,399 public comment here. So first off, if 4309 02:59:38,399 --> 02:59:42,319 they're uh some of the presenters, if 4310 02:59:40,399 --> 02:59:43,920 they're still here uh afterwards, you 4311 02:59:42,319 --> 02:59:47,040 can feel free to come up to them and ask 4312 02:59:43,920 --> 02:59:50,160 questions uh after uh public comment. 4313 02:59:47,040 --> 02:59:53,359 And then uh Jake are uh sorry um 4314 02:59:50,160 --> 02:59:55,279 Superintendent Langless uh are those uh 4315 02:59:53,359 --> 02:59:58,720 note cards? 4316 02:59:55,279 --> 03:00:01,279 Yes. So we have uh if you have questions 4317 02:59:58,720 --> 03:00:03,120 uh for the presenters uh we are going to 4318 03:00:01,279 --> 03:00:06,960 compile questions and then you know kind 4319 03:00:03,120 --> 03:00:08,399 of publish a an FAQ later. So uh next to 4320 03:00:06,960 --> 03:00:10,319 Superintendent Langless are not cards 4321 03:00:08,399 --> 03:00:13,359 with pens. So feel free to come and uh 4322 03:00:10,319 --> 03:00:16,479 fill out one. And so yes, we're starting 4323 03:00:13,359 --> 03:00:18,720 public comment in uh just a few seconds. 4324 03:00:16,479 --> 03:00:20,240 So, I want to remind people that this is 4325 03:00:18,720 --> 03:00:23,200 a city council meeting. There will be no 4326 03:00:20,240 --> 03:00:25,200 campaigning. Uh no profanity. Uh this is 4327 03:00:23,200 --> 03:00:28,160 a special uh meeting. So, we need to be 4328 03:00:25,200 --> 03:00:29,760 on topic about youth gun violence. Uh I 4329 03:00:28,160 --> 03:00:32,800 urge all of us to be respectful and 4330 03:00:29,760 --> 03:00:37,600 courteous and uh set a good example for 4331 03:00:32,800 --> 03:00:39,200 our youth. Uh please continue, sir. 4332 03:00:37,600 --> 03:00:39,600 » Uh guess I have to push the button 4333 03:00:39,200 --> 03:00:40,479 again. 4334 03:00:39,600 --> 03:00:44,720 » Yeah. 4335 03:00:40,479 --> 03:00:48,319 » Uh Charles Arthur soul 70 Horn Street. 4336 03:00:44,720 --> 03:00:51,920 um [clears throat] 12 officers down, 4337 03:00:48,319 --> 03:00:55,359 one is on medical leave, but yet they're 4338 03:00:51,920 --> 03:00:57,680 using a drone. They bought the drone, 4339 03:00:55,359 --> 03:01:02,240 and the insurance on that drone will be 4340 03:00:57,680 --> 03:01:04,000 85,000 a year. Wow. I think that would 4341 03:01:02,240 --> 03:01:06,960 get us a couple of officers, maybe one 4342 03:01:04,000 --> 03:01:10,479 or two. Um, another thing is that the 4343 03:01:06,960 --> 03:01:14,000 cameras um I was out two nights ago and 4344 03:01:10,479 --> 03:01:16,479 um because I I'm 73 by the way took a 4345 03:01:14,000 --> 03:01:20,240 nap and I was out a nice night full moon 4346 03:01:16,479 --> 03:01:25,359 and I'm on the corner of um of Horton 4347 03:01:20,240 --> 03:01:28,000 and um Ash and um a ruckus breaks out. 4348 03:01:25,359 --> 03:01:32,720 Eight people fighting in the street 4349 03:01:28,000 --> 03:01:35,200 under a camera, city camera. So, I 4350 03:01:32,720 --> 03:01:38,000 flicked my vehicle lights hoping to get 4351 03:01:35,200 --> 03:01:40,399 the attention of who's ever watching the 4352 03:01:38,000 --> 03:01:42,560 camera. But then after 20 minutes and 4353 03:01:40,399 --> 03:01:45,221 the girl getting her head beat up on the 4354 03:01:42,560 --> 03:01:45,920 asphalt, I um I had to go 4355 03:01:45,221 --> 03:01:49,040 [clears throat] 4356 03:01:45,920 --> 03:01:53,279 get a make a phone call. And then they 4357 03:01:49,040 --> 03:01:55,040 showed up. How nice. Maybe I'll Nobody's 4358 03:01:53,279 --> 03:01:58,160 watching the cameras. Maybe it's because 4359 03:01:55,040 --> 03:02:01,439 of the laxity of no policing. But you 4360 03:01:58,160 --> 03:02:04,080 can spend on a drone, 4361 03:02:01,439 --> 03:02:06,640 you know. Um, another thing is that um, 4362 03:02:04,080 --> 03:02:08,720 no money. This the superintendent of 4363 03:02:06,640 --> 03:02:11,359 school going on almost three years ago 4364 03:02:08,720 --> 03:02:15,920 bought a million-doll building at the 4365 03:02:11,359 --> 03:02:20,319 corner of um, of Sabadis and Main Street 4366 03:02:15,920 --> 03:02:23,279 and um because the roof blew off and um, 4367 03:02:20,319 --> 03:02:26,800 CMMC I guess was was selling it for a 4368 03:02:23,279 --> 03:02:29,200 million dollars. Now the city's uh um 4369 03:02:26,800 --> 03:02:32,080 now and it was used for radiation 4370 03:02:29,200 --> 03:02:36,080 treatment. So now the city's got to do 4371 03:02:32,080 --> 03:02:38,160 the clean up on it and um and then prior 4372 03:02:36,080 --> 03:02:41,520 to that because I'm 73, there used to be 4373 03:02:38,160 --> 03:02:42,080 a a retreading plant for tires in there. 4374 03:02:41,520 --> 03:02:44,080 So 4375 03:02:42,080 --> 03:02:46,160 » Can you please get back on topic? 4376 03:02:44,080 --> 03:02:47,279 » Excuse me. That's not 4377 03:02:46,160 --> 03:02:49,840 » Please stay on topic. 4378 03:02:47,279 --> 03:02:51,279 » That is on I am on topic. That is a 4379 03:02:49,840 --> 03:02:54,080 million dollars that could have went 4380 03:02:51,279 --> 03:02:56,960 into policing. 4381 03:02:54,080 --> 03:03:00,160 The school budget's a disgrace. 4382 03:02:56,960 --> 03:03:03,120 Now, about people, civilry, not seeing 4383 03:03:00,160 --> 03:03:05,920 too many police officers um out on the 4384 03:03:03,120 --> 03:03:08,080 streets when people are passing on the 4385 03:03:05,920 --> 03:03:10,640 left and the right, speeding up the 4386 03:03:08,080 --> 03:03:14,640 street, hear it all night, squealing out 4387 03:03:10,640 --> 03:03:18,800 around corners. Uh the society, I look 4388 03:03:14,640 --> 03:03:21,680 at it, is almost useless in Lewon. Now, 4389 03:03:18,800 --> 03:03:26,240 the only bright star I saw tonight was 4390 03:03:21,680 --> 03:03:29,520 uh uh council from W 2, uh Miss Long 4391 03:03:26,240 --> 03:03:32,800 Champamp. She start when she first came 4392 03:03:29,520 --> 03:03:36,560 into the neighborhood uh in the city, 4393 03:03:32,800 --> 03:03:38,240 she um had children who well, let's face 4394 03:03:36,560 --> 03:03:40,319 it, um they were 4395 03:03:38,240 --> 03:03:42,160 » That's time. Thank you. 4396 03:03:40,319 --> 03:03:45,359 » Don't stop your 4397 03:03:42,160 --> 03:03:47,680 » That is time. You are done. Thank you. 4398 03:03:45,359 --> 03:03:49,200 We're We're going to the next person. 4399 03:03:47,680 --> 03:03:51,359 » Good. Now, I would 4400 03:03:49,200 --> 03:03:57,479 » We are going to the next person. 4401 03:03:51,359 --> 03:03:57,479 » I would also ban Facebook if you would. 4402 03:03:58,720 --> 03:04:01,960 » Yeah. Let's 4403 03:04:05,279 --> 03:04:10,880 » Further public comment. Thank you. 4404 03:04:07,279 --> 03:04:14,880 » Hello, my name is Jess. I live in Lewon. 4405 03:04:10,880 --> 03:04:18,720 Um, I'm feeling very frustrated because 4406 03:04:14,880 --> 03:04:21,439 I've heard the kids, the kids, the kids 4407 03:04:18,720 --> 03:04:23,680 probably about like 50 times tonight. 4408 03:04:21,439 --> 03:04:25,439 But where are the parents? 4409 03:04:23,680 --> 03:04:28,240 I don't see any of the parents here of 4410 03:04:25,439 --> 03:04:31,120 these kids. I don't see any of us going 4411 03:04:28,240 --> 03:04:33,040 into these neighborhoods walking around 4412 03:04:31,120 --> 03:04:36,240 and trying to invite some of these 4413 03:04:33,040 --> 03:04:39,040 people in so that way we can kind of ask 4414 03:04:36,240 --> 03:04:40,560 them what's up. you know, why can't we 4415 03:04:39,040 --> 03:04:44,560 start a little committee to go into 4416 03:04:40,560 --> 03:04:48,479 Kennedy Park? You know, have like trust 4417 03:04:44,560 --> 03:04:51,760 activities. We play kickball, you know, 4418 03:04:48,479 --> 03:04:53,439 uh frisbee, disc frisbee, you know, you 4419 03:04:51,760 --> 03:04:55,840 get an extra five points if you get it 4420 03:04:53,439 --> 03:04:58,240 in off a tree. Then these kids, you 4421 03:04:55,840 --> 03:05:00,399 know, then that doesn't cost anything. 4422 03:04:58,240 --> 03:05:02,560 we can get played against sports or some 4423 03:05:00,399 --> 03:05:05,359 of these other people to donate 4424 03:05:02,560 --> 03:05:06,960 kickballs, basketballs. 4425 03:05:05,359 --> 03:05:09,279 If there's someone in here who knows how 4426 03:05:06,960 --> 03:05:10,800 to skateboard, we'll bring these kids 4427 03:05:09,279 --> 03:05:13,600 over to the skate park and teach them 4428 03:05:10,800 --> 03:05:17,600 how to skate. But we need to get the 4429 03:05:13,600 --> 03:05:19,760 parents more involved. And we need to 4430 03:05:17,600 --> 03:05:22,160 hold them accountable. 4431 03:05:19,760 --> 03:05:24,560 Personally, my whole entire life, I've 4432 03:05:22,160 --> 03:05:27,840 had to be held accountable for more than 4433 03:05:24,560 --> 03:05:30,560 I should have had to be accountable for. 4434 03:05:27,840 --> 03:05:33,120 I'm a new beginnings kid. 4435 03:05:30,560 --> 03:05:35,279 Look at me. You know, I'm doing okay. 4436 03:05:33,120 --> 03:05:39,200 I'm not out shooting people up when I'm 4437 03:05:35,279 --> 03:05:44,399 16. But, you know, as a community, we 4438 03:05:39,200 --> 03:05:47,200 all need together. Come together and and 4439 03:05:44,399 --> 03:05:49,359 come to a board and just kind of bounce 4440 03:05:47,200 --> 03:05:51,840 some ideas. You know, it's not going to 4441 03:05:49,359 --> 03:05:54,720 hurt. What's the one thing that connects 4442 03:05:51,840 --> 03:05:56,720 all of us? Music. 4443 03:05:54,720 --> 03:05:59,359 I personally would like to go out into 4444 03:05:56,720 --> 03:06:02,800 the park and play music and bring these 4445 03:05:59,359 --> 03:06:04,960 kids in and teach them a skill. You 4446 03:06:02,800 --> 03:06:06,880 know, youth build programs need to be 4447 03:06:04,960 --> 03:06:09,680 brought back. You know, where they're in 4448 03:06:06,880 --> 03:06:11,760 the classroom one week and on a job site 4449 03:06:09,680 --> 03:06:13,359 another week and then they get paid a 4450 03:06:11,760 --> 03:06:15,439 little stipen. So, this is like a little 4451 03:06:13,359 --> 03:06:18,240 bit of cash in their pocket. But, you 4452 03:06:15,439 --> 03:06:21,920 know what? They're being taught a skill 4453 03:06:18,240 --> 03:06:23,840 and they're being taught education. 4454 03:06:21,920 --> 03:06:26,319 And I don't know where the pending went 4455 03:06:23,840 --> 03:06:28,080 for that, but I mean, we need to bring 4456 03:06:26,319 --> 03:06:30,720 it back and we need to get the parents 4457 03:06:28,080 --> 03:06:34,319 more involved because tonight I've only 4458 03:06:30,720 --> 03:06:37,600 heard the word parents maybe used five 4459 03:06:34,319 --> 03:06:40,240 or six times. So, you know, it really, 4460 03:06:37,600 --> 03:06:42,319 really, really has to do with the 4461 03:06:40,240 --> 03:06:44,560 parents cuz they need to step up. They 4462 03:06:42,319 --> 03:06:46,720 need to be here for their kids. You 4463 03:06:44,560 --> 03:06:48,080 know, these kids are not coming from a 4464 03:06:46,720 --> 03:06:50,080 good background. They don't have any 4465 03:06:48,080 --> 03:06:51,439 role models. Like, what are they going 4466 03:06:50,080 --> 03:06:53,760 to do? So, they don't know how to do any 4467 03:06:51,439 --> 03:06:55,600 of this that we were talking about. They 4468 03:06:53,760 --> 03:06:58,319 need their parents. They need a role 4469 03:06:55,600 --> 03:07:01,600 model. They need a big sister, like a 4470 03:06:58,319 --> 03:07:04,399 big brother club, you know, like there's 4471 03:07:01,600 --> 03:07:07,760 so many solutions that we can do where 4472 03:07:04,399 --> 03:07:09,680 it's not going to cost any money. 4473 03:07:07,760 --> 03:07:12,000 So, that's all I have to say. Thank you 4474 03:07:09,680 --> 03:07:13,120 very much for everybody coming. 4475 03:07:12,000 --> 03:07:16,520 » Thank you. That's time. 4476 03:07:13,120 --> 03:07:16,520 » Have a good night. 4477 03:07:18,240 --> 03:07:22,560 Hey guys, Janet Bowden, Ward 2. Uh, we 4478 03:07:21,200 --> 03:07:24,479 finally got an emergency meeting 4479 03:07:22,560 --> 03:07:26,720 tonight. I'm not going to hold back my 4480 03:07:24,479 --> 03:07:29,120 feelings. Um, I don't think this is 4481 03:07:26,720 --> 03:07:31,200 because Carl woke up and decided to lead 4482 03:07:29,120 --> 03:07:33,120 because residents um this is actually 4483 03:07:31,200 --> 03:07:34,880 because a residents and a counselor 4484 03:07:33,120 --> 03:07:37,600 pushed hard enough that he had no 4485 03:07:34,880 --> 03:07:39,520 choice. A month ago, we had a community 4486 03:07:37,600 --> 03:07:40,800 meeting and Carl didn't show. He 4487 03:07:39,520 --> 03:07:43,120 actually said he never planned on 4488 03:07:40,800 --> 03:07:44,560 attending because there was a Republican 4489 03:07:43,120 --> 03:07:46,479 gubanatorial candidate and a 4490 03:07:44,560 --> 03:07:49,520 conservative news outlet that organized 4491 03:07:46,479 --> 03:07:51,680 the event when he wouldn't step up. So, 4492 03:07:49,520 --> 03:07:53,680 he picked politics over people. And 4493 03:07:51,680 --> 03:07:56,240 since then, downtown hasn't gotten any 4494 03:07:53,680 --> 03:07:58,160 safer. It's gotten worse. 4495 03:07:56,240 --> 03:08:00,080 The month of June alone has resulted in 4496 03:07:58,160 --> 03:08:01,760 11 incidents involving juveniles with 4497 03:08:00,080 --> 03:08:03,520 guns. 4498 03:08:01,760 --> 03:08:05,600 We can all see that this isn't just bad 4499 03:08:03,520 --> 03:08:07,680 luck or a handful of incidents. We've 4500 03:08:05,600 --> 03:08:09,840 got a youth justice system that is 4501 03:08:07,680 --> 03:08:11,520 broken. 4502 03:08:09,840 --> 03:08:13,359 Juveniles get released, they end up back 4503 03:08:11,520 --> 03:08:14,720 on the streets, and we have to 4504 03:08:13,359 --> 03:08:17,520 experience the next gun-related 4505 03:08:14,720 --> 03:08:19,359 incident. Restorative justice alone is 4506 03:08:17,520 --> 03:08:20,960 not working. We need higher 4507 03:08:19,359 --> 03:08:22,800 accountability for juveniles caught with 4508 03:08:20,960 --> 03:08:25,680 firearms. We need to stop pretending 4509 03:08:22,800 --> 03:08:27,840 this cycle is going to fix itself. Carl 4510 03:08:25,680 --> 03:08:30,080 refuses to own the problem, refuses to 4511 03:08:27,840 --> 03:08:31,920 engage in the community when we ask him 4512 03:08:30,080 --> 03:08:34,399 to, and then acts like this meeting is 4513 03:08:31,920 --> 03:08:36,000 the solution. It's not. I have 4514 03:08:34,399 --> 03:08:38,399 personally reached out to you through 4515 03:08:36,000 --> 03:08:42,240 text, through Facebook Messenger, 4516 03:08:38,399 --> 03:08:44,880 through um social media asking you for 4517 03:08:42,240 --> 03:08:47,520 what your plan is. What are you doing? 4518 03:08:44,880 --> 03:08:50,240 How are you helping the community in in 4519 03:08:47,520 --> 03:08:52,080 this tragedy? And you have completely 4520 03:08:50,240 --> 03:08:55,359 ignored me. 4521 03:08:52,080 --> 03:08:58,800 So, let's talk about solutions. 4522 03:08:55,359 --> 03:09:01,359 Solutions start in Augusta. City Hall 4523 03:08:58,800 --> 03:09:03,359 can respond after the fact, but the laws 4524 03:09:01,359 --> 03:09:06,560 that shape youth accountability and 4525 03:09:03,359 --> 03:09:08,880 public safety come from the state. If we 4526 03:09:06,560 --> 03:09:11,520 keep sending the same people from the 4527 03:09:08,880 --> 03:09:14,399 same political party back to Augusta 4528 03:09:11,520 --> 03:09:16,720 with the same power, absolutely nothing 4529 03:09:14,399 --> 03:09:18,800 is going to change 4530 03:09:16,720 --> 03:09:20,479 this fall. Just vote for different 4531 03:09:18,800 --> 03:09:22,399 representatives. 4532 03:09:20,479 --> 03:09:24,560 real change in leadership, real 4533 03:09:22,399 --> 03:09:26,560 accountability because Lewon can't 4534 03:09:24,560 --> 03:09:31,160 afford another term of wait and see and 4535 03:09:26,560 --> 03:09:31,160 let's look the other way. Thank you. 4536 03:09:33,439 --> 03:09:37,439 » Further public comment. 4537 03:09:36,171 --> 03:09:39,359 [clears throat] 4538 03:09:37,439 --> 03:09:40,880 » Before I start, I just want to say Carl, 4539 03:09:39,359 --> 03:09:42,640 I don't think a lot of people realize 4540 03:09:40,880 --> 03:09:44,399 that this was an official city council 4541 03:09:42,640 --> 03:09:46,319 meeting and that's why there was 4542 03:09:44,399 --> 03:09:48,960 applause for the presenters. People were 4543 03:09:46,319 --> 03:09:51,840 trying to show appreciation and respect. 4544 03:09:48,960 --> 03:09:53,200 Um, I think maybe you could have made an 4545 03:09:51,840 --> 03:09:54,399 announcement at the beginning that even 4546 03:09:53,200 --> 03:09:57,120 though we're not in city council 4547 03:09:54,399 --> 03:09:58,720 chambers, the same expectations apply. 4548 03:09:57,120 --> 03:10:01,520 Um, but I don't think people were 4549 03:09:58,720 --> 03:10:04,000 intentionally breaking your rules. 4550 03:10:01,520 --> 03:10:05,520 Uh, uh, that wasn't supposed to be part 4551 03:10:04,000 --> 03:10:07,920 of my time. That was just feedback to 4552 03:10:05,520 --> 03:10:09,600 Carl. This has been a long and 4553 03:10:07,920 --> 03:10:11,439 exasperating evening, especially since, 4554 03:10:09,600 --> 03:10:13,680 like Janet said, a bunch of us did this 4555 03:10:11,439 --> 03:10:15,760 already. You just refused to attend. You 4556 03:10:13,680 --> 03:10:18,240 lied about what it was. your your lie is 4557 03:10:15,760 --> 03:10:22,160 in writing that it was some sort of 4558 03:10:18,240 --> 03:10:24,240 candidate event and it wasn't. Um, 4559 03:10:22,160 --> 03:10:25,920 so yeah, we we listened to a lot of that 4560 03:10:24,240 --> 03:10:27,200 and in the beginning it was great and 4561 03:10:25,920 --> 03:10:29,359 then we listened to a lot of people 4562 03:10:27,200 --> 03:10:31,040 patting themselves on the back for not 4563 03:10:29,359 --> 03:10:33,600 solving this problem. I'm absolutely 4564 03:10:31,040 --> 03:10:34,880 mind-b blown that a teenager can shoot 4565 03:10:33,600 --> 03:10:36,800 up an apartment building, go to Long 4566 03:10:34,880 --> 03:10:39,600 Creek and nobody says shooting that 4567 03:10:36,800 --> 03:10:41,840 apartment building was wrong. Nobody 4568 03:10:39,600 --> 03:10:43,200 addresses that with them. What? No 4569 03:10:41,840 --> 03:10:46,520 wonder they get out and do it again. 4570 03:10:43,200 --> 03:10:46,520 This is insane. 4571 03:10:46,560 --> 03:10:49,279 This meeting was supposed to be about 4572 03:10:48,080 --> 03:10:50,640 solving this issue, but it has 4573 03:10:49,279 --> 03:10:52,080 absolutely devolved into turning the 4574 03:10:50,640 --> 03:10:54,160 shooters into the victims. Oh, these 4575 03:10:52,080 --> 03:10:56,399 poor kids. We need to give these poor 4576 03:10:54,160 --> 03:10:58,319 kids more activities. You know what? 4577 03:10:56,399 --> 03:11:00,319 That man over there that you tell to go 4578 03:10:58,319 --> 03:11:02,640 away that you won't let speak. Spends 4579 03:11:00,319 --> 03:11:04,240 time in Kennedy Park. Zero of you have 4580 03:11:02,640 --> 03:11:06,399 been down in Kennedy Park talking to the 4581 03:11:04,240 --> 03:11:08,160 kids. He has. He was shooting basketball 4582 03:11:06,399 --> 03:11:09,920 with kids. He was inviting the community 4583 03:11:08,160 --> 03:11:12,160 to this meeting. He was asking people 4584 03:11:09,920 --> 03:11:13,760 for solutions. 4585 03:11:12,160 --> 03:11:15,520 He spoke to a man who wants to do 4586 03:11:13,760 --> 03:11:17,520 exactly what Mike Roy suggested and 4587 03:11:15,520 --> 03:11:21,600 wants to organize teams of kids to play 4588 03:11:17,520 --> 03:11:24,600 sports. Why can't you connect with your 4589 03:11:21,600 --> 03:11:24,600 community? 4590 03:11:25,040 --> 03:11:28,479 Why does it take a man from Scar Bro 4591 03:11:27,040 --> 03:11:30,000 that you want to lie and say is just a 4592 03:11:28,479 --> 03:11:33,720 blogger to connect with the youth in 4593 03:11:30,000 --> 03:11:33,720 your community about shootings? 4594 03:11:35,359 --> 03:11:39,040 We heard from Chris Bicknell that more 4595 03:11:37,359 --> 03:11:41,040 money would solve this problem. And then 4596 03:11:39,040 --> 03:11:42,640 we heard that he's getting lots of 4597 03:11:41,040 --> 03:11:45,279 money. And just so everyone in this room 4598 03:11:42,640 --> 03:11:47,279 knows, he also got mass shooting money. 4599 03:11:45,279 --> 03:11:48,880 Zero of the nonprofits that got mass 4600 03:11:47,279 --> 03:11:51,520 shooting money did anything to address 4601 03:11:48,880 --> 03:11:53,520 this problem. Eman Osman's nonprofit got 4602 03:11:51,520 --> 03:11:55,840 mass shooting money. Eman Osman left a 4603 03:11:53,520 --> 03:11:57,760 gun in his car unlocked. Eman Osman was 4604 03:11:55,840 --> 03:11:59,439 not charged with criminal negligence. 4605 03:11:57,760 --> 03:12:02,080 Eman Osman was not held accountable by 4606 03:11:59,439 --> 03:12:03,840 the school committee. Eman Osman was 4607 03:12:02,080 --> 03:12:06,160 then put on the ballot illegally and put 4608 03:12:03,840 --> 03:12:08,240 on this city council. You guys are 4609 03:12:06,160 --> 03:12:10,720 intentionally destroying Lewiston and we 4610 03:12:08,240 --> 03:12:12,160 see it. Scott is the only one on that 4611 03:12:10,720 --> 03:12:14,560 council that has power to change it and 4612 03:12:12,160 --> 03:12:16,399 I think he has zero intention. 4613 03:12:14,560 --> 03:12:18,160 I think that because he ignored my email 4614 03:12:16,399 --> 03:12:20,240 when I when I sent him a screenshot of 4615 03:12:18,160 --> 03:12:21,520 his email to a constituent from last 4616 03:12:20,240 --> 03:12:23,040 September where he said he was 4617 03:12:21,520 --> 03:12:25,200 diligently working on this issue and I 4618 03:12:23,040 --> 03:12:27,920 said really how what are you diligently 4619 03:12:25,200 --> 03:12:29,680 doing please? He is my representative in 4620 03:12:27,920 --> 03:12:32,880 Augusta. 4621 03:12:29,680 --> 03:12:34,960 He will not speak to me. He does not 4622 03:12:32,880 --> 03:12:37,279 deserve that seat. I would like people 4623 03:12:34,960 --> 03:12:39,040 to know that there are candidates on the 4624 03:12:37,279 --> 03:12:42,479 ballot that are in this room. Please 4625 03:12:39,040 --> 03:12:44,880 vote for them and not 4626 03:12:42,479 --> 03:12:46,399 come. That's time to stop. I'm just 4627 03:12:44,880 --> 03:12:47,680 going to repeat it till they hear me. So 4628 03:12:46,399 --> 03:12:49,040 just be safe. 4629 03:12:47,680 --> 03:12:51,120 » Thank you. 4630 03:12:49,040 --> 03:12:55,479 » Vote for the people that time. There's 4631 03:12:51,120 --> 03:12:55,479 no campaigning. Thank you. 4632 03:12:58,000 --> 03:13:02,760 » Further public comment. Thank you. 4633 03:13:05,760 --> 03:13:10,800 Good evening. My name is Destiny. I'm 4634 03:13:07,760 --> 03:13:13,200 from Windham. I'm not from Lucen. I'm a 4635 03:13:10,800 --> 03:13:15,359 Lucen shooting survivor. 4636 03:13:13,200 --> 03:13:18,399 Like many people in this community, the 4637 03:13:15,359 --> 03:13:21,279 Lucing shooting on October 25th, 2023 4638 03:13:18,399 --> 03:13:23,359 changed my life forever. 18 innocent 4639 03:13:21,279 --> 03:13:26,319 people lost their lives. Many others 4640 03:13:23,359 --> 03:13:29,600 were injured and survivors and families 4641 03:13:26,319 --> 03:13:31,920 continue to carry the trauma every day. 4642 03:13:29,600 --> 03:13:34,080 After everything this community endured, 4643 03:13:31,920 --> 03:13:36,319 many residents expected our leaders to 4644 03:13:34,080 --> 03:13:39,279 focus first and foremost on public 4645 03:13:36,319 --> 03:13:41,920 safety and accountability. Instead, we 4646 03:13:39,279 --> 03:13:44,399 have watched Mayor Carl Shelene devote 4647 03:13:41,920 --> 03:13:47,040 significant time and energy to opposing 4648 03:13:44,399 --> 03:13:49,359 federal federal immigration enforcement 4649 03:13:47,040 --> 03:13:52,319 efforts and supporting policies that 4650 03:13:49,359 --> 03:13:55,120 many residents believe make cooperation 4651 03:13:52,319 --> 03:13:56,960 with federal authorities more difficult. 4652 03:13:55,120 --> 03:13:59,040 The lessons from the Lewis shooting 4653 03:13:56,960 --> 03:14:01,600 should have pushed all of us to focus 4654 03:13:59,040 --> 03:14:03,520 relentlessly on public safety, 4655 03:14:01,600 --> 03:14:05,279 communication between agencies, and 4656 03:14:03,520 --> 03:14:08,399 preventing other tragedies from 4657 03:14:05,279 --> 03:14:10,080 happening again. Many residents feel the 4658 03:14:08,399 --> 03:14:12,399 city leadership has focused more 4659 03:14:10,080 --> 03:14:14,479 attention on political issues than on 4660 03:14:12,399 --> 03:14:17,279 the concerns of the people who live here 4661 03:14:14,479 --> 03:14:19,680 every day. This should not be about 4662 03:14:17,279 --> 03:14:22,160 politics or political parties. It's 4663 03:14:19,680 --> 03:14:24,880 about priorities. 4664 03:14:22,160 --> 03:14:27,200 Mayor, what are you waiting for? Another 4665 03:14:24,880 --> 03:14:31,960 tragedy like the one caused by Robert 4666 03:14:27,200 --> 03:14:31,960 Card on October 25th? 4667 03:14:32,000 --> 03:14:36,000 Questions still remain about your role 4668 03:14:33,920 --> 03:14:37,840 as a board member of the main mill and 4669 03:14:36,000 --> 03:14:42,439 whether the relationship created a 4670 03:14:37,840 --> 03:14:42,439 conflict of interest after $65,521.79 4671 03:14:42,880 --> 03:14:49,265 was directed to the nonprofit. 4672 03:14:46,479 --> 03:14:52,720 Lon deserves leadership that puts 4673 03:14:49,265 --> 03:14:56,800 [sighs] the safety 4674 03:14:52,720 --> 03:14:58,800 in residents first, listens to survivors 4675 03:14:56,800 --> 03:15:01,279 and families, and focuses on rebuilding 4676 03:14:58,800 --> 03:15:04,160 trust in a community. We owe that to the 4677 03:15:01,279 --> 03:15:07,359 18 people who never came out, who never 4678 03:15:04,160 --> 03:15:09,760 came home and to every survivor whose 4679 03:15:07,359 --> 03:15:14,040 life changed forever on October 25th, 4680 03:15:09,760 --> 03:15:14,040 2023. Thank you. 4681 03:15:15,760 --> 03:15:21,600 Further public comment. 4682 03:15:19,040 --> 03:15:24,399 » Hi, my name is Die Pum Whittier and I'm 4683 03:15:21,600 --> 03:15:26,880 a Louison Ward 2 resident and I'm here 4684 03:15:24,399 --> 03:15:28,720 tonight because I love Louisston young 4685 03:15:26,880 --> 03:15:30,239 people and I want to thank everybody 4686 03:15:28,720 --> 03:15:32,560 that came out tonight and I feel that 4687 03:15:30,239 --> 03:15:34,160 Lon should be really proud of itself 4688 03:15:32,560 --> 03:15:37,040 that there are officials and 4689 03:15:34,160 --> 03:15:39,600 professionals from the state and local 4690 03:15:37,040 --> 03:15:42,720 uh community who want to do something to 4691 03:15:39,600 --> 03:15:44,479 help young people. Uh, I've been uh a 4692 03:15:42,720 --> 03:15:46,880 longtime youth advocate and I've been 4693 03:15:44,479 --> 03:15:49,680 reading a lot lately about juvenile gun 4694 03:15:46,880 --> 03:15:52,239 violence and I found an approach and 4695 03:15:49,680 --> 03:15:55,359 maybe LPD is aware of this. It's called 4696 03:15:52,239 --> 03:15:58,319 violence interruption and it uh reduces 4697 03:15:55,359 --> 03:16:00,319 juvenile gun violence by meaningfully 4698 03:15:58,319 --> 03:16:02,640 engaging with a small number of 4699 03:16:00,319 --> 03:16:04,800 individuals at the center of gun 4700 03:16:02,640 --> 03:16:07,520 violence. And that caught my attention 4701 03:16:04,800 --> 03:16:09,520 because we've repeatedly heard that the 4702 03:16:07,520 --> 03:16:12,000 youth that are involved in gun violence 4703 03:16:09,520 --> 03:16:14,960 tend to be a small group. So, we know 4704 03:16:12,000 --> 03:16:17,200 who they are. And I'm not an expert on 4705 03:16:14,960 --> 03:16:20,319 this subject by any means, and I don't 4706 03:16:17,200 --> 03:16:23,040 mean to use this as any excuse, but 4707 03:16:20,319 --> 03:16:26,239 anger, fighting, and violence within our 4708 03:16:23,040 --> 03:16:30,800 youth often come from a place of trauma, 4709 03:16:26,239 --> 03:16:34,720 pain, no hope, frustration, fear, and no 4710 03:16:30,800 --> 03:16:38,080 support systems. I believe their actions 4711 03:16:34,720 --> 03:16:40,880 deserve consequences and accountability, 4712 03:16:38,080 --> 03:16:43,760 but I also believe that we need to 4713 03:16:40,880 --> 03:16:46,560 remember that these young people are in 4714 03:16:43,760 --> 03:16:48,399 trouble and they're living a downward 4715 03:16:46,560 --> 03:16:51,279 spiral. 4716 03:16:48,399 --> 03:16:54,000 I would propose along with that violence 4717 03:16:51,279 --> 03:16:56,160 interruption approach to seek guidance 4718 03:16:54,000 --> 03:16:59,040 and do some brainstorming from school 4719 03:16:56,160 --> 03:17:00,720 counselors, mental health professionals, 4720 03:16:59,040 --> 03:17:03,439 some of the officers involved in 4721 03:17:00,720 --> 03:17:06,800 community policing and see if we can put 4722 03:17:03,439 --> 03:17:09,520 together some sort of street outreach 4723 03:17:06,800 --> 03:17:12,080 that can meet these kids where they are, 4724 03:17:09,520 --> 03:17:13,680 some type of mentorship connection. I've 4725 03:17:12,080 --> 03:17:15,840 mentioned a young per mentored a young 4726 03:17:13,680 --> 03:17:18,720 person for 26 years. I started when she 4727 03:17:15,840 --> 03:17:20,800 was nine and it's very rewarding and I 4728 03:17:18,720 --> 03:17:23,040 know that there are people in this room 4729 03:17:20,800 --> 03:17:25,439 that love our youth and would be willing 4730 03:17:23,040 --> 03:17:28,160 to you know go along with certain 4731 03:17:25,439 --> 03:17:30,960 guidelines and guidance to reach out and 4732 03:17:28,160 --> 03:17:34,479 really meet these kids where they are. I 4733 03:17:30,960 --> 03:17:37,279 really strongly feel that if um they see 4734 03:17:34,479 --> 03:17:39,520 that we believe in their potential some 4735 03:17:37,279 --> 03:17:42,000 of them might consider something other 4736 03:17:39,520 --> 03:17:44,800 than violence and become role models for 4737 03:17:42,000 --> 03:17:47,040 those around them. And certainly we all 4738 03:17:44,800 --> 03:17:50,040 need someone who believes in us. Thank 4739 03:17:47,040 --> 03:17:50,040 you. 4740 03:17:53,600 --> 03:17:59,680 My name is Amy Ranger and I am um in 4741 03:17:56,800 --> 03:18:02,160 Ward 7 and I teach at Lewon High School. 4742 03:17:59,680 --> 03:18:04,080 And a lot of people have mentioned 4743 03:18:02,160 --> 03:18:06,399 tonight where the parents and I'm coming 4744 03:18:04,080 --> 03:18:08,880 from the perspective of having had a 4745 03:18:06,399 --> 03:18:10,800 student who was involved in one of these 4746 03:18:08,880 --> 03:18:14,319 acts of violence. 4747 03:18:10,800 --> 03:18:16,000 uh knowing him personally the some the 4748 03:18:14,319 --> 03:18:17,520 people I'm thinking of he doesn't have 4749 03:18:16,000 --> 03:18:20,520 parents 4750 03:18:17,520 --> 03:18:20,520 um 4751 03:18:20,960 --> 03:18:24,160 so the conversation about holding 4752 03:18:22,880 --> 03:18:29,359 parents accountable I'm thinking about 4753 03:18:24,160 --> 03:18:33,439 this kid who I know is a good caring 4754 03:18:29,359 --> 03:18:35,359 young young kid 4755 03:18:33,439 --> 03:18:39,200 who 4756 03:18:35,359 --> 03:18:41,040 made a very very very bad choice but has 4757 03:18:39,200 --> 03:18:43,120 no guidance at 4758 03:18:41,040 --> 03:18:45,600 So, I'm really in support of a lot of 4759 03:18:43,120 --> 03:18:47,520 the conversations around 4760 03:18:45,600 --> 03:18:49,359 helping kids find an activity or or 4761 03:18:47,520 --> 03:18:51,359 something that would get them connected 4762 03:18:49,359 --> 03:18:55,439 to the community. And I'm thinking about 4763 03:18:51,359 --> 03:18:57,439 this kid and the the barriers to him 4764 03:18:55,439 --> 03:18:59,840 getting help. Like he he wanted to be in 4765 03:18:57,439 --> 03:19:02,000 sports. I was trying to help him get in 4766 03:18:59,840 --> 03:19:03,120 sports. He didn't have a physical. He 4767 03:19:02,000 --> 03:19:04,800 hadn't had a physical. He didn't have 4768 03:19:03,120 --> 03:19:06,640 health insurance. I'm calling his 4769 03:19:04,800 --> 03:19:09,439 caregiver. It wasn't his parent. It was 4770 03:19:06,640 --> 03:19:10,560 there was so many barriers. and uh he 4771 03:19:09,439 --> 03:19:12,880 didn't end up getting involved in 4772 03:19:10,560 --> 03:19:17,120 sports. And then 4773 03:19:12,880 --> 03:19:19,120 so I I'm I'm in in strong um I'm 4774 03:19:17,120 --> 03:19:22,399 thinking about if if there's a way that 4775 03:19:19,120 --> 03:19:26,160 anyone here 4776 03:19:22,399 --> 03:19:28,560 can be supportive of teachers at Lewis. 4777 03:19:26,160 --> 03:19:30,080 Um 4778 03:19:28,560 --> 03:19:31,600 have conversations with teachers because 4779 03:19:30,080 --> 03:19:34,239 they're the ones that are directly in 4780 03:19:31,600 --> 03:19:37,479 connection with these kids. Um thank you 4781 03:19:34,239 --> 03:19:37,479 so much 4782 03:19:42,479 --> 03:19:48,960 Matthew, Ward 4. Let's start this off 4783 03:19:46,000 --> 03:19:51,520 and be perfectly honest. Teenagers have 4784 03:19:48,960 --> 03:19:53,200 done dumb things since the beginning of 4785 03:19:51,520 --> 03:19:55,520 time, and they're going to continue to 4786 03:19:53,200 --> 03:19:58,399 do them. 4787 03:19:55,520 --> 03:20:01,920 But 4788 03:19:58,399 --> 03:20:05,359 we also need our parents and guardians 4789 03:20:01,920 --> 03:20:07,600 to be the adult role models and yet not 4790 03:20:05,359 --> 03:20:09,840 be afraid that because they're going to 4791 03:20:07,600 --> 03:20:12,640 be this adult role model that they're 4792 03:20:09,840 --> 03:20:17,800 going to be have DHS called on them 4793 03:20:12,640 --> 03:20:17,800 because they're being hard on these kids 4794 03:20:18,560 --> 03:20:22,800 because I listen where has been DHS 4795 03:20:21,040 --> 03:20:26,239 Office of Child Family Services in 4796 03:20:22,800 --> 03:20:26,239 supporting these kids and families? 4797 03:20:26,319 --> 03:20:31,920 We know the sad truth is when these kids 4798 03:20:29,279 --> 03:20:35,560 edge out of the system, there is no 4799 03:20:31,920 --> 03:20:35,560 support from the state. 4800 03:20:38,800 --> 03:20:42,800 Then I have a real good question. How 4801 03:20:40,720 --> 03:20:45,680 many of these guns that have been taken 4802 03:20:42,800 --> 03:20:49,680 off the street were acquired here 4803 03:20:45,680 --> 03:20:53,439 locally within our community not just 4804 03:20:49,680 --> 03:20:56,479 stolen but bought by somebody versus how 4805 03:20:53,439 --> 03:20:59,439 many of them are from away? 4806 03:20:56,479 --> 03:21:01,920 And then have the ones who were 4807 03:20:59,439 --> 03:21:06,000 who weren't stolen but bought and given 4808 03:21:01,920 --> 03:21:08,080 away have they been charged with crimes? 4809 03:21:06,000 --> 03:21:10,239 Our kids need people to believe in them, 4810 03:21:08,080 --> 03:21:11,680 care in them, because when you support 4811 03:21:10,239 --> 03:21:13,840 them, they know there's somebody out 4812 03:21:11,680 --> 03:21:16,640 there who cares about what they do, and 4813 03:21:13,840 --> 03:21:18,479 they'll want to continue this, 4814 03:21:16,640 --> 03:21:20,560 continue your support. I know this 4815 03:21:18,479 --> 03:21:24,160 because I've done it for multiple kids 4816 03:21:20,560 --> 03:21:26,880 and young adults. I just got a kid to go 4817 03:21:24,160 --> 03:21:30,319 back to college after she's been out of 4818 03:21:26,880 --> 03:21:32,080 college for two years 4819 03:21:30,319 --> 03:21:35,880 because she needed someone to believe in 4820 03:21:32,080 --> 03:21:35,880 her that she could do it. 4821 03:21:36,000 --> 03:21:41,840 Now, instead of returning these young 4822 03:21:39,040 --> 03:21:45,680 offenders to their same stomping 4823 03:21:41,840 --> 03:21:47,680 grounds, their same friends, their same 4824 03:21:45,680 --> 03:21:49,840 everything, have we looked at using the 4825 03:21:47,680 --> 03:21:52,560 kinship logic and shipping them to 4826 03:21:49,840 --> 03:21:54,800 family members, maybe outside of their 4827 03:21:52,560 --> 03:21:58,880 exact community? Maybe that will allow 4828 03:21:54,800 --> 03:22:00,399 them to change their trajectory in life. 4829 03:21:58,880 --> 03:22:03,120 But part of the other problem these kids 4830 03:22:00,399 --> 03:22:05,200 are seeing is they're seeing the 4831 03:22:03,120 --> 03:22:08,080 long-term effects of the lack of 4832 03:22:05,200 --> 03:22:10,800 enforcement, be it in drug dealing and 4833 03:22:08,080 --> 03:22:14,000 prostitution here in Lewon, and the lack 4834 03:22:10,800 --> 03:22:16,720 of what I will call the broken window 4835 03:22:14,000 --> 03:22:19,680 crimes. So that they see that there's no 4836 03:22:16,720 --> 03:22:22,680 response, no punishment. Why should we 4837 03:22:19,680 --> 03:22:22,680 change? 4838 03:22:23,040 --> 03:22:27,439 Finally, Long Creek is not a happy 4839 03:22:26,000 --> 03:22:29,040 place. 4840 03:22:27,439 --> 03:22:30,640 where we have to where our kids get 4841 03:22:29,040 --> 03:22:33,760 sent. We used to have a lawn and 4842 03:22:30,640 --> 03:22:36,000 Goodwill Hinckley among others that used 4843 03:22:33,760 --> 03:22:38,800 to run along the very same lines. The 4844 03:22:36,000 --> 03:22:40,640 kids that went there 4845 03:22:38,800 --> 03:22:42,880 earned their way up and out of the 4846 03:22:40,640 --> 03:22:45,120 system by accountability. These kids 4847 03:22:42,880 --> 03:22:48,359 will tell you it was never a nice 4848 03:22:45,120 --> 03:22:48,359 » Thank you. 4849 03:23:01,680 --> 03:23:06,160 Good evening. My name is Joel Burian and 4850 03:23:03,840 --> 03:23:09,840 I'm a um 4851 03:23:06,160 --> 03:23:12,000 uh live in Lewon and and Susan is uh my 4852 03:23:09,840 --> 03:23:15,920 council person. 4853 03:23:12,000 --> 03:23:20,439 » Can you see what I can do? Press button. 4854 03:23:15,920 --> 03:23:20,439 How's that? That better? 4855 03:23:20,880 --> 03:23:27,680 just lean in when you talk. 4856 03:23:22,720 --> 03:23:29,359 » Okay. Uh my uh coming into this meeting, 4857 03:23:27,680 --> 03:23:32,000 I knew that it would probably be very 4858 03:23:29,359 --> 03:23:33,680 difficult to talk. Any type of violence 4859 03:23:32,000 --> 03:23:36,399 issue that you deal with is very 4860 03:23:33,680 --> 03:23:38,560 difficult for anybody community and in 4861 03:23:36,399 --> 03:23:40,560 as well as the victims as well as 4862 03:23:38,560 --> 03:23:42,640 others. I've had the privilege of 4863 03:23:40,560 --> 03:23:44,640 working with a number of trauma victims 4864 03:23:42,640 --> 03:23:47,025 in in my role as a social worker, not 4865 03:23:44,640 --> 03:23:50,640 only here, but in two other states, 4866 03:23:47,025 --> 03:23:53,680 [snorts] including uh suicide as well as 4867 03:23:50,640 --> 03:23:56,000 violence toward others, uh including gun 4868 03:23:53,680 --> 03:23:58,319 violence. What I hear tonight is a 4869 03:23:56,000 --> 03:24:00,479 number of good ideas from a number of 4870 03:23:58,319 --> 03:24:03,439 dedicated people and I think there's 4871 03:24:00,479 --> 03:24:05,359 some solutions here. I know that the 4872 03:24:03,439 --> 03:24:07,520 district attorney has talked about some 4873 03:24:05,359 --> 03:24:09,200 of his needs. The police chief has 4874 03:24:07,520 --> 03:24:11,840 talked about her needs as well as other 4875 03:24:09,200 --> 03:24:13,600 people on the city council. I think one 4876 03:24:11,840 --> 03:24:15,840 of the things is that if we're focusing 4877 03:24:13,600 --> 03:24:18,080 in on maybe the youth violence issue, 4878 03:24:15,840 --> 03:24:20,720 one thing is to make sure that the 4879 03:24:18,080 --> 03:24:22,880 people that are have a stake in this, 4880 03:24:20,720 --> 03:24:25,359 especially the people that are involved 4881 03:24:22,880 --> 03:24:27,200 in doing these things dayto-day have not 4882 03:24:25,359 --> 03:24:30,239 only the resources but also the ability 4883 03:24:27,200 --> 03:24:32,399 to work together. An idea might be that 4884 03:24:30,239 --> 03:24:34,800 when we have kids that commit these 4885 03:24:32,399 --> 03:24:37,439 these crimes or involved in it, there is 4886 03:24:34,800 --> 03:24:39,200 a mechanism to bring community together 4887 03:24:37,439 --> 03:24:41,040 to say this is what we need. This is 4888 03:24:39,200 --> 03:24:43,520 what we need to make sure we're 4889 03:24:41,040 --> 03:24:46,160 protecting the people in the community, 4890 03:24:43,520 --> 03:24:48,399 but also making sure I think a strong 4891 03:24:46,160 --> 03:24:50,720 kind of a wraparound model that was 4892 03:24:48,399 --> 03:24:53,120 described earlier by the Department of 4893 03:24:50,720 --> 03:24:55,200 Corrections might be an option being 4894 03:24:53,120 --> 03:24:58,080 able to do that. The other thing is is 4895 03:24:55,200 --> 03:25:00,399 that coming together as a group in the 4896 03:24:58,080 --> 03:25:03,680 community to talk about issues relating 4897 03:25:00,399 --> 03:25:05,279 to what's needed. It's better to work it 4898 03:25:03,680 --> 03:25:08,080 together and then you approach the 4899 03:25:05,279 --> 03:25:09,680 attorney you I'm sorry you approach the 4900 03:25:08,080 --> 03:25:11,439 the legislature or whoever you want to 4901 03:25:09,680 --> 03:25:13,439 get funding for as a group as a 4902 03:25:11,439 --> 03:25:16,560 community to say this is what we can use 4903 03:25:13,439 --> 03:25:18,960 in Lewon and maybe addressing this issue 4904 03:25:16,560 --> 03:25:21,600 right now might allow other things to 4905 03:25:18,960 --> 03:25:23,439 happen to improve what needs to happen. 4906 03:25:21,600 --> 03:25:25,680 But I think there's a lot of good people 4907 03:25:23,439 --> 03:25:27,200 here. It's just like coming together and 4908 03:25:25,680 --> 03:25:29,120 saying, you know, as a group, we're 4909 03:25:27,200 --> 03:25:31,040 going to do it together. So that's just 4910 03:25:29,120 --> 03:25:35,800 my point. And thank you so much for 4911 03:25:31,040 --> 03:25:35,800 having this meeting tonight. Thank you. 4912 03:25:41,520 --> 03:25:45,319 I'm so short. 4913 03:25:46,239 --> 03:25:50,560 Can you hear me? Okay. My name is 4914 03:25:48,640 --> 03:25:52,960 Melissa Dunn. I'm a community organizer 4915 03:25:50,560 --> 03:25:56,080 in Lewon. I've been doing antiviolence 4916 03:25:52,960 --> 03:25:59,040 efforts since 2018 or even prior than 4917 03:25:56,080 --> 03:26:00,800 that. Um doing peace marches, vigils, 4918 03:25:59,040 --> 03:26:02,640 trying to go to ground zero where 4919 03:26:00,800 --> 03:26:05,279 incidents of violence happened in 4920 03:26:02,640 --> 03:26:07,520 community to um offer community 4921 03:26:05,279 --> 03:26:12,319 response, get comm people connected to 4922 03:26:07,520 --> 03:26:14,800 resources. Network continued uh even a 4923 03:26:12,319 --> 03:26:17,040 two or three summers ago when we started 4924 03:26:14,800 --> 03:26:19,040 having shootings and we went to ground 4925 03:26:17,040 --> 03:26:20,880 zeros. We knocked on doors. We talked to 4926 03:26:19,040 --> 03:26:23,200 neighbors. We talked to impacted 4927 03:26:20,880 --> 03:26:26,640 families. We even talked to youth who 4928 03:26:23,200 --> 03:26:29,520 had bullets in their bodies 4929 03:26:26,640 --> 03:26:31,760 um since then. And so um there's been 4930 03:26:29,520 --> 03:26:33,760 extensive conversations especially 4931 03:26:31,760 --> 03:26:35,920 restorative justice processes and 4932 03:26:33,760 --> 03:26:38,000 restorative practices for impacted 4933 03:26:35,920 --> 03:26:40,479 community especially the youth who may 4934 03:26:38,000 --> 03:26:44,720 have witnessed this this kind of 4935 03:26:40,479 --> 03:26:47,600 violence or became a target because they 4936 03:26:44,720 --> 03:26:50,160 shared the same name as somebody 4937 03:26:47,600 --> 03:26:53,439 wi with in this violence and feared for 4938 03:26:50,160 --> 03:26:55,760 their lives. And um out of our 4939 03:26:53,439 --> 03:26:58,720 discussions for a community program uh 4940 03:26:55,760 --> 03:27:01,600 the mothers and the youth came up with 4941 03:26:58,720 --> 03:27:03,520 an afterchool program to be more 4942 03:27:01,600 --> 03:27:07,840 designed specific to their cultural 4943 03:27:03,520 --> 03:27:11,520 needs and uh so I would ask community to 4944 03:27:07,840 --> 03:27:14,160 trust in community to lead their own uh 4945 03:27:11,520 --> 03:27:16,720 issues especially around prevention and 4946 03:27:14,160 --> 03:27:19,120 awareness. It's a fallacy and it's 4947 03:27:16,720 --> 03:27:21,680 inaccurate information, misinformation, 4948 03:27:19,120 --> 03:27:23,840 disinformation to say that nothing has 4949 03:27:21,680 --> 03:27:26,960 been done about uh antiviolence efforts 4950 03:27:23,840 --> 03:27:29,680 in Lewon. Now, gun violence has always 4951 03:27:26,960 --> 03:27:32,080 existed in Lewon. When I was a teenager, 4952 03:27:29,680 --> 03:27:34,479 I was beat with a handgun from the guy 4953 03:27:32,080 --> 03:27:36,160 that I was with at the time. Broken nose 4954 03:27:34,479 --> 03:27:38,960 concussions, and that was in teen dating 4955 03:27:36,160 --> 03:27:43,279 violence I experienced being trafficked. 4956 03:27:38,960 --> 03:27:45,600 And I know as a 45 year old woman uh 4957 03:27:43,279 --> 03:27:47,840 that uh and experiencing more gun 4958 03:27:45,600 --> 03:27:50,560 violence and domestic violence that 4959 03:27:47,840 --> 03:27:53,439 domestic violence is interconnected to 4960 03:27:50,560 --> 03:27:55,680 gun violence. And so I'd ask people to 4961 03:27:53,439 --> 03:27:58,399 check biases when we're talking about or 4962 03:27:55,680 --> 03:28:00,560 referring to kids who are in survival as 4963 03:27:58,399 --> 03:28:02,160 gangs or gang activity or that the 4964 03:28:00,560 --> 03:28:05,359 assumption they must be involved in 4965 03:28:02,160 --> 03:28:06,960 drugs because um because of my close 4966 03:28:05,359 --> 03:28:11,600 work and I'm not going to share details 4967 03:28:06,960 --> 03:28:14,080 here. Um, I know that uh they're they're 4968 03:28:11,600 --> 03:28:16,399 more so having access to these weapons 4969 03:28:14,080 --> 03:28:18,800 for survival. And it should tell the 4970 03:28:16,399 --> 03:28:22,160 community something 4971 03:28:18,800 --> 03:28:24,640 and what we're feeling in if if youth 4972 03:28:22,160 --> 03:28:27,600 feel they have no other choice for 4973 03:28:24,640 --> 03:28:31,200 safety. If they're resorting to firearms 4974 03:28:27,600 --> 03:28:32,479 for safety or survival and the police, 4975 03:28:31,200 --> 03:28:34,800 we want to believe that they're going to 4976 03:28:32,479 --> 03:28:36,720 save us, but they're not. They don't 4977 03:28:34,800 --> 03:28:38,560 answer the call. They're not there. It's 4978 03:28:36,720 --> 03:28:42,359 community, our connections with one 4979 03:28:38,560 --> 03:28:42,359 another. Thank you, 4980 03:28:46,080 --> 03:28:52,160 » Ronnie Parody, W 6. Uh, I just wanted to 4981 03:28:50,160 --> 03:28:54,800 bring up and I know the city council has 4982 03:28:52,160 --> 03:28:57,680 heard me several times that was 4983 03:28:54,800 --> 03:29:00,479 mentioned about public health. you did 4984 03:28:57,680 --> 03:29:03,680 not pass the public health person that 4985 03:29:00,479 --> 03:29:06,000 we wanted this year. And it's really 4986 03:29:03,680 --> 03:29:09,600 disappointing because we really need a 4987 03:29:06,000 --> 03:29:12,000 public health officer in Lon. If we're 4988 03:29:09,600 --> 03:29:15,200 not using a public health because of 4989 03:29:12,000 --> 03:29:17,680 money, we need to seek a grant or we 4990 03:29:15,200 --> 03:29:20,080 need to use a we're not using a public 4991 03:29:17,680 --> 03:29:22,479 health committee the way it should be 4992 03:29:20,080 --> 03:29:24,800 used. We should be using the committee 4993 03:29:22,479 --> 03:29:27,279 that it comes at least twice a year to 4994 03:29:24,800 --> 03:29:30,319 council. We need meetings on public 4995 03:29:27,279 --> 03:29:33,680 health and gun violence is a public 4996 03:29:30,319 --> 03:29:38,640 health problem. I worked downtown Lon as 4997 03:29:33,680 --> 03:29:41,439 a public health nurse from 2005 to 2015. 4998 03:29:38,640 --> 03:29:43,439 I never had any problems down working 4999 03:29:41,439 --> 03:29:46,960 down in Lon and I've been in every 5000 03:29:43,439 --> 03:29:49,279 single apartment house in downtown Lon, 5001 03:29:46,960 --> 03:29:52,399 believe me. And I grew up in downtown 5002 03:29:49,279 --> 03:29:55,680 Luc when it was really nice. Um but 5003 03:29:52,399 --> 03:29:58,319 anyway, we need public health and we 5004 03:29:55,680 --> 03:30:01,040 need it. We need to get our committees 5005 03:29:58,319 --> 03:30:04,000 from the seniors to the thing. We are 5006 03:30:01,040 --> 03:30:06,800 not using our advisory committees the 5007 03:30:04,000 --> 03:30:08,640 way they should be used. Please do 5008 03:30:06,800 --> 03:30:12,319 something about public health. We need 5009 03:30:08,640 --> 03:30:15,040 that. Look for a grant and everything 5010 03:30:12,319 --> 03:30:17,600 like that. Uh I know you heard me 5011 03:30:15,040 --> 03:30:20,160 before. You'll hear me again at city 5012 03:30:17,600 --> 03:30:23,120 council meetings. I'm pushing for public 5013 03:30:20,160 --> 03:30:27,080 health and it really needs to be in this 5014 03:30:23,120 --> 03:30:27,080 city. Thank you. 5015 03:30:29,840 --> 03:30:35,920 » Hi there. My name is Gail Bander 5016 03:30:32,399 --> 03:30:38,160 Sylvester. I was born in Lewon. I 5017 03:30:35,920 --> 03:30:39,920 graduated from Lewon High School in 5018 03:30:38,160 --> 03:30:42,960 1985. 5019 03:30:39,920 --> 03:30:46,640 I left Maine for a long time, then came 5020 03:30:42,960 --> 03:30:50,960 back to Lewon to be near my parents. I 5021 03:30:46,640 --> 03:30:53,920 was at the door handing out flyers. The 5022 03:30:50,960 --> 03:30:57,680 flyer title is the best gun control 5023 03:30:53,920 --> 03:31:00,000 ever. I'm inviting all of you if you 5024 03:30:57,680 --> 03:31:03,040 weren't if you didn't get my flyer, 5025 03:31:00,000 --> 03:31:06,640 they're on the table. I'm inviting all 5026 03:31:03,040 --> 03:31:10,479 of you to a meet and greet at Nutty 5027 03:31:06,640 --> 03:31:14,560 Netty's on July 25th. 5028 03:31:10,479 --> 03:31:18,479 1:30 to 2:00 will be a meet and greet 5029 03:31:14,560 --> 03:31:23,720 and 2:00 will be the first meeting of a 5030 03:31:18,479 --> 03:31:23,720 new organization called DOA 5031 03:31:24,479 --> 03:31:32,800 and there are three initial goals. 5032 03:31:29,200 --> 03:31:36,319 One is to plan free workshops for 5033 03:31:32,800 --> 03:31:39,600 parents and their children. 2hour 5034 03:31:36,319 --> 03:31:42,960 workshops to be held in different 5035 03:31:39,600 --> 03:31:46,160 locations around the city wherever we 5036 03:31:42,960 --> 03:31:49,279 can do them at businesses at adult 5037 03:31:46,160 --> 03:31:53,120 education in the schools at the 5038 03:31:49,279 --> 03:31:56,720 libraries in the park wherever whoever 5039 03:31:53,120 --> 03:31:58,960 will help help will host a meeting. So, 5040 03:31:56,720 --> 03:32:03,200 I'm looking for volunteers. Whatever 5041 03:31:58,960 --> 03:32:04,720 your interest is, you can teach a 2hour 5042 03:32:03,200 --> 03:32:08,399 workshop. 5043 03:32:04,720 --> 03:32:11,760 It can be about sports, a sports clinic. 5044 03:32:08,399 --> 03:32:15,760 It can be about a uh in the arts, 5045 03:32:11,760 --> 03:32:18,319 something with art, music, business, it 5046 03:32:15,760 --> 03:32:22,880 can be any topic. We need to get our 5047 03:32:18,319 --> 03:32:26,160 kids interested in their own lives. We 5048 03:32:22,880 --> 03:32:29,520 need them to have interests and we need 5049 03:32:26,160 --> 03:32:32,960 to make it possible for them to pursue 5050 03:32:29,520 --> 03:32:37,582 their goals. The second objective is to 5051 03:32:32,960 --> 03:32:39,279 establish a write in a a drop in 5052 03:32:37,582 --> 03:32:42,720 [clears throat] excuse me writing center 5053 03:32:39,279 --> 03:32:45,200 and resource center for adults also at 5054 03:32:42,720 --> 03:32:47,920 the workshops. I forgot to say that 5055 03:32:45,200 --> 03:32:50,160 that's for the parents and the kids. The 5056 03:32:47,920 --> 03:32:53,680 kids will be doing the activities and 5057 03:32:50,160 --> 03:32:57,439 the the adults will be having uh 5058 03:32:53,680 --> 03:33:01,439 education about how they can further 5059 03:32:57,439 --> 03:33:04,399 their children's interests. 5060 03:33:01,439 --> 03:33:08,319 um to establish a writing drop in and 5061 03:33:04,399 --> 03:33:12,880 resource center where kids can come and 5062 03:33:08,319 --> 03:33:15,040 do art and write and where parents can 5063 03:33:12,880 --> 03:33:18,399 pick up equipment, 5064 03:33:15,040 --> 03:33:22,640 paper, whatever they need for their kids 5065 03:33:18,399 --> 03:33:26,399 to do at home. The third initiative is 5066 03:33:22,640 --> 03:33:29,520 adopt a child program. 5067 03:33:26,399 --> 03:33:31,200 partners will seek sponsors for children 5068 03:33:29,520 --> 03:33:32,560 interested in lessons. 5069 03:33:31,200 --> 03:33:34,720 » That's time. Thank you. 5070 03:33:32,560 --> 03:33:36,080 » Thank you. Please come and please pick 5071 03:33:34,720 --> 03:33:37,920 up a brochure. 5072 03:33:36,080 --> 03:33:40,920 » Thank you. That's time. Further public 5073 03:33:37,920 --> 03:33:40,920 comment. 5074 03:33:44,239 --> 03:33:50,640 » My name is Troy and I'm in Ward 4. 5075 03:33:48,160 --> 03:33:53,520 I want to kind of take a different angle 5076 03:33:50,640 --> 03:33:56,399 just a little bit. Uh, I wanted to reach 5077 03:33:53,520 --> 03:33:58,319 out to whoever's watching this online. 5078 03:33:56,399 --> 03:34:02,399 And if you have any friends that aren't 5079 03:33:58,319 --> 03:34:05,279 here, get people more uh involved. It'd 5080 03:34:02,399 --> 03:34:07,040 be nice to have more people show up, 5081 03:34:05,279 --> 03:34:09,760 some different faces to come in here, 5082 03:34:07,040 --> 03:34:13,760 maybe some different opinions. 5083 03:34:09,760 --> 03:34:16,640 Uh, also to kind of get back on topic, I 5084 03:34:13,760 --> 03:34:19,040 would fully support bringing in a 5085 03:34:16,640 --> 03:34:22,399 three-letter agency 5086 03:34:19,040 --> 03:34:27,439 um of any letter combination you want to 5087 03:34:22,399 --> 03:34:30,319 do. IC, FBI, ATF, DEA, whatever. Bring 5088 03:34:27,439 --> 03:34:34,160 those people in here and clean house. 5089 03:34:30,319 --> 03:34:37,720 Get these people out of here. Um, the 5090 03:34:34,160 --> 03:34:37,720 other thing is, 5091 03:34:39,200 --> 03:34:43,760 sorry I lost track of uh where I was 5092 03:34:41,279 --> 03:34:46,560 going with that. 5093 03:34:43,760 --> 03:34:49,120 Oh yes, excuse me. So, the thing that 5094 03:34:46,560 --> 03:34:52,800 really uh ticks me off the most about 5095 03:34:49,120 --> 03:34:55,680 the gun stuff currently is that we've 5096 03:34:52,800 --> 03:34:59,439 been very fortunate 5097 03:34:55,680 --> 03:35:02,800 so far that this hasn't killed anybody 5098 03:34:59,439 --> 03:35:05,040 in this room. hasn't killed. I think one 5099 03:35:02,800 --> 03:35:07,439 person has died. Sorry, I don't have 5100 03:35:05,040 --> 03:35:08,800 those stats on me. I think one person 5101 03:35:07,439 --> 03:35:11,439 has died and that's it. I know some 5102 03:35:08,800 --> 03:35:14,960 people have been hit, haven't died, 5103 03:35:11,439 --> 03:35:17,520 whatever. So far, 5104 03:35:14,960 --> 03:35:20,880 none of us have died, but there's a good 5105 03:35:17,520 --> 03:35:23,920 chance it could come. And uh the thing 5106 03:35:20,880 --> 03:35:27,520 that ticks me off the most is that I'm a 5107 03:35:23,920 --> 03:35:29,040 two-way guy and 5108 03:35:27,520 --> 03:35:31,200 I've done everything by the book my 5109 03:35:29,040 --> 03:35:34,560 whole life. I've paid all my bills. I've 5110 03:35:31,200 --> 03:35:36,800 obeyed the law. I pay my taxes. I mow my 5111 03:35:34,560 --> 03:35:39,760 lawn. I bring my trash out. I have a 5112 03:35:36,800 --> 03:35:43,680 nice place. I do all the right things. 5113 03:35:39,760 --> 03:35:45,600 And some jerk is going to make me 5114 03:35:43,680 --> 03:35:49,439 change my some jerk is going to change 5115 03:35:45,600 --> 03:35:52,960 my life that I never wanted to do 5116 03:35:49,439 --> 03:35:54,640 because they decided that they had a 5117 03:35:52,960 --> 03:35:56,720 different objective and they were going 5118 03:35:54,640 --> 03:36:00,479 to 5119 03:35:56,720 --> 03:36:02,319 insert themselves into my future. 5120 03:36:00,479 --> 03:36:04,960 And I don't want that for me and I don't 5121 03:36:02,319 --> 03:36:07,920 want that for anybody else that protects 5122 03:36:04,960 --> 03:36:11,439 themselves that they have to then defend 5123 03:36:07,920 --> 03:36:13,120 themselves and now they are screwed 5124 03:36:11,439 --> 03:36:14,640 forever because you don't just get to 5125 03:36:13,120 --> 03:36:18,160 protect yourself and go on your merry 5126 03:36:14,640 --> 03:36:23,160 way. It's not how it works. So that's 5127 03:36:18,160 --> 03:36:23,160 what fries my ass. Have a nice day. 5128 03:36:24,880 --> 03:36:29,040 Further public comment. 5129 03:36:27,680 --> 03:36:31,680 Good evening. My name is Rick Lapp 5130 03:36:29,040 --> 03:36:34,080 Chappelle. I am angry that we have 5131 03:36:31,680 --> 03:36:36,080 reached this point. Before we can fix 5132 03:36:34,080 --> 03:36:38,479 these problems, we must be honest about 5133 03:36:36,080 --> 03:36:40,640 how we got here. We must have the 5134 03:36:38,479 --> 03:36:44,160 courage to acknowledge where we have 5135 03:36:40,640 --> 03:36:45,920 failed. Parents, we all have a 5136 03:36:44,160 --> 03:36:48,160 responsibility to raise our children 5137 03:36:45,920 --> 03:36:50,720 with respect, discipline, and 5138 03:36:48,160 --> 03:36:52,880 accountability. Our young people need 5139 03:36:50,720 --> 03:36:54,720 guidance, expectations, and 5140 03:36:52,880 --> 03:36:57,120 consequences. 5141 03:36:54,720 --> 03:37:00,640 To our city council and the mayor, you 5142 03:36:57,120 --> 03:37:03,359 have failed to lead on three serious 5143 03:37:00,640 --> 03:37:05,520 issues facing Lenon. Rather than 5144 03:37:03,359 --> 03:37:08,720 confronting them, you have repeatedly 5145 03:37:05,520 --> 03:37:11,279 refuse to address them. Youth violence, 5146 03:37:08,720 --> 03:37:12,960 the needle epidemic, and the handling of 5147 03:37:11,279 --> 03:37:16,239 funds intended for the victims of the 5148 03:37:12,960 --> 03:37:18,080 Lewon tragedy have demanded action. Yet 5149 03:37:16,239 --> 03:37:21,040 too often they have been met with 5150 03:37:18,080 --> 03:37:23,120 silence or delay. The people of Lewon 5151 03:37:21,040 --> 03:37:25,520 deserve leaders who will face difficult 5152 03:37:23,120 --> 03:37:28,960 issues head-on instead of pushing them 5153 03:37:25,520 --> 03:37:30,479 aside. I want to thank Brett Mel and 5154 03:37:28,960 --> 03:37:32,000 Susan Long Champamps for showing 5155 03:37:30,479 --> 03:37:34,319 leadership on the issue of youth 5156 03:37:32,000 --> 03:37:36,479 violence. We need more people willing to 5157 03:37:34,319 --> 03:37:38,000 step forward and confront the difficult 5158 03:37:36,479 --> 03:37:41,439 problems. 5159 03:37:38,000 --> 03:37:43,840 Our state legislative delegations. All 5160 03:37:41,439 --> 03:37:46,239 four representatives and our senator 5161 03:37:43,840 --> 03:37:49,439 also bear responsibilities. 5162 03:37:46,239 --> 03:37:51,840 Lewon deserves stronger advocacy and 5163 03:37:49,439 --> 03:37:55,120 real action from Augusta. I've only 5164 03:37:51,840 --> 03:37:57,600 noticed one of them here this evening. 5165 03:37:55,120 --> 03:38:01,439 If this meeting is truly about finding 5166 03:37:57,600 --> 03:38:03,920 solutions, we need honest conversations, 5167 03:38:01,439 --> 03:38:06,399 real accountability, and leaders who are 5168 03:38:03,920 --> 03:38:08,479 committed to making Lewon better. Not 5169 03:38:06,399 --> 03:38:11,840 just talking about it, but doing the 5170 03:38:08,479 --> 03:38:14,319 hard work to make it happen. Remember, 5171 03:38:11,840 --> 03:38:19,720 leadership means confronting difficult 5172 03:38:14,319 --> 03:38:19,720 problems, not avoiding them. Thank you. 5173 03:38:20,479 --> 03:38:26,239 » Further public comment. 5174 03:38:23,920 --> 03:38:29,760 » Hello, my name is Brandy Walton. I'm 5175 03:38:26,239 --> 03:38:31,760 from Ward 4. I've learned so much here 5176 03:38:29,760 --> 03:38:34,560 tonight. Um, this is my first city 5177 03:38:31,760 --> 03:38:37,120 council meeting, so I am in very 5178 03:38:34,560 --> 03:38:38,479 encouraged um to be able to know that 5179 03:38:37,120 --> 03:38:42,640 there are people in the community that 5180 03:38:38,479 --> 03:38:44,479 care about important subjects. Um, I'm 5181 03:38:42,640 --> 03:38:48,080 really here because I heard National 5182 03:38:44,479 --> 03:38:52,800 Guard and in the comments I hear ICE. 5183 03:38:48,080 --> 03:38:55,600 And what would we do to prepare the 5184 03:38:52,800 --> 03:38:58,560 companies, the local businesses that run 5185 03:38:55,600 --> 03:39:00,640 Lewon and have for years and years that 5186 03:38:58,560 --> 03:39:03,200 have the very signs up that don't want 5187 03:39:00,640 --> 03:39:05,359 them there. The people that feel like 5188 03:39:03,200 --> 03:39:08,800 they have been racial prof racially 5189 03:39:05,359 --> 03:39:10,640 profiled. our kids and our neighbors who 5190 03:39:08,800 --> 03:39:13,200 might not look like the kid that came 5191 03:39:10,640 --> 03:39:15,840 from the perfect mom and dad's family 5192 03:39:13,200 --> 03:39:17,920 and may, you know, go go in certain 5193 03:39:15,840 --> 03:39:20,239 parts of the city that might seem that 5194 03:39:17,920 --> 03:39:22,960 they're in there for the wrong reasons. 5195 03:39:20,239 --> 03:39:27,600 Um to basically make sure they feel safe 5196 03:39:22,960 --> 03:39:29,920 as well. the people, the kids that um we 5197 03:39:27,600 --> 03:39:31,520 know the bad taste that ICE and National 5198 03:39:29,920 --> 03:39:34,960 Guard and really a lot of people in 5199 03:39:31,520 --> 03:39:37,120 uniform put in the citizens 5200 03:39:34,960 --> 03:39:39,520 heart now, especially the young people. 5201 03:39:37,120 --> 03:39:41,600 They've seen a lot on TV just on 5202 03:39:39,520 --> 03:39:44,239 Facebook alone. 5203 03:39:41,600 --> 03:39:47,680 the amount of negative, disgusting 5204 03:39:44,239 --> 03:39:49,600 comments that are made and hearing how 5205 03:39:47,680 --> 03:39:51,920 hard that these people in these 5206 03:39:49,600 --> 03:39:54,720 positions are working, knowing that the 5207 03:39:51,920 --> 03:39:56,800 Lewon Police Department is down 11 and 5208 03:39:54,720 --> 03:39:59,040 one on medical leave. You don't know 5209 03:39:56,800 --> 03:40:01,600 that. being a Facebook warrior going 5210 03:39:59,040 --> 03:40:03,840 around and following the biggest news 5211 03:40:01,600 --> 03:40:05,439 and to really get involved and to hear 5212 03:40:03,840 --> 03:40:07,439 what these people are doing and the time 5213 03:40:05,439 --> 03:40:09,359 they're taking away from their families 5214 03:40:07,439 --> 03:40:11,920 to be able to ensure that stuff is 5215 03:40:09,359 --> 03:40:14,479 moving forward. My hats go off to you 5216 03:40:11,920 --> 03:40:16,880 Long Creek and everybody else that's 5217 03:40:14,479 --> 03:40:19,359 doing the work. I'm sure there's common 5218 03:40:16,880 --> 03:40:22,319 ground, but if you're going to be having 5219 03:40:19,359 --> 03:40:25,040 people in the the city that's going to 5220 03:40:22,319 --> 03:40:27,680 be trying to help bring ordinance, and 5221 03:40:25,040 --> 03:40:31,040 it very mel well may be needed where we 5222 03:40:27,680 --> 03:40:34,319 are so short staffed in the agencies, 5223 03:40:31,040 --> 03:40:36,319 but what can we do to help welcome them 5224 03:40:34,319 --> 03:40:38,800 with the people that aren't the bad 5225 03:40:36,319 --> 03:40:41,120 people, that aren't making bad choices, 5226 03:40:38,800 --> 03:40:43,760 um to make them feel safe and want them 5227 03:40:41,120 --> 03:40:45,439 in their neighborhoods, um in their 5228 03:40:43,760 --> 03:40:47,840 schools, around their schools, I 5229 03:40:45,439 --> 03:40:49,840 couldn't imagine going outside on Lisbon 5230 03:40:47,840 --> 03:40:52,880 Street and seeing National Guards 5231 03:40:49,840 --> 03:40:55,040 walking up and down. That alone is scary 5232 03:40:52,880 --> 03:40:56,800 to a lot of people. So, what will we do 5233 03:40:55,040 --> 03:41:00,160 to ease the minds of the people that 5234 03:40:56,800 --> 03:41:02,720 we're trying to protect without, you 5235 03:41:00,160 --> 03:41:04,080 know, I know a lot of you know what I'm 5236 03:41:02,720 --> 03:41:06,479 talking about and I know a lot of you 5237 03:41:04,080 --> 03:41:09,840 won't say anything. So, I'm here today 5238 03:41:06,479 --> 03:41:12,319 to say something. I 5239 03:41:09,840 --> 03:41:14,399 if we can do it with a way that we can 5240 03:41:12,319 --> 03:41:16,399 trust the people in uniform, I think 5241 03:41:14,399 --> 03:41:19,279 it's a great idea. But if we're coming 5242 03:41:16,399 --> 03:41:21,760 in hotaded and get them out of here and 5243 03:41:19,279 --> 03:41:24,160 those people and that's not going to 5244 03:41:21,760 --> 03:41:25,520 solve anything. In fact, I might put a 5245 03:41:24,160 --> 03:41:26,800 sign on my door. 5246 03:41:25,520 --> 03:41:29,960 » That's time. Thank you. 5247 03:41:26,800 --> 03:41:29,960 » Thank you. 5248 03:41:31,680 --> 03:41:39,840 » Hi, Wendy McPike. I'm a taxpayer in 5249 03:41:34,239 --> 03:41:42,239 Lewon. Um this has been a very helpful 5250 03:41:39,840 --> 03:41:43,840 evening. I really appreciate all the 5251 03:41:42,239 --> 03:41:45,760 people that have come and shared 5252 03:41:43,840 --> 03:41:48,319 different perspectives 5253 03:41:45,760 --> 03:41:50,399 um different insight of different things 5254 03:41:48,319 --> 03:41:53,120 that they've experienced that they know 5255 03:41:50,399 --> 03:41:55,439 the research things about Long Creek I 5256 03:41:53,120 --> 03:41:58,000 didn't know um things about the school 5257 03:41:55,439 --> 03:42:01,359 and what they're doing. Um I really 5258 03:41:58,000 --> 03:42:04,160 appreciate all of that. Um it's helpful 5259 03:42:01,359 --> 03:42:06,800 and also the resources that are here. 5260 03:42:04,160 --> 03:42:08,479 And one of the things that I've my 5261 03:42:06,800 --> 03:42:11,040 husband and I talk about a lot is there 5262 03:42:08,479 --> 03:42:13,120 are a lot of people in Lewon and a lot 5263 03:42:11,040 --> 03:42:16,960 of organizations and agencies, 5264 03:42:13,120 --> 03:42:20,319 nonprofits doing a lot in Lewon. And I 5265 03:42:16,960 --> 03:42:21,840 I'm hopeful that this um meeting that 5266 03:42:20,319 --> 03:42:24,640 they're going to be having at Nutty 5267 03:42:21,840 --> 03:42:26,479 Netties there, I say that right. um that 5268 03:42:24,640 --> 03:42:28,800 they're going to have some of those 5269 03:42:26,479 --> 03:42:31,279 people come to that meeting to discuss 5270 03:42:28,800 --> 03:42:33,600 what they're doing, where some gaps 5271 03:42:31,279 --> 03:42:35,439 might be, who can fill those gaps within 5272 03:42:33,600 --> 03:42:36,960 those organizations and within those 5273 03:42:35,439 --> 03:42:40,399 communities because these kids we're 5274 03:42:36,960 --> 03:42:42,319 talking about are the future of our 5275 03:42:40,399 --> 03:42:45,040 country, the future of our town, the 5276 03:42:42,319 --> 03:42:48,239 future of this city. So, it's important 5277 03:42:45,040 --> 03:42:50,880 that we don't just dismiss them and that 5278 03:42:48,239 --> 03:42:53,279 we try to look for ways to help them and 5279 03:42:50,880 --> 03:42:55,680 show them that we give a crap. Um, 5280 03:42:53,279 --> 03:42:57,600 because they're they're here. They're 5281 03:42:55,680 --> 03:43:00,479 our future. They're going to be taking 5282 03:42:57,600 --> 03:43:02,960 care of us someday. So, it's we need to 5283 03:43:00,479 --> 03:43:05,439 show that we care and in a way that's 5284 03:43:02,960 --> 03:43:07,359 meaningful. Um, and if it means more 5285 03:43:05,439 --> 03:43:10,640 funding, we're all everybody's short 5286 03:43:07,359 --> 03:43:13,279 staffed everywhere. Um, it's an issue 5287 03:43:10,640 --> 03:43:16,399 and there seems to be some tangible 5288 03:43:13,279 --> 03:43:20,960 things that we can do and just paying 5289 03:43:16,399 --> 03:43:22,880 attention, saying hello, not continuing 5290 03:43:20,960 --> 03:43:25,520 the divide that was talked about earlier 5291 03:43:22,880 --> 03:43:27,840 today. Um, that we come together as a 5292 03:43:25,520 --> 03:43:30,640 community and stop pointing the fingers 5293 03:43:27,840 --> 03:43:34,080 and try to figure out how to help these 5294 03:43:30,640 --> 03:43:35,439 youth that are our future. So, that was 5295 03:43:34,080 --> 03:43:37,520 kind of my thing. I had something else, 5296 03:43:35,439 --> 03:43:40,560 but I didn't write it down. So anyway, 5297 03:43:37,520 --> 03:43:45,000 that's it. 5298 03:43:40,560 --> 03:43:45,000 » Last call for public comment. 5299 03:43:57,120 --> 03:44:02,160 My name is Robert Blasby. I live in W 6. 5300 03:44:00,800 --> 03:44:04,399 And at this point, I'm just kind of 5301 03:44:02,160 --> 03:44:05,920 hoping I'm not one of those people or 5302 03:44:04,399 --> 03:44:09,120 them. 5303 03:44:05,920 --> 03:44:12,239 Hoping I'm not mistaken as 5304 03:44:09,120 --> 03:44:14,640 one of those or one of them. I hear that 5305 03:44:12,239 --> 03:44:16,880 a lot. Seen it a lot on Facebook. Kind 5306 03:44:14,640 --> 03:44:19,760 of feel like that's where part of this 5307 03:44:16,880 --> 03:44:22,399 problem lies. It's a matter of culture. 5308 03:44:19,760 --> 03:44:23,920 I haven't been here too long in Lewon. 5309 03:44:22,399 --> 03:44:25,760 Um as a matter of fact, today I'm 5310 03:44:23,920 --> 03:44:27,760 breaking one of my cardinal rules, which 5311 03:44:25,760 --> 03:44:30,479 is if I haven't prepared something to 5312 03:44:27,760 --> 03:44:33,920 speak, I don't speak. But today I kind 5313 03:44:30,479 --> 03:44:36,880 of felt compelled to speak 5314 03:44:33,920 --> 03:44:39,920 because I had more hope coming here 5315 03:44:36,880 --> 03:44:44,199 today than I am leaving with hope. Not 5316 03:44:39,920 --> 03:44:44,199 hopeless, but I have less hope. 5317 03:44:45,439 --> 03:44:50,319 I've listened to some of the questions 5318 03:44:46,880 --> 03:44:51,920 being asked which 5319 03:44:50,319 --> 03:44:56,239 we probably could have found out on 5320 03:44:51,920 --> 03:44:58,880 Google. We have AGs here who are working 5321 03:44:56,239 --> 03:45:01,600 tirelessly to protect us. 5322 03:44:58,880 --> 03:45:04,399 We have other people here who work for 5323 03:45:01,600 --> 03:45:05,760 other agencies and we have no idea what 5324 03:45:04,399 --> 03:45:07,600 it takes to do their job. We don't know 5325 03:45:05,760 --> 03:45:10,080 where their funding streams are. We 5326 03:45:07,600 --> 03:45:13,199 don't know that they're underst staffed. 5327 03:45:10,080 --> 03:45:14,880 And what everyone is met with is the one 5328 03:45:13,199 --> 03:45:17,279 thing I didn't come here for, which is 5329 03:45:14,880 --> 03:45:19,199 political debacery. 5330 03:45:17,279 --> 03:45:21,520 Both sides. I don't care who you are. I 5331 03:45:19,199 --> 03:45:24,399 don't care what ward you're from. It's 5332 03:45:21,520 --> 03:45:26,239 them or us. When I moved here, I saw I 5333 03:45:24,399 --> 03:45:29,040 closed on my house hours around the 5334 03:45:26,239 --> 03:45:31,760 shooting and all I saw was Lewon Strong 5335 03:45:29,040 --> 03:45:35,120 all over the place. Blew everywhere. I 5336 03:45:31,760 --> 03:45:36,720 felt included in that. 5337 03:45:35,120 --> 03:45:38,000 I don't know. I kind of feel like it's a 5338 03:45:36,720 --> 03:45:39,840 little bit more divisive now than 5339 03:45:38,000 --> 03:45:42,239 anything else. And that's everyone's 5340 03:45:39,840 --> 03:45:44,399 problem. That's all of your problems who 5341 03:45:42,239 --> 03:45:46,319 represent us and it's everybody else's 5342 03:45:44,399 --> 03:45:48,720 problem who's sitting here. I haven't 5343 03:45:46,319 --> 03:45:50,160 heard anything productive today. I've 5344 03:45:48,720 --> 03:45:52,080 heard a lot of blaming, a lot of 5345 03:45:50,160 --> 03:45:54,239 fingerpointing, but nothing that's going 5346 03:45:52,080 --> 03:45:56,720 to lead to results. I haven't heard a 5347 03:45:54,239 --> 03:45:59,199 lot of good questions. 5348 03:45:56,720 --> 03:46:01,520 How are we going to fund it? There were 5349 03:45:59,199 --> 03:46:02,880 a couple of defin definitely a couple of 5350 03:46:01,520 --> 03:46:05,040 questions about funding streams that 5351 03:46:02,880 --> 03:46:07,359 could point us in the right direction. 5352 03:46:05,040 --> 03:46:10,000 But I've seen 5353 03:46:07,359 --> 03:46:12,560 counselors sitting up here listening to 5354 03:46:10,000 --> 03:46:14,800 people who are killing themselves to do 5355 03:46:12,560 --> 03:46:19,319 this work who have sat there and rolled 5356 03:46:14,800 --> 03:46:19,319 their eyes and snickered. 5357 03:46:19,680 --> 03:46:25,120 It's disrespectful and distasteful. 5358 03:46:23,040 --> 03:46:27,760 And it's not a good representation of 5359 03:46:25,120 --> 03:46:29,520 your ward. Whoever it was, you know who 5360 03:46:27,760 --> 03:46:32,080 it is. 5361 03:46:29,520 --> 03:46:33,439 Anyway, I hope that this becomes a 5362 03:46:32,080 --> 03:46:35,680 little bit more productive down the 5363 03:46:33,439 --> 03:46:37,439 road. I hope that there's a lot more 5364 03:46:35,680 --> 03:46:39,439 cooperation. 5365 03:46:37,439 --> 03:46:42,319 Hope there's a lot more generating of of 5366 03:46:39,439 --> 03:46:44,720 good ideas and collaboration. But from 5367 03:46:42,319 --> 03:46:47,920 what I've seen tonight, I haven't seen 5368 03:46:44,720 --> 03:46:51,560 it from from anyone. 5369 03:46:47,920 --> 03:46:51,560 So, good luck. 5370 03:46:52,800 --> 03:46:56,600 Further public comment. 5371 03:46:58,239 --> 03:47:03,520 » Good evening. Can you hear me? Thank 5372 03:47:01,040 --> 03:47:06,160 you. Um, my name is Fatuma Hussein. I 5373 03:47:03,520 --> 03:47:09,520 actually live in Auburn, but I work in 5374 03:47:06,160 --> 03:47:13,040 Lewon for the last 5375 03:47:09,520 --> 03:47:15,920 24 years. So, I spend more time in Lewon 5376 03:47:13,040 --> 03:47:18,080 than in my city. 5377 03:47:15,920 --> 03:47:21,439 Um, one thing that I want to say is 5378 03:47:18,080 --> 03:47:23,680 first of all, um, the mass mass shooting 5379 03:47:21,439 --> 03:47:25,600 funding that should be fixed. It really 5380 03:47:23,680 --> 03:47:28,239 needs to be fixed and it needs to go to 5381 03:47:25,600 --> 03:47:31,439 right people. So that's one thing. I am 5382 03:47:28,239 --> 03:47:34,720 Somali. I'm a Somali descent. We too are 5383 03:47:31,439 --> 03:47:38,479 victims of crime. We too are victims of 5384 03:47:34,720 --> 03:47:39,920 gun violence. We have a lot of kids. Um, 5385 03:47:38,479 --> 03:47:41,760 I know that's the elephant in the room, 5386 03:47:39,920 --> 03:47:43,760 right? like we talk about this gun 5387 03:47:41,760 --> 03:47:46,399 violence that is in circles, but it's 5388 03:47:43,760 --> 03:47:47,840 actually about Somalis and I I just want 5389 03:47:46,399 --> 03:47:49,359 to say it, you know, right there and 5390 03:47:47,840 --> 03:47:51,920 then so that people are aware of what 5391 03:47:49,359 --> 03:47:55,359 we're talking about. A lot of Somali 5392 03:47:51,920 --> 03:47:58,800 people are good. We are taxpayers. 5393 03:47:55,359 --> 03:48:01,359 We have made Lewon a thriving place. We 5394 03:47:58,800 --> 03:48:04,080 have had a lot of issues along the s 5395 03:48:01,359 --> 03:48:07,600 along the way. A lot of us are women and 5396 03:48:04,080 --> 03:48:09,840 children. We do not have, you know, many 5397 03:48:07,600 --> 03:48:14,080 head of household that are men. we don't 5398 03:48:09,840 --> 03:48:16,160 have a lot of role models and therefore 5399 03:48:14,080 --> 03:48:17,760 um you know accountability I think is 5400 03:48:16,160 --> 03:48:20,880 one of the things that we need to do. I 5401 03:48:17,760 --> 03:48:24,319 think if we have gun problems back in 5402 03:48:20,880 --> 03:48:28,720 2006 we predicted I predicted we have a 5403 03:48:24,319 --> 03:48:30,399 lot of um you know um sorry drug 5404 03:48:28,720 --> 03:48:32,239 problems 5405 03:48:30,399 --> 03:48:35,359 and 5406 03:48:32,239 --> 03:48:37,359 at the time what I said was if we don't 5407 03:48:35,359 --> 03:48:40,000 do anything about drugs we will have a 5408 03:48:37,359 --> 03:48:41,760 lot of gun problems and if we don't do 5409 03:48:40,000 --> 03:48:43,760 anything about gun problems we will have 5410 03:48:41,760 --> 03:48:45,600 bombs and that that I'm going to say it 5411 03:48:43,760 --> 03:48:48,319 on the record because where we're headed 5412 03:48:45,600 --> 03:48:50,880 is not good. It is not good that we have 5413 03:48:48,319 --> 03:48:53,680 leaders who are not getting along. It is 5414 03:48:50,880 --> 03:48:55,279 not good that we we're pointing at each 5415 03:48:53,680 --> 03:48:57,920 other's fingers. We're not coming up 5416 03:48:55,279 --> 03:49:01,760 with solutions. We know that the issue 5417 03:48:57,920 --> 03:49:04,080 is big. We also know that we have 5418 03:49:01,760 --> 03:49:06,080 children who are vulnerable. They don't 5419 03:49:04,080 --> 03:49:08,880 have the services that they need and if 5420 03:49:06,080 --> 03:49:10,640 they do it's limited. We have a lot of 5421 03:49:08,880 --> 03:49:13,120 trauma. We come from war torn countries 5422 03:49:10,640 --> 03:49:14,479 and that is also problematic. I am 5423 03:49:13,120 --> 03:49:15,920 talking to you as a mother of eight 5424 03:49:14,479 --> 03:49:18,560 children. and I have four boys and four 5425 03:49:15,920 --> 03:49:22,000 girls. And I've worked tirelessly to 5426 03:49:18,560 --> 03:49:24,560 ensure that my kids have the best school 5427 03:49:22,000 --> 03:49:26,640 education and support at home. It was 5428 03:49:24,560 --> 03:49:29,359 not easy, but it was really something 5429 03:49:26,640 --> 03:49:31,680 that I had to do. A lot of Somali 5430 03:49:29,359 --> 03:49:33,520 mothers are not the same. We don't speak 5431 03:49:31,680 --> 03:49:36,319 English. We have a lot of issues. And 5432 03:49:33,520 --> 03:49:39,120 therefore, what we need to do is come up 5433 03:49:36,319 --> 03:49:40,319 with a solution that is communitydriven. 5434 03:49:39,120 --> 03:49:42,239 I think there's got to be some 5435 03:49:40,319 --> 03:49:44,160 leadership changes, too. Because if 5436 03:49:42,239 --> 03:49:46,160 leaders are not getting along, they need 5437 03:49:44,160 --> 03:49:48,399 to leave and we need to have the right 5438 03:49:46,160 --> 03:49:50,399 people who are going to make changes. 5439 03:49:48,399 --> 03:49:52,239 And so Lucen is still strong. It is 5440 03:49:50,399 --> 03:49:55,199 always going to be strong. We need to 5441 03:49:52,239 --> 03:49:57,279 work together. And mayor, I implore you 5442 03:49:55,199 --> 03:50:00,479 for you to have a committee that can 5443 03:49:57,279 --> 03:50:00,880 look at this that has no bipartisan. I 5444 03:50:00,479 --> 03:50:06,000 know. 5445 03:50:00,880 --> 03:50:10,199 » That's Thank you. Thank you. Last 5446 03:50:06,000 --> 03:50:10,199 » Last call for public comment. 5447 03:50:12,720 --> 03:50:15,720 Wow. 5448 03:50:17,199 --> 03:50:20,720 I'm just going to try to summarize some 5449 03:50:19,439 --> 03:50:21,760 of the things I've heard tonight. 5450 03:50:20,720 --> 03:50:22,000 » You just have your name and where you 5451 03:50:21,760 --> 03:50:25,040 live. 5452 03:50:22,000 --> 03:50:27,520 » Oh, I'm sorry. Jean Keane, Ward One. 5453 03:50:25,040 --> 03:50:29,600 Um, just want to summarize some of the 5454 03:50:27,520 --> 03:50:32,399 things. Unfortunately, we're at a point 5455 03:50:29,600 --> 03:50:35,600 where it comes to money a little bit 5456 03:50:32,399 --> 03:50:37,920 and you people are responsible for that. 5457 03:50:35,600 --> 03:50:40,560 The state's responsible for it. That's 5458 03:50:37,920 --> 03:50:43,600 where we're at. 5459 03:50:40,560 --> 03:50:47,439 Secondly, and Jake will probably verify 5460 03:50:43,600 --> 03:50:50,319 this as well, this meeting reminds me of 5461 03:50:47,439 --> 03:50:53,199 parent student conferences at schools. 5462 03:50:50,319 --> 03:50:55,760 I'm a 40-year educator, 5463 03:50:53,199 --> 03:50:57,920 taught math, fizzed, 5464 03:50:55,760 --> 03:50:59,600 athletic director, part-time assistant 5465 03:50:57,920 --> 03:51:02,000 principal. 5466 03:50:59,600 --> 03:51:04,160 And what we find when we have parent 5467 03:51:02,000 --> 03:51:06,800 teacher conferences 5468 03:51:04,160 --> 03:51:11,080 is that the parents 5469 03:51:06,800 --> 03:51:11,080 that should be there don't come. 5470 03:51:11,840 --> 03:51:16,960 They don't come. 5471 03:51:15,199 --> 03:51:19,439 And I don't think the people that need 5472 03:51:16,960 --> 03:51:22,560 to hear what was said here tonight are 5473 03:51:19,439 --> 03:51:25,520 here tonight. 5474 03:51:22,560 --> 03:51:26,960 The people that are here tonight are the 5475 03:51:25,520 --> 03:51:29,960 same ones that go to the teacher 5476 03:51:26,960 --> 03:51:29,960 conferences. 5477 03:51:30,399 --> 03:51:35,359 So somehow 5478 03:51:32,160 --> 03:51:39,000 as a council, you need to find a way to 5479 03:51:35,359 --> 03:51:39,000 reach those people. 5480 03:51:40,880 --> 03:51:43,920 other things like gun owner 5481 03:51:42,399 --> 03:51:46,319 responsibility, 5482 03:51:43,920 --> 03:51:49,319 legislation, and so forth. Those are all 5483 03:51:46,319 --> 03:51:49,319 issues. 5484 03:51:49,840 --> 03:51:57,800 The number one issue in my eyes 5485 03:51:53,920 --> 03:51:57,800 is lack of parenting. 5486 03:51:57,920 --> 03:52:02,479 When they come out of the womb, you got 5487 03:51:59,600 --> 03:52:05,840 to start parenting. 5488 03:52:02,479 --> 03:52:08,640 If you wait, it's too late. 5489 03:52:05,840 --> 03:52:11,600 You got to manage social media. You got 5490 03:52:08,640 --> 03:52:14,160 to check their rooms. It's your house, 5491 03:52:11,600 --> 03:52:17,680 not theirs. I'd like to end with two 5492 03:52:14,160 --> 03:52:20,640 stories that from my career that had an 5493 03:52:17,680 --> 03:52:23,520 impact on me. 5494 03:52:20,640 --> 03:52:25,760 At one of the schools I was at when a 5495 03:52:23,520 --> 03:52:27,760 student 5496 03:52:25,760 --> 03:52:30,239 uh disobeyed the drug and alcohol 5497 03:52:27,760 --> 03:52:32,080 policy, it was a 365day 5498 03:52:30,239 --> 03:52:34,160 penalty. 5499 03:52:32,080 --> 03:52:36,080 We had the kid that did that. He came in 5500 03:52:34,160 --> 03:52:38,960 with his parents. We discussed it. the 5501 03:52:36,080 --> 03:52:43,199 parents. Okay, 5502 03:52:38,960 --> 03:52:45,199 we agree with it. 6 months later, 5503 03:52:43,199 --> 03:52:47,359 they came in. 5504 03:52:45,199 --> 03:52:53,359 They had put their son through all kinds 5505 03:52:47,359 --> 03:52:55,279 of uh rehabilitation stuff and so forth. 5506 03:52:53,359 --> 03:52:56,960 We let the kid back in because they 5507 03:52:55,279 --> 03:53:01,120 parented. 5508 03:52:56,960 --> 03:53:03,840 Second story, we wanted to suspend a kid 5509 03:53:01,120 --> 03:53:05,359 because he got in trouble. Parents went 5510 03:53:03,840 --> 03:53:06,880 to bat for the kid and got him out of 5511 03:53:05,359 --> 03:53:09,520 it. 5512 03:53:06,880 --> 03:53:12,399 Six months later, he went to college, 5513 03:53:09,520 --> 03:53:14,880 killed himself. 5514 03:53:12,399 --> 03:53:15,279 Parent came back to me two weeks after 5515 03:53:14,880 --> 03:53:16,160 that. 5516 03:53:15,279 --> 03:53:19,520 » Thank you. 5517 03:53:16,160 --> 03:53:20,319 » Parent came back after that and said he 5518 03:53:19,520 --> 03:53:22,239 should have listened. 5519 03:53:20,319 --> 03:53:24,640 » That's time. Thank you. 5520 03:53:22,239 --> 03:53:30,040 » Thank you for all you do. 5521 03:53:24,640 --> 03:53:30,040 » Last last call for public comment. 5522 03:53:31,840 --> 03:53:36,080 Andrew Jones, Ward 2. Uh, we heard a lot 5523 03:53:34,560 --> 03:53:39,120 of comments tonight about uh, 5524 03:53:36,080 --> 03:53:41,040 restorative justice. And I'm not saying 5525 03:53:39,120 --> 03:53:42,720 I disagree with restorative justice. I 5526 03:53:41,040 --> 03:53:44,960 just think it has its place for certain 5527 03:53:42,720 --> 03:53:47,040 things. Uh, restorative justice would be 5528 03:53:44,960 --> 03:53:50,560 great for, you know, like broken windows 5529 03:53:47,040 --> 03:53:52,880 or somebody playing mailbox baseball. Uh 5530 03:53:50,560 --> 03:53:55,120 but when we're talking about uh sailing 5531 03:53:52,880 --> 03:53:57,040 rounds through downtown and potentially 5532 03:53:55,120 --> 03:53:58,720 putting people's lives in danger, I 5533 03:53:57,040 --> 03:54:00,640 think we're way past the point of 5534 03:53:58,720 --> 03:54:03,439 restorative justice and we really need 5535 03:54:00,640 --> 03:54:07,680 to uh involve the criminal criminal 5536 03:54:03,439 --> 03:54:10,080 prosecution of these youths. Um another 5537 03:54:07,680 --> 03:54:12,479 thing I had heard uh from the chief was 5538 03:54:10,080 --> 03:54:15,199 that uh there was isn't a possibility of 5539 03:54:12,479 --> 03:54:19,600 of charging parents for the uh crimes 5540 03:54:15,199 --> 03:54:22,640 committed for their use. And I I I would 5541 03:54:19,600 --> 03:54:25,279 love to know more about that because I 5542 03:54:22,640 --> 03:54:28,080 mean right here in Lewon, the stepfather 5543 03:54:25,279 --> 03:54:31,600 of Jasper Smith is facing a manslaughter 5544 03:54:28,080 --> 03:54:33,760 charge um because Jasper got a hold of 5545 03:54:31,600 --> 03:54:38,160 his handgun and accidentally shot 5546 03:54:33,760 --> 03:54:41,439 himself. Um he he's uh he's in peril of 5547 03:54:38,160 --> 03:54:43,600 losing his freedom. Um and that's right 5548 03:54:41,439 --> 03:54:47,040 here in Lewis to Maine. Uh across the 5549 03:54:43,600 --> 03:54:49,600 nation, uh states are picking up uh the 5550 03:54:47,040 --> 03:54:51,920 ability to uh hold parents accountable 5551 03:54:49,600 --> 03:54:55,920 for when their children do things with 5552 03:54:51,920 --> 03:54:58,880 firearms like shoot up schools. Um you 5553 03:54:55,920 --> 03:55:01,040 know, there's a man in Georgia who is 5554 03:54:58,880 --> 03:55:02,560 gone away for the rest of his life, uh 5555 03:55:01,040 --> 03:55:04,960 charged with murder, even though it was 5556 03:55:02,560 --> 03:55:06,242 his son who used a firearm to murder his 5557 03:55:04,960 --> 03:55:06,640 classmates. 5558 03:55:06,242 --> 03:55:08,880 » [gasps] 5559 03:55:06,640 --> 03:55:10,800 » Um, 5560 03:55:08,880 --> 03:55:13,199 another topic I just wanted to touch on 5561 03:55:10,800 --> 03:55:14,720 is, um, 5562 03:55:13,199 --> 03:55:16,720 there's a lot of talk about looking for 5563 03:55:14,720 --> 03:55:21,600 taxpayer money to fund various 5564 03:55:16,720 --> 03:55:24,080 nonprofits to do a lot of work. And I 5565 03:55:21,600 --> 03:55:27,600 would just say that if this council were 5566 03:55:24,080 --> 03:55:29,680 to be in the position to fund such 5567 03:55:27,600 --> 03:55:32,000 things that they scrutinize them, I 5568 03:55:29,680 --> 03:55:34,000 would hate to see a repeat of uh, the 5569 03:55:32,000 --> 03:55:37,760 mass shooting money and how that was 5570 03:55:34,000 --> 03:55:40,399 used. um a member of this council for a 5571 03:55:37,760 --> 03:55:43,199 day was a recipient of that money. Uh he 5572 03:55:40,399 --> 03:55:44,960 is he had a firearm stolen out of his 5573 03:55:43,199 --> 03:55:46,560 vehicle, didn't get charged for that, 5574 03:55:44,960 --> 03:55:48,479 and he's also under indictment for 5575 03:55:46,560 --> 03:55:51,279 trafficking of firearms, which I think 5576 03:55:48,479 --> 03:55:54,479 contributes to this problem in our city. 5577 03:55:51,279 --> 03:55:57,279 Um lastly, another thing that the chief 5578 03:55:54,479 --> 03:56:00,239 touched on um when asked was what is the 5579 03:55:57,279 --> 03:56:03,600 commonality? uh why is why is Lewon such 5580 03:56:00,239 --> 03:56:05,840 a uh a hot spot for this particular 5581 03:56:03,600 --> 03:56:07,359 crime? And I would question the 5582 03:56:05,840 --> 03:56:09,920 demographic of the individuals 5583 03:56:07,359 --> 03:56:11,520 responsible. Granted, I'm not in the 5584 03:56:09,920 --> 03:56:13,279 downtown. I don't see this stuff 5585 03:56:11,520 --> 03:56:15,600 happening myself. You know, I live in 5586 03:56:13,279 --> 03:56:18,479 the suburbs. We don't have this problem. 5587 03:56:15,600 --> 03:56:20,640 Um but we saw the video on Jefferson 5588 03:56:18,479 --> 03:56:22,640 Street. And while we do not know the 5589 03:56:20,640 --> 03:56:23,840 background of that child, we do know 5590 03:56:22,640 --> 03:56:25,680 what he looked like. and I would 5591 03:56:23,840 --> 03:56:27,439 question if there's a commonality 5592 03:56:25,680 --> 03:56:32,319 between him and the other people 5593 03:56:27,439 --> 03:56:34,479 responsible. And uh that's 3 2 1. Have a 5594 03:56:32,319 --> 03:56:37,760 nice night. 5595 03:56:34,479 --> 03:56:40,720 » Uh any further public comment? 5596 03:56:37,760 --> 03:56:42,960 Public comment is now closed. Uh back to 5597 03:56:40,720 --> 03:56:45,920 the council for any final thoughts if 5598 03:56:42,960 --> 03:56:47,439 councilors have them. Uh we're starting 5599 03:56:45,920 --> 03:56:49,760 on the other end this time. Councelor 5600 03:56:47,439 --> 03:56:51,520 Martell, is there anything you'd like to 5601 03:56:49,760 --> 03:56:54,399 say as we're wrapping up? 5602 03:56:51,520 --> 03:56:56,880 » Nope. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, 5603 03:56:54,399 --> 03:56:58,720 » Councelor Chidum, 5604 03:56:56,880 --> 03:57:00,720 » Merely. Thank you to all of you who 5605 03:56:58,720 --> 03:57:03,120 presented, all of you who spoke, all of 5606 03:57:00,720 --> 03:57:05,199 you who listened. Um, I think there were 5607 03:57:03,120 --> 03:57:08,319 there were first steps taken tonight. 5608 03:57:05,199 --> 03:57:11,600 Long way to go. Thank you very much. 5609 03:57:08,319 --> 03:57:13,600 Councelor Noble, 5610 03:57:11,600 --> 03:57:15,199 Councelor Roy, 5611 03:57:13,600 --> 03:57:18,800 » Just want to say thank you to everybody 5612 03:57:15,199 --> 03:57:22,000 and um yeah, thank you for coming out 5613 03:57:18,800 --> 03:57:24,000 and listening and offering up your 5614 03:57:22,000 --> 03:57:25,920 thoughts. 5615 03:57:24,000 --> 03:57:27,680 » Councelor Harman, 5616 03:57:25,920 --> 03:57:28,880 » Same for me. Thank you to everyone who's 5617 03:57:27,680 --> 03:57:30,399 here. 5618 03:57:28,880 --> 03:57:32,399 » Councelor Long Champs. 5619 03:57:30,399 --> 03:57:36,399 » Thank you, Mayor. Yes, thank you uh for 5620 03:57:32,399 --> 03:57:39,600 coming out. Um we have heard a lot um 5621 03:57:36,399 --> 03:57:42,479 about different resources for our youth. 5622 03:57:39,600 --> 03:57:44,880 Um some solutions. We've heard that we 5623 03:57:42,479 --> 03:57:46,479 need a lot of lots of money. But one 5624 03:57:44,880 --> 03:57:48,399 thing that we really haven't talked 5625 03:57:46,479 --> 03:57:50,800 about and I won't talk long about this, 5626 03:57:48,399 --> 03:57:52,720 but what are we doing or what are what 5627 03:57:50,800 --> 03:57:54,640 is our plan to protect the people that 5628 03:57:52,720 --> 03:57:56,960 have nothing to do with this youth gun 5629 03:57:54,640 --> 03:57:58,800 violence where the stray bullets are 5630 03:57:56,960 --> 03:58:00,399 hitting their houses or their cars? 5631 03:57:58,800 --> 03:58:02,560 That's why I called for the National 5632 03:58:00,399 --> 03:58:05,760 Guard to come here, not to intimidate 5633 03:58:02,560 --> 03:58:09,199 people, but to help people. We are 11 5634 03:58:05,760 --> 03:58:11,760 officers down and there is maybe a 5635 03:58:09,199 --> 03:58:14,239 handful of people that and cuz I scanned 5636 03:58:11,760 --> 03:58:17,120 the room and I'm in downtown every 5637 03:58:14,239 --> 03:58:20,560 single day, seven days a week, 12 hours 5638 03:58:17,120 --> 03:58:24,800 a day. And there was maybe a handful of 5639 03:58:20,560 --> 03:58:29,120 people in this room from downtown. 5640 03:58:24,800 --> 03:58:31,439 I hear scared parents, grandmothers 5641 03:58:29,120 --> 03:58:33,600 that will only run to the store quickly 5642 03:58:31,439 --> 03:58:36,080 because they're afraid of a stray bullet 5643 03:58:33,600 --> 03:58:37,600 hitting them. It is our 5644 03:58:36,080 --> 03:58:41,520 responsibilityility 5645 03:58:37,600 --> 03:58:44,399 to help. We are 11 officers down. By 5646 03:58:41,520 --> 03:58:45,920 golly, we need some sort of help. And I 5647 03:58:44,399 --> 03:58:48,560 will continue to say it and I will 5648 03:58:45,920 --> 03:58:50,960 continue to show up. And I love Lewon 5649 03:58:48,560 --> 03:58:52,640 and I love every single person in here. 5650 03:58:50,960 --> 03:58:55,439 black, white, I don't care who you are 5651 03:58:52,640 --> 03:58:57,199 or what you are. And most people, 5652 03:58:55,439 --> 03:59:00,399 everybody that knows me know that that 5653 03:58:57,199 --> 03:59:02,479 knows that that's true, but we have to 5654 03:59:00,399 --> 03:59:04,880 do something. There are people that are 5655 03:59:02,479 --> 03:59:08,160 living in fear every day in the downtown 5656 03:59:04,880 --> 03:59:10,239 area because the reality is is you never 5657 03:59:08,160 --> 03:59:11,439 know if you're going to the damn laundry 5658 03:59:10,239 --> 03:59:13,040 mat, if you're going to get hit with a 5659 03:59:11,439 --> 03:59:14,720 bullet. My mother won't even leave her 5660 03:59:13,040 --> 03:59:16,880 house. She lives on the corner of Horton 5661 03:59:14,720 --> 03:59:20,120 and Pine Street except for to go to a 5662 03:59:16,880 --> 03:59:20,120 church function. 5663 03:59:25,199 --> 03:59:30,000 Thank you, councelor Longs. Um, 5664 03:59:27,600 --> 03:59:31,520 councelor Nene, 5665 03:59:30,000 --> 03:59:33,600 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'd just like to 5666 03:59:31,520 --> 03:59:35,760 say to all the folks that came out um 5667 03:59:33,600 --> 03:59:38,160 tonight, thank you. Uh, everybody 5668 03:59:35,760 --> 03:59:40,479 watching at home, uh, I hope you've 5669 03:59:38,160 --> 03:59:42,319 learned some things. Everybody who works 5670 03:59:40,479 --> 03:59:44,560 in these fields, thank you so very much 5671 03:59:42,319 --> 03:59:48,160 for your time and coming to speak speak 5672 03:59:44,560 --> 03:59:51,279 to us. And just to point out, the room 5673 03:59:48,160 --> 03:59:55,760 was filled with the folks that show up 5674 03:59:51,279 --> 04:00:00,000 at student uh parent parent student 5675 03:59:55,760 --> 04:00:01,600 meetings. This this was in some levels a 5676 04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:04,000 meeting for the suburbs. And so the 5677 04:00:01,600 --> 04:00:06,080 question is how do we bring this message 5678 04:00:04,000 --> 04:00:09,600 to the people who are actually impacted 5679 04:00:06,080 --> 04:00:12,960 by the violence every day? Um and so th 5680 04:00:09,600 --> 04:00:15,840 I think those places are where we have 5681 04:00:12,960 --> 04:00:18,560 to have some of these conversations. 5682 04:00:15,840 --> 04:00:20,399 Thank you. 5683 04:00:18,560 --> 04:00:22,399 » Uh I really appreciate everyone coming 5684 04:00:20,399 --> 04:00:26,000 out. Thank you for uh thank you for 5685 04:00:22,399 --> 04:00:28,880 speaking. Thank you for uh tuning in. Uh 5686 04:00:26,000 --> 04:00:30,800 you know in this room uh many different 5687 04:00:28,880 --> 04:00:34,319 viewpoints and philosophies are 5688 04:00:30,800 --> 04:00:36,399 represented but I truly believe that uh 5689 04:00:34,319 --> 04:00:38,399 all of us here are coming from a good 5690 04:00:36,399 --> 04:00:39,840 place and we love Lewon. So I appreciate 5691 04:00:38,399 --> 04:00:42,000 you turning out tonight. Thank you so 5692 04:00:39,840 --> 04:00:45,319 much and a huge round of applause again 5693 04:00:42,000 --> 04:00:45,319 for our presenters. 5694 04:00:48,160 --> 04:00:51,840 Uh, may I have a a mo? Yeah, we are at 5695 04:00:50,560 --> 04:00:54,319 an official council meeting. So, may I 5696 04:00:51,840 --> 04:00:56,319 have a motion to adjurnn? Uh, councelor 5697 04:00:54,319 --> 04:01:01,760 Martell, second by councelor Nene. 5698 04:00:56,319 --> 04:01:03,520 Madame clerk, uh, you what? 5699 04:01:01,760 --> 04:01:04,880 Okay, 5700 04:01:03,520 --> 04:01:07,279 we're now adjourned. You all have a 5701 04:01:04,880 --> 04:01:07,279 wonderful evening.