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Andrew Duncan, P.O. Box 1144, stated, It's more of an economic barrier than a racial barrier, <br /> but I know those both coincide with one another. I go to Brew Werks and Chicory but there <br /> aren't a lot of things downtown for those that do not have expendable income. To address <br /> inclusivity, we also have to address the economics of it. If people don't have expendable income, <br /> they aren't going anywhere. <br /> Committee Chair Williams-Preston stated, I whole heartedly agree. I know I said earlier that we <br /> need to work on race relations,particularly with the police. But with regard to people coming <br /> downtown, I agree that plays a giant part. <br /> Mr. Duncan replied, In our neighborhood, seeing police officers on foot would help the <br /> relationship. It may seem antiquated but it makes it more comfortable to approach and speak to a <br /> police officer. <br /> Committee Chair Williams-Preston stated, It would help if we saw these cops as human beings. <br /> We have to have intentional conversations because I think that would help with understanding <br /> one another. <br /> Mr. Duncan stated, People are people and at the end of the day,people can be reasoned with. We <br /> need to reach a common ground because we are more similar than people like to admit to. <br /> Committeemember Randy Kelly stated, Seeing someone like a police officer in jeans and a t- <br /> shirt, it's instances like that when people get more comfortable with one another and get to know <br /> more about each other. The Police Department is focusing on community-oriented policing. <br /> Committee Chair Williams-Preston stated, There has also been discussion about a citizens <br /> review board. In 2014 there was a resolution passed to study the possibility of that, but there <br /> hasn't been much action on it. If the community is calling for that, how can we engage and what <br /> does that look like? <br /> James Mueller, Chief of Staff to the Mayor, stated, A lot of responsibility and power lies with the <br /> Board of Public safety, appointed by the Mayor. They get to decide the discipline and can <br /> actually override the Chief. If we were to change that, it is in State Law and that would need to <br /> be changed. And no one wants to be the `bad guy.' The Chief recommends a discipline but then <br /> the Board doesn't want to enact that. We have had a Citizen's Advisory Committee where they <br /> act as that balancing third party to hold accountable the decision-making of the Board of Public <br /> Safety. We would also have to find a right and left side to the discipline. For example, if a <br /> random officer were to do something, what does the discipline look like? <br /> Committeemember Kelly stated, I really see this discussion as being the exact task this <br /> committee is charged with. This is really about these kinds of issues that impact how we all get <br /> along. Of course there is some overlap,but the nuts and bolts of getting down on the street and <br /> getting people together is what I think this committee is charged with. <br /> Mr. Mueller stated, We are also going to release on the website the Open Data for police as part <br /> of the White House initiative very soon. It has three (3)key metrics of data like use of force <br /> 2 <br />