Yes! we have Tom Modica, City Manager. Linda Tatum, Assistant City Manager. Teresa Chandler, Deputy City Manager. Becky Garner, Administrative Deputy City Manager here with us on the call.

Furthermore, everything that is discussed here will be relayed back to City Council in the form of policy recommendations.

Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rnXAM2w4nZv_YtuJLcwpLCOqucNYtIqOxujNqNDBej4/edit

I am happy to be here. I have already completed the survey.

Thanks Christopher!

I am here to learn, don't need to speak. BTW my zoom says Lawrence Rosenthal, but actually I am Kate Sachnoff :)

Thanks for joining us Kate :)

Even if the sessions are recorded it precludes those of us not able to attend from participating in the polls live

Can we ask a question in the chat or it has to be voice?

questions can definitely be asked in the chat, Liz

Agreeing with Savannah on the police budget!

and Pam, for those that are not able to attend live, we have a survey on our Equity Office website

Would like to tag on, Why is the listening only beginning now? The topics we will cover today are things black and brown communities have been talking about for decades.

Its honestly insulting that the first question is "HOw has racism affected you?"

After you've just listed 10+ ways long beach is failing its black residents

With regards to police budgeting and oncoming reforms, is there any existing traction in the docket for this? It might do good to hear any immediate measures being taken for this to give us peace of mind.

Structural racism involves not just issues of police violence but also gentrification and environmental injustice.

Like police violence, this is nothing new. Our council members know fully well; if they don’t know they don’t belong in council. If they know but haven’t acted on this, they’re remiss on their duties.

Exactly. The council knows. Tom Modica knows. This all just feels like fanfare

I agree with Eduardo

I agree with Charlie

I have a question

Lawrence, I'm looking into that right now for you.

Go ahead Savannah

Did this event "sell out"? Did everyone who wanted to attend tonight get the opportunity?

Students at Stephens still can’t drink out of drinking fountains. Kids are sitting in class dehydrated because they don’t have money for bottled water.

Tonights event did meet its capacity, yes. In order to accommodate more community members, we have added more sessions (town halls) that can accommodate up to 1000 people so everyone that wishes to attend can do so during those sessions

I agree. all schools should be equally as good as the next.

Why did tonight meet its capacity?

Agreed 100%

Agree

Thank you Chris.

Thanks, additionally, generalizing the topic of budget, is there a link to any resources showing the allocation of our city’s budget? With any corresponding special projects or initiatives attached to those sections. (I’m sure it could be on the .gov website somewhere, but I’m afraid I’m not too good at navigating)

Additionally in regards to schools, there is a larger police presence at north and west side schools specifically. There are permanent school safety officers parked outside of certain schools (for example, Lindbergh)

In our initial planning phases, our team was going back and forth about how best to hold space for everyone that wants to participate and discuss. Initially, we were thinking that smaller more intimate groups would allow for the most robust participation and discussion so that everyone would have the ability to talk and share. The larger the group, the harder it is to make sure everyone can chime in. However, we heard from many community members that they wanted to expand the participant capacity so we increased it from 20 to 50. There has been a great deal of interest so they filled up once increased to 50.

Yes Pam!

It’s intimidating students and I have personally heard a teacher’s aide threatening to call them on a black student for allegedly stealing

I agree with Marianne

Agree with Savannah!

Why is Tom Modica participating in this session? his office is part and parcel of structural racism. He is a part of the problem

Agree with Pam

http://www.longbeach.gov/finance/city-budget-and-finances/budget/budget-information/

It felt so invasive to have to come out of school from Cabrillo HS and want to just hang out with friends at the park but we couldn’t because there would be 3,4,5, LBPD cars parked on the grass just sitting idle,

City budget information can be found at the link I provided above

Recommend this interview for recommendations:

https://www.scpr.org/programs/fresh-air/2020/06/12/80100/

Too many food deserts in many LB communities

Nobody felt comfortable hanging at Admiral Kidd park when there’s just 5 LBPD cars parked in the middle of the park

Most teachers in LBUSD are white and live outside of the school district. If true, a concerted effort must be made to hire/ retain teachers who are representative of the community

Defend Black LifeEnd the war on Black peopleDefund the policeEnd corruption with Police Officer Association (POA): No political or any other contributions to elected officials or candidatesLBUSD Cut all ties and contracts with LBPD:And Re-Invest in *ethnic studies *end zero tolerance *hire more Black teachers *provide tutoring *academic counseling *school psychologists before school startsDefund LB police department budgetInvest in: *ending systemic institutional anti-Blackness*Care not copsCommunity control over police accountability

You can get the money for what Charlie is talking about from the hundreds of millions of dollars currently given to LBPD

Care not cops

Admiral Kidd is on the Westside, I’m sure police weren’t hanging around Lakewood or Milikan HS , like why do the target the Westside and Northside like that? Its not fair, just because there are more Brown and Black kids in those areas the White kids.

ag

agree - free city WiFi

digital divide is one concrete area to be addressed

agree

so important for virtual education

LBPD school safety officers are offered a higher starting hourly salary rate than teachers even though they are only required police academy training a now college education. Meanwhile teachers go to school 5-10 years ad most schools don’t even have a nurse (full time or part time) nor mental health counseling services on campus

yes Kim!

Yes Kim

Agreed. I did not know this session would be limited.

Yes Kim!

here is the survey once more for those that maybe missed the link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rnXAM2w4nZv_YtuJLcwpLCOqucNYtIqOxujNqNDBej4/edit#responses

Part of the solution would be working with local groups who are already working with their communities. First step, partner with BLM LB for starters

Not renew the contracts for School Resource Officers with the Long Beach Police Department for the upcoming school year.

Did you guys know the cast of Vanderpump rules released a Black Lives Matter statement before the city of long beach?

Everything Kim said! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

I agree. Black voices first.

YES

Yes

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

many police officers easily make $200k salaries with only a HS education, while school teachers make 1/4 of that with an advanced degree. Can we address that?

Same here...willing to make space.

google.com

The FIRST error was not listening in the first place. These topics are not new, they should have started listening a LONG time ago

second error is not finding a way to ensure those who are at an economic, technological, and internet disadvantage have an opportunity to participate. Were mailers sent out about these sessions???

When will it be released publicly?

This is not..

We did not send out mailers about this but can relay that recommendation.

How are you not concerned with Black Lives Matter?

Long Beach SURJ - Please contact me (Marianne Drummond) at 1859mdrummond@gmail.com. Showing Up for Racial Justice organizes white people to work in allyship with, and accountability to, Black Lives Matter.

There’s a listening framework, reconciliation, but what is the ACTION framework?

BLM has a good ACTION framework

We’re here because Black Lives Matter

YES EDUARDO the framework is a plan for a plan. Why wasn’t the city listening before the Framework was written?

Eduardo, the community listening sessions are meant to inform what the action will look like. once the listening sessions have wrapped up, all of the information that's been synthesized from these will be moved on to city council and they will set policy for charter, budget, and policy reform

Again, these topics, these stories, these anecdotes are NOT new

i’m a researcher. I know that qualitative data is filtered though a lens. so that’s why an ACTION framework is needed now.

will the city help establish a completely citizens police oversight committee without influence from anyone in the city, specifically the city manager

Meaning data is ALWAYS filtered through a perspective, a lens if you will. A robust ACTION framework to guide these listening sessions is needed.

I dfeel uncomfortable that someone who “isn’t concerned with Black Lives Matter” and talked about how wealthy he was is here instead of a person of color who would ABSOLUTLEY care about Black Lives Matter

I suggest having transcripts of these sessions made available to all.

Oh speaking on data, the LBPD are the ones who will be collecting data for this framework btw

Agree with Leon.

I agree there should be no cops in schools

Eliminate the following from the police budget and reinvest in the health department: Community Partnership Programming, Youth Explorer Program, Juvenile Crimes and Services, Quality of Life: Homeless Mental Illness Street Vendors Graffiti, Administration and Management: Travel & Training Requests Project Assignments Homeland Security Grant Management, Neighborhood Services Specialist III, Nurse II, Nurse Practitioner, School Guard/H26, School Guard/H28

i agree with subpoena power for a civilian oversight committee

Disgusting how LBUSD used LBPD to forcibly remove POLY HS teacher MYRIAM GURBA, a teacher who spoke out and defended her black students after RACIST white Poly HS teacher LIBBY HUFF called Black STUDENTS the N word

thanks Chris, can definitely comb through this list and compare

Black students spoke about it here: https://medium.com/@malaialtibbs/enough-of-huff-students-of-long-beach-poly-high-school-speak-out-9afd81df4d6b

Do all of the LBPD wear body cams while on patrol?

And who got fired? Not the racist white teacher Libby Huff, it was the one who spoke out against LBUSD, Myriam Gurba, who was trying to protect her students.

Thanks Charlie

The City of Long Beach needs to PROTECT the STUDENTS against LBPD

BLM has comprehensive ideas and have been advocating for these solutions for years...not just for these three weeks.

LB Post Interview with BLM LB:

https://www.facebook.com/longbeachpost/videos/260354465035205/

That was second part. will post first part momentarily.

What is the question on the table?

Solutions

first part, but glitchy:

https://www.facebook.com/longbeachpost/videos/667948257268998/

Have another Zoom mtg. Thank you for those keeping mtg centered on Defund Police and BLM.

This will not be a safe space if LBPD is involved

No LBPD

No LBPD at the table

No LBPD
No LBPD at the table

No LBPD

Third party, underline that 10x

i suppose there’s the potential they could sign on or get a ticket as an….off duty citizen

It’s not so much about who is on the board, it’s about who has the power to veto any of the commissions decisions

I.e. city manager, Tom Modica, should not have veto power over this commission

I agree

All complaints about the police should be public knowledge

That would be a start

I agree. Meet with black leaders.

Leon, all patrol officers wear body cams

Thank you. And white people need to SUPPORT the efforts.

Yes we need more affordable housing

Kim 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

Moratorium on any budget cuts to the Health Department, Workforce Development, Parkers Department for the next ten years.

I agree with Kim.

Yes Kim

Get Kim on the team she knows what she’s talking about

What people are you connecting with?

names please

What means? be specific

which is also a problem. Why aren’t you utilizing all forms of social media?

Most people here had to find out about these meetings second hand

Link for all... http://longbeach.gov/health/healthy-living/office-of-equity/reconciliation/

Will the city defund police to invest in the early childhood education strategic plan and the black infant health program to decrease maternal and infant mortality?

http://www.longbeach.gov/health/healthy-living/office-of-equity/

I agree

What does “media release” mean? We never would have heard about this without instagram connections ... how is this media release going to reach everyone?

There was no post made by @longbeachcity on instagram. No post from the mayor.

This was a circus and we are running around in circles. I don't feel heard or validated in this process. I felt harmed by people on this call. I am truly disappointed.

Kim, I agree with your comments.

and silence is okay too. if you're not black - be okay with the silence and not speaking - create that space for black voices. of all that is confusing about this call - that's been made very clear

We agree, Kim. Tom Modica should not have been on this call but we want to thank the people who called him out.

Please extend this meeting for 30 min.

Christopher, we will have other meetings that will be longer

structural change will require a citywide effort. Tom, as CM, is the leader of this organization and needs to be exposed to these comments. You should want him to hear you. I believe it is very important that he participates and hears everyone.

Would we criticize and interpret it as a lack of interest and not caring if he was not here?

Create space and opportunities for relationship building by CBOs.

nvest in mental and emotional health supports and professionals, not more police.

I don’t think they were asking what defund means, but what YOU would like it to mean in LB.

Genuinely engage Youth, Parents, Educators, Communities.Ensure that youth, family and community engagement does not tokenize these stakeholders, but rather, incorporates their voices into decision-making and offers opportunities for collaborative leadership, which distributes leadership and models the democratic principles upon which our nation was founded.

No they literally asked what it means

Even if they were asking what it means to Long Beach, there have been hundreds of conversations about defunding police in Long Beach by various groups, most notably BLM LB

The information is out thrre already. They came unprepared and that was obvious.

Whether we accept it or not, race divides us and virtually shapes everything around our community. Stand up and raise your concerns and injustice because "Enough is Enough". Be anti-racist and BE “the change you wish to see” (Gandhi). America needs a culture change (sweeping change) towards racism, not only passing other laws. It will take generations. Invest in the education of the young and future generations. Teachers, educators, parents, and community leaders, policymakers, and government officials have a crucial role to implement and nurture the fundamental change inside the mind and hearts of the youth to make sure "NEVER AGAIN" will happen again here.

Perhaps this was an opportunity for individual residents to express their interests and ideas. I guess I have a hard time criticizing ANY opportunity that is given to residents to provide input directly to City management.

These opportunities should be inherent. The city doesn’t get a cookie for putting this on. this is something that should have always existed

i dont think I should have attended this meeting, but I had no idea. I am embarrassed.

I hear you, Theresa. But again, our city should be giving a good faith effort to understand first.

Thank you Sovachana! Totally agree!

Charlie, you should not feel embarrassed. The city communicated poorly about what this is or how it works.

Okay, why were you not already listen? These are not new topics, new ideas, new stories, new anecdotes.

Why is it TAKING SO LONG?? FOR A STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY???

Take it as a start. Continue to participate. Continue to support.

I'm hear to listen, and learn and understand "what's mine to do" in support of BLM. if this is not the space tell me where I can go to stand with and in support.

@charlie don't be embarrassed. this is on the city council for rushing this process and not properly framing.

Who is Charlie? Is she a city official?

EVERYONE must be welcome here!

Did he just say PD budget might go up?

i heard that too Pam

No, that the budget cut might be more.

ABOLITION

He said the percentage of their budget cut may go up.

We don’t want PD to part of this process at all

okay thanks for clarifying everyone

Fire Luna and start over please

Address WHITE SUPREMACY

What’s the accountability plan though? We don’t want to just submit recommendations we want to be part of the actual implementations

Thank you for listening on this forum Tom.

We need town halls in PERSON

Not everyone has zoom

well access to it

Hi Liz, we would have liked to do these town halls in person but unfortunately cannot do that due to the city's health order and the pandemic

Racism is a symptom of WHITE SUPREMACY, WHITE SUPREMACY IS THE ISSUE!!

we want to protect the health of our community members and staff and cannot safely congregate in large groups

I know but you guys the city has reopened the economy

Like come on

assemble spaces are open

Churches are open

You guys HAVE THE SPACES

why isn’t council chambers

CONVENTION CENTER

TERRACE THEATRE

I lost brain cells here

Teresa.chandler@longbeach.gov

You are asking for City staff email.

tom.modica@longbeach.gov

shreya.sharan@longbeach.gov

gwwendolyn.manning@longbeach.gov

katie.balderas@longbeach.gov

Kelly.colopy@longbeach.gov

I’m disappointed in the lack of cooperation from some of the community.

oops.... Gwendolyn.manning@longbeach.gov

Alison.king@longbeach.gov