If the City Council wants to seriously hear from the African American, Latino, and Chumash communities about developing a better relationship with the police department, don’t ask the City Attorney’s office. Ask existing community organizations that represent these marginalized communities and whose leaders are from these communities.
Basis for my comments:
I have brought thoughtful and powerful African-American voices, such as Pastor David Moore from Santa Barbara, to my congregation. As a result, we created a group led by Pastor Moore and myself that planned and helped to facilitate several serious conversations with members of the Santa Barbara Police Department and individuals from the African-American community.