[ CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bill Wells]
[00:00:03]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE ELON CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THE MEETING IS CALLED THE ORDER, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
WOULD Y'ALL STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE AFTERWARDS? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ POSTINGS: The City Clerk posted Orders of Adjournment of the December 10, 2024, Meeting and the Agenda of the January 14, 2025, Meeting in accordance to State Law and City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Policy.]
THE CITY CLERK POSTED ORDERS OF ADJOURNMENT OF THE DECEMBER 10TH, 2024 MEETING AND THE AGENDA OF THE JANUARY 14TH, 2025 MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSING AUTHORITY POLICY.BEFORE WE CONTINUE THE MEETING, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND THE 2025 STATE OF THE CITY.
THE EVENT WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025 AT 6:00 PM AT THE RONALD REAGAN CENTER, LOCATED AT 1 95 EAST DOUGLAS AVENUE.
JOIN US AS WE REFLECT ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR AND SHARE WHAT IS COMING AHEAD.
[ PRESENTATIONS: Presentation: Swearing in of Police Chief Jeremiah Larson Proclamation: National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day]
TO INVITE OUR NEW CHIEF POLICE CHIEF OF POLICE, JEREMIAH LARSON AND HIS WIFE JOLENE, TO JOIN THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO MEET DOWN HERE AND, AND, UH, TAKE THE OAK OATH OF OFFICE.AND MAYOR, I WOULD INVITE HIS FAMILY TO COME ON DOWN AS WELL TO BE, BE WITH HIM.
WELL, THAT'S MOST OF THE, MOST OF THE CHAMBER, BUT YEAH.
AND, UM, WHY DON'T YOU ALL STAND RIGHT THERE AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR CITY CLERK DO THIS.
IF YOU CAN PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, REPEAT AFTER ME.
I, AND STATE YOUR NAME I, JEREMIAH LARSON.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND, THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES.
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH, UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER.
I'M ABOUT TO ENTER, UM, I THINK
UH, SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANNA THANK GOD FOR PUTTING ME IN THE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE.
UH, CERTAINLY I THINK OUR CITY MANAGER, GRAHAM MITCHELL, UH, AND THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR ORGANIZATION, UH, AND OUR MISSION AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, THE REST OF THE CITY STAFF.
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN SO SUPPORTFUL.
UH, AND MY FAMILY, OF COURSE, I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY HERE TODAY.
UH, MY WIFE, JOLENE, MY MOM, EXCUSE ME, MY MOM, RUTH.
UH, AND THEN MY KIDS, JACOB, MACY, SAM AND MACKENZIE.
I HAVE SOME OTHER FAMILY THAT TRAVELED FROM PRETTY FAR.
UH, MY UNCLE PAUL, MY AUNT DON FROM MINNESOTA.
UH, MY OTHER UNCLE PAUL AND HIS WIFE MARIA FROM LOS ANGELES.
MY AUNT DEREK, UH, EXCUSE ME, MY AUNT JULIE AND UNCLE DEREK, RIGHT FOR HERE FROM EL CAJON.
UH, AND THEN A LOT OF OTHER EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT ALSO TRAVELED FROM AFAR.
SO WE HAVE SOME, SEVERAL FORMER POLICE CHIEFS AND POLICE COMMANDERS AND POLICE UNDER SHERIFFS AND, UH, LOTS OF FAMILY HISTORY IN, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO I THANK ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
UH, AND MOST OF ALL, OF COURSE, THE AGENCY, UH, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ELCON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE REASON THAT I'M UP HERE IS TO SUPPORT YOU, UH, TO SUPPORT YOUR MISSION, TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UH, FOR THE CITY OF EL CAJON.
AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UH, FOR THE OFFICERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
I'M HUMBLED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE
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TO BE THE CHIEF OF POLICE IN THE CITY I GREW UP IN.I GREW UP IN EL CAJON, WENT TO BOSTONIAN, CHRISTIAN AND GREENFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRANITE HILLS HIGH SCHOOL.
GREW UP ON THE EAST END PRETTY NEAR TO YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN GOBEL.
UH, SO IT'S A, IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THIS CITY THAT I GREW UP IN.
AND, UH, I WILL DO SO TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
I, I'VE, I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES, BUT SOME OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS THAT A CITY MANAGER EVER HAS TO MAKE IS WHO YOU'RE GONNA HIRE AS YOUR POLICE CHIEF, BECAUSE, UH, UM, THERE'S A LOT, THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE AT THIS.
UH, POLICE CHIEF MANAGES THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY.
UH, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS THAT ANY CITY DOES.
AND AS I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW CHIEF LARSON OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, UM, SOMETIMES PEOPLE LOOK REALLY GOOD ON PAPER, AND BY THE WAY, HE LOOKS GREAT ON PAPER.
BUT THERE'S ALSO THAT FEELING YOU, THAT SENSE OF THIS IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB, AND CHIEF LARSON IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS JOB.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT HE'S PART OF OUR TEAM.
I'M GRATEFUL TO BE PART, UM, OF HIS PROGRESSION, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE DOES WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS DEPARTMENT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CHIEF LARSON.
IS THERE ANY OPINION? YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THAT, SO WE GOOD.
WELL, THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR TAKING ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU COME FROM A LONG LINE OF EXCELLENT POLICE CHIEFS FOR, I THINK IS THE MOST OUTSTANDING DEPARTMENT IN THE, UH, THE REGION.
UM, YOU'VE GOT A BIG JOB, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE UP TO IT.
AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE LAKE.
I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROMOTE FROM WITHIN.
WE DON'T NEED A CULTURE CHANGE IN EL CAJON TO BRING IN SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE TO, TO RATTLE THINGS UP.
WE HAVE A GREAT DEPARTMENT FROM THE TOP DOWN.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR PROMOTION AND FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S COMING UP UNDERNEATH YOU JUST TO, UH, YOU A REFLECTION ON AN OUTSTANDING DEPARTMENT.
YOU STOLE MY LINE,
AND, UH, I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HANDLE THE JOB WITH THE UTMOST INTEGRITY AND, UH, YOU'VE, THAT'S BEEN YOUR REPUTATION UP UNTIL THIS POINT.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, NOT JUST WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT LARGE.
AND SO, UH, WE'RE IN SAFE HANDS WITH YOU AND YOU HAVE OUR FULL CONFIDENCE, SIR, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT, YOU'RE, YOU WILL BE DOING A GREAT JOB.
AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE A HOMETOWN BOY MAKE IT GOOD.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA RAISE THE NEXT GENERATION OF HOMETOWN BOYS AND WOMEN, UH, TO, UH, BE OUR NEXT LEADERS AND OUR NEXT OFFICERS TO KEEP THE CITY IN LINE IN CHECK AND KEEPING OUR CITIZENS SAFE.
AND THANK YOU WITH, LET'S TAKE A, A MINUTE OR SO.
GO AHEAD AND TAKE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS IF YOU'D LIKE SURE.
AND, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE ON AFTER THAT.
WE'LL TAKE A QUICK PHOTO REAL QUICK.
DO WE HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHER? THE WHOLE GROUP? COME ON.
THAT'S THE CHIEF POLICE GIVING AN ORDER.
UNLESS YOU NORMALLY COME AND SEE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
[00:10:52]
ALL RIGHT, CHIEF, NOW TIME TO GO TO WORK.WE'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU COME UP AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY, WHICH IS A NICE THING TO DO ON YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL ACT.
I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME OFFICERS THAT ARE GONNA COME UP AND ACCEPT THIS WITH ME, IF THAT IS ALL RIGHT.
WHILE EVERYBODY'S COMING UP, I'D LIKE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION, IF THAT'S OKAY.
WHEREAS JANUARY 9TH HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DATA, HONOR THE DEDICATION, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS RISK THEIR LIVES DAILY TO UPHOLD THE SAFETY, SECURITY, AND WELLBEING OF OUR CITIZENS, DEMONSTRATING UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO JUSTICE AND THE RULE OF LAW.
AND WHEREAS THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE OKLAHOMA POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE NATION, WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE PEACE, REDUCE CRIME, AND BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EMBODY THE VALUES OF INTEGRITY, RESPECT, AND PROFESSIONALISM.
AND THEY WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES, PROMOTE SAFETY AND FOSTER TRUST.
AND WHEREAS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS AND SACRIFICES OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THEIR SERVICES TO EL CAJON AND THE GREATER SAN DIEGO COUNTY AREA ON NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY, WE ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR THEIR SELFLESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR CITY AND OUR NATION.
NOW THEREFORE, I BILL WELLS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EL CAJON, TOGETHER WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 9TH, 2025, ASKED NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY AND THE CITY OF EL CAJON AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS TO JOIN THE SHOWING APPRECIATION AND RESPECT FOR THE DEDICATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I HAVE SERGEANT KENNY GRAY, SERGEANT DEANNA MORA, OFFICER BRANDON INES, AND OFFICER NICO HERNANDEZ HERE UP WITH ME.
UH, WE WERE HOPING TO GET OUR MOST SENIOR OFFICER IN THE FIELD AND OUR MOST JUNIOR OFFICER IN THE FIELD, BUT THEY'RE OUT ANSWERING RADIO CALLS.
SO, UH, BUT I WANTED THESE, UH, OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS TO BE UP HERE BECAUSE IT TRULY IS ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
UH, IT'S NOT ANYTHING I'M DOING AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE, UH, BUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING DAILY IN THE FIELD TO KEEP THE CITIZENS, UH, OF EL CAJON SAFE AND HELP EVERYONE BE SECURE IN THEIR BEDS AS THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT.
AND FOR PLEASE, UH, EXTEND OUR THANKS TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.
ALRIGHT, THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA CHANGES.
STAFF, DO YOU HAVE ANY AGENDA CHANGES? NO, SIR.
[7. CONSENT ITEMS: Consent Items are routine matters enacted by one motion according to the RECOMMENDATION listed below. With the concurrence of the City Council, a Council Member or person in attendance may request discussion of a Consent Item at this time.]
WE'RE NOW AT CONSENT ITEMS, CONSENT ITEMS OR ROUTINE MATTERS ENACTED BY ONE MOTION ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATION LISTED BELOW WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL.COUNCIL MEMBER OR PERSON IN ATTENDANCE MAY REQUEST DISCUSSION OF A CONSENT ITEM AT THIS TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, DO YOU WISH TO PULL ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS? NUMBER SEVEN.
MR. GOBEL, ANYBODY ELSE? STAFF? DO YOU WISH TO PULL ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS? NO, SIR.
[7. Authorization to Establish a Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Design Project RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopts the next Resolution, in order, to: Establish a Capital Improvement project for the El Cajon Boulevard and Washington Avenue/Marshall Avenue gateway roundabout project (253862PWCP) to appropriate and expend $500,000; and Appropriate and expend the $500,000 California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Grant (HCD-LEAP24) funds to design the El Cajon Boulevard and Washington Avenue/Marshall Avenue gateway roundabout project.]
STEVE, IF YOU'D TAKE US THROUGH THAT.UH, ITEM SEVEN IS AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A LEAP DESIGN PROJECT.
THIS IS A GRANT, THIS IS NOT USING CITY GENERAL FUNDS.
THIS IS A GRANT, UH, WHETHER WE SHOULD DO A ROUNDABOUT AT EL CAJON BOULEVARD AND WASHINGTON SLASH MARSHALL AVENUE.
THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF TALK ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS EVERYWHERE IN SOCIETY TODAY.
AND ARE THEY GOOD THINGS LIKE THAT? I JUST WANT, UH, THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT A ROUNDABOUT, IT'S TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.
[00:15:01]
PUT A ROUNDABOUT BECAUSE IT'S TRENDY.AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IS, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS AT THAT INTERSECTION? IS TRAFFIC, UH, QUEUED UP TOO LONG AT THAT INTERSECTION? COULD TRAFFIC MOVE SMOOTHER IF, IF PERHAPS U-TURNS WEREN'T PROHIBITED? AND SO CITY STAFF HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT KNOWING THAT WE NEED ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AS WE DESIGN THIS.
THIS IS ONLY A DESIGN, UH, ELEMENT TODAY.
IT IS NOT AN APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION, AND I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT WE JUST FINISHED A LONG PROJECT JUST A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE STREET AT EL CAJON AND JOHNSON, I BELIEVE IT IS.
AND, UH, THAT WAS QUITE A DIFFICULT PROJECT BECAUSE OF SOME, UH, ISSUES WITH CONTRACTORS.
BUT I'M SENSITIVE ALSO TO CONSTRUCTION IN FRONT OF RETAIL BUSINESS CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR SALES AND CERTAINLY I JUST WANNA LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WE ARE AWARE OF ALL OF THIS AND THE TIMING AND WHETHER THIS IS A GOOD SPOT FOR IT.
ALL THESE WILL BE CONSIDERED AT THE TIME THAT THE DESIGN IS DONE AND WHETHER TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ENTIRE CONSENT AGENDA IF YOU DON'T, UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS, IF YOU DON'T MIND THAT.
I, I CHECK ON SPEAKER CARDS FIRST.
UM, UM, DO WE HAVE YOUR SPEAKER CARDS? THANK YOU, SIR.
UM, I, I'M SORRY I, MY BRAIN'S NOT WORKING WELL TODAY.
UM, I TOO AGREE WITH MR. GOBEL AND HIS ASSESSMENT IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
I HAD THE SAME QUESTION ABOUT THE ROUNDABOUT.
UM, MR. MITCHELL, DID WE, UM, WERE WE ABLE TO DETERMINE IF WE HAD HAD ANY ACCIDENTS AT THE FORMER, UM, ROUNDABOUT THAT WE HAD PUT IN PREVIOUSLY? SO, SO THE ROUNDABOUT THAT IS AT JOHNSON AND, UH, ELKO BOULEVARD, YES.
THUS FAR OUR RECORDS SHOW THAT THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY REPORTED ACCIDENTS.
GRANTED, IT HAS NOT BEEN A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
I DO KNOW THAT THERE WERE TWO ACCIDENTS THERE PRIOR, OR THREE ACCIDENTS THERE PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION, THE YEAR PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION OF, SO WE'LL SEE IN WHAT KIND OF ACCIDENT RATES HAPPEN.
WE DO KNOW THAT HISTORICALLY OR GENERALLY THERE ARE LESS ACCIDENTS AT ROUNDABOUTS THAN THERE ARE AT FOUR-WAY INTERSECTIONS.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'LL INCREASE THE SAFETY IN THAT AREA.
AND ONE THING I DID WANNA NOTICE AND TO TAG ONTO MR. GOBEL, AND I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL INSTALLATION.
THE, THE HUGE ROUNDABOUT, UM, LEAVES IT OPEN FOR ART INSTALLATIONS THERE.
AND I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE MAYBE AN ART INSTALLATION OR MAYBE A COMPETITION SO THAT, UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO CONSIDER TO, UH, MAYBE HAVE ARTISTS, A ROTATING ART INSTALLATION WHERE ARTISTS COULD COMPETE.
AND WE WOULD CHOOSE AN ARTIST TO COME IN AND PUT IN AN ART INSTALLATION AT THIS HUGE ROUNDABOUT.
AND MAYBE ONCE A YEAR OR ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS OR SO, WE'D HAVE A NEW INSTALLATION COME IN AND GIVE LOCAL ARTISTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR TALENTS AND SHARE IT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND STEVE, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND, UM, CONTINUE WITH YOUR MOTION.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND ON MR. GOVE'S MOTION? I WOULD SECOND THAT.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REST OF THE CONSENT ITEMS. SECOND, PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, any person may address a matter within the jurisdiction of the City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency that is not on the Agenda. Comments relating to items on today’s docket are to be taken at the time the item is heard. State law prohibits discussion or action on items not on the Agenda; however, Council, Authority and Agency Members may briefly respond to statements or questions. An item may be placed on a future Agenda.]
AT THIS TIME, ANY PERSON MAY ADDRESS A MATTER WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL HOUSING AUTHORITY SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE EL CAJON REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.COMMENTS RELATING TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA ALREADY BE TAKEN AT THE TIME THAT THE ITEM IS HEARD.
STATE LAW PROHIBITS DISCUSSION OR ACTION ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
HOWEVER, CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSING AUTHORITY MEMBERS MAY BRIEFLY RESPOND TO STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS, AND AN ITEM MAY BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
ANGELA, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, SIR.
THE FIRST ONE IS MARYANNE OSTER MEYER.
UM, IT'S ALWAYS SAID THAT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
SO I'M HERE TO SAY SOMETHING AGAIN.
WE HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GETTING FENCING IN ALONG THE FREEWAY.
I AM, YOU KNOW, I AM NOW BFF WITH CALTRANS.
UM, REALITY IS THERE'S STILL SOME PROBLEMS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FINISH OFF THAT AREA ALONG THE DRAINAGE DITCH.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CITY OF EL CAJON, I GUESS, HAS JURISDICTION OVER THAT, I'M ASSUMING, FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.
AND THE FENCING THAT IS THERE STILL CONTINUES TO GET CUT.
[00:20:02]
I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE TRYING, YOU REALLY ARE TRYING.THE REALITY IS IT STILL GETS CUT ALONG THE LINE WHERE ARANKA SCHOOL IS.
SO THERE ARE THESE HUGE FENCING GAPS WHERE KIDS ARE WALKING PAST WHERE THERE'S THE DRAINAGE DITCH.
IF AN ANIMAL OR KID FELL IN THERE, IT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE IF IT RAINS, IF IT EVER RAINS AGAIN, IT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE THAT THAT BODY WOULD BE JUST, IT WOULD BE GONE.
SO WE STILL NEED TO FIGURE OUT OUR MISSION IS STILL NOT FINISHED.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS PROBABLY WITH CONTRACTORS AND GETTING MATERIALS, BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY OF MANAGING THAT.
AND I KNOW IT SEEMS PETTY, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT.
AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE NEW POLICE CHIEF AND HIS FAMILY, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REALITY OF THE DANGERS THAT ARE INHERENT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST DANGERS FROM TRANSIENT WHO MIGHT SET FIRES WHO ARE GETTING IN THERE.
I HAD AN EMERGENCY AT TWO OR THREE IN THE MORNING, AND I WAS COMING BACK FROM SCRIPPS MERCY, AND I WAS AT THAT STOPLIGHT.
AND I SAW, I LITERALLY SAW, I'M ASSUMING A, A DRUG TRANSACTION.
THERE WAS TONS OF MONEY AND I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE TONS OF MONEY, BUT MAYBE THEY WERE JUST DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
AND SO I'M NOT SO SURE THAT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, AND THE CUTTING AND ALL IS NECESSARILY ONLY TRANSIENT.
I THINK THERE MAY BE SOMETHING BIGGER.
THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
SO OF COURSE I TALKED TO TYLER HICKS,
AND HE SAID TO ME, HIS COMMENT IN AN EMAIL WAS, MARYANNE, WE'VE COME SO FAR AND WORKED SO HARD TO GET THIS MUCH ACCOMPLISHED.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT AREA IS PROTECTED.
SO THE NEXT DAY I SAW THAT THE FENCE WAS SHORED UP.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU PEOPLE DID IT OR WHETHER CALTRANS CAME OUT AND DID IT, BUT ALL I KNOW IS WE NEED TO FINISH THE JOB BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE FOR ANYBODY.
IT'S NOT SAFE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THIS.
AND MY SECOND QUESTION, AND I'M GONNA MAKE THIS REALLY FAST, IS I NEED TO KNOW HOW WE AS CITIZENS CAN HELP WITH THE JANSAN PROBLEM IN CAJON.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO OR HOW WE CAN DEAL WITH IT.
AND I'M NOT CRITICIZING BECAUSE I KNOW
BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY WHERE WE CAN BECOME A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES OUR SIZE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
SO THOSE ARE MY TWO BIG, NOT EVEN PET PEEVES, IT'S JUST LIKE, HOW CAN WE HELP? HOW CAN WE GET THIS RESOLVED? WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US KNOW ABOUT THE FENCES.
AGAIN, BEG YOUR PARDON? I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING US INFORMED WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE FENCES.
AND I'M, I, YOU KNOW, AND THE, THE, THE FENCE THAT THE FENCING THAT CALTRANS PUT IN THE NEW FENCING, IT'S WORKING.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP PUSHING IN THAT DIRECTION.
UH, AS FOR WHAT YOU CAN DO, I, I MEAN, I THINK THE THINGS, EVERYBODY, I'M SURE HAS NUMEROUS OPINIONS ON HOW TO SOLVE, HOW TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM.
I THINK THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS BY GETTING THE MY CAJON APP ON YOUR PHONE.
AND WHEN YOU SEE THINGS THAT SEEM WRONG, LIKE THAT TRANSACTION YOU TALKED ABOUT, GO AHEAD AND, AND, AND TELL US.
I, IT MAY SEEM LIKE THERE'S NO POINT, BUT DATA HELPS.
IT, IT HELPS US TO, TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
BUT WHEN THE FENCE, SIR, IF THE FENCE, I'M GONNA PUT IT HYPOTHETICALLY, IF THE FENCE GETS CUT AGAIN AND WE'RE TALKING BIG CUTS, WE'RE NOT TALKING SMALL, WE'RE TALKING CUTS WHERE FULL BODIES CAN WALK ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
IF THAT GETS CUT AGAIN, DO I CONTACT YOU THROUGH THAT APP? YES.
AND THEN, AND THEN DO I ALSO CONTACT CALTRANS? WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA ASK OUR CITY MANAGER TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.
'CAUSE I, I JUST NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE I DO, I WORRY ABOUT WITH ALL THE FIRES THAT HAVE GONE ON IN, IN, YOU KNOW, LOS ANGELES AREA, IT'S A PROBLEM.
AND WE DON'T NEED TO RISK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
THERE'S, LOOK AT THE MAN WHO JUST HAD A FAMILY OF FOUR KIDS.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE HE GOES HOME SAFE.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE OUR FIRE, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS GO HOME SAFE.
SO I MEANT WE KIND OF HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THAT AREA, ESPECIALLY.
AND I WORRY ABOUT THE LIABILITY IF A, IF A KID FELL IN WALKING INTO ARANKA, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU SEE SOME OF THESE LITTLE GUYS THAT ARE JUST LIKE RUSTING THEIR WAY HOME.
WE ALL WORRY ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND I'M NOT CRITICIZING, I'M JUST SAYING I KNOW YOU'RE NOT, MISSION'S NOT ACCOMPLISHED.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE BEING A GOOD CITIZEN BY COMING AND INTERACTING WITH US.
SO, UH, SO DON'T GO AHEAD, GRAHAM, DID YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN JUST, JUST REALLY QUICKLY, THAT BLACK HEAVY GAUGED FENCE THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CUT.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY NOT WHAT'S BEING CUT.
CALTRAN HAS FINISHED THEIR PORTION OF THE INSTALLATION IN THAT
[00:25:01]
AREA.THE CITY HAS A CONTRACTOR IN PLACE, THEY'RE JUST RIGHT NOW WAITING FOR DELIVERY OF MATERIAL.
SO ONCE THOSE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED, THEN THAT OUR PORT, THE CITY'S PORTION WILL BE INSTALLED.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES BETWEEN CITY AND CALTRANS RIGHT OF WAY, IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO KNOW.
I MEAN, THE AVERAGE CITIZENS CAN BE HARD FOR THEM TO KNOW IS THAT CITY IS THAT CALTRAN.
SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO JUST REPORT IT TO US ON THE APP.
WE'LL DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS US OR THEM.
AND IF IT'S THEM, WE'LL RE WE WILL PASS THAT REPORT ALONG SO OUR, OUR RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO JURISDICTION IS WHAT.
BUT THE JURISDICTION IS, YOUR JURISDICTION IS WITH THE DRAINAGE AREA.
AM I RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT CALTRANS HAS TOLD ME.
MOST OF THE DRAINAGE DITCH IS OURS.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE AREAS WHERE THERE IS SOME RIGHT OF WAY THAT BELONGS TO THE CALTRANS THAT INTRUDES INTO THE DITCH AREA.
IT, IT DEPENDS ON EVERY, EVERY OVERPASS.
EVERY UNDERPASS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
UM, AS MS. MITCHELL KNOWS, EVERY MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT FOR EACH UNDERPASS AND OVERPASS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
SO THE ONE ON FIRST STREET, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE.
WE DO KNOW WHOSE JURISDICTION THAT IS.
I I'LL BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PART OF FIRST YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I KNOW THE PART THAT IS NOT THE BLACK GAUGE FENCE IS OUR JURISDICTION AND THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT YET BEEN INSTALLED.
IF YOU LEAVE YOUR, YOUR NAME AND NUMBER WITH A CLERK, UH, SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY MANAGEMENT OFFICE WILL.
AND AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE, UM, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SPEAK TO HER AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING.
NEXT SPEAKER IS BRENDA HAMMOND.
SO I WAS GONNA DO THIS BEFORE I EVEN SAW THE COUNCIL AGENDA.
THIS CANDLE, MAYBE NOT THIS ONE, BUT A CANDLE I LIGHT EVERY NIGHT FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.
UM, SO WE, WE JUST NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
SO IF YOU SEE ME OUT THERE WITH A CANDLE, PROBABLY SMOKING A CIGARETTE,
AND THEN, UM, WHAT NEXT WEEK WE'RE GONNA NEED OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A MESS.
BUT I'M GONNA PRAY FOR ALL OF US.
I'M ALMOST READY WITH MY BOOK.
UM, THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS WAS ABOUT THE APP THAT YOU MENTIONED.
UM, I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT COULD THE CITY COUNCIL DO TO MAYBE ADVOCATE MORE FOR THE APP? I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO REPORT, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW.
I COULD ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I AM AN ADVOCATE IN THE COMMUNITY, SO I ALWAYS TELL 'EM, GO ON THAT, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO INSTALL IT, WHERE TO GO.
SO IF THERE'S ANY WAY THE CITY COULD HELP WITH THAT AND MAYBE DO SOME OUTREACH, MOSTLY I WOULD THINK AT THE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE A LOT OF PARENTS DO GO THERE.
THE SECOND THING IS, I USE THE APP A LOT, BUT I GET BLOCKED.
WHY? WHY WHEN I REPORT SOMETHING, I CAN'T GO BACK AND REPORT THE SAME THING AGAIN.
'CAUSE I DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITHIN MY STREET THAT I WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF.
AND I WANNA KNOW WHY I CAN'T GO BACK AND REPORT THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN.
OR FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT JURISDICTIONS WHEN IT'S TOLD, OH, IT'S CALTRANS, SO I'M LEFT AT THAT AND NOBODY REPLIES OR ANSWERS OR TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM.
WHO COULD I CALL? BECAUSE WHEN I GO TO THE CALTRANS APP, I CAN'T
[00:30:01]
REPORT THE ISSUE OR THE PROBLEM THERE.SO WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON THAT, WHOEVER'S THE DEVELOPER OR WHOEVER'S DOING THIS, BECAUSE I CAN'T REPORT THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN ON THAT.
UM, IF YOU COULD LEAVE YOUR, YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER WITH OUR CITY CLERK, I'LL HAVE SOMEBODY CALL YOU AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW WE COULD RESOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS. OKAY.
AND WHAT ABOUT, UM, OUR REACHING TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THAT? YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING A GOAL SETTING WORKSHOP TONIGHT.
UM, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT, UH, KIND OF PROBLEM THAT WE COULD EASILY TACKLE.
SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT TONIGHT AND, UH, I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IT, THANK YOU FOR SAYING FROM THE CITIZENRY.
WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO HAVE THE APP.
IT'S GOTTEN OVER 52,000 REQUESTS SINCE IT WAS STARTED, I BELIEVE, IN 2018.
YOU CAN TALK TO, THEY'VE GIVEN YOU THE NUMBER.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE BEING BLOCKED.
I THINK IT MEANS YOU CAN'T SUBMIT THE SAME REQUEST AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
IT'S, I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM IS SAYING, WE'VE RECEIVED YOUR REQUEST.
SO, SO AS NOT TO CREATE A NEW ONE, BUT THEY CAN CLARIFY FOR YOU WHAT THE RULES ARE OF HOW THINGS WORK.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE BEING BLOCKED, BUT I THINK HONESTLY, AS A CITIZEN, UM, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE REMOVED BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND IT HASN'T BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND ISSUED.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE EXAMPLE IS THE HOMELESSNESS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE FREEWAY NOW.
THEY JUST MOVED THEM A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND NOW THEY'RE BACK TO MY SPOT.
AND IT'S A CALTRANS AND CITY ISSUE BECAUSE CALTRANS HANDLES THAT AND I CAN'T REPORT IT AGAIN.
AND WHY CAN I NOT REPORT IT THAT THE ENCAMPMENT IS BACK? SO I THINK AS A CITIZEN, I THINK THE ANSWER IS YOU SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTACT ANYONE ELSE TO SAY, THIS HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED YET.
CAN YOU HELP ME OUT? I'D BE GLAD TO TAKE YOUR, YOUR PHONE CALL OR EMAIL.
I, I THINK ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD UP APPEAR.
I I'M SURE THE, THE CITY MANAGER WOULD CALLING YOU GUYS.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE LIKE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, IT'S A CITY ISSUE.
BUT WHAT, THEN WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THAT? WELL, THE APP HAS, ITS, ITS, UM, OPERATIONS.
BUT IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE ANSWERS YOU WANT FOR ANY REASON, FOR ANYTHING, WHETHER IT'S A BUILDING PERMIT UNDER THE PACO SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S A HOMELESS THING UNDER THE APP, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU.
MICHELLE KNOWS ABSOLUTELY WHAT YOU ASKED US.
YOU ELECTED US TO BE YOUR VOICE.
ALSO, ANOTHER THING, UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO DO MORE OUTREACH AS THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHO THE REPRESENTATIVES ARE.
AND I FEEL AS YOU GUYS REPRESENTING US, YOU GUYS SHOULD COME OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND LET US KNOW, HEY, I REPRESENT YOU GUYS.
THIS IS MY SECTION, THIS IS MY AREA.
'CAUSE FOR MY AREA, I CAN'T GO TO YOU WHEN IT'S MICHELLE WHO HANDLES THAT
YOU KNOW, OR IT IS JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHO TO GO AND SPEAK AND TALK TO.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU GUYS WOULD COME TO THE SCHOOLS AND LET US KNOW, LIKE, HEY, I REPRESENT YOUR SCHOOL.
AND YEAH, THAT, THAT'S ABOUT IT.
I THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVEN'T SEEN ME FOR A WHILE, SO
FIRST THANKS FOR SAYING THOSE THINGS.
I DO THE SAME THING WITH REGARD TO ENCAMPMENTS.
UM, I DON'T SUB I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN YOU'RE SUBMITTING THEM, BUT YEAH, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC ENCAMPMENT THAT'S CONTINUALLY HAPPENING, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO CALL US.
AND I KNOW I SAW OUR, UH, IT DIRECTOR IN THE BACK FRIVOLOUSLY WRITING NOTES WHEN YOU WERE TALKING.
SO OBVIOUSLY OUR STAFF IS ALREADY ON IT TO INVESTIGATE IT.
AND IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF IMPROVEMENT THAT WE CAN MAKE WITH THE APP WITH REGARD TO THAT, I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA DO IT.
THEY HAVE AWARDS ON THE WALL ABOUT HOW GREAT THE APP IS AND WHAT THEY DO, AND I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THAT THEY'RE GONNA ADDRESS IT.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS, UM, WITH REGARD TO GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE APP, I KNOW MICHELLE'S ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, VERY FREQUENTLY POSTING ON ALL THE EL CAJON GROUPS AS I, I'VE DONE IT A HANDFUL OF TIMES AS WELL, PROMOTING THE APP.
UM, OUR POTHOLE CHALLENGE, THAT WAS A BIG, THAT WAS NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF REINS AND THERE WAS A LOT OF POTHOLES, BUT IT WAS ALSO TO PUSH THE APP SO PEOPLE WOULD GO ON AND SUBMIT THINGS.
SO OUR MARKETING DIRECTORS KNEE DEEP IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS, SPECIFIC WAYS TO, UM, GET THE PUBLIC TO ADOPT AND DOWNLOAD THAT.
SO, UM, THERE'S THESE LITTLE CAMPAIGNS
[00:35:01]
THAT YOU SEE HERE AND THERE.DOWNLOAD THE APP, UM, HERE AND THERE.
BUT, UM, THAT'S ALWAYS ON THE BACK OF OUR MINDS TO, TO FIGURE OUT DIFFERENT CREATIVE WAYS.
I ALSO THINK IT'S A LANGUAGE BARRIER AS WELL.
WE'RE SUCH, SUCH A DIVERSE COMMUNITY, SO MAYBE THAT, THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED AS WELL.
SO VIOLET, UM, I THINK I SENT YOU A TEXT.
SEND SOMEONE LIKE YOUR, UM, PRINCIPAL FROM AHA.
UH, I, I ALWAYS MESSED THAT UP, UH, FROM THE ACADEMY TO CON UH, TRACY TO SET UP, UM, SOMEONE FROM THE CITY TO GO DO A PRESENTATION FOR THE PARENTS IN ESPANOL.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THAT.
WE CAN GO OUT AND IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY, WE CAN GO OUT THERE, DO A WHOLE PRESENTATION IN ESPANOL AND, AND SHOW THEM HOW TO USE THE APP, HOW TO DO IT.
IT'S NOT IF, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE APP IS NOT IN ESPANOL NOW.
CORRECT IT, I'M LOOKING AT YOU.
UM, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE.
BUT, UM, IN THE MEANTIME, IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST GET THEM ACQUAINTED WITH THE APP.
SO JUST HAVE THEM CONTACT HER AND THEN SHE WILL GET THAT SET UP AND, AND HAVE THEM COME OUT AND DO A PRESENTATION.
THE LAST, UH, SPEAKER FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS STEPHANIE HARPER.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? AWESOME CAMPAIGNS.
SO, UM, I HAVE A BIG SISTER AND SHE'S FOUGHT A LOT HER WHOLE LIFE, AND SHE FOUGHT CANCER, SURVIVED AND EVERYTHING.
AND WHEN SHE GETS HER MIND SET ON SOMETHING, THERE IS NO STOP IN HER.
AND SHE HAS HER MIND SET ON HELPING THE PEOPLE OF THE FIRE OF PALISADES AND HOW AND UP IN HOLLYWOOD.
AND SO SHE'S WENT AND RENTED A TRUCK, AND SHE WANTS TO COLLECT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD BASICALLY COLLECT FOR OUR HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, COATS, BLANKETS, PILLOWS, TENTS, WHATEVER WE CAN GET, TOOTHBRUSHES AND THAT KIND OF THING.
AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY WAY YOU GUYS COULD HELP ME GET THE WORD OUT.
SHE WANTS TO DO AS MUCH AS SHE CAN FOR IT, AND SHE'S SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO JUMP ON MY, MY, UM, FACEBOOK PAGE, WE'RE GONNA GIVE INFORMATION THERE.
AND WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, NOT THIS THURSDAY, BUT NEXT THURSDAY WE'RE GONNA, AND SHE WANTS TO DRIVE UP THERE AND DROP IT OFF HERSELF, SO SHE'S ALL GUNG HO ABOUT IT.
SO, AND I PERSONAL, HUH? IS IT ON YOUR PERSONAL? YES.
UH, OR YOU CAN GO, I'LL PUT IT ON MY, UM, PUBLIC ONE TOO.
UM, AND ALSO I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE'S, WERE WE AS EL CAJON IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WERE WE WANTING TO DO OR HELPING OUT IN ANY WAY? OR WE, ANY WAY WE CAN HELP? YEAH, ACTUALLY, WE, WE DO HAVE, UH, PERSONAL OUT THERE HELPING ME CURRENTLY.
SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T JUST SEND PEOPLE WHEN JUST TO SEND PEOPLE, BUT THERE IS A FORMAL PROCESS BY WHICH RESOURCES AROUND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ARE ASKED FOR.
UM, RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF OUR OWN FIRE DANGERS, WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE ASKED TO NOT SEND FIRE ENGINES, BUT WE DO FROM, AT LEAST FROM HEARTLAND.
BUT WE DO HAVE SOME BATTALION CHIEFS THAT ARE PROVIDING SOME MANAGEMENT SERVICES UP THERE.
UH, ONE ON THE PALISADES FIRE, ONE ON THE EATON FIRE.
AND THEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE UPS STAFFED SOME OF OUR, UH, BRUSH RIGS THAT ARE LO THAT ARE NOT PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN THE CITY, BUT THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE COUNTY READY TO POUNCE ON ANY FIRES THAT MAY POP UP IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE WERE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
THAT WAS OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A, UM, A CONSTITUENT THAT CONTACTED ME TODAY TO ASK TO READ THIS.
I DID TALK TO THE CITY, UM, THE CITY CLERK, AND THIS IS A TEXT SENT TO ME, UH, TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF HOMELESSNESS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.
UH, ON SUNDAY, I WENT DOWN TO HAVE LUNCH AND LISTENED TO SOME MUSIC AT DOWNTOWN CAFE.
I ARRIVED ABOUT A QUARTER TILL 12.
AND WHEN I PULLED UP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, THERE WERE I, WHEN I PULLED UP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, THERE WAS NUMEROUS SHOPPING CARTS FILLED WITH HOMELESS PROPERTY AND A LARGE GROUP OF HOMELESS PEOPLE ON BOTH THE CORNERS, THE SHOPPING CARTS AND THE HOMELESS PEOPLE WERE STILL ON THAT SAME CORNERS.
WHEN I LEFT THREE HOURS LATER YESTERDAY, I DROPPED MY SPECIAL NEEDS DAUGHTER OFF AT ARTS AND MOTION AT FOUR 30 IN THE AFTERNOON, IN THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE BUILDING ADJACENT TO THE PROMENADE CONCERT AREA,
[00:40:01]
THE BACK HALF OF THE PARKING LOT WAS MADE INTO A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT.THERE WAS A LARGE GROUP OF HOMELESS PEOPLE, A FEW TENTS, AND PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR CARS, AS WELL AS DRUG DEALS GOING ON IN PLAIN SIGHT.
WHEN WE ARRIVED, I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER AND HER GROUP SAFETY THAT I WENT HOME, CALLED MY GOOD FRIEND, COUNCILWOMAN MICHELLE MITCHELL, ABOUT MY CONCERNS.
MICHELLE WANTED TO SEE FOR HERSELF WHAT MY CONCERNS WERE AND MET ME IN THE PARKING LOT.
SHE STAYED WITH US UNTIL MY DAUGHTER AND HER RESIDENTIAL HOME MADE IT TO THEIR VEHICLES SAFE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.
THE HOMELESS, THE HOMELESSNESS IN EL CAJON HAS BECOME A REAL PROBLEM IN SOME AREAS.
RESIDENTS CANNOT WALK INTO A BUSINESS WITHOUT SEEING THE HOMELESS SHOPPING CARTS, HOMELESS PEOPLE SLEEPING OR PARTYING, RIGHT WHERE YOU HAVE TO WALK INTO THE ENTRANCE.
IT'S EVEN GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE WANDERING UP AND DOWN NEIGHBORHOODS, SLEEPING ON THE SIDEWALKS, AND GOING TO THE BATHROOM ON THE SIDE OF HOUSES.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME HOMELESS PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NEED AND WANT TO BE HELPED TO GET OFF THE STREETS, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT ARE THE ONES THAT DON'T WANT THE HELP, THE ONES THAT WANT CONTINUE GETTING STONED OUT OF THEIR MIND DAILY AND STAGGER AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THESE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LIVE THIS WAY.
WE, AS CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF EL CAJON SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL SAFE GOING TO OUR GROCERY STORES, GOING TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND ENJOY THE PARKS WITHOUT WORRYING IF WE'RE SAFE OR NOT.
WHY CAN'T THE CITY DESIGNATE AN AREA FOR THE HOMELESS? A PLACE THAT CAN BE FENCED IN WITH A COVER, BRING IN SOME PORTABLE TOILET AND SHOWERS, AND LET THEM PUT THEIR TENTS UP THERE AND PARTY AS HARDY AS THEY WANT.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOU'RE HEARING MY WORRIES, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO MAKE EL CAJON SAFE AND CLEAN AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S LOOKING MORE LIKE SKID ROW.
SINCERELY, BARBARA, AND SHE COULDN'T BE HERE AT THE LAST MOMENT AND HAS ASKED ME TO READ THAT FOR HER.
AND I JUST WANTED THAT READ INTO THE, THE REC THE VIDEO RECORD.
UH, WE HAVE NO WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS AND NO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
[9. Resolution Declaring Intent to Assist Federal Immigration Authorities RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council considers adopting the next Resolution, in order, demonstrating the City’s commitment to public safety, compliance with applicable laws, and advocacy for clarity in navigating the complexities of immigration enforcement.]
TWO ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.ITEM NINE IS TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION DECLARING AN INTENT TO ASSIST FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.
WILL THE CITY MANAGER PLEASE TELL US ABOUT THIS ITEM? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, IF WE CAN PULL UP MY PRESENTATION.
UM, ON DECEMBER 10TH OF LAST YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, HAD A, HAD A MEETING IN WHICH THEY DIRECTED STAFF TO DO TWO THINGS.
ONE IS TO PREPARE A LETTER, UH, TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ASKING FOR SOME CLARIFICATION.
AND THE SECOND IS TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ON WHETHER THE CITY SHOULD, UM, DECLARE ITS INTENT TO ASSIST WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF SB 54.
AND SO, I'LL, I'LL KIND OF WALK THROUGH THAT A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW, AND I'LL, I'LL KIND OF GO, UM, I'LL PROVIDE, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT SB 54.
THEN I'LL ALSO, UH, SHARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA.
AND THEN ALSO I WILL, UM, PRESENT THE RESOLUTION THAT STAFF HAS DRAFTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND, UM, ANY MODIFICATIONS YOU MAY WANNA MAKE TO THAT.
SO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IN, IN 19, UM, IN 2017, UH, THE CALIFORNIA VALUES ACT OR SB 54, OR THE AKA SANCTUARY STATE ACT WAS APPROVED BY THE STATE AND SIGNED BY THE, BY GOVERNOR BROWN AT THE TIME.
UH, THE INTENT OF THE, OF SB 54 IS TO REALLY LIMIT LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
WHEN IT COMES TO ANYTHING IMMIGRATION RELATED, VERY SPECIFICALLY, IT DOES KIND OF BIG TWO THINGS.
ONE, IT PREVENTS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM DOING A SLEW OF THINGS, WHICH I'LL GO THROUGH, BUT THEN IT DOES ALLOW COOPERATION IN CERTAIN CASES WHERE THERE'RE SERIOUS CRIMES OR, OR IN OTHER WORDS, VIOLENT FELONIES.
BUT SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S REALLY FOUR AREAS THAT WE'RE PROHIBITED FROM PARTICIPATING IN AS IT STANDS UNDER SB 54.
ONE IS THAT WE CANNOT DETAIN INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
UM, WE CANNOT COLLECT, ASK FOR OR SHARE INFORMATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES REGARD REGARDING, UM, STATUS UNLESS THERE'S A FEDERAL JUDICIAL WARRANT.
UM, AND THEN WE CANNOT USE LOCAL FUNDS AND FACILITIES TO ASSIST IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.
AND THAT BECOMES VERY BROAD BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AS A CITY IS USING LOCAL FUNDS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THIS VERY BROAD STATEMENT IN SB 54, WHICH REALLY PREVENTS US TO DO MUCH EDIT WITH, OF ANYTHING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO SINCE 2017, WE HAVE VERY LITTLE INTERACTION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
[00:45:01]
USING, UH, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, BORDER PATROL AGENTS TO HELP WITH TRANSLATION.WE CAN'T USE THOSE ASSISTANCE ANYMORE.
SO WE HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTACT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
UM, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS WE HAVE THIS EXPECTATION FROM OUR RESIDENTS TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM VIOLENT FELONS.
UM, BUT WE'RE KIND OF STUCK BETWEEN THE REGULATIONS AND RULES OF SB 54, AND ALSO THIS EXPECTATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE TO HELP THEM AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME LAWS THAT ARE ON THE LAND LAWS OF THE LAND THAT THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT WE HELP WITH.
AND THESE TWO CONFLICTING GOVERNMENT BODIES ABOVE US, UM, PUT US IN A REALLY TIGHT SPOT.
AND THUS FAR, THE COURTS HAVE SAID THAT SB 54 IS THE RULE OF THE LAW OR THE RULE OF THE LAND.
AND SO WE HAVE COMPLIED WITH, WITH SB 54.
UM, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WAS RAISED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS WE'RE NOW RECEIVING SOME REQUESTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST IN, UM, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, SPECIFICALLY WITH THOSE THAT ARE IN THE UNITED STATES, UH, NOT HERE LEGALLY, THAT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF VI OF A VIOLENT FELONY AND ARE ROAMING AT LARGE.
AND SO THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT ROOTING OUR COMMUNITIES OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
AND THUS FAR IN CALIFORNIA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ASSIST IN THAT EFFORT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO DO IS TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
SO ON DECEMBER 16TH, THE LETTER WAS DRAFTED AND SENT UNDER THE NAME OF THE MAYOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, EXPRESSING THE CITY'S CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, THIS HARD SPOT THAT WE'RE IN.
AND THEN IT REALLY POSED FOUR QUESTIONS.
ONE, IT SAID, WHAT IS SB FOUR 50 FOUR'S SCOPE AND EXPECTATIONS? HOW, HOW WOULD YOU INTERPRET THOSE AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL? WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE SUPREME COURT IN WHICH SAYS THAT FEDERAL LAW HAS SUPERSEDES LOCAL LAW? AND WHAT, WHAT, UM, JURISDICTION DOES THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAVE TO SUPERSEDE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW? IT ALSO ASKED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROVIDE US SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW IT WOULD ENFORCE SB 54 IN THE EVENT THAT A CITY WERE TO VIOLATE SB 54.
AND THEN IT ALSO JUST ASKS FOR SOME ASSISTANCE IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO, TO IN PARTICIPATE IN IMMIGRATION, WHAT INDEMNIFICATION OR LEGAL PROTECTIONS CAN THE STATE PROVIDE OUR, OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS IF THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO DO ONE THING THAT MIGHT BE IN VIOLATION OF A STATE LAW.
SO THOSE ARE SOME CLARIFICATIONS THAT WE ASKED FOR.
NO SURPRISE, WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL BANTA WITH SOME RESPONSES.
UM, BUT WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR RESPONSES TO THAT LETTER.
UM, STAFF OR THE COUNCIL WAS ALSO, OUR STAFF WAS ALSO DIRECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION.
THAT RESOLUTION IS FOUND IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET.
IT DOES KIND OF, WELL, I SAY FIVE BIG THINGS.
ONE, IT DECLARES THE CITY'S INTENT TO ASSIST IN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITY, UM, UNDER THE EXTENT OF SB 54.
AND SO RIGHT NOW, UNDER THE EXTENT OF SB 54, IT'S VERY LITTLE, BUT IT JUST REEMPHASIZES THE CITY COUNCIL'S INTENT TO ASSIST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN HELPING KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
UM, IT REAFFIRMS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, IT RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO NOT ONLY BUILD, BUT MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRUST WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IT ALSO, UH, SUGGESTS THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO ASK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CLARIFICATION.
AND THEN IT ALSO IDENTIFIES THAT THE RESOLUTION IF ADOPTED, WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN ANY OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS OFFICES.
SO, WITH THAT, STAFF'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT SB 54 OR ABOUT THE RESOLUTION THAT STAFF HAS PREPARED FOR CONSIDERATION.
LET ME SEE IF THERE'S ANY SPEAKER CARDS ON THIS ITEM.
SIR, WE HAVE EIGHT SPEAKER CARDS.
THE FIRST ONE IS FROM EVA PACHECO.
UH, MY NAME IS EVA PACHECO, UH, RESIDENT FROM EL HOME FOR OVER 34 YEARS.
AND, UH, THE REASON I'M HERE IS REGARDING THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU ARE, UM, UH, DISCUSSING, UH, ABOUT ALLOWING THE, UM, POLICE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE, UH, IMMIGRATION, UH, OFFICERS.
AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, TO SAY, UH, YOU SAY IN THE, THE REAFF THAT THIS RESOLUTION
[00:50:01]
REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN, WHEN, UH, THE POLICE WILL, UM, PERFORM THOSE DUTIES IS THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT IN PLACE BECAUSE THEY WILL BE FEAR FROM, FROM THEM THAT THE POLICE WILL ACT IN A WAY THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY, UM, THEIR DUTIES.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN, UM, WHEN THE POLICE PERFORM IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENTS, ENFORCEMENT DUTIES OR CAMPUS, ESPECIALLY THE, THE, THE, THE SCHOOL THAT I'M WORKING WITH, UM, THEY WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO SEEK HELP OR REPORT TO THE POLICE OFFICERS.
AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS, UH, NOT NOW.
IT, THIS IS BEFORE, AND NOW WITH THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE WORSE.
SOME, AND, AND I, I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO KNOW AS A, AS A GOVERNMENT BODY THAT YOU ARE HERE FOR, FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE RESOLUTION, YOU ARE EXCLUDING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, THOSE THAT DOCUMENTED OR UNDOCUMENTED.
UH, WHY? BECAUSE FAMILIES, FAMILIES WILL HESITATE TO CALL THE POLICE OR TO REPORT THE POLICE.
AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE FROM BEFORE, BUT NOW IS, IS, IS GOING TO BE LEGAL AND FOR, AND OUR POINT OF VIEW AND OR, OR, UH, KNOWLEDGE THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE ILLEGAL BECAUSE WE KNOW SB 54 IS THE ONE THAT YOU NEED TO ENFORCE AND NOT NECESSARILY TO PUT SOMETHING ELSE TO ALLOW THE POLICE TO DO OTHER DUTIES THAN WHAT THEY ARE, UH, HIRED FOR.
SO, I, I ENCOURAGE, UM, NOT TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION UNTIL YOU REALLY HAVE THE INFORMATION.
GO TO THE SCHOOLS, GO AND ASK THE FAMILIES, GO AND, AND GET THE INFORMATION.
BECAUSE LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, MA'AM, I, I'M SORRY, YOU'RE THREE MINUTES, SIR, BUT TH THANK YOU FOR COMING.
I, I'M SORRY, BUT YOU HAVEN'T CUT ANYONE.
YOU HAVEN'T CUT ANYONE SPEAKING WE'RE, WE HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WANNA SPEAK.
BUT YOU ARE CUTTING ME MY SPEECH.
THREE MINUTES IS, IS THE, IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME, OKAY.
YOU ALLOW THREE MORE MIN MORE THAN THREE MINUTES TO OTHER ONES? I'M SORRY.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF YOU.
SERGIO CONTI AND ALSO HAVE A MASTER IN PUBLIC DEGREE FROM THE COLUMBIA SOUTHER UNIVERSITY.
THEN YOU DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU BELIEVE ALL THE SPANISH PEOPLE.
UH, THEY DON'T HAVE THE STUDIES, BUT SOME AS WE HAVE IT.
MY WIFE, SHE'S A NURSE, A HOSPICE NURSE WORKING HERE IN EL CAJON AND HAS, UH, WE JUST MOVED TO EL CAJON LAST FEBRUARY, LESS SAY ONE YEAR.
BUT WE ARE REALLY ENJOYING THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
WE LIKE LIVING IN EL CAJON HOME BECAUSE ALL OF YOU KNOW, 30% OF THE POPULATION OF EL CAJON SPEAK SPANISH.
ACTUALLY, IT'S 28.8%, AND I DON'T SEE TOO MANY PEOPLE.
UM, OR YOU DON'T SPEAK SPANISH TO US, AND PROBABLY YOU BELIEVE THAT WE UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING, WHAT YOU SAY, BUT I'M SURE THAT WE JUST KEEP PROBABLY HALF WHAT YOU SAY.
NEXT TIME, PROBABLY YOU WILL HAVE SOME KIND OF TRANSLATION FOR PEOPLE WHO DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH.
I LUCKILY SPEAK BROKEN ENGLISH PERFECTLY.
I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IN SAN DIEGO, WE LIVE 3 MILLION PEOPLE
[00:55:01]
AND 50% 1.5, UH, MILLION PEOPLE SPEAK SPANISH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FROM THE FARMERS WORKER IN THIS COUNTRY.
SEVEN OF THE 10 FARMER WORKER ARE MEXICANS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU GUY, UM, WANNA TAKE IT, TAKE, SEND THEM ALL TO MEXICO.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO WORK IN THE FARMS COMING TO, UH, THIS MEETING.
YOU KNOW, WE TOOK MELISSA AVENUE AND I SAW SEVERAL CITY WORKERS DOING SOME JOBS REPAIRING THE STREET.
ALL OF THEM LOOK LIKE MEXICANS.
YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT RAPISTS.
WE ARE NOT MURDER, WE ARE NOT DELINQUENT.
WE CAME TO THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY TO WORK HARD.
OUR ORIGINAL COUNTRIES, I'M ORIGINALLY FROM ARGENTINA, UH, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, OBLIGATE US TO MOVE TO THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.
LET ME ASK YOU, YOU GUYS, IF YOU NEED TO MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY, WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW ANYWHERE, ANY, ANYONE, AND YOU DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE HOW YOU WILL FEEL.
WE LEFT OUR PARENTS, OUR FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, AND WE CAME HERE FOR ONE REASON, TO WORK HARD, TO GIVE A FUTURE TO OUR SONS.
THAT'S, THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.
MY SON IS A SOPHOMORE, UH, IS A SECOND YEAR AT UCSD TRYING TO BE A PROFESSOR IN HISTORY.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.
UH, I JUST WANT, IN CONCLUSION, UH, WE WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO MAKE, UH, TO MAKE MONEY, TO PAY FOR THE RENT AND FEED OUR FAMILIES.
WE DON'T WANT TO CAUSE ANY TROUBLE.
WE JUST WANT TO HELP TO MAKE AMERICAN THE BEST COUNTRY OF THE WORLD.
LIKE I SAY, IN CONCLUSION, I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE RESOLUTION TO ASCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES BECAUSE IT WILL DESTROY THE LIFE OF MANY FAMILIES THAT ONLY WANT TO WORK IN PEACE AND GIVE A FUTURE TO THEIR CHILDREN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JESUS PACHECO.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALLOWING ME TO, UH, SAY MY MESSAGE TO YOU AND REGARDING THE, UM, UH, THE CO UH, THE RESOLUTION.
UH, MY CONCERN IS, UH, WHAT IS GONNA HAPPEN WITH THE RELATION BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY? I'M PRETTY SURE, UH, IT IS GONNA BE HARD.
IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR THE OFFICERS, AND ALSO IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
MOST OF THE, UH, IMMIGRANTS, THEY'RE HERE TO MAKE A LIVING, TO WORK HARD, YOU KNOW? UM, AND, UH, I HOPE THAT, UH, YOU REALLY, REALLY RECONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION.
AND BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT US, ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US PAY TAXES, YOU KNOW, AND I TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR, UH, 34 YEARS.
34 YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER FOR 34 YEARS, UH, ADVOCATING FOR QUALITY EDUCATION.
AND, UH, AND IT WAS A SUCCESS.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO OPEN A, A NEW, UM, UH, BUILDING FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, WE CAME HERE, YOU KNOW, AS AN IMMIGRANTS, UM, WE WORKED HARD AND WE TRIED TO DO THE BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE MOST OF THEM IMMIGRANTS ARE DOING THE SAME THING.
BUT THINK ABOUT THAT AND, AND MAKE A, A REFLECTION ABOUT THAT RESOLUTION AND MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.
SIR, WE HAVE RECEIVED A COUPLE MORE CARDS.
SO WE HAVE SEVEN MORE SPEAKERS LEFT.
[01:00:01]
FELIPE RASO.HEY, HOW'S IT GOING GUYS? WELL, I'M HERE.
UM, TO VOICE MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS, UH, RESOLUTION THAT YOU GUYS WANNA PASS, UM, MEXICAN AMERICAN.
I REMEMBER I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL AT THE, UH, EL CAJON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
AND BACK IN THE DAY, IN THE NINETIES, UH, BORDER PATROL COULD STOP AND POLICE, WE GOT STOPPED BY THE POLICE.
THEY KEPT US THERE FOR A COUPLE HOURS UNTIL THEY SHOWED UP, ASKED FOR PAPERS.
I DON'T WANT MY KIDS TO DEAL WITH THAT.
HONESTLY, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT TO US, AND I WANT THE POLICE OFFICERS TO ASK FOR A PASSPORT FOR EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN OF THE, OF EL CAJON, I WANT YOU TO CARRY YOUR PASSPORTS WITH YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO, IN CASE YOU GET PULLED OVER.
IT IS JUST TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR.
LIKE THERE'S CRIMINALS AND YOU GET 'EM, THAT'S FINE.
BUT YOU, YOU, YOU PUT THE POLICE OFFICERS IN A, IN A BAD SITUATION BECAUSE NOW THEY FEEL COMPELLED TO, TO ASK PAPERS FROM EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK BROWN LIKE ME OR WHATEVER.
I'M VERY UPSET WITH YOU GUYS, TO BE HONEST, UH, AND DISAPPOINTED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
UM, I'VE NEVER COMMITTED ANY CRIMES.
AND, UH, I JUST FEEL VERY DISAPPOINTED.
AND, AND I KNOW THIS IS GONNA, THERE'S GONNA BE PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE POLICE OFFICERS ASK 'EM FOR PAPERS, THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA FLIP 'EM OVER AND SAY IT'S GONNA CREATE CONFLICT.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA REACT IN A REALLY HAPPY WAY.
I'M TELLING YOU ALREADY, I'M A PEACEFUL PERSON, BUT I'M ALSO NOT GONNA TAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, I, I SEE IT AS A DISRESPECTFUL, DISRESPECTFUL ACT FROM THE, FROM, FROM YOUR, FROM THE COUNCIL, FROM THE, FROM THE MAYOR, FROM THE ATTORNEY.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
WHATEVER IT IS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT TRAINED TO BE FEDERAL OFFICERS.
AND THEN THIS IS JUST GONNA CREATE A LOT OF DISTRUST FROM THE COMMUNITY.
LIKE A COUPLE OF THE PEOPLE BEFORE ME SAID, THERE'S GONNA BE CRIMES COMMITTED THAT ARE NOT GONNA BE REPORTED, BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE AFRAID TO REPORT THE CRIMES BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA SAY, HEY, YOU, YOU REPORT A CRIME FOR SOME PETTY THING, OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OR WHATEVER ELSE.
AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA CALL THE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS ON YOU.
EVEN IF, EVEN IF YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY LIKE ME, OKAY? THEY'RE NOT GONNA REPORT ME.
I'M A US CITIZEN, BUT STILL, I DON'T WANNA WAIT TWO HOURS FOR AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER TO SHOW UP AND ASK ME FOR MY PAPERS.
IT IS JUST, YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA THINK ABOUT THAT, MAYOR AND I, I VOTED FOR YOU, BY THE WAY, APPRECIATE.
AND IT, IT JUST, IT JUST, IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I, I WANNA, I WANNA HEAR YOUR COMMENTS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW, I WILL WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED.
SO, SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
I HAVE A, I HAVE A 7-YEAR-OLD BOY.
I DON'T WANT HIM TO GROW UP IN A PLACE LIKE, FEEL LIKE A POLICE STATE AGAINST BROWN PEOPLE.
THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I FEEL, AND THAT'S HOW I'M TAKING THIS.
IT'S JUST LIKE, I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A POLICE STATE.
I, I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.
I, I MIGHT RECONSIDER THAT, SAW MY HOUSE AND MOVE, YOU KNOW, TO ANOTHER PLACE.
I JUST WANNA CLARIFY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT TAKING OUR POLICE FORCE AND TURNING THEM INTO BOARD OF PATROL AGENTS.
THIS IS ABOUT COOPERATING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FOLLOWING THE LAW.
CAL CALIFORNIA IS ASKING US TO IGNORE THE LAW OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE, THAT PUTS US IN A VERY BAD POSITION.
THIS IS, ALL THIS IS ABOUT, IS DOING OUR DUTY TO THE CONSTITUTION.
BUT AS A REPUBLICAN, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT SMALL GOVERNMENT LEAVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUTSIDE OF OUR LIVES.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY, LOCAL COMMUNITY.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT BREAK, WE'RE NOT JUMPING OVER THE FENCE RIGHT HERE IN EL CA ALCOHOL.
BUT IT'S NOT FOR US TO DECIDE.
BUT ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, THE, IT IT IS FOR YOU GUYS TO DECIDE AND FOR US, UH, TO TRY TO VOTE YOU OUT NEXT TIME.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I, WELL, I UNDER, I I, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS, THIS IS NOT ABOUT TAKING OUR, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TURNING 'EM INTO A, AN ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR THE, FOR THE BOARD OF APPROVAL.
THIS IS ABOUT WORKING BEFORE WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FOLLOWING THE LAW.
I'M FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, MAYOR.
I AS A 14-YEAR-OLD, IT'S NOT FUN WHEN
[01:05:01]
THEY'RE ASKING YOU, HEY, WHAT'S YOUR PAPERS? YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE YOUR SCHOOL ID ON YOU.SO, SO THIS IS WHY I KNOW IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'RE COMING IN WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS, BUT IT'S GONNA HAVE NEGATIVE RAMIFICATIONS, AND IT'S GONNA CREATE CONFLICT THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS DO NOT NEED.
YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY MOST LATINOS ARE PEACEFUL PEOPLE.
I KNOW THERE IS SOME CRAZY PEOPLE IN EVERY COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE GONNA BE DIVERTING, UH, FUNDS FROM TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THE HOMELESSNESS TO ROUNDING UP PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S MONEY THAT'S COMING FROM THE CITY.
THAT'S NOT THE INTENTION AT ALL.
SO, I JUST, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR.
THERE'S MONEY THAT'S GONNA BE NEEDED FOR THAT.
IT'S GONNA BE COMING FROM THE FUNDS OF THE CITY.
WELL, LET, LET'S, LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT I JUST WANNA BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR.
THE INTENTION IS NOT TO TAKE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND START ROUNDING PEOPLE UP.
THAT'S NOT THE INTENTION AT ALL.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT COOPERATING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
SO THAT'S, I KNOW THAT'S THE INTENTION, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA BE THE OUTCOME.
PILOT BER HI, CITY COUNCIL AGAIN.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
AND THE THING IS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GUYS SAY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, IT ATTACKS PERSONALLY THE LATINO AND MEXICAN COMMUNITY.
IT'S GONNA ATTACK US PERSONALLY.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN BRAWLEY, CALIFORNIA, SMALL TOWN, BRAWLEY, CALIFORNIA.
I DECIDED TO MOVE TO EL CAJON IN 2010.
BY THEN, I THOUGHT THAT RACIAL PROFILING HAD STOPPED, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT DIDN'T.
IT CONTINUED ALL THROUGH MY LIFE.
AND I AM A VERY, I'M A GOOD CITIZEN.
I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO RECONSIDER.
WE'RE TRYING TO BIND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND DOING THIS IS REALLY GONNA SEPARATE US, DIVIDE US.
IT'S GONNA ATTACK MY COMMUNITY, MY LATINOS, MY MEXICAN AMERICANS.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHO, WHEN YOU GUYS SAY ILLEGAL AUTOMATICALLY, WHAT DO THEY THINK? IT'S A MEXICAN, AND IT'S NOT THAT WAY IN THIS, IN THIS, IN HERE.
BUT WHO IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA HIT BE HURT AND FELT BY THIS? IT'S THE MEXICANS.
WE'RE THE ONES WHO, IF I, I HAVE BROWN SKIN.
I'VE BEEN ATTACKED, I'VE BEEN SEGREGATED, I'VE BEEN RACIAL PROFILE BEFORE.
YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO RECONSIDER THIS.
WE HAVE WORKED SO MUCH WITH THE COMMUNITY, LIKE I SAID, TO BRING LAW ENFORCEMENT TOGETHER WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND TO DO THIS.
IT'S REALLY GONNA HURT EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO REALLY RECONSIDER THIS MOTION.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU SAY IT'S NOT TO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AS THE BORDER PATROL, BUT IT IS.
THAT'S YOUR GUYS' INTENTION TO STOP US AND TO DETAIN US AND ASK US FOR OUR CITIZENSHIP.
AND LIKE HE SAID, I'M, I'M GONNA RETALIATE AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE GOOD.
I AM DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN FRIEND SERVICE COMMITTEE'S US MEXICO BORDER PROGRAM.
WE, UM, HAVE, UH, CONTACT WITH MANY DIFFERENT, UM, RESIDENTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, UH, INCLUDING HERE IN THE CITY OF EL CAJON.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN EL CAJON NOW FOR, UH, TWO DECADES OR MORE.
AND I'M HERE TO, UM, TO SAY THAT, UH, CONSIDERING PASSING THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT ONLY A MISTAKE, BUT IT'S ALSO SHOWING YOUR TRUE COLORS.
THERE'S A MISSING POINT TO THAT DRAFT RESOLUTION THERE.
WHAT, WHICH I WOULD ADD WAS POINT NUMBER SIX THAT THE CITY MANAGER PRESENTED.
UH, POINT NUMBER SIX WOULD BE FEARMONGERING.
THIS RESOLUTION ASPIRES TO BE, BE A FEARMONGERING RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THAT A CERTAIN POPULATION IN THE CITY OF EL CAJON LIVES IN FEAR THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO, UH, FREELY WALK AROUND THE CITY, SHOP AROUND THE CITY, UH, DRIVE AROUND THE CITY WITHOUT THE PROSPECT OF BEING STOPPED AND QUESTIONED ABOUT
[01:10:01]
THEIR STATUS BASED ON THE TITLE THAT YOU WANT TO, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE WORK WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES TO DETAIN PEOPLE.IF WE WERE TO BASE OURSELVES, AND I SHOULD ADD THAT CITY MANAGER SEEMED DISAPPOINTED THAT, UM, POLICE OFFICERS COULD NOT USE BORDER PATROL AS TRANSLATORS.
WHEN THOSE OF US THAT HAVE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS KNOW THAT THAT'S THE PRETEXT FOR HAVING BORDER PATROL TRANSLATE TO DETAIN PEOPLE TO THEN FACE DEPORTATION REMOVAL.
CAUSE UNTOLD SUFFERING BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE SEPARATED.
THAT'S THE, THE SOLE PURPOSE OF USING, UH, BORDER PATROL AS TRANSLATORS AS THOUGH THE CITY DID NOT HAVE THEIR OWN SPANISH SPEAKING EMPLOYEES.
TO TRANSLATE, I WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT CLEAR TO THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, WHY DO I BELIEVE THIS IS FEARMONGERING? BECAUSE IF WE TAKE YOUR STATEMENTS, MAYOR, THAT YOU'VE, UH, MADE IN THE PAST, YOUR STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAD ALMOST 20 MILLION PEOPLE COME ACROSS THE BORDER ILLEGALLY.
IT JUST SHOWS THAT YOU'RE MISINFORMED.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO THIS, THIS COUNTRY, MOST OF THEM THAT HAVE COME OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, ARE SEEKING ASYLUM.
SEEKING ASYLUM IS A LEGAL RIGHT.
AND I IMPLORE YOU TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY BEFORE ENGAGING IN FEAR MONGERING AND CAUSING RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE CREATING, UH, SO MUCH TRAUMA IN THE COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE CONSTITUENTS, EVERYONE'S CONSTITUENTS HERE.
AND SO, UH, ANOTHER COMMENT, WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS, UH, OR WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THIS COUNTRY COMPLETELY.
AND A LOT OF US ARE GOING TO LOSE OUR LIVES.
THAT'S THE BACKDROP AND, AND THE BACKDROP IN THE CONTEXT FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
LET'S NOT MAKE A MISTAKE HERE.
STAND WITH, WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS, NOT WITH, UH, FEAR MONGERING, TALKING HEADS THAT ONLY WISH TO, UH, GET IN THE, UH, EVENING NEWS.
WE HAVE THREE MORE SPEAKERS, SIR.
I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR, FOR AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE NATIONAL DAY LABOR ORGANIZING NETWORK THAT WE WORK WITH DAILY LABORERS AND WORKER CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, I THINK I'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND ASSUME IT WAS WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.
SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS THAT WERE JUST REPEATED REALLY UNDERMINE
BUT WE ALL KNOW THE PHRASE, THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.
OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS LITIGATED A BUNCH OF THESE POLICIES, A BUNCH OF THESE RESOLUTIONS OVER THE YEARS.
UM, AND THAT IS BECAUSE AS, UH, MAYOR, SO YOU WERE SAYING, WE NEED TO DEFEND THE LAW.
AND SO ICE HAS REPEATEDLY OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, ISSUED ICE DETAINERS, WARRANT WARRANTS, UM, THAT ARE NOT BACKED BY PROBABLE CAUSE.
AND SO WHEN THEY ASK LOCALITIES TO PICK SOMEBODY UP, TO HOLD SOMEBODY TO ARREST SOMEBODY WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE, AND WE SUE AND WE WILL SUE, UM, AS WE DID SUE LOS ALAMITOS IN 2017, WHEN THEY TRIED TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR LIKE THIS, UM, ICE DOESN'T PAY, RIGHT? THE CITY PAYS.
AND SO WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS, IT'S, IT'S TO BE CLEAR, IT IS A PUB.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
UM, THERE WILL BE A COST TO THE CITY, AND I KNOW YOU ALL CARE ABOUT EL CAJON.
I WILL TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD FOR THAT.
DON'T MAKE THIS THE ONLY THING THAT PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT EL CAJON FOR THE NEXT 2, 3, 4 YEARS.
EL CAJON IS A BEAUTIFUL, I KNOW PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, AND YOU, YOU ALL KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND, AND RAISE YOUR KIDS.
DO NOT MAKE THIS POLICY, THIS EFFORT, THIS ANTI-IMMIGRANT, DESPICABLE, UGLY EFFORT WHERE YOU'RE BASICALLY FOLLOWING THE LEAD, LEAD OF SOME WEALTHY, CORRUPT POLITICIAN AT A MAR-A-LAGO, SOUTH FLORIDA.
DON'T MAKE THIS THE ONLY THING THAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT CA HOME FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, RIGHT? UM, BECAUSE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE POLICY AND IF, AND IF THEY ACTUALLY, MOST OF THIS, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, REAFFIRM WHAT THE STATE LAW SAYS.
LIKE, WELL, YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST SYMBOLIC.
SO IF IT'S SYMBOLIC, IT'S STILL GONNA HAVE A DAMAGING TO YOUR REPUTATION, BOTH YOUR INDIVIDUAL REPUTATIONS AND THE REPUTATION OF THE CITY OF EL CAJON.
AND IF THERE'S ACTUALLY ANY ACTUAL POLICY IN, IN THIS THING, THEN WE'RE GONNA SUE.
AND SO THE, THE IMPACT ISN'T JUST GONNA BE ON YOUR REPUTATIONS INDIVIDUALS AND FOR THE CITY OF EL CAJON, BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA BE, IF YOU REALLY DO CARE ABOUT THE RESOURCES, THE FUNDING OF THE CITY OF EL CAJON, THEN MAKE THEM MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET SUED.
THIS IS SUCH A, IT'S A WASTE, IT'S A WASTE OF CITY RESOURCES.
[01:15:01]
WANNA TAKE YOU OUT TO WHERE THAT YOU DO CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF CAJON AND ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS, ABOUT THE, THE, THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BUILD HERE, RIGHT? IF THE, THE COUNTRY IS SO DIVIDED RIGHT NOW, AND THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO.Y'ALL ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THIS.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU, YOU DIG DEEP AND YOU, YOU SAY NO TODAY, AND YOU, AND YOU LOOK FOR A SECOND PATH, RIGHT? LIKE, BECAUSE IN THE, THE DIVISION THAT WE'RE, WE'RE FACED WITH EL CAJON COULD BE A BETTER EXAMPLE THAN THIS.
I, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU OFFLINE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND LEAVING YOUR INFORMATION.
I'D LIKE TO GET TOGETHER WITH YOU.
UM, THE NEXT ONE IS ADRIANA HASSEL.
I WORK FOR THE OFFICE OF THE AMERICAN FRIEND SERVICE COMMITTEE.
OUR PROGRAM HAS SUPPORTED, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE IN EL CAJON.
AND A FEW YEARS AGO WE HELD, UH, MEETINGS WITH YOUR CHIEF OF POLICE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SV 54.
UM, AT THAT CONVERSATION, WE HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HAVE TRUST, TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND THE LEVELS OF AUTHORITIES FROM THE STATE TO THE COUNTY, TO THE CITY.
AND AS ALL THE SPEAKERS HAVE SAID, THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT EVERYONE EMBRACES AND THAT PEOPLE ARE RAISING THEIR FAMILIES, WORKING AND GOING ABOUT THEIR LIVES JUST LIKE US.
ANYBODY ELSE? THE PROPOSITION OF DECLARING THE INTENTION TO ASSIST WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES WILL SET YOU APART FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTY AND CAN POTENTIALLY ALSO BRING THE SPOTLIGHT OF A COMMUNITY THAT IS ANTI-IMMIGRANT, ANTI-WORKER, ANTI FAMILIES.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE TELLING YOU THAT THEY VOTED FOR YOU, AND THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST INTENTIONS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A COMMUNITY IN THE YEAR OF 2025, WHEN WE KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER EMERGENCIES, THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER REALITIES.
AND THAT YOU CHOOSE TO ANTICIPATE HARM, ADD TO THE ANXIETY AND THE UNCERTAINTY TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT DOCUMENTS.
THINK ABOUT THE NEXT STATUS FAMILIES.
THINK ABOUT WHAT MESSAGE YOU'RE SENDING TO SCHOOL CHILDREN.
AND WE HOPE AGAIN, AND WE ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER AND THAT YOU THINK AND KNOW AND PROCESS THE FACT THAT YOU ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL OF EL CAJON, NOT JUST A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN EL CAJON, BUT ALL THE FAMILIES, ALL THE SCHOOL CHILDREN, ALL THE WORKERS, AND EVERYBODY WHO'S COMMITTED TO THIS AS A COMMUNITY.
SO WE ASK AND I ASK THAT YOU OPPOSE THE RESOLUTION AND THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PAVE THE WAY OF A MORE UNITED, MORE AT PEACE COMMUNITY THAT EVERYONE DESERVES.
AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR.
UM, I KIND OF WANNA FOCUS ON SB 54, BUT I'S GONNA KIND OF BRING UP A LITTLE BIT MORE TOWARDS, UM, A LITTLE PART OF THE HOMELESSNESS.
UM, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR CONCERN IS TO HELP THE FEDERAL LAW, WHICH IS TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE.
I FEEL AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO HAVE EARNED MY SPOT HERE IN THIS COUNTRY TO FOLLOW IT THROUGH.
BUT AS ALSO A MIGRANT, UM, THAT I CAME HERE BECAUSE MY PARENTS FELT THAT IT WAS MORE OF A OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY, UM, TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A BETTER LIFE.
UNFORTUNATELY, MEXICO, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, DIDN'T REALLY HAVE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AS THE UNITED STATES DOES.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I DIDN'T HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, BUT I DID GROW UP SEEING HOW POLICE WILL, WHETHER WE WANT TO OR NOT, THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS AND THEY HAVE BIAS AND THEY HAVE GROWN UP WITH IDEAS AND THOUGHTS.
AND 19 70, 19 60 IS REALLY NOT THAT FAR AWAY.
UM, WE'VE BARELY GONE PAST THE WHOLE, YOU CAN'T SPEAK SPANISH IN SCHOOLS.
WE BARELY GOT PASSED THROUGH SEGREGATION.
SO SOME OF THOSE MENTALITIES ARE STILL IN OTHER PEOPLE, AND THOSE PEOPLE WILL PASS IT ON UNWILLINGLY TO THEIR CHILDREN, TO THEIR GRANDCHILDREN,
[01:20:01]
WHICH I CAN UNDERSTAND 'CAUSE IT'S A WAY OF THOUGHT.BUT THE FACT IS, I WILL NOT BE LOOKED AT LIKE A CITIZEN.
I WILL BE LOOKED AT AS A IMMIGRANT, AND THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT ME AS A PERSON.
IF SOMEONE HAS A BIAS TOWARDS BROWN PEOPLE OR EVEN THE LAST NAME.
AS YOU CAN KNOW, ALL OF YOU GUYS HAVE FOREIGN NAMES.
THE ONLY ONES THAT REALLY HAD A RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY OR EVEN THE STATE, ARE THE KUAI.
OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WERE HERE FIRST.
SO IF ANYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO SAY YOU DON'T BELONG HERE, IT'S THEM.
THEY ACCEPTED THEM AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND IN EXCHANGE THEY RECEIVED VIOLENCE.
SO I DON'T WANT MY CHILD TO HAVE VIOLENCE PRESENTED TO HER.
MY DAUGHTER IS AFRICAN AMERICAN, MEXICAN AMERICAN, AND I LOVE IT.
BUT SOMETIMES I FEEL SAD BECAUSE AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, SHE WILL GO THROUGH STRUGGLES.
AND AS A MEXICAN AMERICAN, SHE WILL GO THROUGH STRUGGLES.
'CAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY'RE GONNA SEE.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA SEE A POSSIBLE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER OR A NURSE LIKE ME.
I SEE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY SHOULD FOCUS ON IS HOMELESSNESS.
AND SADLY, MOST OF THEM ARE LEGAL CITIZENS, BORN AND RAISED HERE, SEVEN 10TH GENERATION.
WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT INSTEAD.
YOU KNOW, OUR MONEY SHOULD GO INTO THAT.
INSTEAD, OUR CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER A GUY DOWN THE STREET THAT'S CAMPED OUT MIGHT HELP DOWN ON YOU BECAUSE HE'S SO HIGH STRUNG ON SOMETHING HE'S GONNA STAB YOU.
YOU SEE, IF YOU COULD WRAP IT UP HERE.
LIKE SO LONG AGO, NOT TOO LONG AGO, BUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, AN OLDER MIDDLE EASTERN GENTLEMAN GOT ATTACKED BY A HIGH STRUNG UP MAN IN FRONT OF HIS GRANDCHILD.
I THINK THAT'S MORE CONCERNING THAN WORRYING ABOUT IF I'M LEGAL OR NOT.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS BRENDA HAMMOND.
UM, I WOULD INVITE EVERYBODY TO LOOK UP THE LEMON GROVE INCIDENT.
UM, WHEN THE, WELL, I'LL LET YOU LOOK IT UP, BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA WASTE MY TIME ON THAT.
UM, MOST OF MY FRIENDS ARE MEXICAN AMERICANS, AND MOST OF 'EM HAVE BEEN HERE.
THEY CAME HERE WHEN THEIR KIDS WERE VERY YOUNG.
'CAUSE THEY NEEDED TO GET AWAY FROM WHATEVER, UM, PROBLEM THEY HAD TO GET AWAY FROM.
AND SO THEIR KIDS ARE ALL GROWN AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE LIKE GRANDPARENTS NOW, YOU KNOW? SO, UM, I MAYOR WELLS, I THINK YOU SHOULD JUST RECLARIFY WHAT THIS MEANS.
I MEAN, I, I THINK EVERYBODY THINKS THEY'RE GONNA GET KICKED OUT, AND IT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
I MEAN, THE NEXT PRESIDENT HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR HIM.
HE'S NOT GONNA KICK EVERYBODY OUT OF THIS COUNTRY.
HE JUST WANTS TO GET RID OF THE BAD PEOPLE.
AND THAT, AND JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE BROWN OR BOHEMIAN LIKE ME,
AND, AND IF I'M WRONG, WOULD YOU, UM, EDUCATE ME? THANK YOU.
WE RECEIVED ONE MORE CARD FROM STEPHANIE HARPER.
I PUT THE WRONG AGENDA ITEM DOWN.
OKAY, SO THE LAST TIME I HEARD ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT, LET ME SEE, YOUR PAPERS, WAS A NAZI GERMANY
AND UM, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS HERE ARE REALLY SCARED TOO.
AND, UM, WHEN WE ALL THINK ABOUT IT, WE ALL ARE IMMIGRANTS.
LIKE THEY WERE SAYING, THE ONLY REAL PEOPLE THAT DESERVE TO BE HERE ARE THE INDIANS.
SO MY BEST FRIEND, SHE'S MEXICAN, SHE CAME HERE, SHE GOT HER HER IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND SHE'S BEEN NATURALIZED.
AND IT REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING THAT RONALD REAGAN SAID.
HE SAID THAT YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY AND YOU CAN'T BECOME AN ITALIAN.
YOU CAN'T BECOME, YOU KNOW, PORTUGUESE, BUT YOU CAN COME TO AMERICA AND YOU CAN BECOME AN AMERICAN.
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US GREAT.
AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE COME HERE, THEY'RE HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE HARD WORKERS.
[01:25:01]
OPPRESSION, THEY'RE WORKING HARD.NOT LIKE THE LAZY AMERICANS THAT I SEE OUT HERE THAT DON'T WANNA HAVE A JOB THAT WOULD RATHER BE ON THE STREET AND DO DRUGS AND NOT HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT THESE PEOPLE THAT COME OVER HERE, THEY'RE WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF.
THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
AND WHEN YOU SAY THAT, IT'S NOT ABOUT WANTING OUR OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO BE, YOU KNOW, MILITARY, BUT YOU'RE GONNA PUT THEM IN THAT POSITION.
YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THEM IN THAT POSITION.
AND RIGHT NOW, ALL OF YOU GUYS HAVE A CHANCE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT STEVEN GLOBE WAS TALKING ABOUT, REPRESENT US.
THAT MEANS YOU CAN PUSH THE RED BUTTON AND IT'S OKAY.
IT'S ALL RIGHT TO PUSH THAT RED BUTTON, BECAUSE WHAT'S GONNA END UP HAPPENING IS WE'RE GONNA END UP TAKING CITY MONEY OUT TO, TO, UM, TAKE CARE OF ALL THIS, TO PUT MORE STUFF OUT.
THERE'S GONNA BE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA FORESEE THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND PRETTY SOON, GUESS WHAT PAYCHECKS ARE GOING TO ARE GONNA GO DOWN.
MAYBE YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE TO CUT, HAVE A CUT AND PAY, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO OUR, OUR CITY STAFF.
BUT I DON'T REALLY THINK ANY OF THIS IS ABOUT ALL OF ALL OF THIS.
I THINK IT'S NOT ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, GO AHEAD AND LIKE, LET'S AGREE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP IN YOUR POLITICAL CAREER, MR. WELLS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING ELSE BUT YOU HAVING SOMETHING TO SHOW OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE A GOOD ONE.
UH, BRING IT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION.
ANYBODY LIKE TO START? I'LL GO AHEAD AND START.
I THINK, UM, I'VE TALKED TO RESIDENTS AND I THINK THAT SOME OF THE, THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, THEY HAVE A, THEY HAVE A REAL FEAR.
AND I THINK THAT THEIR FEAR IS THAT THEIR COMMUNITY IS TARGETED.
AND IF, IF, AND I'M NOT SAYING I'M GOING TO, BUT IF WE DECIDE TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION, THAT THE WORDING NEEDS TO BE, THAT IT IS BROAD AND THAT WE, I I, LET ME BACK UP.
I'VE BEEN TO THE BORDER AS MANY, PROBABLY SOME OF US HAVE.
I'VE SEEN THE PAPERWORK FROM CHINA, BRAZIL, UH, FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE BAD PLAYERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAS COME HERE.
AND IF WE ARE GOING TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS, UM, TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE BAD CHARACTERS, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE, WE MOVE THE BAD CHARACTERS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SAY BAD CHARACTERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION OR ACROSS THE WORLD.
AND MAYBE NAME SOME OF THOSE NATIONS THAT HAVE, UM, THAT WE HAVE EVIDENCE FROM CHINA AND THE LIKE, RATHER THAN JUST NOT SAYING ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A VALID POINT.
IT HAS BEEN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN TARGETED IN THE PAST.
UM, MY DAUGHTER, HER FATHER IS FROM EL SALVADOR, AND I AM 99% SURE HE IS ILLEGAL.
AND SO MY DAUGHTER IS BROWN SKIN.
AND SO IF THIS WERE TO BE, UH, ENACTED, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MY DAUGHTER COULD BE TARGETED? MY GRANDSON, UH, HAS MONON AS A LAST NAME.
COULD HE BE TARGETED? I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
MY DAUGHTER'S FRIENDS ARE HISPANIC, MANY OF THEM ARE HISPANIC.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT? SO THIS WOULD AFFECT MY FAMILY AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THAT IS THEIR FEAR.
ARE WE GOING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT SO THAT, DO WE HAVE ILLEGAL KANS IN THE COMMUNITY? UH, OR DO WE HAVE ILLEGAL HAITIANS, UH, ILLEGAL, UM, SOMALIS IN THE COMMUNITY? DO THEY, WE DON'T SEE THEM HERE AT THE MEETING, BUT ARE THEY GOING TO BE IN FEAR AS THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY? SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO, UM, IF, IF WE ARE GOING TO PASS IT, THE WORDING NEEDS TO BE BROAD AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS NOT TARGETED BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A FACT.
AND HISTORICALLY IN CALIFORNIA, THEY HAVE BEEN TARGETED.
YES, I ORIGINALLY SIGNED ON TO SUPPORT
[01:30:01]
THIS.UM, BUT AS AN ADULT AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF MY COMMUNITY, I'M ENTITLED TO CHANGE MY MIND IN SUPPORT AS I GET MORE, AS I GET MORE INFORMATION.
AND AS I GET, YOU KNOW, AS PEOPLE TALK TO ME, UM, I'M ENTITLED TO BE RESERVED ABOUT SUPPORTING THIS.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE DO SIT UP HERE AND WE, WE GET INFORMATION FROM STAFF, WE GET INFORMATION FROM OUR COLLEAGUES, WE GET INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE GET INFORMATION FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT IT'S ALL HIGH LEVEL.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.
THESE ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.
AND I HAVE TO DO, I AM ELECTED TO REPRESENT THEM, NOT ANYBODY ELSE'S, UH, NOT ANYONE'S AGENDA.
AND YES, WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE LAW, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY DON'T KNOW RA RE THEY DON'T KNOW SUN PCA.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF I SUPPORT A RESOLUTION THAT IS THIS IMPORTANT, THAT I AM MAKING IT WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE AND FULL INFORMATION THAT IS GONNA BE THE BEST FOR MY COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ANYONE AND NOT ONE CHILDREN TO BE IN FEAR.
SO THAT IS MY 2 CENTS ON THIS.
UM, AND I WILL LISTEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
MICHELLE, YOU MAKE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS.
AND SO DO MANY, MANY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE HERE THAT HAVE SPOKEN.
UH, I WANNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MY BACKGROUND.
MY MOTHER WAS LIVING IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA IN SEPTEMBER OF 1939 WHEN HITLER CAME IN AND THEY SAID, OH, WELL, THE JEWS HAVE TO WEAR THIS YELLOW STAR, BUT THAT'S ALL WE'RE DOING.
WELL, IT WENT FROM THERE TO, SHE WORKED FOR A BOSS THAT WAS JEWISH, AND THE GESTAPO CAME AND DRUG HIM OUT OF THE OFFICE AND MADE HIM WASH CARS.
AND THEN HE CAME BACK A COUPLE DAYS LATER, AND THEN THEY DRUG HIM OUT AGAIN.
HER BEST FRIEND FROM FIRST GRADE.
AND MY MOM WAS ABOUT 20, THEN JUST DISAPPEARED.
SHE WENT OVER TO SEE HER FRIEND AT HER HOUSE, DIFFERENT FAMILY LIVING IN THERE.
BUT EVERYBODY KNEW NOT TO ASK.
SO I AM, UH, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.
'CAUSE THINGS TEND TO CREEP ALONG.
IT GETS WORSE, A LITTLE BIT WORSE AND A LITTLE BIT WORSE.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REALLY WORK HARD TO SAFEGUARD EVERYBODY'S RIGHTS.
UM, OUR IMMIGRANT, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IS, IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY, AND I DON'T WANT TO TEAR OUT THAT FABRIC.
SO I THINK THAT, UH, UH, COOPERATING WITH ICE FOR CRIMINALS, CRIMINALS ONLY, NOBODY ELSE IS REASONABLE.
BECAUSE MANY TIMES THESE CRIMINALS PREY UPON OTHER PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
IT'S, IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR 200 YEARS.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT WANT TO SEE CHILDREN DRUG OUT OF A CHURCH OR CHILDREN DRUG OUT OF, UH, OF SCHOOL.
AND I THINK THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE MADE VERY GOOD POINTS REGARDING OUR POLICE AND THE TRUST THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE WITH THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO A MURDER OR A RAPE AND SOMEONE IS UNDOCUMENTED, THEY'RE GONNA BE SCARED TO DEATH TO COME FORWARD AS A WITNESS.
SO WHAT HAPPENS? THE CRIME, THEY
[01:35:01]
GOES UP AND THE THE, AND THAT'S WHAT THE CRIMINALS KNOW.THEY SAY, I CAN GET AWAY WITH ALL THESE HORRIBLE THINGS BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS AFRAID THEY'LL BE DEPORTED.
SO I, I, I THINK THAT'S BAD POLICY.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, THEY ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM.
THERE'S A REASON THE PEOPLE OVER ARE OVER HERE, AND 99% OF THEM JUST WANNA PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND, UH, WORK AND THEY WORK HARD.
SO, UH, I, I THINK THIS, UH, RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED WITH PERHAPS JUST ONE SENTENCE.
AND THAT IS THE, THE POLICE WILL COOPERATE ONLY WITH ICE WHEN THERE IS AN ACTUAL CONVICTED CRIMINAL.
'CAUSE NOBODY WANTS CRIMINALS IN THE POPULATION.
HOWEVER, THE PERSON THAT'S WORKING IN SOME FACTORY IN EL CAJON OR, UH, WORKING AT A FAST FOOD PLACE OR A COOK, THEY'RE NOT HURTING ANYBODY.
THEY ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY.
AND THEY, A LOT OF 'EM, UH, HAVE EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS.
SO THEY PAY INTO THE SYSTEM TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.
RIGHT NOW, THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T HAVE A 2.1, UH, BIRTH RATE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN IN BIRTH RATE.
WE NEED FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING IN.
AND I BELIEVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE HONEST, HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.
SO THERE, UH, AND THERE, I JUST WONDER, I I'VE BEEN ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR 22 YEARS AND I HAVE SOMETHING, AND I'VE NEVER QUOTED A BIBLE VERSE BEFORE, BUT I'M GONNA DO IT TODAY.
YOU SHALL ALSO LOVE THE STRANGER FOR YOU OR STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.
AND I REALLY THRIVE IN THE DIVERSITY OF EL CAJON BECAUSE WE HAVE 70 DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS, AND WE ALL GET ALONG RIGHT NOW REMARKABLY WELL.
AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTE DRIVE OF MY HOUSE, I CAN HAVE THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD, THE BEST THAI FOOD, THE BEST VIETNAMESE FOOD, AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
AND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE, THEY COME HERE AND THEY WORK 12 HOURS A DAY, SIX OR SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
AND THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF JOBS.
A LOT OF THE AMERICANS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME DON'T WANNA DO.
I MEAN, THEY PICK WHAT, 70% OF OUR CROPS, WHO'S GONNA PICK OUR CROPS? YOU KNOW, THEY, THERE ARE A LOT OF LANDSCAPERS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WORK.
SO I THINK THAT WE NEED AN ADJUSTMENT TO THIS THAT SAYS ONLY PEOPLE CONVICTED OF CRIMES.
THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT WE, UH, COOPERATE WITH ICE ON.
AND I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE AND A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVEN'T SPOKEN, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY THINK, BUT I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A COMPROMISE THAT I CAN LIVE WITH.
'CAUSE UH, I DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE TO BE IN FEAR ALL THE TIME.
LIKE MY MOM WAS, WE'LL, SHOW YOUR PAPERS.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA PICK YOU UP AND SEND YOU TO CONCENTRATION CAMP AND MURDER YOU.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE NEVER KNOW HOW FAR SOMETHING GOES WHEN YOU, IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, THEY SAY, WELL, FIRST THEY CAME, YOU KNOW, FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THEN FOR THE CATHOLICS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND PRETTY SOON, AND I DIDN'T SPEAK UP, AND PRETTY SOON THEY COME FROM ME AND THERE'S NO ONE LEFT TO SPEAK UP.
SO I HAVE, IF I'M GONNA ERR, I'M GONNA ERR ON THE SIDE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT OUR COUNTRY'S BASED ON.
THAT'S WHY WE BECAME A COUNTRY.
SO IF THERE, UH, I WOULD SUGGEST TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE JUST ADD THAT SIMPLE SENTENCE IN THERE SO PEOPLE AREN'T IN THEIR APARTMENT WORRIED ABOUT THE POLICE
[01:40:01]
HAULING THEM AWAY, JUST, JUST FOR THE FACT THAT THEY'RE UNDOCUMENTED OR THEIR KIDS FROM A BOY SCOUT MEETING OR, YOU KNOW, FOR ANYTHING OR FROM CHURCH.YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE IN FEAR 'CAUSE MY MOM WENT THROUGH THAT.
PHIL OR STEVE, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? WELL, FIRST I WANNA, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE SPEAKING COMING, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE, UM, STAYING CIVIL AND CORDIAL.
WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE YELL IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
AND, UM, I HOPE THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE REPUTATION OF THE CITY.
AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE COMMENTED, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A CONSERVATIVE LED CITY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT HAS BEEN MORE WELCOMING TO IMMIGRANTS THAN EL CAJON.
I, I FIRMLY STAND ON THAT, UM, BASED OFF OF ALL THE TRANSLATION SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AT EVERY SINGLE PUBLIC EVENT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT ARE SPOKE IN EL CAJON, AND WE DON'T COVER ALL OF THEM, BUT WE COVER MOST OF THEM.
UM, BUT THEN ALSO THE GRANTS THAT WE GIVE OUT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, GARY'S CONSTANTLY, I THINK EVERY TIME YOU SPEAK AT A COUNCIL, A COUNCIL MEETING, YOU COMMENT ABOUT THE FOOD IN EL CAJON AND HOW, HOW AMAZING IT IS.
UM, I, I SHOULD GO OUT TO DINNER MORE WITH YOU
UM, AND, UH, I, I, I WANNA REALLY CLEARLY MAKE A DECISION THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING OR CREATING IMMIGRATION POLICY HERE.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN EL CAJON.
WE DON'T HAVE THE JURISDICTION OR AUTHORITY TO CREATE IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT IS BETWEEN, THAT IS SOLELY ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SOMEONE SAID THAT, THAT WE'RE CREATING A CONFLICT.
EL CAJONS NOT CREATING THE CONFLICT.
THE CONFLICT IS BETWEEN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO GET HASHED OUT.
AND WHAT, WHAT THIS LETTER TO BONTA SAYS IS YOU NEED TO CLARIFY WITH CITIES, BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE, THEY JUST PASSED A SPECIAL SESSION TO GO ON A LAWSUIT TO $50 MILLION OR HOWEVER MANY DOLLARS OF MONEY TO GO AGAINST WHATEVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRUMP'S POLICIES ARE.
AND SMALL CITIES LIKE US ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
OKAY? THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
WE'RE NOT CREATING ANY KIND OF IMMIGRATION POLICIES HERE.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS CONFIRMATION OF, UM, THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE.
YOU GUYS NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT BECAUSE THIS IS CREATING CONFLICT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS ANGST THAT YOU'RE FEELING IS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP AND OUR STATE LEADERSHIP.
AND SO WE NEED CLARIFICATION AS A CITY AS TO ARE OUR POLICE OFFICERS GONNA BE, UH, PROSECUTED WHEN THEY TALK TO A BORDER PATROL AGENT OR ICE ABOUT SOME FRAUD, STIR DEFRAUDING SOMEONE OR, OR A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, FELON OR SOMEONE THAT'S IN, UH, IN LINE, UM, TO COMMIT A CRIME, GETTING READY TO COMMIT A CRIME.
YOU GUYS NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
'CAUSE THIS IS CAUSING A LOT OF CONFUSION.
AND JUST AS, UH, WORRIED AS THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IS, WHETHER THEY'RE, UM, ILLEGAL OR ILLEGAL, SO ARE OUR POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY ARE GONNA BE CRIMINALLY LIABLE IN SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS.
SB 54 SAYS THAT THE POLICE OFFICER, THE INDIVIDUAL THAT JUST WANTS TO POLICE AND TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND LOCK UP THE BAD GUYS ARE GONNA BE PERSONALLY HELD, RESPONSIBLE AND LOCKED UP.
THIS IS A, AND SO I, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT GLOBAL IMMIGRATION POLICY, AND WE ARE ALL A COMMUNITY HERE.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES IN ALL, ALL OF THIS.
THAT IT IS NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY, UM, TO CREATE IMMIGRATION POLICY.
UM, AND, AND TO BE, AND AND TO BE CLEAR, UM, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, WE DON'T
80, 70 TO 80% OF ALL OF OUR BUDGET IS ON POLICE AND FIRE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR BUDGET TO TURN, LIKE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WE'RE RETURN TO GESTAPO.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
WE COULD, WE YOU GOT, IF YOU'VE CALLED 9 1 1, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LONG TIME.
WE'RE WE HAVE A CALL QUEUE OF PEOPLE CALLING NINE ONE ONE FOR EMERGENCIES.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET FOR, FOR THIS, UH, FOR THE CITY TO PUT INTO TO THAT KIND OF AN OPERATION.
BUT WE WE'RE A REACTIVE POLICE FORCE.
'CAUSE WE'RE STRAINED AS IT IS.
UM, SOMEONE, SOMEONE ALSO SAID, WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A DISTINCTION TOO.
UM, AND GARY MADE IT, UM, BETWEEN THE IMMIGRANT WHO IS, WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS AND IS PAYING TAXES AND, AND HE'S A HARD WORKING SOCIETY.
I, I, I'M A SECOND GENERATION.
MY TTA CAME OVER HERE PREGNANT WITH MY MOM.
EVERYBODY IN THE CROWD THAT SPOKE IT, IT FEELS LIKE I'M BACK AT MY, UH, MY, MY FAMILY'S RESTAURANT IN CHICAGO L HARD DEAN.
[01:45:01]
TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN GARY, YOU SAID THE CRIMINAL AND THAT, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANNA DO.WE WANNA MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
AND IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD WHEN WE HAVE SOMEONE IN CUSTODY, UM, WHO IS A KNOWN CRIMINAL.
AND IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE NOT GUILTY OF IT, THEN WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT GUILTY OF IT.
UM, BUT, BUT WE, IT DOESN'T, DOESN'T DO THE COMMUNITY GOOD TO, TO SHELTER, UH, CRIMINALS WHO SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE.
THAT DOESN'T HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, THAT'S ON THE HEELS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO PASSING A SUPER SANCTUARY CITY SAYING COUNTY SAN DIEGO CANNOT DEPORT ANY, UH, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE FELONS ANY.
AND SO THIS IS THE DYNAMIC THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THE THREE LAYERS OF GOVERNMENT ABOVE US, THE COUNTY SAYING, UM, THE COUNTY, SAN DIEGO SAYING THIS IS, UH, A SUPER SANCTUARY COUNTY.
NO ONE, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID TO, UH, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY OR, UH, CITIZEN, OR IT DOESN'T MATTER, CAN BE DEPORTED.
THEN WE'RE DEALING WITH THE STATE THAT'S DEFINED FEDERAL IMMIGRATION.
THEY HAVE AUTHORITY OVER IMMIGRATION.
THE STATES CAN'T DECIDE IMMIGRATION INDIVIDUALLY.
THERE HAS TO BE SOME CONTINUITY.
UM, AND SO I I, THE, I I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE SOMEONE SAID SOME, THEY'RE GONNA BE LIVING IN FEAR.
THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE LIVING IN FEAR ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPLOITING AND TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE, UM, THAT ARE CRIMINALS, WHETHER THEY'RE CITIZENS OR NOT.
AND THAT, THAT'S, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT OUR POLICE FORCE IS DEDICATED TO DOING.
THAT'S, THOSE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE LIVING IN FEAR.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL DISAGREES WITH THAT.
LET, I, I I THINK WE WANT, YEAH.
UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE I GET THROUGH ALL MY POINTS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PASSION.
I JUST, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY JUST STAYING CIVIL AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE I THINK, I THINK OUR REPUTATION HAS SHOWN TREMENDOUSLY THAT WE CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY AND, UH, AND WE, WE ALL, WE, WE HAVE TO LIVE TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S 3000 MILES AWAY, STATE GOVERNMENT'S EVEN, YOU KNOW, FARTHER, WE, WE HAVE TO LIVE TOGETHER.
SO, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
SO, UH, YEAH, I'LL LET, I'LL LET STEVE AND, AND, UH, THE MAYOR SPEAK.
UH, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE LAWS COMING OUT OF SACRAMENTO, BUT I DO AGREE WITH SOME PARTS OF SB 54.
UM, IMMIGRANTS ARE VALUABLE AND ESSENTIAL MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY.
AS MY COLLEAGUES SAID, THE BIRTH RATE OF THOSE HERE IS 1.5.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT EVEN REPLACING OURSELVES AS, AS THE GENERATIONS GOES ON, WE MUST HAVE IMMIGRANTS TO THRIVE AS AMERICA AND CALIFORNIA HAS THRIVED BECAUSE OF IMMIGRATION.
SO, UH, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AFFIRM THE VALUE OF IMMIGRATION.
I ALSO WANT TO, UH, AFFIRM THAT IT'S IMPORTANT, THAT TRUST, UH, AS SB 54 SAYS, BETWEEN CALIFORNIA'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, IS CENTRAL TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO I AGREE WITH THOSE WHO SAY, UH, WE ARE SCARED.
IF ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE GONNA BE ASKED FOR PAPERS AND WE WON'T REPORT CERTAIN CRIMES, THEN THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE.
OUR POLICE ARE, AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, UH, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT, IMMIGRATION IS NOT A LOCAL COUNTY OR EVEN STATE ISSUE.
AND, UH, MY INTEREST IS REPRESENTING YOU ON A LOCAL LEVEL AND OUR INTEREST IS PROTECTING YOU.
THAT'S 75% OF OUR BUDGET IS PROTECTING YOU.
SO WHAT WE REALLY ARE TALKING ABOUT, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I AGREE WITH THE TITLE OF THIS RESOLUTION, AND I WOULD SUGGEST A CHANGE SOMEHOW.
UH, BUT THE TITLE IS THIS ATTEMPT TO ASSIST FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.
I WOULD RATHER IT SAID SOMETHING LIKE, TO INTENT TO ENSURE ALL RESIDENT SAFETY FROM THOSE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY CONVICTED OF CRIMES OR SUBJECT TO A FEDERAL PROBABLE CAUSE ARREST WARRANT THAT MAKES MORE SENSE, SAFETY WISE, IMMIGRATION, THAT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE.
AND OUR POLICE BY LAW CANNOT STOP THOSE AND SAY, WHAT ARE YOUR PAPERS? IT'S NOT THEIR JOB.
UH, I, I RECENTLY WAS AT A CONFERENCE AND I, I SAT BEHIND AN ICE AGENT AND HE SAID, THERE'S 3000 OF US IN THE COUNTRY.
AND HE SAID, WE HAVE THREE MANDATES.
HE SAID, FIRST IS CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN.
THAT'S OUR, OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
HE SAID, SECOND, IT'S CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN.
HE SAID, THAT'S OUR SECOND PRIORITY.
HE SAID, THIRD, IT'S THOSE WHO ARE
[01:50:01]
DISTRIBUTING DRUGS.HE SAID AFTER THAT, ICE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE MANPOWER OR OR PERSON POWER TO DO THAT.
THE FIRST, THE DECLARATION OF INTENT OF A RESOLUTION SAYS THE CITY OF EL CAJON DECLARES ITS INTENT TO ASSIST FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMOVING THOSE, POSING A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR INTENT IN THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT TO ASSIST FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES.
I HAVE NO INTEREST IN DOING THAT.
THAT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.
IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REMOVE THOSE, POSING A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT IS OUR LOCAL JURISDICTION.
THERE ARE 300,000 UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANTS, MINORS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE A LOT OF 'EM ARE.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE CONVICTED MURDERERS AND RAPISTS.
THAT IS WHO WE NEED TO PROTECT AS A LOCAL COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T NEED TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO'S A LANDSCAPE OWNER, WHO'S A A, A HOUSEKEEPER, WHO IS AN ACCOUNTANT, WHO IS AN ENGINEER.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE CRIMINALS.
AND THAT IS WHO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE AND COMMUNITY.
UH, WHEN POLICE ASK FOR PAPERS, OUR POLICE, I, I THINK OUR COUNCIL'S POSITION IS WE DON'T WANT OUR POLICE ASKING FOR PAPERS.
IT'S AGAINST THE LAW FOR THEM TO ASK FOR PAPERS.
UH, I'VE HEARD THINGS ABOUT FEAR MONGERING.
UH, YOUR INTENT IS TO STOP US.
UH, YOU ARE HERE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
I, MY INTENT WITH THE RESOLUTION, AND I WISH WE WERE TO RETITLE THIS, IS TO TALK ABOUT PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY.
I, I THINK MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO IS SEND THIS BACK TO STAFF.
I MEAN, THEY, BILL, YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET WITH YOUR CONCLUSION, BUT I THINK IF WE COULD SEND IT BACK TO STAFF, WE COULD JUST MAKE THIS RESOLUTION PROBABLY ONE PARAGRAPH THAT JUST SAYS, THE, THE CITY, UH, THE POLICE WILL COOPERATE WITH ICE WHEN THERE IS A CRIME INVOLVED ONLY WITH CRIMINALS.
EVERYBODY ELSE, THE POLICE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING WITH, I MEAN, THERE, THERE'S A NICE WAY TO SAY IT.
I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, AND I'M SURE MORGAN COULD ALWAYS COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS ILLEGAL AND SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IF THEY STARTED GRABBING PEOPLE OUT, PEOPLE OUT OF FACTORIES AND, AND LANDSCAPING AND, AND HOTEL PEOPLE, I MEAN, IT WOULD REALLY CRASH OUR ECONOMY.
SO, UH, I THINK IT NEEDS A LITTLE MORE WORK.
WELL, I HATE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU, BUT I WANNA, I I REALLY WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT PHIL SAID.
NOBODY HERE IS PROPOSING TO MAKE IMMIGRATION POLICY.
THIS IS A DEBATE THAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BE DEBATED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
IT'S GONNA BE DEBATED AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT THE CITY OF EL CAJONS, IT'S KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE.
WE'VE GOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYING, WE'LL PROSECUTE YOU IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T HELP US, WE'VE GOT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAYING, WE'LL PROSECUTE YOU IF YOU DO HELP THEM.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ABIDE BY THE LAW.
I WANNA LOOK AT WHAT I WANT EVERYBODY TO GET TO TAKE JUST A SETBACK FROM THE, THE ANGST ABOUT THIS.
JUST LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, DECLARES THE INTENT.
NOT, NOT THAT WE'RE GOING TO, IT DECLARES OUR INTENT TO ASSIST WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.
IT REQUESTS GUIDANCE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
SO ALL WE'RE DOING IS SAYING, WE TOOK AN OATH.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT, THAT OATH SAYS WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAWS, WHETHER WE LIKE THE LAWS OR DON'T LIKE THE LAWS, WHETHER WE THINK THEY'VE GONE TOO FAR OR THEY HAVEN'T GONE TOO FAR.
OUR INTENT IS TO DO WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, WHICH IS FOLLOW THE LAW.
[01:55:01]
SITUATION RIGHT NOW.WE'VE GOT TWO DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, BOTH OF WHICH ARE HIGHER LEVEL THAN WE ARE THAT ARE TAKING OPPOSITE SIDES.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING RACIST ABOUT FOLLOW THE LAW.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING PROVOCATIVE ABOUT DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO SEND IT BACK.
I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE.
THIS IS, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IS WE'VE GOTTEN VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS AND BROUGHT IN A LOT OF THE ELEMENTS TO THIS THAT ARE JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
NOBODY'S ASKED, NO, NO NAZI GERMANY SITUATION IS HAPPENING HERE, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED.
BUT IT'S NOT, IT IS NOT UP TO US.
IT IS NOT UP TO THE CITY OF EL CAJON TO MAKE THIS DECISION.
ALL WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WHEN WE FOLLOW THE LAW, WE DON'T WANT TO BE PROSECUTED.
AND SPECIFICALLY, THE MAIN REASON THIS WHOLE THING CAME UP WAS BECAUSE OUR POLICE OFFICERS COULD BE PROSECUTED, LOSE THEIR JOBS, LOSE THEIR PENSION, AND BE SUED CIVILLY IF, IF THEY, IF THEY FOLLOW FEDERAL, THE FEDERAL LAW.
SO WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION.
SO I JUST, WE CAN DISAGREE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A GOOD TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION OR NOT, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL TO, TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT MAKING IMMIGRATION POLICY.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT TAKING SIDES.
THIS IS ABOUT ASKING CLARIFICATION IS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO OUR CITY? WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS? WHERE DO WE STAND LEGALLY? AND I THINK IT'S COMPLETELY REASONABLE FOR ESTIMATE THAT REQUEST.
AND SO I WOULD, I WOULD MAKE A, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION BASED UPON WHAT I'M SAYING.
MR. MAYOR, WHY DO WE HAVE TO MAKE A RESOLUTION? WHY WE, WHY, WHY WE DON'T HAVE, WE, WE DON'T HAVE TO, BUT, BUT I, BUT I WANT TO.
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE NO ON THAT.
NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT WHY, OKAY.
WE, WE REQUESTED GUIDANCE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
WE DIDN'T NEED A RESOLUTION TO DO THAT.
WE, UM, WE, WE DON'T NEED A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRUST.
THE PUBLIC IS HERE, THE MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC IS HERE RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T NEED THEIR, WE NEED THEIR APP.
MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE BRINGING UP TO THEM.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE AFFIRM THE COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WHY DO WE NEED TO BRING A RESOLUTION TO REAFFIRM A COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY? WHY DO WE NEED TO DO A RESOLUTION? ISN'T THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE INHERENT IN OUR POSITIONS? WELL, THE REASON WE NEED TO IS BECAUSE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS AT ODDS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND.
SO, OKAY, SO I'M, I I'VE GOT A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT WE SEND THIS BACK TO STAFF FOR SOME REWORDING THAT ACKNOWLEDGES SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY AND THE, UH, COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL.
AND TO, UH, COME UP WITH A, IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE GONNA GET A RESOLUTION, WE NEED TO AFFIRM, UH, THE EXISTING COMMUNITY'S VALUE.
AND WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE THE, UH, PURPOSE OF PROTECTING ALL CITIZENS, ALL RESIDENTS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES, WHO ARE HERE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.
SO, I, I THINK IT NEEDS BETTER WORDING.
AND I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE KICK THIS BACK TO STEP I'LL SECOND.
MOTION CARRIES BY A FOUR TO ONE VOTE.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR COMING.
I APPRECIATE YOU PARTICIPATING IN THIS DEMOCRACY EXERCISE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK, UH, QUICK BREAK AND WE'LL COME BACK IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
IF WE COULD HAVE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS COME BACK.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE MEETING.
I THINK THE GUY WITH THE HOODIE LEFT.
I DON'T KNOW THE ONE WITH THE RED LETTERS.
I'M GONNA SEE IF HE COMES BACK.
[10. Prohibition of Vaping and Electronic Smoking Devices Disguised as Other Products RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: Reviews a draft Ordinance that prohibits vaping and electronic smoking devices disguised as other products; and Provides feedback on the draft Ordinance.]
OUR NEXT ORDINANCE IS ABOUT, ITEM 10 IS REGARDING THE PROHIBITION OF VAPING, ELECTRONIC DEVICES, DISGUISE OF OTHER PRODUCTS.UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE, UH, RUN UP AGAINST A HARD DEADLINE.
WE HAVE TO, UM, HAVE CLOSED SESSION AT SIX CLOCK.
SO IF, UH, NOBODY'S HAS ANY OBJECTION, I'D LIKE TO, UH, REVISIT THIS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
[02:00:01]
NO OBJECTION.CA UH, STAFF YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION? NO, SIR.
UM, MAYOR, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER FOR ITEM 10, AND I BELIEVE MS. UH, ETT CAN COME BACK AT NEXT MEETING.
YOU CAN'T SPEAK IF YOU'D RATHER, BUT I'LL WAIT.
YOU GOT, CAME OUT FOR NOTHING.
UM, THERE ARE NO COMMISSION REPORTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
[11. Council Activity Report]
UM, ITEM 11 IS MY ACTIVITIES REPORT, WHICH IS AS REPORTED.[12. COUNCILMEMBER STEVE GOBLE MTS (Metropolitan Transit System Board); East County Advanced Water Purification Joint Powers Authority Board; Chamber of Commerce – Government Affairs Committee; SANDAG – Board of Directors – Alternate; SANDAG Public Safety Committee – Alternate.]
AT ACTIVITIES REPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER GOLE AS REPORTED[13. MAYOR PRO TEM GARY KENDRICK METRO Commission/Wastewater JPA; Heartland Communications; Heartland Fire Training JPA.]
COUNCIL MEMBER KENDRICK, UH, AS REPORTED[14. COUNCILMEMBER MICHELLE METSCHEL Harry Griffen Park Joint Steering Committee; METRO Commission/Wastewater JPA – Alternate; Heartland Communications – Alternate; Heartland Fire Training JPA – Alternate.]
COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL AS REPORTED.[15. COUNCILMEMBER PHIL ORTIZ League of California Cities, San Diego Division; East County Economic Development Council; MTS (Metropolitan Transit System Board) – Alternate; East County Advanced Water Purification Joint Powers Authority Board – Alternate; Chamber of Commerce – Government Affairs Committee – Alternate.]
MEMBER ORTIZ.THERE ARE NO JOINT COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS, NO GENERAL INFORMATION ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
[16. Amendments to the El Cajon Municipal Code (Title 16 and Title 17) & Specific Plan No. 182 RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopts the next Resolution, in order, approving the California Environmental Quality Act exemption; and introduces the next Ordinances, in order, approving amendments to the El Cajon Municipal Code (Title 16 and Title 17) & Specific Plan No. 182.]
UM, ITEM 16 IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CEQ EXEMPTION AND TO INTRODUCE THREE ORDINANCES FOR CHANGES TO TITLE 16.TITLE 17, SB 180 2 STAFF YOU TOOK.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, NOAH
UH, THIS TIME RELATED TO THE, UH, DECEMBER 10TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, AT THAT MEETING, UH, THE COUNCIL, UH, REVIEW DRAFT ORDINANCES TO UPDATE THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE AS WELL AS THE ZONING CODE AND AS WELL AS A SPECIFIC PLAN, 180 2 FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, AT THAT MEETING, UH, THE COUNCIL GAVE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO MAKE TWO MODIFICATIONS TO THE DRAFT ORDINANCES AND THEN TO RETURN TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST ORDINANCE READING, UH, THE TWO CHANGES WERE TO ALLOW ON SALE ALCOHOL OUTLETS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, IN EXCESS OF 2,500 SQUARE FEET, BUT ONLY SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY CITY COUNCIL.
AND THE OTHER, UH, CHANGE WAS TO, UH, REQUIRE DECORATIVE LIGHTING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO BE WHITE LIGHTS ONLY.
SO THESE UPDATES HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE, UH, DRAFT ORDINANCES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF IS TO, UH, APPROVE, UH, THE NEXT RESOLUTION IN AN ORDER FOR THE, UH, CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT EXEMPTION, AND THEN DIRECT STAFF TO, UH, INITIATE THE FIRST, UH, ORDINANCE READINGS.
ANGELA, DO WE HAVE A SPEAKER CURRENT? UH, NO SIR, WE DON'T.
UH, WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION MOVE ADOPTION.
ANGELA, DO YOU NEED TO READ THESE? YES, SIR.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND THE TITLE FOR FIRST ORDINANCE IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 16.12 OF THE ALCOHOL MUNICIPAL CODE, ADDRESSING MINISTERIAL APPROVAL OF CERTAIN SUBDIVISIONS.
NEXT TITLE AND ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 17 OF THE EL CAJON MUNICIPAL CODE.
SONY CODE FOR HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL LAND USES AND OTHER MINOR TECHNICAL CHANGES, REVISIONS AND EDITS.
AND THE LAST TITLE IN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO SPECIFIC PLAN NUMBER 180 2 TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL ON SALE ALCOHOLIC ONLY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENTS, ADDING REQUIREMENTS FOR DECORATIVE LIGHTING AND PROHIBITING ANIMATED OR FLASHING SIGNS INCLUDING LIGHT ROPES AND OTHER NON-SUBSTANTIVE, UH, CHANGES INCLUDING CLARIFYING RETAIL MERCHANDISE WINDOW DISPLAYS REQUIREMENTS.
[17. Renew and Approve Policy 706 Military Equipment Use, 2024 Edition RECOMMENDATION: That Mayor Wells requests the City Clerk to recite the title. An Ordinance Reviewing and Approving Ordinance 5119 to Renew Restrictions Relating to Purchase of Military Equipment, Supplies, or Other Property for Law Enforcement Use; Approving the El Cajon Police Department's Annual Military Equipment Report for 2024 and Approving Policy 706 Military Equipment Use, 2024 Edition. The proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines section 15378. Adoption of an Ordinance authorizing the police department’s use of current and budgeted equipment does not meet CEQA's definition of a “project,” because such administrative action does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.]
HAVE ONE SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES ON TODAY'S AGENDA.ITEM 17 IS TO RENEW AND APPROVE POLICY 7 0 6 MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE.
I WILL ASK THE CITY CLERK TO READ THE TITLE, BUT FIRST ANGELA ARE, ARE THERE ANY SPEAKER CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? NOT FOR THIS ITEM, SIR.
UM, AND THE TITLE READS AN ORDINANCE, REVIEWING AND APPROVING ORDINANCE 5 1 1 9 TO RENEW RESTRICTIONS RELATING TO PURCHASE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, OR OTHER PROPERTY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE, APPROVING THE EL CAJON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORT FOR 2024 AND APPROVING POLICY 7 0 6 MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE 2024 EDITION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THEN TO ADOPT.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[23. CLOSED SESSIONS:]
WE ARE NOW AT CLOSED SESSION.THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL RECITE THE TITLE AND LEAD US INTO CLOSED SESSION.
UH, BEFORE WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER, TWO SPEAKER CARDS.
THANK TWO SPEAKER CARDS ON THIS ITEM ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM.
THE FIRST ONE IS FROM BRADLEY FIELDS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS BRADLEY FIELDS, I'M THE
[02:05:01]
ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR THE OFFICER IN QUESTION ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER.WITH THE LIMITED TIME I HAVE THIS AFTERNOON, I ASK YOU TO FOCUS ON A HANDFUL OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS, WHICH WOULD LEAD YOU TO OVERTURN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION TO TERMINATE MY CLIENT.
FIRST, MY CLIENT COMMITTED NO SERIOUS MISCONDUCT, AS THE ALLEGATIONS ARE LIMITED TO MINOR ISSUES ARISING OUT OF ABOUT AN HOUR OF ONE WORK SHIFT, WHICH RESULTED IN NO HARM TO ANYONE.
THESE ALLEGATIONS INCLUDED UN ALLEGED UNSAFE HANDLING OF A FIREARM, DESPITE MY CLIENT'S ESTABLISHED MILITARY AND DEPARTMENTAL EXPERTISE TO HIRE, TO HANDLE FIREARMS, FAILING TO FINISH REPORTS WHEN HE HAD BEEN GIVEN A WRITTEN WARNING TO WORK ON THOSE REPORTS EARLIER IN THE VERY SHIFT THAT HE HAD BEEN, UM, ULTIMATELY, UM, DISCIPLINED FOR.
AND WHEN HE DROVE TO A CALL IN A SAFE AND APPROPRIATE MANNER TO DEAL WITH A KNOWN, DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT TRANSIENT.
AND WHILE MY CLIENT DID TECHNICALLY VIOLATE POLICY FOR USING PROFANE LANGUAGE, THIS ADMITTED MINOR POLICY VIOLATION IS JUST THAT IT'S A MINOR POLICY VIOLATION.
HOWEVER, EVEN IF YOU PUT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS SUSTAINED VIOLATIONS TOGETHER, THEY DO NOT JUSTIFY TERMINATION.
SECOND, MY CLIENT WHO BEGAN WORKING FOR THE ELCON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2019 HAD RECEIVED NO PRIOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT EXCEPT FOR ONE SUSTAINED PRIOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR ISSUES RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF HIS POLICE VEHICLE.
HOWEVER, SIMILAR ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT RELATED TO OPERATION OF HIS POLICE VEHICLE ALLEGED BY THE DEPARTMENT AGAINST MY CLIENT IN SUPPORT OF THIS VERY TERMINATION WERE OVERTURNED BY THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION.
AS SUCH, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PRIOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION THAT SUPPORTS ANY PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST MY CLIENT WHATSOEVER.
AND THIRD, WE RESERVE TERMINATIONS FOR INSTANCES IN WHICH PUBLIC EMPLOYERS DEEM EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT SO SEVERE THAT THESE EMPLOYEES CANNOT RETURN TO WORK.
HOWEVER, IN THIS INSTANCE, THE DEPARTMENT WAS WILLING TO RETURN MY CLIENT TO WORK UNDER THE TERMS OF WHAT'S CALLED A LAST CHANCE AGREEMENT, WHICH WOULD'VE REINSTATED MY CLIENT TO HIS JOB WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THE ONLY REASON MY CLIENT DID NOT ACCEPT THE DEPARTMENT'S LA LAST CHANCE AGREEMENT OFFERED TO RETURN TO WORK WAS BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE REQUIRED HIM TO WAIVE ALL FUTURE RIGHTS FOR, OF APPEAL FOR ANY ADDITIONAL ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT WHATSOEVER.
BUT THAT'S NOT RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE AT HAND.
ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS WI WILLING TO REINSTATE MY CLIENT TO HIS POSITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS HARDLY AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS, COULD NOT BE SALVAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
MY CLIENT COMMITTED MINOR MISCONDUCT WITH NO PRIOR, UH, RELEVANT MISCONDUCT SUPPORTING PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST HIM, AND THE DEPARTMENT WAS WILLING TO REINSTATE HIM TO HIS POSITION.
I ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION'S DECISION TO UPHOLD DETERMINATION AND REINSTATE HIM TO HIS POSITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THE SECOND SPEAKER IS TIMOTHY HOWELL.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CITY STAFF.
I GOT A SHORT TIME LIMIT HERE, BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO YOU THE BEST I CAN.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING WRITTEN UP PREPARED FOR YOU.
I'M JUST SPEAKING TO YOU AS A MAN BEFORE.
I WAS WITH THE ELK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM 2019 TILL, UM, RECENTLY TO AUGUST OF 24 WHEN I WAS TERMINATED, THE POLICY VIOLATIONS, WHICH I WAS TERMINATED FOR, I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, UNSAFE HANDLING OF A FIREARM, WHICH WAS FOR DRY FIRING AND WOULD I BELIEVE TO BE A SAFE AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT, SOMETHING WE'RE TAUGHT TO DO FROM THE SECOND WEEK OF THE ACADEMY.
A LITTLE BIT OF MY BACKGROUND, I'VE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS, WAS A MARINE BEFORE THAT MACHINE GUNNER, THEN SCOUT SNIPERS.
SO I WAS A COMPETITIVE SHOOTER.
I HAVE A VERY VAST FIREARMS BACKGROUND AS A POLICE OFFICER.
WE'RE POINTING OUR GUNS WITH ROUNDS IN 'EM AT SUSPECTS ON A REGULAR BASIS AT A LIVE PERSON.
SO ME PRACTICING ONE OF WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST LIABLE LIABILITY WRITTEN THINGS IN A SAFE AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AND MY TRAINING EXPERIENCE IN A SAFE WAY, I DID NOT THINK WAS A POLICY VIOLATION.
BUT IF THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T WANT ME TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON DUTY, I CAN ABSOLUTELY GO WITH THAT.
I JUST, I DON'T FEEL I WAS EVER GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I WAS RAN UP FOR A HORSEPLAY FOR SPINNING IN AN OFFICE CHAIR, JUST BETWEEN ME AND MY PARTNER AND ESSENTIALLY A REPORT WRITING SETTING WHERE MY BODY CAMERA WENT OFF WITHOUT ME KNOWING, AND WE'RE JUST TALKING AS OFFICERS DO TO VENT AFTER 10 HOURS OF A 13 HOUR SHIFT, UM, FOR PARKING ON A SIDEWALK THAT I THOUGHT WAS BUILT FOR US, AND PUBLIX WORKS TO OPERATE ON AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
I DID NOT SEE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT WAS GONNA BE AN ISSUE AS IT WAS DONE EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
[02:10:01]
HOWEVER, IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO DO IT, ABSOLUTELY I CAN CHURCH UP TO EVERY LETTER OF THE POLICY.I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT I WAS GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR MAKING A RIGHT ON RED AT MADISON AND SECOND FOR I ROLLED THE RED LIGHT CALIFORNIA ROLL, AS MANY CALL IT.
YOU DON'T WANT ME DOING THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
MY JUDGMENT AT THE TIME WAS I WAS ON THE WAY TO A CALL.
I COULD CLEAR THE INTERSECTION, SEE THAT IT'S SAFE, AND I ROLLED THROUGH EVEN WITH A TURN SIGNAL.
AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD WRITE A CITIZEN UP FOR IN THE TOTALITY OF THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE I DID NOT SEE THAT AS UNSAFE.
I CAN FIX IT ABSOLUTELY ON THE WAY TO THE CALL.
USED MY LIGHTS AND SIRENS TO TRY TO GET THE SUSPECT TO, UM, BREAK OFF FROM ALLEGEDLY MAKING THREATS OF SLASHING THE CLERK'S THROAT GOT THERE.
I DID, I TOLD 'EM TO GO THE F**K HOME.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN TAUGHT IS YOU CAN MATCH THEIR ENERGY.
THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT I KNEW BY NAME, CALLED BY NAME, AND WHO'S ONLY RECEPTIVE TO THAT TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, AGGRESSION TOWARDS HIM AND HE'S RESPONSIVE AND HE LEAVES FOR IT.
YOU WANT ME TO DO EVERYTHING PERFECT TO THE LETTER OF THE POLICY? ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, I, IF I DID SOMETHING WRONG, I WILL FIX IT.
BUT I FEEL I WASN'T GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.
I DIDN'T DRIVE A UNMARKED POLICE CAR DRUNK AND GET CAUGHT BY CHPI WASN'T LIKE MANY OTHER OFFICERS WHO I'M NOT SAYING SHOULD BE IN ANY MORE TROUBLE, BUT WHO HAVE COMMITTED ACTUAL CRIMES THAT ARE MISDEMEANORS OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED, OR USING THEIR BADGE TO GET OUTTA SITUATIONS AND HAVE RETAINED THEIR JOB.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY SHOULD BE IN TROUBLE.
EVERYBODY'S PEOPLE WE'RE JUST NORMAL PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE DAY AND PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES.
HOWEVER, ALL I ASK IS THAT I WAS GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AND SECOND CHANCE THAT OTHER OFFICERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
OKAY, THEN, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE CLOSED SESSION.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
ALRIGHT, AND MAYOR, MAYOR FOR, SINCE WE DID NOT ANNOUNCE IT, IS A CLOSED SESSION FOR CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL RELATED TO A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE, DISMISSAL AND RELEASE.
I WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING BECAUSE I REPRESENT THE, UH, COMMISSION IN NORMAL, NORMAL PRACTICE AND MY LAW FIRM, UH, REPRESENTED THE DEPARTMENT IN THIS ACTION.
UH, YOU WILL BE ASSISTED BY AN ATTORNEY, BART MISFIELD, WHO, UH, ASSISTED THE COMMISSION.
WE'LL BE BACK IN A FEW MINUTES TO CONCLUDE THE MEETING.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE BACK FROM CLOSED SESSION.
I'LL DEFER TO THE ATTORNEY TO, UM, TELL ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN CLOSED SESSION.
UM, ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL.
UH, THE ACTION TAKEN WAS TO SUSTAIN THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION OF TERMINATION.
ALRIGHT, THIS BRINGS US TO ADJOURNMENT, THE REGULAR JOINT MEDIA OF THE ELCON CITY COUNCIL.
ELCON HOUSING AUTHORITY SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE ELCON REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
HELD THIS 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 AS ADJOURNED UNTIL TUESDAY, JANUARY 28TH, 2025 AT 3:00 PM THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.