Item 1, Public Comm. No. 101 Seth Allingham

Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To:

Subject:

CAUTION: External Sender

Gillian Bell <[email protected]> Sunday, June 14, 2020 5:57 PM

Item 1, Public Comm. No. 101

Trevor Atashkarian; John McCauley; Sashi McEntee; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail; Urban Carmel; Tricia Ossa Change You Can Make

Dear Mayor Sashi McEntee, Vice Mayor John McCauley, Councilmember Jim Wickham, Councilmember Urban Carmel, and Councilmember Tricia Ossa,

I realize that you offices are most likely receiving quite a few of these emails but know that each person who writes their name down in the template believes that change is possible and necessary. Listen to us. The youth is the future and we are your constituents and we demand a serious change in the way Mill Valley PD is run and organized and the way all of Marin's police departments are run.

My name is Gillian Bell, I went to Tamai pa is High School and I am a resident of Tiburon. I am writing to demand that the Mill Valley City Council adopts a budget that prioritizes community well-being, and redirects funding away from the police.

Across all fifty states this past week, through protests, demonstrations, and vigils, the efficacy of our current form of policing and its systemic racism has been called into question. In Mill Valley, hundreds of people blocked Miller Avenue two days in a row protesting in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, demanding police accountability on a national and local level. In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed has already begun the process of budget reallocation, and now it is our turn, as a neighbor city, to do the same, and to lead the way for the rest of Marin County.

Police Services in the number one expenditure by the City of Mill Valley. This budget is not a reflection of the needs of our city. While individuals are expected to fund raise out-of-pocket for programs within public education, such as dance, drama, and art, the police can be seen on a daily basis giving tickets to drivers going one mile over the speed limit; we need to reprioritize our budget. The millions of dollars we spend each year on police equipment and staff could be channeled into more productive resources, such as funding for mental health services, or on-call social workers. These adaptations are being made by other cities across the country. In a town with infrequent crime, a large and overlyequipped police force results in more arbitrary traffic stops, not less crime. This is a unique opportunity to re imagine public safety from a community-based approach, an opportunity to prioritize youth programming, mental health, public education and more.

Mill Valley can be a leader on this issue, if you and our other city officials have the courage to step up. I join the calls of those across the country to defund the police.

As the City Council, the budget proposal is in your hands. It is your duty to represent your constituents. I am urging you to completely revise the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

We can be a beacon for other cities to follow, if only we have the courage to change.

Sincerely,

Gillian Bell

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157 Trinidad Drive, Tiburon CA 94920 [email protected] (415)342-9851

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Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To:

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! CAUTION: External Sender

Eric Martini <[email protected]> Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:06 PM


Trevor Atashkarian; John McCauley; Sashi McEntee; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail; Urban Carmel; Tricia Ossa Mill Valley must take immediate steps toward abolition!


My name is Eric Martini, and f am a resident of Tam Valley. I am writing to demand that the Mill Valley City Council adopts a budget that prioritizes community well-being, and redirects funding away from the police. Across all fifty states this past week, through protests, demonstrations, and vigils, the efficacy of our current form of policing and its systemic racism has been called into question. In Mill Valley, hundreds of people blocked Miller Avenue two days in a row protesting in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, demanding police accountability on a national and local level. In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed has already begun the process of budget reallocation, and now it is our turn, as a neighbor city, to do the same, and to lead the way for the rest of Marin County. Police Services in the number one expenditure by the City of Mill Valley. This budget is not a reflection of the needs of our city. While individuals are expected to fund raise out-of-pocket for programs within public education, such as dance, drama, and art, the police can be seen on a daily basis giving tickets to drivers going one mile over the speed limit; we need to reprioritize our budget. The millions of dollars we spend each year on police equipment and staff could be channeled into more productive resources, such as funding for mental health services, or on-call social workers. These adaptations are being made by other cities across the country. In a town with infrequent crime, a large and overly-equipped police force results in more arbitrary traffic stops, not less crime. This is a unique opportunity to reimagine public safety from a community-based approach, an opportunity to prioritize youth programming, mental health, public education and more. Mill Valley can be a leader on this issue, if you and our other city officials have the courage to step up. f join the calls of those across the country to defund the police. As the City Council, the budget proposal is in your hands. It is your duty to represent your constituents. f am urging you to completely revise the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. We can be a beacon for other cities to follow, if only we have the courage to change.

Sincerely, Eric Martini 264 Cardinal Rd, Mill Valley [email protected] (415) 634-8145

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Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To:

Subject:

j CAUTION: External Sender

Moira Gubbins <[email protected]> Sunday, June 14, 2020 7:34 PM


Trevor Atashkarian; John McCauley; Sashi McEntee; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail; Urban Carmel; Tricia Ossa

BLM and Mill Valley and a call to redirect funding to community needs

Dear Mayor Sashi McEntee, Vice Mayor John McCauley, Councilmember Jim Wickham, Councilmember Urban Carmel, and Council member Tricia Ossa,

My name is Moira Gubbins and I am a resident of Sycamore Park. I am writing to demand that the Mill Valley City Council adopts a budget that prioritizes community well-being, and redirects funding away from the police.


Police Services are the number one expenditure by the City of Mill Valley. This budget is not a reflection of the needs of our city. While individuals are expected to fundraise out-of-pocket for programs within public education, such as dance, drama, and art, the police can be seen on a daily basis giving tickets to drivers going one mile over the speed limit; we need to re prioritize our budget. The millions of dollars we spend each year on police equipment and staff could be channeled into more productive resources, such as funding for mental health services, or on-call social workers. These adaptations are being made by other cities across the country. In a town with infrequent crime, a large and overlyequipped police force results in more arbitrary traffic stops, not less crime. This is a unique opportunity to reimagine public safety from a community-based approach, an opportunity to prioritize youth programming, mental health, public education and more.




Sincerely,

Moira Gubbins 107 Sycamore Ave [email protected] 415.987 .5278

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Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To: Subject:


Ann Aversa <[email protected]> Sunday, June 14, 2020 8:22 PM city clerk

Letter for City Council meeting, Monday, June 14

Dear Mill Valley City Council Members - John, Trisha, Jim, Urban and Sashi:

I hope this letter finds you well.

Item I, Public Comm. No. 104

I wanted to take a moment to write you a note as you begin to think about how you work together to improve our town with regards to reducing systemic injustice. As an Asian American woman who was born and raised in Oakland, California, and who has lived and worked in Mill Valley for over twenty years, I think now is a good time to take a look at how our town has been performing with regards to diversity and police conduct, and how we want to govern ourselves into the future. I had the opportunity to work with some of you on the General Plan of Mill Valley 2040, and I was encouraged at that time with the willingness of the City Council to reach out and take input from all parts of our community, and to weave the ideas and suggestions from the public into a final Plan.

I think you now have the opportunity to take input from the community again as you look to make Mill Valley a stronger, more tolerant community for all.

I have seen the public criticism of Sashi McEntee, and I want to take a moment to reflect on the events that have occurred. While I agree that she did not handle the City Council meeting well, I appreciate her efforts to apologize, her willingness to meet in person on the Plaza with the members of our town, and her interest in tackling the hard work of making our community more tolerant and understanding of minorities, and at this critical time, especially African Americans. We all make mistakes, but I think that Sashi, as an Asian American woman, brings a perspective to the Council that I think is important at this time.

My husband, Fabio and I have known Sashi for many years, and have found her to be a hardworking person of integrity. We have watched her over the years work very hard on wildfire prevention, the Mill Valley Emergency Preparedness Commission, and the Disaster Preparedness Commission. On a personal note, I know that she is active with Glide Memorial Church in their "Different Together" program which brings people together of differing political views to create civil dialogue. This is exactly the kind of experience we need at this time.

I want to see our City Council Members - all five of you - work closely together to make Mill Valley a more tolerant community that accepts and encourages all people, especially ethnic and racial minorities. Thank you for continuing to work together and continuing to support our Mayor, the first Asian American female Mayor in the history of our town, during this hopeful time of meaningful change.

I know that there are those in the community who would like to ask you to somehow punish Sashi at this time. Let's stop punishing each other, and please get to work to focus on what needs to get done to make sure that our town is supportive of African Americans and all other ethnic and racial minorities.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.

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Best regards,

Ann Itakura A versa Mill Valley, CA

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Seth Allingham



Robert Swenson <[email protected]> Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:23 PM city clerk Support for Mayor McEntee


r wanted to write to the council to voice my support for our mayor Sashi McEntee. I've known Sashi for 8 years and believe she's an intelligent, thoughtful, and dedicated council member who works tirelessly for Mill Valley.

We need to give her a chance to work with our community to address the concerns of our citizens. I believe given her experience she is the most impactful person to deliver positive change if we can come together and stop tearing each other down on social media. Sadly tearing people down is easy, too easy at this moment, doing the necessary work to improve our community is far more difficult.

I realize that this is a serious crisis for our nation and that given the current environment Sashi could have handled her response to the question posed during the council meeting with greater sensitivity. r also think it's a mistake to judge someone's values or beliefs by a brief moment on a five hour Zoom call at the end of a long day while ignoring years of positive contributions to our community. We won't make progress on this issue if we are assuming the worst and inferring our biases into whatever we see and hear. We would all be better served by assuming the best in people.

I'm truly saddened by the movement to have Sashi removed as mayor. We need to be a community that values unity over the divisiveness that is currently tearing our nation apart. r believe to do that we need to be able to listen to all viewpoints and acknowledge other opinions. I believe Sashi shares these values. We also must understand that people are fallible and we all make mistakes. What truly sets us apart is our ability to overcome our mistakes and to rise to meet the challenges we face together. We need to give each other the opportunity to learn from and respond to our mistakes.

I feel it would set a terrible precedent for our community to remove our first person of color to serve as mayor based on a swift rush to judgement. r believe that would reflect poorly on all of us. We should support Sashi and judge her based on her years of service to Mill Valley and Marin.

Sincerely,

Robert Swenson

Sent from my iPhone

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Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject:


John Ballard <[email protected]> Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:33 PM Sashi McEntee city clerk Re: SPECIAL MEETING


Sashi, thank you so very much! Please do follow up with posting some signs encouraging people to carry a mask with them so it can be put on when around people.

As for your special meeting, please remember I, along with many others, am the recipient of a Congressional Gold Medal from the US Congress and and award from the Alabama NAACP for my 50 years of work in civil rights.

As a long time resident of Mill Valley, I have lead discussions on racism and poverty in both our middle school and Tam High, and I've been a frequent participant in Marin City on Martin Luther King Day. My suggestions: 1) Mill Valley with input from the community, picks a Sister City in the impoverished Black Belt of the United States. NOTE: I have met with and spoken two of the mayors of Selma, Alabama who are open to the idea. And I've been a guest speaker at the college and middle school in Selma. 2)

Mill Valley schools and/or businesses create a one time (or 5 year) fundraising support for much needed supplies, computers, resources, at Marin City schools. 3)

Martin Luther King Day honored with music and tributes and possibly guest speakers at the Depot square. 4)

A scholarship fund set up for African-American students

Very best wishes as always, John

John Ballard

OpenArtProductions LLC Choice video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asahRinuTOw&sns=e

Also watch this: htt_p://www.youtube.com/watch?v:::nRLD6i A bE&sns=em And finally: http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRV19ahyBag&sns=e

On Jun 14, 2020, at 8:03 PM, Sashi McEntee <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi, John! I am sending your letter to the Clerk. Tomorrow is a special meeting, so we do not have the usual time to address topics not on the agenda. We can have it sent to the council, and if you would like we can have it included in public open time for our next regular meeting.

All the best, Sashi

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From: John Ballard <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2020 7:19:33 PM

To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Cc: John Ballard <[email protected]> Subject: SAVING LIVES


FROM: John Ballard, 443 Molino Avenue, long time resident of Mill Valley RE: Saving Lives

Dear Sashi,

Hope you and the kids are doing alright. Thank you for your efforts to keep our city safe! The primary job of our elected officials is to preserve the safety and well being of the children, women, and men who live here.

The lives saved or lost depends in large part on the policies you adopt and enforce.

Mill Valley has historically been a leader in this county. It's a grave challenge, so thank you once again for taking it on.

Please read the entirety of this letter below and respond to me. (Also, please read this aloud at the Tuesday City Council meeting when concerned teachers will be watching).

FACT: If you test positive for coronavirus in the U.S., you have approx. 1 in 17 chance of dying (1 in 1000 are good odds)

FACT: Mere talking can produce deadly coronavirus that can travel through the air for hours. Talking is a route of transmission-even on an empty street.

"Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours." - CDC, UCLA

"Aerosols from infected persons pose an inhalation threat - even at considerable distances," - Harvard "Speaking calmly and at a normal volume produces liquid droplets so small they can remain suspended

in the air long enough to enter the airways of other people," - N. I. H.

FACT: A sneeze travels at 65 - 100 miles per hour (faster than a speeding car) and will cover you with viral droplets from head to toe in a second - with no chance of escape.

Aerosols surround you as you move into someone else's space. 6 feet is not safe, it's merely safer. It's vital to for cyclists and joggers to at least carry a mask with them. It will save lives.

PROBLEM #1:

Cyclists, joggers, pedestrians who may be infected are congregating on streets. They leave a trail of aerosol virus behind them which can be inhaled by us and kill us.

PROBLEM #2: While people stop to chat and find themselves near others, they cannot put on a mask if they don't have one with them.

SIMPLE SOLUTION #1

FACT: You cannot put on a mask if you are not carrying one with you.

Kindly, please, at least post signs in MV: on Miller (near Redwoods) and Blithedale (corner of Camino Alto), Throckmorton (around Depot) and within parks.

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CYCLISTS, JOGGERS and PEDESTRIANS

"Please carry a mask with you when in the city of Mill Valley- and put it on when approaching people. Thank you and enjoy our city."

The virus carries in the air merely from talking and our current policies continued, unfortunately, will kill people - something I know you and I do not wish to see happen.

SIMPLE SOLUTION #2: Purchase 500 masks and have them available for sale at Chamber of Commerce or a volunteer business site.

Empower Parking Enforcement to advise cyclists and others congregating about the availability of the masks.

(Cost: two dollars more than city's purchase price. 500 masks purchased at $8 each = $4000 and a $2000 profit)

Kindly confirm you have reviewed the above letter and please do let me know what measures will be taken to protect us from these potentially lethal problems.

Thank you once again for all the time and effort you have put into keeping our city and parks safe and flourishing.

Very best wishes to you and to all you love. Stay safe, be well, Respectfully yours, John

John Ballard, retired MV teacher, recipient of Congressional Gold Medal, currently feature film producer and publisher of educational literature and long time MV resident

As I have seen posted online: "Wearing a mask won't kill you. Not wearing a mask may kill someone you love."

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Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To:

Subject:


Saga Darnell <[email protected]> Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:00 PM


Trevor Atashkarian; John McCauley; Sashi McEntee; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail; Urban Carmel; Tricia Ossa Caring for Community

Dear Mayor Sashi McEntee, Vice Mayor John McCauley, Council member Jim Wickham, Councilmember Urban Carmel, and Councilmember Tricia Ossa;

My name is Saga Darnell. I am writing to demand that the Mill Valley City Council adopts a budget that prioritizes community well-being, and redirects funding away from the police.

Across all fifty states this past week, through protests, demonstrations, and vigils, the efficacy of our current form of policing and its systemic racism has been called into question. In Mill Valley, hundreds of people blocked Miller Avenue two days in a row protesting in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, demanding police accountability on a national and local level. In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed has already begun the process of budget reallocation, and now it is your turn, as a neighbor city, to do the same, and to lead the way for the rest of Marin County.

Police Services in the number one expenditure by the City of Mill Valley. This budget is not a reflection of the needs of your city. While individuals are expected to fund raise out-of-pocket for programs within public education, such as dance, drama, and art, the police can be seen on a daily basis giving tickets to drivers going barely over the speed limit; you need to re prioritize your budget. The millions of dollars spent each year on police equipment and staff could be channeled into more productive resources, such as funding for mental health services, or on-call social workers. These adaptations are being made by other cities across the country. In a town with infrequent crime, a large and overlyequipped police force results in more arbitrary traffic stops, not less crime. This is a unique opportunity to re imagine public safety from a community-based approach, an opportunity to prioritize youth programming, mental health, public education and more.

Mill Valley can be a leader on this issue, if you and other city officials have the courage to step up. I join the calls of those across the country to defund the police.


You can be a beacon for other cities to follow, if only you have the courage to change.

Sincerely,

Saga Darnell [email protected]

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Seth Allingham


I CAUTION: External Sender

City Clerk:

[email protected] Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:16 PM city clerk Sashi McEntee, Mayor


It would be wise for the city of Mill Valley to consider resisting the recent call for Mayor McEntee to resign. The petition for her resignation is an obvious act of blatant racism against Mill Valley's first female person-of-color mayor, which supporters of the petition would know if they actually lived in the area (hint: many of the petition signers don't actually reside in Mill Valley). In calling for Ms. McEntee to resign, petition backers are exercising their privilege over a woman that has had her own struggles with both sexism and racism, and would be happy to share these experiences with anyone who is willing to listen.

These situations are complicated and not well suited for sound-bite one liners (witness petition backers claiming that the Mayor is exercising "white privilege", which is technically impossible). As such, no doubt the city will carefully consider all the facts, including the fact that the Mayor has already made a series of sincere apologies. Combined with acknowledgement of the accomplishments that Ms. McEntee has achieved on behalf of Mill Valley, one would hope that this is an easy decision for the city to make.

Respectfully,

E. Landsness Mill Valley

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Linn Walsh



Terese Driscoll <[email protected]> Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:22 PM Equality Justice Solutions


(If not too late, please include these remarks in the agenda for the June 15 special meeting on racial injustice}

Dear City Council and "Mayor Resign" activists:

I am a white progressive and sometimes climate activist with a biracial granddaughter who closely follows what is going on in the world. And yet, what the murder of George Floyd broke open and revealed, through the voices of people who finally were heard, astounded me: the history of policing that began as a means to control enslaved black workers, and developed from there to become a deadly pecking order with black and brown people at the bottom; the use of the police as the answer to every social ill; and the militarization of the police as a means of creating yet another profit center.

I was heartened by the protests and the suggestions for not merely "reforming" the police, but also redirecting the use offunds now spent only on policing to also address underlying lack of access to healthcare, education, healthy food and clean air and so in the communities that now are "controlled" by the police, and letting the police focus on keeping the peace by getting to knm the communities they serve and by functioning as a safety valve for the community, not as judge, jury, and executioner of an oppressed population. This would include not dressing them up in military attire and arming them with military weapons.

I also am Sashi's neighbor, and request that the "Resign Mayor" activists take a breath and see what an opportunity to take the higher ground this might be for all of us.

Sashi is a dedicated public servant, and has been for years. Yes, she had a tin ear at that council meeting when, in following protocol, she made the unfortunate "not of immediate local importance" remark that definitely struck the wrong note but also was taken out of context. Yes, her subsequent apologies left people feeling still not heard. And yes, she, and the entire Council, have to and are taking steps to do much more.

However, knee-jerk reacting with a petition for her to resign -- does that solve the problem? How?

I can see pressing to have Sashi resign if she had been stealing public funds, but discarding a dedicated public servant with valuable expertise and experience because she made an acknowledged misstep at a critically sensitive time will not solve the problem. What are you, the petitioners, doing to solve the problem of racial injustice? Is your only answer to kick out your mayor?

I don't know if everyone knows this, but this group also was going to go to Sash i's home. She put out the word that this was going to happen. I'm not really sure what good menacing Sashi and her two young daughters at her home (and making the rest of us on our small townhouse street nervous) would have done. Thankfully, that plan fizzled out and the protesters didn't show up after all.

I know Sashi as a neighbor who helps her neighbors get to know each other through her annual New Year's gatherings, who as a member of CERT has worked to get our street in communication and prepared, should a disaster strike, and as a former membe of our HOA board, who was an invaluable contributor on the finance side.

She also had the courage to go out to the Plaza Thursday before last to speak and listen, despite the outrage people were expressing about her remarks.

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I don't always agree with her, but I have and continue to support her, and have confidence that the firestorm her remarks stirre up will result in real, positive action.

Thank you,

Terese Driscoll

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Seth Allingham



James Fisfis <[email protected]> Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:30 PM city clerk in support of Sashi McEntee


I am writing in strong support of Sashi McEntee. Since moving to Mill Valley, Sashi has been an empathetic and welcoming resource to our multicultural family. We reached out to her and she immediately embraced us as new neighbors and went out of her way to help us find cultural opportunities for our children and to understand how to maximize those opportunities as they enter the schools. She's been down to earth, accessible and kind.

We are astonished and saddened at the level and sometimes disgraceful tenor of the anger - and even hate -misdirected towards Sashi in public and on social media. The racial epithets directed at her have been particularly shameful. Mill Valley should take a stand and refuse to align itself with hate of any kind, and we should also all reject the destructive cancel-culture that is hurting dialogue and creating divide in this country, especially when targeted against someone like Sashi who we know firsthand goes out of her way to welcome diversity into the Mill Valley community.

As the council members no doubt know from their own personal experience, people, even of outstanding character, can have a moment they regret. A culture of understanding and empathy is our best asset to help bridge the racial divides and heal our community and our nation. Sash i's voice as a woman of color is a badly needed and oft-missing perspective in Mill Valley. It will be a terrible irony, some might say outrage, if Mill Valley's reflexive response to recent tragedies and racism is to take any action to facilitate the removal of the only woman of color from the city council.

James Fisfis

Mill Valley

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Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To:

Tada Family < [email protected] > Sunday, June 14, 2020 11:57 PM city clerk


Subject: Comments for Agenda Item 1, Mill Valley City Council Meeting of 6/15/20


Sunday, June 14, 2020

To: The Mill Valley City Council Mayor Sashi McEntee Vice Mayor John McCauley Jim Wickham Urban Carmel Tricia Ossa

Per: Comments for City Council Meeting of Monday, June 15, 2020

Re.: Agenda Item 1: Community Discussion Regarding Black Lives Matter and Development of a City Action Plan to Address Racial Injustice and Inequities in Mill Valley

Dear Mayor McEntee and Mill Valley City Council:

As a 50+ year resident in Mill Valley, and as a person of color, I would like to submit my comments for your consideration pertaining to the topic at hand.

First, I thank you very much for providing this opportunity for public comment on a very important and overdue discussion.

My regret and deep sadness stems from the fact that it took the death of George Floyd and others to be the catalyst to get us to the discussion table.

Nonetheless, as the founding pastor of my church wisely said, nothing is wasted in God's economy. Tragic happenings can be turned around for good if we are careful to learn lessons from these crises and take concrete, meaningful action by turning words into actual reform and implementation.

To give you a bit of background, my dear Mother Cheryl passed away about a year and a half ago. I am comforted by the fact that she received Jesus into her heart, so I will see her one day in Heaven. For now, how I dearly miss her ....

Mom was imprisoned in a concentration (internment) camp during World War II simply because she was of Japanese ancestry, though she was 100% an American Citizen and born in this country. Two of my Uncles, also American Citizens of Japanese ancestry who were also from the internment camps served valiantly In the U.S. Army and were members of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of deployment.

After living over a half century of living in Mill Valley, I have definitely noticed a lingering attitude of discrimination that needs to be addressed.

For example, recently, while walking in Mill Valley near Richardson Bay, a gentleman who identified himself as a local resident asked me, "Where are you from?"

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I pointed toward where I live and replied, "I live here in Mill Valley, in the hills over there."

The man repeated, "I mean, where are you from? Which country do you come from?"

To which I replied, "I am from HERE. I was born in the Bay Area and grew up in Mill Valley".

The man persisted, "Where are you from ethnically?"

To which I replied, "I am an AMERICAN CITIZEN. I am a third generation U.S. citizen. My family has been in this country for over 100 years."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

I replied, "I consider myself first and foremost a citizen of the U.S.A. and a resident of Mill Valley." And left it at that.

It is conversations like this which point to a great need to educate people so that they do NOT just automatically assume that a person who "looks" foreign is an "outsider".

I would like to respectfully propose to the Mill Valley City Council that ethnic sensitivity training be enacted in all Mill Valley public schools as part of their curriculum, in the City Council chambers, encouraged in job training and in our entertainment venues (where people's views are influenced) and distributed in the form of flyers and bulletins by mail, email and on city and school websites, webinars and classroom settings, along with discussions in public venues such as Town Hall Meetings and so forth.

One of the core teachings needs to be: How to properly address someone of color in conversation, particularly when asking which cultural background they are from.

Since we learn by doing "' examples of educational opportunities would be role playing exercises, discussion/talking points, and calls to action in putting into practice what has been taught.

I strongly feel that people handle this topic quite awkwardly, because they have not been trained the proper way "' in their homes, schools, and jobs "' to interact and communicate with people of different cultural backgrounds.

So one KEY TEACHING would be, when asking someone about their cultural background, instead of asking them where are THEY from, it would be BEDER to ask which country their FOREBEARS are from.

This would help take out some of the "sting" from automatically assuming they are a visiting "foreigner" "' especially when they might actually be a long-time resident in this city, like I am.

I hope this first-person account I have provided will be beneficial as the Mill Valley City Council considers the very important goal of effectively addressing racial equality for the benefit of all who live and work in this special city which I feel in my heart has a tremendous destiny and purpose to fulfill.

Thank you very much for your time and for your kind and thoughtful consideration of my comments.

I write this from the heart.

God bless you.

I will be praying for wisdom for the City Council as you consider input from the community.

Sincerely,

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Brian Tada 400 Marion Avenue Mill Valley, CA 94941-2619

{415) 388-5203

[email protected]

www.PropheticPortraits.net

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Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To:

Cc: Subject:

Dear Councilmembers,

Christie < [email protected] > Sunday, June 14, 2020 11:59 PM


John McCauley; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail; Urban Carmel; Sashi McEntee; Tricia Ossa city clerk In Support of Mayor McEntee

I live, work, and volunteer here in Mill Valley, and I am writing to express my support for 1) Mayor McEntee continuing in her position as mayor, as well as 2) the Council taking concrete actions to support and enhance the health, safety, and wellbeing of people of color here in Mill Valley as well as in the surrounding communities.

Having volunteered with Sashi off and on for at least eight years, I have seen first-hand the good she has done for our community through countless hours of work. Yes, Sashi made a mistake during an extremely challenging and emotionally devastating time in our country. Her procedural response, combined with what appeared to be the complacent silence of everyone else on the Council, was clearly an error and it caused a great deal of pain for members of the community. Jt was a missed opportunity to acknowledge and potentially open discussion on the very real issues in our town. I have read and I appreciate the sincere apology from Sashi as well as the subsequent apology from the entire Council. I also appreciate the efforts to reach out to the town's citizens, and the commitment to move forward with actual change.

My husband and I have three young children. I have worked to teach them to acknowledge when they have made mistakes, to apologize for those mistakes, and to learn from them. That's growth. Holding our elected officials to a "No Mistakes Allowed" standard is not just unreasonable ... it's impossible. And in my opinion, it sets our system up for almost-certain failure. I accept the apologies from Sashi and the rest of the Council, and I want our town to get moving on improvements that will make a difference.

I am saddened and disappointed by the movement from a vocal few to have Sashi removed from office. Her years of service to Mill Valley speak for themselves. Most of us here in Mill Valley strive for tolerance and many would say we seek out a diversity of experiences and viewpoints. The negative statements online make me wonder just how tolerant and diversity-seeking our town actually is.

There were many suggestions outlined in the Staff Report/City Action Plan. It was heartening to see so many ideas published - there is a real chance for leadership here. In addition to the efforts already focused on MVPD, I personally hope we can use the energy from this movement to make meaningful steps forward to:

. 1) Close the gap in education.

2) Build affordable housing.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Christie Michaels

1

Seth Allingham




Joselita Quinto <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 6:44 AM city clerk Sashi McEntee

Hello, my name is Joselita, I have lived in Marin County for almost 30 years and for the past 20 years working in the city of Mill Valley. A place that I feel safe to come and go. But at the same time, I feel a lot of discrimination for being a foreigner. When I arrived in this country, specifically in Marin County, I had a lot of difficulties communicating with people because of my English and, for that reason, I felt a lot of discrimination on several occasions. But fortunately, although I still feel it occasionally, it doesn't bother me as much as before, because now I can master the language enough to impose myself and make me respect. In this learning path, I learned that everywhere we can find people who are always willing to help and support us. Fortunately, on my journey 10 years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful person who helped and supported me a lot in this country, her name is Sashi McEntee. A person I admire a lot for her determination, loyalty, character and leadership. A person who, despite suffering discrimination herself is determined to fight for a better place and an opportunity for everyone. Sashi is trying to show everyone that we can be better if we come together and live on equal terms. She is a person who affects everyone with her charisma. Everyone who knows her, knows how she is loved. I am very sad to learn that Sashi is being misunderstood by a group of people who are trying to harm her reputation and her carrier because of the misinterpretation of the facts. The city of Mill Valley is fortunate to have a leader like Sash McEntee working with them to fight for a better system. It is very sad to know that the impression that people have of her does not correspond to who she really is. In my opinion, these people who are trying to show others that Sas hi is an insensitive person, unable to continue to represent the Mill Valley community, are the insensitive people who are unable to recognize the tireless work and time that Sashi McEntee puts in favor of the community. Perhaps these unconscious people may be the ones who are acting with racism towards her, maybe because she is a person of color herself who, despite all the odds, got to where she is right now on her own merit? Only the question remains.

Sent from my iPhone

1

Seth Allingham Item 1, Public Comm. No. 114

From: Sent: To:

John McCauley Monday, June 15, 2020 7:59 AM Seth Allingham; Kelsey Rogers

Subject: Fwd: Equality and Justice Inputs for City Council Meeting

To make sure you have this

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Kress Jack <[email protected]> Date: June 15, 2020 at 7:46:55 AM PDT To: Equality Justice <[email protected]> Cc: Alan Piombo <[email protected]>, John McCauley <[email protected]>, Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail <[email protected]>, Sashi McEntee <[email protected]>, Tricia Ossa <[email protected]>, Urban Carmel <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Equality and Justice Inputs for City Council Meeting


Morning, Will the PDF attachment Equity and Justice Report for tonight's agenda be revised today prior to tonight's meeting? To include the submissions sent in subsequent to the attachments being linked in the agenda last week?

Our input was not yet included, and we imagine many others who have written in were also not yet included after your moment of posting.

We would like to share the revised PDF with our community who contributed and will be listening to tonight's meeting.

Thank you.

On Fri, Jun 12, 2020 at 2:21 PM Kress Jack <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Mayor and City Council,

We represent the leaders of Raise the Frequency, a Mill Valley based organization that formed in recent weeks in direct response to observing the pain of our children and loved ones navigating Mill Valley and the world as people of color.

In order to change these realities, we have gathered with more than 60 community members to listen, learn and take action to create local systemic change.

RAISE THE FREQUENCY We support anti-racist experiences that allow knowledge, understanding and celebration to coexist in our community.

1

Our vision is to provide safe, inclusive spaces where all people can come together to achieve their full potential without discrimination: no racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia or xenophobia, etc.

This space includes pop-ups, free use of city venues, donated community venues and virtual gatherings. We intend to bring people together around:

- Culture: Celebrating art, music, fashion, comedy, food, makers, etc with BIPOCowned business. Imagine DJ nights and pop ups with makers from fashion, the arts, to wine tasting experiences, coffee and culinary experiences, to book signings and other cultural events

- Programming: Educating through multicultural programming focused on mentoring and workshops around: financial literacy, diversity training for city employees and community to identify unconscious bias and facilitate change, topics to unpack and solve for systems that are broken, such as Justice, Communications and Education

- Speakers: Inspiring and co-creating a world of understanding via a speaker series to listen, learn and take action from authors, activists, artists, etc. bringing diverse voices and perspectives from other cultures and communities

JUNE 15 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA We have read the MVCAN request to the City and agree with their positions and ask for your support of their items.

In addition, we believe it is critical for the City of Mill Valley to add to the June 15 City Council meeting agenda:

1. Allocate a yearly budget of $50,000 in the Community Division of the City's budget, supported by the City General Fund to create a new multicultural effort across events and programming with a specific focus on supporting inclusion of BIPOC for knowledge, understanding and celebration. The budget would contribute to space use, space rentals, entertainment fees, speaker fees, event costs and administration personnel to run the effort. 2. Town Hall. We propose that City Council schedule quarterly Town Halls to address racial justice and equity on a community level. The first Town Hall would invite anyone interested, collectively, to "decompress" and discuss feelings, the protests and expectations moving forward to determine what "the People" would like to see happen going forward. Specifically asking what and who we might be overlooking? This would also provide an opportunity to see what other groups are organizing and how we all might partner with one another, distinguish "missions" and strengthen efforts through collaboration.

We're aware the Mill Valley City Council has limits on its authority to take action or create certain changes. We're urging you as the elected representatives and face of our community, because you have the opportunity if not the obligation, to do everything you can to disrupt the systemic barriers to Racial Equity and Justice. Both implementing new policies and supporting and advocating for programs from all the

2

groups doing the work on the ground is of critical local importance. It is in this spirit that we want to engage with you to co-create a more just reality for all members of our community.

Thank you,

Raise the Frequency Leadership: Kress Jack, Mill Valley resident; Marissa Wertheimer, Mill Valley resident; Bonnie Powers and Jeffrey Levin, Mill Valley business owners of Poet and/the Bench; Paula Williams, Sausalito resident and founder of Shamebooth

3

Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To:

Sashi McEntee Monday, June 15, 2020 8:11 AM city clerk


Subject: Fwd: Mill Valley School District letter to City Council Attachments: Mill Valley School District June 15, 2020 Letter to Council.pdf

Please include for tonight's item. Thanks!

Sashi McEntee Mayor City of Mill Valley 26 Corte Madera Ave. Mill Valley, CA 94941 (415) 843-1450 [email protected]

Sign up for emergency alerts at http://alertmarin.org

From: Kimberly Berman <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 8:00:00 AM To: Sashi McEntee <[email protected]> Cc: Emily Uhlhorn <[email protected]>

Subject: Mill Valley School District letter to City Council


Hi Sashi,

In addition to our board discussion notes, attached is a letter to the council. Below are our Board Highlight notes again.

Dr. Kimberly Berman Mill Valley School District

A Focused Discussion on our Objective to Support Balanced Learners

Dr. Kimberly Berman shared a presentation on expectations for prioritizing discussions in our District related to Strategic Plan Objective 1: Balanced Learners, which states: "All students will learn in an environment that fosters social-emotional well-being, equity, global perspectives, and awareness through inquiry and projectbased instruction."

There is a clear and long-standing gap in the achievement level between our student groups. CAASPP testing results in our District show that even though nearly all of our student groups increased their performance on the 2018 test from the prior year, it is clear that some student groups are not achieving at the high levels of our students overall. Economically disadvantaged students' English Language Arts (ELA) scores decreased by 6% from 2018 to 2019. Reclassified English Learners' scores decreased by 4% from 2018 to 2019 in both ELA and Math. African American students' Math scores decreased by 2% from 2018 to 2019. Asian students' ELA

1

scores decreased by 10% from 2018 to 2019. Hispanic and Latino students' ELA scores decreased by 5% from 2018 to 2019.

It is important that we acknowledge systemic racism, convene a committee and create a plan, implement and monitor our plan, and hold people accountable. This process will start with examining our core and intervention practices, analyzing and monitoring data for students, increasing instructional capacity through curricular alignment, professional development, collaboration, and data driven reflection on practices, and examine our culturally responsive practices.

Additionally, Rod Septka, District Global Studies Coach, provided information on global competence and how this relates to equity. Our District's work on global competence education is ongoing and students and staff have been engaging in it with their teachers, who have received training and attended Courageous Conversations seminars. While teachers and staff have been personally and professionally learning about antiracism, we must embed these practices into all of our classrooms with intentionality.

Mr. Septka shared that over 1,000 students have signed up for the iReady summer learning program which will provide a big dataset of student learning. We currently have various assessments across the district but need to explore consistent practice to look at the same data for all students.

Board members expressed support for intentionally examining systemic racism in Mill Valley School District, using authentic assessments to provide more information about our students' achievement, and convening an equity committee to focus our efforts.

We invite you to access resources related to racial justice and anti-racism. Please visit this page for an antiracist reading list and more . We highly recommend these for excellent summer reading and family discussion.

2

June 15, 2020

Dear City Council and Mill Valley Community,

1-i} ~ MILL VALLEY SC~IOOL

DISTRICT

Administratil'e Office 4l l Sycamore Avenue

Mill Valley. California 94941 tel (4 l 5) 389-7700

fax ( 415) 389-7773

We as a School Board and School District stand with the Black Lives Matter movement and recognize that we have a long way to go as a society to achieve racial equality. This statement includes the message that went out to our school community on June 8th as well as some additional thoughts including an update on our discussion during our June 10th board meeting and a specific reply to a query regarding the potential merger of the Mill Valley and Sausalito-Marin City School Districts.

Recent events have put a spotlight on the fact that while we are all living through this global pandemic, our communities of color continue to face inherent and persistent racism, both evidenced by the recent troubling and unjust events as well as the disproportionate impact of COVID-19. We as a district stand in solidarity with those standing against the needless and tragic deaths of men like Amhaud Arbery and George Floyd and believe this is a time for reflection, conversation, and action.

Teaching even our youngest children to recognize racism in its many forms is incumbent upon all of us in our educational community. Being prepared to do this starts with reflection-reflection about structural racism, about our part in perpetuating it, and about how to have age-appropriate conversations, both at home and in school.

Those conversations are more crucial than ever during this uncertain and scary time. It is important that our children understand not only the systematic racism that led to the deaths of Breanna Taylor, Amhaud Arbery, and George Floyd, but also the inequities that racism has perpetuated as an undercurrent in our society.

And finally, we must collectively and as a district take action. Depending on the age of your child, action will look differently, but at the very least, we all must all act together to stand up to racism and injustice. While our anti-racism and anti-bias professional development have been underway for some time as part of the focus on equity in our strategic plan, we must approach them with more intentionality and make sure that the work doesn't stay in the theoretical, but instead translates to our daily lives and the school day. Only then will we ensure that our students and staff of color not only feel safe, but also have their voices heard. Together, we can act equitably in an effort to dismantle racial biases in our homes and community.

At our board meeting on June 10, we continued the conversation with an acknowledgement that we as a district have work ahead of us to undue systemic racism in our district. We called out our achievement gap and presented the outline of a plan to address this systemic racism and teach all of our students to be anti-racist.

We will start by:

• Acknowledging systemic racism • Convening a committee and creating a plan • Implementing and monitoring our plan • Holding people accountable

In order to do this well, we will:

• Examine our core and intervention practices • Analyze and monitor data for our students

• Increase instructional capacity through curricular alignment, professional development, collaboration, and data driven reflection on practices

• Examine our culturally responsive practices

Finally, we would like to touch on the exploration of a merger with the Sausalito-Marin City School District as there have been misstatements in the press regarding why a merger between the two districts wasn't further pursued past the initial Feasibility Consolidation Study requested by the Marin County Office of Education. As a board, we did not want to press pause. On the contrary, when the feasibility consultant said we should "press pause", we as a board directed our interim superintendent to continue to engage in opportunities to collaborate.

Our board stands ready to collaborate and share resources with the Sausalito-Marin City School District as well as Solinas-Stinson and Tam Union. We believe that working together will provide better outcomes for all children and we are open to the idea of exploring a merger, with the understanding that the ultimate decision lies with voters in each school district. We know that we stand with our local districts in working towards equitable educational outcomes for all students and want to particularly acknowledge the work that is being done to desegregate the Sausalito-Marin City School District and to explore a one-school model.

We bear tremendous responsibility as educators and are ready to be part of dismantling systemic and institutional racism in our schools, our town, and our county.

Dr. Kimberly Berman, Superintendent

Marco Pardi, Board President

Emily Uhlhorn, Trustee

Todd May, Trustee

Leslie Wachtel, Trustee

Bob Jacobs, Trustee

Linn Walsh

From: Sent: To:

Subject:


Wesley Cabral <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 8:36 AM


Equality Justice; Trevor Atashkarian; John McCauley; Sashi McEntee; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail; Urban Carmel; Tricia Ossa Mill Valley Equality and Justice


I'm calling on the City Council and residents of Mill Valley to take the next steps for Mill Valley in addressing systemic racism and creating opportunities for the Black Community along with low income and marginalized communities in Marin.

I support the following initiatives:

Develop affordable housing within the city of Mill Valley. This creates opportunities for low income families and helps to diversify our city.

While I support the nationwide conversation around de-funding police departments, I understand that this is something that takes time and planning. As a first step I would like to see the Mill Valley police budget cut in half. This would leave about 3.5 million dollars to be reallocated. I would like to see those funds put to use in two main ways. First towards creating alternate responders to emergency calls that can be better handled by mental healt services, or on-call social workers. The second is to invest in education in our community ensuring that the highest level of education is available to all children within our school districts. Children of low income families must have the same access to education as children of affluent families. Our schools should be diverse and our teachers need to be paid a living wage for Marin. Teachers should be earning more than police officers.

Lastly I support MVCAN in their call for the Mill Valley city council to reverse the vague and poorly defined policy of blocking discussion and action on critical issues that do not conforrr to their local definitions. This policy has prevented the City of Mill Valley from becoming a leader in social and environmental issues. It supports becoming an insular community that i: neither diverse, nor inclusive of race, ethnicity and income level.

Thank you for your support on these matters. I'm looking forward to working with you and my fellow residents of Mill Valley in leading the movement to dismantle systemic racism anc create a community that fosters opportunity and education for all people.

Wesley Cabral

1

47 Alta Vista Ave Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-713-2990

2

Linn Walsh



Hi Linn:

Barbara Gollert <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 8:38 AM Linn Walsh Re: Suggestion


I just reviewed the topics on the agenda for today's meeting and I don't see my comment anywhere -- did I miss it? The only comment close to mine states .... " Bridge the divide between the experience and opportunities in Marin City schools compared to Mill Valley schools so there is an equal opportunity for education in high school." This is very different than exploring full

integration of our 2 school systems. Please advise if my suggestion will be addressed and if not, why. As a mother of 2 children of colour who grew up in the Mill Valley school system, I feel I have considerable experience on this topic and feel strongly that integration of communities earlier than high school is key.

Kind Regards, Barb Gollert

Thank you

On Thu, Jun 11, 2020 at 5:10 PM Linn Walsh <[email protected]> wrote: Barbara,

Thank you for your comment. It has been received and will be included in the information presented to Council at our next Cit, Council meeting, on Monday, June 15. Council will review the community input received and discuss next steps to address systemic racism and injustice in Mill Valley.

Learn how to watch the meeting and

participate.<http://www.cityofmilJvalley.org/news/displaynews.htm?NewslD=2506& Target1D=84>

Sincerely,

Linn Walsh

Linn Walsh

Senior Management Analyst City of Mill Valley

26 Corte Madera Avenue Mill Valley, CA 94941-1830 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Phone: 415-388-4863 Fax: 415-381-1736 www.cityofmillvalley.org<http://www.cityofm ii lvalley.org/>

1

From: Barbara Gollert [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 4:59 PM To: Equality Justice Subject: Suggestion


We should seriously look at collaborating with Marin City/ Sausalito School Board to integrate our elementary and middle schools. If we are serious about making meaningful change towards ending systemic inequities and injustices, we should sharE MV's significant school taxes to integrate beginning in kindergarten. Today, integration or an attempt to do so, begins in grade 9. This is too late which is why we experience the issues I assume you're clearly aware of at Tam.

Barb Gollert

2

Seth Allingham



Doug Roberts <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 8:50 AM city clerk Let's keep Sashi in Office


She's an effective, well-intentioned Mayor. Let's also commit to the My Brother's Keeper Alliance pledge and enact policies that truly lead to change.

Doug Roberts I [email protected] I 415.755.0415 (M) J 272 Hazel Ave

1

Seth Allingham


Team,

Per my other email re bulk scans.

Alan



Alan Piombo Monday, June 15, 2020 9:03 AM Kelsey Rogers; Hannah Politzer; Seth Allingham; Linn Walsh FW: Equality and Justice Inputs for City Council Meeting

Morning, Will the PDF attachment Equity and Justice Report for tonight's agenda be revised today prior to tonight's meeting? To include the submissions sent in subsequent to the attachments being linked in the agenda last week?

Our input was not yet included, and we imagine many others who have written in were also not yet included after your moment of posting.

We would like to share the revised PDF with our community who contributed and will be listening to tonight's meeting.

Thank you.

On Fri, Jun 12, 2020 at 2:21 PM Kress Jack <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Mayor and City Council,

We represent the leaders of Raise the Frequency, a Mill Valley based organization that formed in recent weeks in direct response to observing the pain of our children and loved ones navigating Mill Valley and the world as people of color.

In order to change these realities, we have gathered with more than 60 community members to listen, learn and take action to create local systemic change.

RAISE THE FREQUENCY We support anti-racist experiences that allow knowledge, understanding and celebration to coexist in our community.

Our vision is to provide safe, inclusive spaces where all people can come together to achieve their full potential without discrimination: no racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia or xenophobia, etc.

This space includes pop-ups, free use of city venues, donated community venues and virtual gatherings. We intend to bring people together around:

- Culture: Celebrating art, music, fashion, comedy, food, makers, etc with BIPOC-owned business. Imagine DJ nights and pop ups with makers from fashion, the arts, to wine tasting experiences, coffee and culinary experiences, to book signings and other cultural events

1

- Programming: Educating through multicultural programming focused on mentoring and workshops around: financial literacy, diversity training for city employees and community to identify unconscious bias and facilitate change, topics to unpack and solve for systems that are broken, such as Justice, Communications and Education

- Speakers: Inspiring and co-creating a world of understanding via a speaker series to listen, learn and take action from authors, activists, artists, etc. bringing diverse voices and perspectives from other cultures and communities

JUNE 15 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA We have read the MVCAN request to the City and agree with their positions and ask for your support of their items.

In addition, we believe it is critical for the City of Mill Valley to add to the June 15 City Council meeting agenda:

1. Allocate a yearly budget of $50,000 in the Community Division of the City's budget, supported by the City General Fund to create a new multicultural effort across events and programming with a specific focus on supporting inclusion of BIPOC for knowledge, understanding and celebration. The budget would contribute to space use, space rentals, entertainment fees, speaker fees, event costs and administration personnel to run the effort. 2. Town Hall. We propose that City Council schedule quarterly Town Halls to address racial justice and equity on a community level. The first Town Hall would invite anyone interested, collectively, to "decompress" and discuss feelings, the protests and expectations moving forward to determine what "the People" would like to see happen going forward. Specifically asking what and who we might be overlooking? This would also provide an opportunity to see what other groups are organizing and how we all might partner with one another, distinguish "missions" and strengthen efforts through collaboration.

We're aware the Mill Valley City Council has limits on its authority to take action or create certain changes. We're urging you as the elected representatives and face of our community, because you have the opportunity if not the obligation, to do everything you can to disrupt the systemic barriers to Racial Equity and Justice. Both implementing new policies and supporting and advocating for programs from all the groups doing the work on the ground is of critical local importance. It is in this spirit that we want to engage with you to co-create a more just reality for all members of our community.

Thank you,

Raise the Frequency Leadership: Kress Jack, Mill Valley resident; Marissa Wertheimer, Mill Valley resident; Bonnie Powers and Jeffrey Levin, Mill Valley business owners of Poet and/the Bench; Paula Williams, Sausalito resident and founder of Shamebooth

2

Seth Allingham


Trevor Atashkarian I Accountant

City of Mill Valley 26 Corte Madera Avenue Mill Valley, CA 94941

Trevor Atashkarian Monday, June 15, 2020 9:16 AM Eric Erickson; Alan Piombo; Seth Allingham FW: Mill Valley Equality and Justice

Direct: (415) 384-4804 I Front Desk: (415) 388-4033 www.cityofmillvalley.org

From: Wesley Cabral <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 8:36 AM


To: Equality Justice <[email protected]>; Trevor Atashkarian <[email protected]>; John McCauley <[email protected]>; Sashi McEntee <[email protected]>; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail <[email protected]>; Urban Carmel <[email protected]>; Tricia Ossa <tossa@cityofm illva I ley .o rg> Subject: Mill Valley Equality and Justice



I'm calling on the City Council and residents of Mill Valley to take the next steps for Mill Valley in addressing systemic racism and creating opportunities for the Black Community along with low income and marginalized communities in Marin.

I support the following initiatives:

Develop affordable housing within the city of Mill Valley. This creates opportunities for low income families and helps to diversify our city.

While I support the nationwide conversation around de-funding police departments, I understand that this is something that takes time and planning. As a first step I would like to see the Mill Valley police budget cut in half. This would leave about 3.5 million dollars to be reallocated. I would like to see those funds put to use in two main ways. First towards creating alternate responders to emergency calls that can be better handled by mental health services, or on-call social workers.

1

The second is to invest in education in our community ensuring that the highest level of education is available to all children within our school districts. Children of low income families must have the same access to education as children of affluent families. Our schools should be diverse and our teachers need to be paid a living wage for Marin. Teachers should be earning more than police officers.

Lastly I support MVCAN in their call for the Mill Valley city council to reverse the vague and poorly defined policy of blocking discussion and action on critical issues that do not conform to their local definitions. This policy has prevented the City of Mill Valley from becoming a leader in social and environmental issues. It supports becoming an insular community that is neither diverse, nor inclusive of race, ethnicity and income level.

Thank you for your support on these matters. I'm looking forward to working with you and my fellow residents of Mill Valley in leading the movement to dismantle systemic racism and create a community that fosters opportunity and education for all people.

Wesley Cabral 4 7 Alta Vista Ave Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-713-2990

2

Seth Allingham Item 1, Public Comm. No. 121

From: Trevor Atashkarian Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 9:47 AM To: Eric Erickson; Seth Allingham; Alan Piombo Subject: FW: Community to Urge Redirection of Police Funding towards Community Needed

Services



Direct: (415) 384-48041Front Desk: (415) 388-4033 www .cityofm illval ley. org

From: Rachel Dimon <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 9:45 AM

To: Trevor Atashkarian <[email protected]>; John McCauley <[email protected]>; Sashi McEntee <[email protected]>; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail <[email protected]>; Urban Carmel <[email protected]>; Tricia Ossa <[email protected]> Subject: Community to Urge Redirection of Police Funding towards Community Needed Services



My name is Rachel Dimon, and I am a resident of Larkspur, a piece of the grater Marin County. I am writing to demand that the Mill Valley City Council adopts a budget that prioritizes community well-being, and redirects funding away from the police.


Police Services in the number one expenditure by the City of Mill Valley. This budget is not a reflection of the needs of our city. While individuals are expected to fund raise out-of-pocket for programs within public education, such as dance, drama, and art, the police can be seen on a daily basis giving tickets to drivers going one mile over the speed limit; we need to reprioritize our budget. The millions of dollars we spend each year on police equipment and staff could be channeled into more productive resources, such as funding for mental health services, or on-call social workers. These adaptations are being made by other cities across the country. In a town with infrequent crime, a large and overlyequipped police force results in more arbitrary traffic stops, not less crime. This is a unique opportunity to re imagine public safety from a community-based approach, an opportunity to prioritize youth programming, mental health, public education and more.

1




Sincerely,

Rachel Dimon 21 Hickory Street, Larkspur, CA [email protected] 415-717-8460

2

Seth Allingham


Attachments:


Michael Tymoff <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 9:46 AM city clerk


Community Discussion Regarding Black Lives Matter and Development of a City Action Plan to Address Racial Injustice and Inequities in Mill Valley. Mill Valley Housing Overview.pdf; Screen Shot 2020-06-15 at 9.35.07 AM.png

Dear Mayor McEntee and City Councilmembers,

Thank you for organizing and holding tonight's community discussion, and for acknowledging you made a mistake. https://www.marinij.com/2020/06/09/mill-valleys-mayor/

Your actions now will show the community just how much you believe that the Black Lives Matter movement, and racial inequality and justice are of immediate local importance. The City's Housing Overview (attached here) makes clear the need for you to take action to increase the number of affordable households in Mill Valley, and to comply with the City's obligations under state RHNA allocations. The report states the City has successfully met the new targets as established by SB 35. However, it appears only 72 out of 129 affordable units have been created b/w 2014-2022 reporting period, and of those the City has only produced 50% of very low to low income deed restricted units. The report also states that 45 of the affordable units are ADUs. Of those, how many are actually deed restricted affordable units, and at what income levels? It is well established that minorities, in particular black individuals and families, are disproportionately impacted by lack of access to truly affordable housing at all income levels. Specifically, I would like to know what your plan is to do better to increase affordable housing in Mill Valley: 37 inclusionary units in 32 years, and a mere 26 standalone affordable units in the past 25 years is unacceptable. We don't need another task force or report, we need leadership and we need results.

Sincerely, Michael Tymoff

1

Housing Overview

Policy Framework. When discussing policies and programs, it is important to understand the City's policy framework, starting with the General Plan which includes "elements" (or chapters), including housing, land use, community vitality, mobility, natural environment, climate action, public safety/hazards, and noise. Each element contains goals and objectives aimed at addressing the City's two overarching General Plan Goals to: 1) protect and enhance the natural beauty and small town character of Mill Valley and 2) encourage continued diversity of housing, income levels, and lifestyles in the community.

The City works to implement local actions, as well as those regulations established by the State and/or Federal government. Housing, particularly providing a range of housing options in terms of affordability levels, is of particular interest and of concern to the City Council and many community members.

Housing Element. Mill Valley's Housing Element includes Chapter 2 "Housing Plan", outlining programs for implementation to address the City's General Plan Goals identified above. The City is on an 8-year Housing Element cycle, with the last adopted Housing Element for the 2015-2023 Housing Element cycle. In addition to identifying programs for implementation, the City is required to identify opportunities and constraints to housing; housing characteristics; housing needs for vulnerable populations; and an assessment of the construction of new housing units in meeting its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). RHNA runs on a slightly different cycle from the housing element cycle. Currently the City is in its 5th RHNA cycle, from 2014-2022. The City reports annually on the number of new housing units built, and has successfully

Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA): 2014-2022 Affordability level %median RHNA lbased on Annual Income) income Very Low Income 31-50% 41 Low Income 51-80% 24 Moderate 81-120% 26 Above Moderate Above 120% 38 Total 129

met new targets established as part of Source: MIii Valley Annual Housing Progress Reports.

SB35. Mill Valley's success in meeting the

New Units Built 4-year Benchmarlc

26 7 16 23

72

state's housing allocations is tied closely to building new Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs); approximately of the 45 new units built are ADUs.

Housing Strategies. Staff has categorized the types of housing strategies (programs and policies) into four groups:

• Protecting existing housing stock, such as demolition restrictions, anti-neglect regulations, deed restrictions to maintain affordability, home improvement or rehabilitation loans, etc.

• Enhancing the affordability of existing housing stock, such as acquisitions, incentives to deed restrict housing below market rates, etc.

• Expanding housing stock by producing more units, such as inclusionary requirements, ADU regulations, modification to other zoning regulations, identification of development opportunities, etc.

• Targeting the Community such as regulations to protect renters, down payment assistance, etc.

Implementation. The Housing Element includes 38 housing programs for implementation during the 2015-2023. Recent accomplishments include:

• Affordable Housing Ordinance adopted in 2017. All residential building permits valued over $100,000 must contribute towards the City's goal to diversify its housing stock by paying an

ATTACHMENT 3: HOUSING OVERVIEW 1

affordable housing impact fee (1% of construction valuation). Rental and ownership projects with 4 or more units must build 25% units as affordable (half moderate/half low income).

• Housing Advisory Committee assembled to discuss housing related policies and assist with the reviewing the use of Affordable Housing Trust Fund money (see above).

• Housing Summit hosted by the City with over 125 community members in attendance and 4 expert panelists on housing (development and policy-related).

• Junior ADU regulations (in progress)

• Additional ADU regulations to strengthening affordability/rental requirements for those ADUs created with Floor Area bonus (in progress)

• On-going coordination to pool resources (staff and financial resources)

Affordable Housing Trust Fund. An Affordable Housing Trust Fund has been established as part of the adoption of the Affordable Housing Ordinance for the purpose of creating, developing and/or maintaining existing housing targeted for Affordable Households within the City. Prior to distributing funds, administrative procedures outlining the application and review process will be approved by City Council resolution.

Housing Trust Fund Balance Previous Balance $122,895 Impact Fee/building $32,412 perm it fee (as of 11/1/18)

Total $155,307

Overview of Community Feedback and Interest in Housing

Public comment received at the Housing Summit held on November 30, 2017 is consistent with that expressed during the development and adoption of the Housing Element in 2015. Residents are interested in affordable housing, particularly so that long-time residents can remain and young families can establish themselves in the community. Other members of the public are interested in living in Mill Valley to be in close proximity of work but cannot afford to do so. There is also a large interest and concern to balance development with traffic, parking and other environmental impacts. There was also clear interest in expanding the opportunity to establish accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs within the Single-Family Residential areas, and maintaining the existing affordable housing stock.

Protect Existing Units

• Community Survey: 1/3 participants interested in exploring disincentives for demolishing existing affordable housing stock

• Create disincentive for reducing existing affordable housing stock Preserve Housing

• Community Survey: 1/3 participants interested in regulations to allow for duplexes in Single Family Residential Zones and 40% interested in acquiring older apartments to maintain affordability

• Adopt progressive ADU/JADU regulations to encourage additional units New Units

• Community Survey: Support for building new units, but not the first priority • Identify land opportunities to foster in-fill development

• Eliminate parking minimums and density measurements - think in terms of building envelope to allow for smaller scale units

• Relaxed/ reduced parking standards to create affordable units Local Community & Workforce

• Community Survey: 1/3 of participants interested in financial incentives to convert Single Family homes to include ADU/JADUs

• Address NIMBYism through education • Work collaboratively and don't limit ideas to City Limits • Opportunities for non-profits to use trust funds

HOUSING OVERVIEW 2

Housing Data & Statistics. The tables below may be helpful in as part of policy discussions based on the housing characteristics of Mill Valley.

levels of Affordable Housing

Marin County Affordable Income limits by Household Size Affordability level %of median Two-person Three-person Four-person (based on Annual income household household household Income) Median Income (50%) $94,700 $106,550 $118,400 Extremely Low 30% $35,200 or less $39,600 or less $44,000 or less Very Low 31-50% Up to $58,650 Up to $66,000 Up to $73,300 Low 51-80% Up to $93,950 Up to $105,700 Up to $117,400 Moderate 81-120% Up to $113,650 Up to $116,350 Up to $142,100 Source: Marin Housing Authority.

The Range of Affordable Housing Assistance (from extremely low income to moderate income) • Homeless Shelters

• Transitional & Supportive Housing • Public Housing

• Assisted Housing (Section 8 Vouchers)

• Rental Housing (Low Income Housing Tax Credits, inclusionary)

• First-Time Homebuyer (lnclusionary housing as part of development projects)

Deed Restricted Affordable Housing In Mill Valley lncluslonary Housing (as part of development projects) Rental and ownership units (since 1988) 37+ units Public Assisted Housing Shelter Hill (1977): family housing 75 units Redwoods (1972): senior housing 60 units Kruger Pines (1971): senior disabled housing 56 units Pickleweed (1986): family housing 32 units Camino Alto Apts (1983): disabled housing 24 units Homestead Terrace (1969): senior disabled housing 28 units Alto Station (1995): family housing 17 units Mill Creek Apartments (2004): disabled housing 9 units

Total Units 338 units

HOUSING OVERVIEW 3

Household Characteristics (2010) 2010

Household Type Households

MIii Marin Valley County

Families 3,627 59.6% 60.7%

With children under 18 1,835 30.2% 27.5%

Without children 1,792 29.4% 33.2%

Singles 2,016 33.1% 30.8%

Other non-families 441 7.3% 8.5%

Total Households 6,084 100% 100%

Average Household Size 2.27 2.36

Average Family Size 2.94 2.94

Source: 2010 US Census

Owner/Renter Tenure (2010 US Census) 2010

Occupied Mlll Marin Housing Units Households

Valley County

Renter 2,110 34.7% 36.0%

Owner 3,974 65.3% 64.0%

Total 6,084 100% 100%

Source: 2010 US Census

Housing Type (2010)

Unit Type Units

2010 Percent

Single-Family (SF) Detached 4,353 66.7%

SF Attached 594 9.1%

Total Single-Family 4,953 75.8%

2 to 4 Units 332 5.0%

5 or more units 1,241 19.0%

Total Multi-Family 1,568 24.0%

Mobile Homes & Other 14 0.2%

Total Housing Units 6,534 100%

Vacancy Rate 6.9% Source: State Department of Finance, ES Population and Housing estimates with 2010 Census benchmark

HOUSING OVERVIEW 4

Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To:

Subject:


Connellan Coxwell <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 9:47 AM


Sashi McEntee; John McCauley; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail; Urban Carmel; Tricia Ossa; Alan Piombo; city clerk Black Lives Matter

lam writing in general support of the recommendations from the two widely signed petitions and MVCAN.

Additionally, I would like to make the following points and get a question answered:

1) We should amend our city's Core Values to include a statement on inclusivity with a specific nod toward black residents, people of color who work in or visit our town as well as to our neighbors in Marin City. (And, we should do a better job of legislating and leading to all of our stated values.)

2) I have had intimate and overwhelmingly positive experiences with the Mill Valley Police Department. I have witnessed empathy and de escalation tactics in play. I hope that our department will continue to build upon this foundation and learn more about the experiences of people of color have in our community.

3) Marin City leaders should be included on the task force with Mill Valley residents and Mill Valley leaders.

4) After the last City Council meeting, someone added a sign where Miller abuts the Square that said, "Black Lives Are of Immediate and Local Importance." This sign was removed late last week. Does anyone know why this particular sign was removed and not others in the square? I took solace in that statement and I felt it spoke for many of us who are embarrassed, angry, defeated and frustrated by the Mayor. I feel a bit defeated and frustrated that the sign was removed.

Sincerely, Connellan Coxwell

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Linn Walsh



Hi MV City Council/ Leadership,

Michael Benson <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 10:25 AM Equality Justice Suggestion for this evening's discussion

A few questions or potential agenda items for this evening:


• How can Mill Valley encourage more black-owned businesses downtown? Can we create incentives or subsidies to do this?

• What are some of the first steps we can take to form stronger, long-term partnerships with our surrounding communities of color? (Arts/ cultural events/ investments/ opportunities)

• How can Mill Valley better incorporate our neighbors in Marin City into our community?

Best, Michael Benson Mill Valley Resident and Parent

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Seth Allingham

From;

Sent: To: Cc: Subject:


Sara Barnes <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 10:48 AM city clerk Andy Barnes


Black Lives Matter and Low Income and Workforce Housing in Mill Valley

Dear Ms. Mayor and Council Persons,

I am writing to urge you to work diligently to bring more low income and affordable (i.e. workforce) housing into Mill Valley. Until we have a more equitable community with people of many colors and economic levels, we cannot say "Black Lives Matter'' in our community. This is an opportunity for us all to see the prejudice we hold in our hearts and to stop making excuses about traffic or costs or density and to come to terms with our own racism. The only way we can do this - and heal - is to embrace people who are not like "us" and realize that more diversity of race and income means a better, stronger, livelier town. Thank you, Sara Barnes 376 Magee Ave. Mill Valley

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Seth Allingham



Hi there

My comment is this -

elaine wilkinson <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 11:00 AM city clerk Public Comment


Whilst I am pleased that the city have put together a website looking for input, I do wonder what individual city council members and city employees are committed to doing to improve their own education on social equity and justice? And if I may, could the website be called Equity & Justice rather than Equality & Justice as they mean two very different things and they are inconsistent on the City website right now ...

Thank you!

Elaine Wilkinson [email protected]

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Seth Allingham




Trevor Atashkarian Monday, June 15, 202011:02 AM Eric Erickson; Alan Piombo; city clerk FW: SLM in MV and de-prioritize police in budget

Direct: (415} 384-48041 Front Desk: (415) 388-4033 www.cityofmillvalley.org

From: Molly Mauer <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 10:55 AM


To: Trevor Atashkarian <[email protected]>; John McCauley <[email protected]>; Sashi McEntee <[email protected]>; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail <[email protected]>; Urban Carmel <[email protected]>; Tricia Ossa <[email protected]>

Cc: Molly Mauer <[email protected]>; Finnegan Daisy Mauer <[email protected]> Subject: BLM in MV and de-prioritize police in budget



My name is Molly, and I am a resident of Ethel Avenue. I am writing to demand that the Mill Valley City Council adopts a budget that prioritizes community well-being, and redirects funding away from the police.

Across a II fifty states this past week, through protests, demonstrations, and vigils, the efficacy of our current form of policing and its systemic racism has been called into question. In Mill Valley, hundreds of people blocked Miller Avenue two days in a row protesting in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, demanding police accountability on a national and local level. In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed has already begun the process of budget reallocation, and now it is our turn, as a neighbor city, to do the same, and to lead the way for the rest of Marin County.

Police Services in the number one expenditure by the City of Mill Valley. This budget is not a reflection of the needs of our city. While individuals are expected to fund raise out-of-pocket for programs within public education, such as dance, drama, and art, the police can be seen on a daily basis giving tickets to drivers going one mile over the speed limit; we need to reprioritize our budget. The millions of dollars we spend each year on police equipment and staff could be channeled into more productive resources, such as funding for mental health services, or on-call social workers. These adaptations are being made by other cities across the country. In a town with infrequent crime, a large and overlyequipped police force results in more arbitrary traffic stops, not less crime. This is a unique opportunity to reimagine public safety from a community-based approach, an opportunity to prioritize youth programming, mental health, public education and more.

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Mill Valley can be a leader on this issue, if you and our other city officials have the courage to step up. r join the calls of those across the country to defund the police.



Sincerely,

Molly Mauer

159 Ethel Ave MV CA

415-377-8124

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Seth Allingham



meridith shanks <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 11:10 AM city clerk Support for BLM & Mill Valley

Members of MV City Council and the community at large,

Grace in our journey toward racial reconciliation is crucial.


I am writing in advance of the meeting tonight because I support furthering the BLM communication, working towards reviewing practices & policies of the government and police department, understanding and closing educational gaps, making real changes in the affordable housing here and overall racial equality in our town (and everywhere).

I personally do not know Sashi. But what I do know is that people have the capacity to grow & evolve. We should give space for that. We should support that. We should be a positive part of that.

One of the things I have learned is that it's better to listen to each other, not judge, learn from each other and then work together to create positive change. I have learned it's important to get off Nextdoor (tweets, comments & posts do not necessarily give a full story and are quick to pressure policitial division) and that people are processing intense, personal and complicated emotions in various ways. We shouldn't assume that because someone doesn't say exactly what we want them to say when we want them to, they are a bad person. If we push someone out because of something they said or did, are we ourselves failing? Wouldn't it be better if we show our children, people of all races, people of all ages that it's ok to change and we are all here to support that change and support them in their individual journey? Things that anger us are also teaching us forgiveness and compassion.

Last two lines of the 2020 message being passed around from Leslie Dwight says "2020 ... a year we finally band together, instead of pushing each other further apart. 2020 isn't cancelled, but rather the most important year of them all." Let's not waste this to be a proponent of change which is long overdue.

Let us work together. Meridith Shanks

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Seth Allingham

From: Sent: To:

Subject:


Brent Blanchard <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 11:25 AM


Sashi McEntee; John McCauley; Jim Wickham - Mill Valley mail; Urban Carmel; Tricia Ossa; Alan Piombo; city clerk Agenda Item #1

What We Need To See Happen.

1. Sashi McEntee must resign the mayorship. Mill Valley needs a strong, empathetic leader we can trust to work with the BLM movement and deliver police reform.

2. The Council must choose a new mayor, trusted to work on BLM and police reform.

3. The new mayor must sign this pledge, immediately creating a diverse committee led by members of the Black community to spearhead local BLM efforts & police reform.

Thank You

Brent Blanchard

21 Stanton Way, 94941

Get Outlook for iOS

1

Seth Allingham



Good morning,

PATRICK MILLETIE <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 11:30 AM city clerk We Support Mayor Sashi McEntee


I am writing to let you know that me and my family support Mayor McEntee, and we are against the move to oust her from her job. We hope calm heads will prevail through all this and our Mayor will continue to do the good job for our town that she has previously demonstrated.

Thank you,

Pat Millette 280 Hazel Ave, Mill Valley 415-819-3024

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Hannah Politzer



Cushner, Alex <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 11:51 AM city clerk Letter on Behalf of Sashi McEntee

On Behalf of Sashi McEntee,


Please let this letter serve as our recommendations of Sashi McEntee. During the past year, we have had the opportunity to get to know and work with Sashi on Mill Valley City issues. We are highly impressed with her ability to not just listen, but to hear and to understand the complexities of the Issues, and to not just promise, but to process the Information, and to work effectively with all parties towards achieving real Solutions. Sashi has a track record of taking progressive, smart, and forward-thinking Actions. When we get caught up in the "Style" and lose track of the "Substance", we are taking a step backwards. On so many important issues (BLM, affordable housing, remote learning, fire preparedness, budget choices, etc.), we need to take immediate Steps forward. This letter is our Hope to express our view that Sashi is the Right person at the Right time to help lead our wonderful Community. Alex and Eris Cushner, Mill Valley Residents "Knowledge is the beginning of the Practice, Doing is the Completion of Knowing", Wang Yangming Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated does not accept buy, sell or other transaction orders by e-mail, or any instructions by e-mail that require a signature. This e-mail message, and any attachment(s), is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any security or other product. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, information contained in this communication is not an official confirmation of any transaction or an official statement of Baird. The information provided is subject to change without notice. This e-mail may contain privileged or confidential information or may otherwise be protected by law, rule or regulation. Any use, copying or distribution of the information contained in this e-mail by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender, and delete the material from any computer on which it exists. Baird, in accordance with applicable law, reserves the right to monitor, review and retain all electronic communications, including e-mails, traveling through its networks and systems. E-mail transmissions cannot be guaranteed to be secure, timely or error-free. Baird therefore recommends that you do not send any sensitive information such as account or personal identification numbers by e-mail.

Please click here <http://content.rwbaird.com/R WB/Content/PD F /Help/Consolidated-Report-Disclosure. pdt> for important information about any client reports you receive.

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Seth Allingham



Anschel Burk <[email protected]> Monday, June 15, 2020 12:27 PM Anschel Burk Policing Reforms in Mill Valley

Dear Mill Valley City Council and Leaders,


My name is Anschel Burk, and I grew up in Mill Valley, on the hill above the Depot As our nation has begun to face our broken policing systems, I wanted to reach out with some thoughts on police reform.

First, I'll outline the problems in policing (below) and their relevance to Mill Valley and its elected officials. Then, I'll propose some concrete steps that Mill Valley can take to better inform its policing practices. Finally, I'll provide some additional resources that have helped me to better understand this issue.

I. PROBLEMS IN POLICING

Although some honest officers exist (including a member of my graduating class at Tam High School), American policing as a whole is plagued by massive inequality in the kind and amount of force used to resolve issues, due to a harmful workplace culture and poorly-constructed policies.

In Mill Valley, these inequalities can be hard to see. They affect lower-income people (particularly the homeless and housing-insecure), and people of color. In Mill Valley, a town with a median income level of over $150,000/year with a population that is nearly 90% white, this can be hard to see. We don't have regular police incidents where officers put their knees on our citizens' necks until they die. However, our privilege does not make the reality of our broken policing system any less real, nor does it make our town any less threatening for a lower-income person, a housing-insecure person, or any person color who might visit.

So far, Mill Valley's response to the national movement to reform our policing system has been a series of unfortunate remarks by the mayor. Mayor McEntee's constituents have made their views clear, and I think it's abundantly clear how strongly this issue will influence the next election cycle.

All ofthis leads to a need for change. Here's how we can make that happen.

Right now, there are three problems with policing in America:

1) Police accountability.

When an officer does something wrong, even if they're fired, they can usually get their job back or find a new job at a different police department or in private security. They usually face minimal charges. (Officer Chauvin, for example, who murdered George Floyd, can be released from jail if police advocacy groups raise enough to meet his bail.)

2) Officers' responsibilities.

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Many police officers respond to calls about not only crime, but homelessness and mentally ill individuals. At that point, police can either walk away (which doesn't fix the problem), employ the use of force (which hurts the people involved and doesn't fix the problem), or send them to jail (which doesn't stop them from being mentally ill or find them a place to live).

3) Police budgets.

Despite this lack of effectiveness, police budgets often make up a huge portion of the money American cities spend each year.

IL SOLUTIONS AND NEXT STEPS.

In order to address these issues, I recommend taking the following steps to better distribute the responsibility of addressing disturbances in Mill Valley.

1) Work with other cities to move from a city police system to a county police system.

This was successfully done in Camden, NJ. It was done under a Republican governor, is supported by Democrats, and has been wildly successful. The police chief who served through the change, Scott Thomson, has spoken nationally about how well it has worked.

2) Hold police accountable to a Citizens' Advisory Board with enforcement powers.

This board should be made up of elected representatives from each city in Marin County. All police hires would need to be authorized by this board, and they should be able to charge officers who act inappropriately.

3) Redefine the role of the police, and reallocate funds accordingly.

As I said before, police are often called in to address disturbances that they realistically cannot fix. Reallocate funds to initiatives to give homeless people housing, and to provide help and support for mentally ill people.

Shrink the police to a minimal force that supports mental illness experts and homelessness volunteers by providing protection if and only if the individuals they're helping become violent.

4) Require that all police wear body cameras, and that they use all possible de-escalation tactics before any force is employed.

If camera footage shows that they did not do this, require that they be charged.

5) End the qualified immunity doctrine for police.

From the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: "Qualified immunity, a defense that shields officials from being sued, has been interpreted by courts so broadly that it allows officers to engage in unconstitutional acts with impunity."

I've included a link to the ful] web site under "Additional Resources".

III. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For more information, here are a few places I've looked to help me understand this issue:

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The New York Times, "The Systems that Protect the Police": https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/podcasts/thedaily/ george-tloyd-protests.html?

The New York Times, "A Discussion about How to Reform Policing": https://www .nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/13/magazine/policereform.html ?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: https://civilrights.org/resource/civil-rights-coalition-letter-onfederal-policing-priorities/

NPR Article on Chief Scott Thomson of Camden, NJ (who I referenced earlier): https://www.npr.org/sections/liveupdates-protests-for-racial-j ustice/2 020/06/08/8724 I 6644/former-chief-of-reformed-camden-n-j-force-po 1 ice-needconsent-of-the-peop le

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely, Anschel Burk

Anschel Kaufman Burk

B.A., Carleton College, 2014 Sociology & Anthropology I Sociologfa y antropologia Educational Studies I Educaci6n Spanish I Espanol

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Item 1, Public Comm. No. 101 Seth Allingham

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