Hello, I had some problems. >> Okay, no worries. I don't know if the other folks are having issues too cuz no one else is on. Wait, let me save my It's not the video is not It's not letting me do the video.
Um just my my name keeps on showing up, that's it. When I touch the video thing, it's just my name. >> It should >> Here we go. >> There you go. >> Oh, wait. I got to take I got to change this one. Let me just change my background.
>> I'll promote to panelists. Okay, Anna's here. >> I believe Erica's going to be on. >> She might be a little late. >> Oh, yeah, cuz she said she had a car emergency. And then um Lisette said she was going to be late, too.
Cuz she had already a prior since we're not having it on the day of, she already had something scheduled. So, I think it might just Oh, no, Bridget said she's coming. Bridget said she is coming. >> Is Bridget coming? >> Yeah, she had said she was coming. Yeah,
she said she was available. But let's see. Anna, you on? >> I am. I'm finishing dinner and working out an issue with my computer, so I'm going to log into my computer when that's up and running. And we'll put the camera on when I'm not eating anymore.
>> Mhm. Okay. So, should we should Do you think we should just get started? >> Sure. >> It's 6:34. >> We're already recording. >> Okay. All right. Yeah, I think we should just get started in case there's anyone um
out there. I I don't know, you know. >> Um we do have one attendee in the gallery. >> Okay, good. Cuz I didn't think we were going to get any attendees since we changed it. But okay. So, yeah, why don't we get started?
So, I can just start the meeting? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Um So, I'd like to start the meeting for the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee at 6:35 uh p.m. Um chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025 extended through June 30th, 2027 give
the ability of public bodies to meet in a fully remote or hybrid manner. Um members of the public who wish to access the meeting may do so via Zoom or by telephone. Um I'm also going to go over the um agenda
uh for everyone. So, it's going to be um the welcome, announcements, and then um minutes, member reports, public comment, Crescent Heights updates, Resident Oversight Board, um GL update,
ICE update, Sanctuary City bylaw, uh racist fire response, youth empowerment um center funds and location, Town Council meeting follow-up, membership co-chair nomination vote, creating subcommittees, public comment,
and our second public comment, and then items not anticipated. So, um right now want to, you know, obviously acknowledge that we only have one
of our members here. Um Anna, can you hear me? >> I can. >> can hear you. >> Okay, great. >> And then Camille, you can hear me as I can hear you. And Camille's our liaison as always, press liaison for for our um committee.
So, first will be announcements. Any announcements? >> Yeah, I have one. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Um I just wanted to um let folks know that tomorrow at 5:30 in um Sweetser Park, there's going to be a rally that
Amherst for the People is holding um to uh protest the recent um more ICE killings that have happened um and to call for accountability. >> Yeah. Yeah, and I was actually going to I was actually going to talk about that, too.
So, hopefully everyone and anyone that can attend, please attend cuz that will be a critical meeting, especially since um as you know, CSSJC joined Human Rights Commission as well as uh the Town Council to talk to Chief Ting and and Paul Bockelman around the
protections of our residents um from ICE. And so, um please come out if you can. >> Absolutely. And Luz Say will be there also and um raising some money to keep supporting that work um and speaking to that.
>> All right. Great. Um and so, now we're going to do there is what like we're going to go to the minutes, and I saw that there was one June 10th, but we're going to have to table that until the end to see if we have a quorum, and I don't know if we're
going to end up having a quorum. I think, right? Because if if Bridget, Lisette, Erica, yeah, five of us, yeah, that would be a quorum. So, I think we could we could do the minutes at the end of the meeting, okay? So, if I forget, you all remind me
to revisit the minutes at the end. So, now um we'll go to any member reports. I mean, the only thing is and we'll just Oh, go ahead, Anna. Anna, did you have anything to say?
Hello? Can you hear me? Yeah, now we can hear you. >> Hello? Hello? >> Yeah, now we can hear you. >> Hello? >> We can hear you now. >> We can hear you. >> Can you hear us? Hello? >> I don't think she can hear us. Anna?
>> She's back muted. >> Yeah, there might be something going on. >> Sorry, I think I lost connection for a minute. >> Yeah. >> Can you hear me? >> We can hear you, but you couldn't hear us. >> Um yeah, exactly. Um yeah, I just wanted to check in I was I
was able to check in with um Jill Brevik who had a couple of updates on um some things that are relating to work that we've been doing. >> Mhm. >> One is relating to the town council meeting. Um and just that she had wanted to update that she has um followed up
and submitted questions um to the town manager and chief of police um on things that haven't been addressed. So, we're still waiting for a response on that. Um Sorry, I'm trying to pull up the other updates that she had.
Um Actually, you might and some of it maybe some of this can also come into the conversation about subcommittees cuz some of it's related to the specific things that we're working on. >> Okay.
Yeah, and I mean and well I'll talk about it and we'll talk about it more when we go get into more of our agenda items, but yeah, for me it was some of the same thing, you know, trying to follow up with um counselor Mandy Joe to get more information on those questions, uh touch
base with Human Rights Commission who submitted um questions to uh the town manager which were questions that he said that he would get more information on in regards to ICE. >> Right. >> And um and then also I you know, asked Paul Bakerman for information on the Youth
Empowerment Committee, but he didn't get me any any information. So, those are some of the things that I was working on. >> And then so the two other things is again just a sort of updates on things that are happening on town council have to do with the work that we're doing is that she uh actively working on
um that sort of early case for increasing Crest funding for the next budget cycle that comes through. Um so, something when we talk about subcommittees, maybe we can um talk about how to support her in that. Um and then the other two things that she's looking at um introducing bylaws to ban consent
searches and protect racial stops and would love our help and support in doing that. >> Okay, great. All right. So, um we can go into our first public comment. Um and uh during public comment period the
chair will recognize members of the public. Uh when called on, please identify yourself by stating your name, uh preferred pronouns, and if you want, you can say uh where you live. Um da da da da
Um oh, the CSS JCC will not engage in dialogue or comment on the matter raised during public comment. So, I see that we have three attendees. Um not sure if any of them want to make a public comment right now. Okay. Um we'll move on. Uh but
obviously, just so the attendees know that we will have another public comment at the end of our meeting in case anyone wants to stick around in order to make a public comment at the end. Um So, right now we have uh Crest and DEI updates. Um from what I know, there
isn't going to be anyone from DEI, right, Camille? Because since it wasn't a regularly scheduled So, what I'll do is I'll just read some of the DEI things um from the newsletter. So, uh Camilla, are you able to uh provide a
uh update for us in regards to Crest? >> Sure. Um uh in the the packet is the newsletter. Uh just to let folks know, as you know that uh we lost our program manager um Daniel Garcia. Um but thankfully, he is
now the new senior center senior services director. So, he's still in the building. Um if we had to lose him, I am just really proud and happy that he was made the senior services director um
because we work so well collaboratively. And we've already talked about things that we can do to um work Crest, the senior center, DEI, and public health, and those of us that are
in the building to do more collaborative work together, to work with our unhoused, our BIPOC community, etc. And I think this is a a really good move. Um I'm sad to to lose him. Um
and as you know, we still are at six responders, uh myself and Angel. So, um it's been Oh, excuse me. A really tough month as um
finishing out the FY '26 budget. So, there was a lot of work that had to be done. Um and now, so one of the things that was created in June was the um we started doing what we call walking
outreach or pull-up program. And it has been phenomenal. Um what it is is uh the Crest responders will go to different areas, Groff Park, downtown, um to the uh different businesses, and we have a
wagon, and what we put in is some waters, um sometimes some snacks, and we just meet people where they are at. And it's really gone well. We bring our uh newsletter and handouts, and just talk
to people about what Crest is and what Crest does. So, it's been phenomenal for really getting out in the community and seeing people and being able to talk to people and not have to worry about, you know, them thinking that we're anything
but what we are, Crest. Um at first it was interesting cuz people were worried when we'd get out of the car, um thinking that we were the police, or thinking that we were ICE. So, um it is a a really hard thing for folks
that are out there. So, this has been a wonderful program and the responders have really they've taken to it because meeting people out in public in their natural environment has been so
beneficial for us and the community. Uh this Friday will be the veterans breakfast. There was only one last month and one this month due to the holidays. Um and now because we lost our funding
through the Department of Public Health grant uh the vet breakfast will now be funded by the senior center through June Excuse me, of next year. Um so, we're really pleased with that.
Cress also participated in the Pride Parade. We have a banner. We were also out at Race Amity Day and the Youth Hero Awards. And also we've been outreach to like Hampshire College.
Um and the calls for dispatch have been steadily increasing. Mostly well-being checks. As I was leaving today, we received a call from Highland Valley about one of their seniors that
had not opened the door and no one spoken to them and they have a protocol that if they don't speak to them or see them within like a day or two, they would have called the police but now they call Cress. So, Cress goes out, checks on the person, lays eyes on them,
finds out if they have any needs, if anything's missing. So, things have definitely taken an upswing. >> Any questions? Oh, and And that I saw that Erica has joined us. Erica, just um making sure you can hear us and we can
hear you. Okay. Perfect. >> Thank you. Sorry, I'm late. >> Oh, no. No worries. You know, life happens. >> Cars happen. >> I know that. Um any questions for for Camille?
So, um I have I have um some questions. Well, first I want to say, Camille, thank you so much for obviously um assisting us today. I know that, you know, you were sick and and recovering and you know, and I know there was, you know, it's just been a lot. Uh
that's why we didn't have the meeting last week, but I'm happy you all were able to be flexible so that we can have it this week cuz I think um it's important for the community and I know they they always want to make sure that CSSC is having, you know, its meetings on a monthly basis. So, thank you uh
first and foremost. Second, thank you too for inviting us to take part in pride. I know I wasn't able to take um advantage of that opportunity just because, you know, I was away for the weekend. Um but obviously, thank you because
obviously this time you can and you will participate. >> Um I just wanted you to know that Anna and her sons were there and also made it to the picture um in the uh Crest newsletter. So, um >> It's me.
>> Awesome. That's great. >> see that. Thank you. >> That's great. Um now I did want to kind of talk a little bit about the numbers. Um so, yeah, I mean, I see that the numbers are kind of increasing a little bit. I mean, I
understand that this is the summer. Um I'm assuming um yeah, because this month it was well month of May was like 39 calls. Um so I mean are you seeing kind of like a
difference in terms of dispatch cuz for me I I still feel that that's concerning the numbers. Um because I I I want to see a lot more numbers coming in from dispatch uh for you all um
you know, again you you're doing great work in terms of all the assistance you're providing. But I know my focus is on making sure that dispatch is doing what they need to do which is ensuring that when someone calls into calls 911 and they describe
what their crisis is that if it doesn't include violence they should be contacting Crest. That is what we're looking for. So can you give us an idea of you know, I mean is there any way to
find out I guess you all got seven calls in May. Is there any way to find out whether in May there were other calls that went into UMPD that could have gone to Crest cuz I think maybe that's what needs to be happening is like you know,
you all need to start doing an assessment right? So dispatch was put put in place finally in um January right? So January to now we're in July. An assessment needs to be made in terms of okay
cuz I know they have all the logs in terms of the calls that came in. And so okay what calls came in and then really a discussion. Okay, well this call over here why were we not called and why was popo Let me say no let me not say that but police department
>> So Amherst police department. So I will just let you know that um I have a meeting and it's going to be scheduled to be I think I don't know if it's going to be bi-weekly, but meeting with um
the town manager, the chief of police, and the director of the emergency communication center. So, we met um And like my days are so um What Okay, we met last week. I have to
sit there and think. We met last week and just discussed the calls that have come in um since January and how uh the numbers have increased. Again, if this is May, so next month you will see
June and July. And we have been getting multiple calls now a week. So, it is no longer like one call um once a week. Uh I think we've already had three or four calls this week already and it's Wednesday. So, the
calls are increasing. The other thing is um we have a scanner in the office and also we are able to Excuse me. Huh. >> Yeah, take your time. I know you're still recovering, right? >> Pneumonia is no joke.
Um So, uh we are able to see the calls that are going out and um talk about like what calls are actually a Crest call. And there was a it started out as a
well-being check and then it became um a missing child. And uh dispatch called for all hands on deck. So, um the six responders went out in three cars. Um and by this time by the time they got
to the area, the child was located. But, they are calling us more often. Uh as far as looking at the um computer-aided dispatch, um I'm still not able to access and look at all the calls. I'm
still working on that. Um so that, you know, I know I have a better idea of what calls that my team can take. So, those are the type of things that I'm working on um with the town manager,
uh the police chief, and dispatch. So, things are moving in the right direction. Definitely since protocols have been put into place, um since we're having more regular meetings, since there is more of an understanding of
what Crest can and should not take um um I'm trying to remember. I don't know if there was um there was a disturbance last month in Musante and um myself, I think I already spoke
about that last month, and um went over and it was definitely um not a Crest call. Um and went over, tried to de-escalate, and realized that this was above what we could do, stepped back, just observed
the situation, and I have to say that um APD, the three officers that showed up, handled it absolutely beautifully. They de-escalated the individual. Um they
and the individual was yelling and screaming, and we were just on the other side of the door, and we could just hear them using very calm tones and talking. There was no raised voices, um and I mean, and
that's how it should be done. So, I I just want to give kudos, you know, to APD and their three officers for, you know, coming in and handling a situation um in a professional and, you know, um, trauma-informed manner.
>> Mhm. Yeah, well, that's good to hear. And, um, I mean, one thing is is that's good that you all were called though first. And then, like you said, you know, one of the things that we always said is that, obviously, if there's something that we feel APD should be called, then obviously call in
APD. Or it vice versa, right? If APD's called first, and then it's something that actually Crest should be calling APD, should be calling you all in. You know what I'm saying? So, it should be >> And but and but what we want to do >> I will just say that that has happened where, um, if we hear that there is a
call that is around bangs, um, and we know who or have an idea who the individual is, um, have gone out, de-escalate the situation, um, APD has come onto the scene, uh,
looked and saw that the situation was handled and left. So, um, the relationship has greatly improved, and I just think it's going to just get better. >> Okay. And I'm I'm happy about your optimism and everything else. I mean, I
think my role though is to kind of continue to put the pressure on the town council and continue to put the pressure on, um, the town to make sure that, um, you know, it and I'm I'm happy they're going in the right direction. But for me and a lot of town residents, um, who
look like me, it's still going very slowly, you know? So, I'm going to put the pressure on the town, um, to make sure that that these dispatch calls, um, increase dramatically. I don't I don't really want a few a week, I want a few a day. You know what I'm saying? Like
multiples, you know, during the day, um, because also you also >> have to get need to get more staff. You all need to get more staff. >> was going to say, um, at the current rate that we're moving, you know, it is going to outpace um, six responders.
>> Yeah, I get it, but but But Camille, that's what we need to showcase though. >> what I'm saying. This is why we're exactly. No, and that's that's you know, just proof positive of the the really good work that the Crest responders do
is that people are calling and following up and that even if it comes from dispatch, you know, we're going out there and making sure to follow up to make sure people are getting the resources that they need. So, it is um
we are, you know, becoming a one-stop shop for resources and to help people in connecting them to the people that they need to be with, you know, instead of going through it in different channels. >> Yeah, and and and that was one of the
things that CSWG that we envisioned obviously was that you all get that call, you go in, you assess, you do what needs to be done, whether it's the escalation or what facilitation or what what have you, mediation, and then like you said, you know, doing that warm handoff, right?
You know, providing the resources, making sure and then even following up with the with with the person or people, making sure that they're still connected and then kind of letting them, you know, get that hopefully long-term assistance that they need from whatever, you know, organizational program, hopefully that
they'll they'll be connected. So, so yeah, I mean, you know, >> One of the the other things that has been happening that has increased that is sad is the number of evictions. Um the Hampshire County Sheriff's
Department will call us to go in and when when there is an eviction, you know, it's a long process, um to go in and meet with the the folks that are being evicted, to go provide
resources and to see if there is anything um that we can help them with. Um we have, you know, um accompanied people or helped them when they needed um to go to court, you know, because they did not have any
transportation. Um But it it is, you know, it's to be there to support somebody through that, I think, is really important. >> Oh, yeah. No, cuz that's a traumatic experience and obviously given
economy right now and the soaring prices of everything, you know, it's it's just, you know, it's that's not a surprise to me that obviously like what you're saying that evictions unfortunately are on the rise and, you know, yeah, that's an incredible um support that you all
provide to folks cuz, yeah, that's just >> I will say this is that uh many of the landlords have also and the um property managers are also working with us, you know, to support these neighbors. So,
it's not I mean, I want to I want to make sure that people understand that most of these times when this is happening, I I don't think it's it's done with malice. I really believe that people have gone through and exhausted everything by time
that they're at the point of eviction. So, um and if we can help people um and we have helped people before that were in danger of eviction to help them find the resources um to find programs to help them with back
rent, to help them with um their um fuel bills, etc. So, I mean, there's there's a lot of resources um that are out there and it's just a lot
of people don't know where they are and how to find them. >> Yeah. Exactly. I mean, yeah, we know that navigating resources, navigating organizations that can help, that's very >> The access. Access is so, you know, important. >> Exactly. Exactly. Thank you. The other
thing that I wanted to just kind of point out as, you know, again, our advocacy for Crest um is around the fact that, you know, I you know, obviously I'm happy >> Um yeah, you're kind of Yeah, no, I
think she is frozen, Erica. I think Camille's frozen. >> Oh, you're right. Camille, can you hear us? >> Yeah, she's she's frozen. All right, we'll wait to hear from her, but I guess in the meantime, what I'll
do is I'll just kind of start doing cuz DI because since we switched the meeting, DI was not able to attend today, but I can just kind of mention some of the highlights that they um spoke about in their newsletter,
which um one of the main things being that this month is uh Disability Pride Month, so they have a variety of activities and events happening um this month and really making sure that people understand that, you know, disability uh
rights is not about equality, it's about equity, all right? It's about fairness and making sure that everyone um has a unique support uh for them and it's not saying that everyone needs to get the same support, right? It has to be a unique, tailored support to each
individual person. And so, um the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was put in place in 1990, was a really critical um law that was put in place that really has provided a lot of support um and throughout the years, we've really been
able to kind of um you know interpret it and and and make sure that it provides the protections that people with disabilities learning different learning abilities can use to really have full access within our society.
But Camille I'll stop there for a second just I started going into that since you froze for a little bit. But just wanted to just to kind of finish off the Crest portion of it. My only other question that I wanted to say was that
obviously I'm I'm happy for it's Garcia right who was there yes yeah who was there with you all as the you know basically like almost like an assistant manager type of thing and now yeah I'm happy that he's going to be in
senior services and you all can continue to work together cuz he's he seemed like a really an asset to Crest and so again I want to point out that Crest does need an assistant director. The town needs to make sure
that they provide that funding. This is something that Anna you know I know you said that Joe will be working to kind of get some additional funding hopefully for Crest you know besides adding the community responders Crest needs to have an assistant
director. That is not okay for you Camille to have to deal with all these things and then we're losing really great talent like Dan you know even though I of course I'm happy for him you know to have the job. But
but we want we want that talent on Crest you know needs it and things like that you know given everything that you all are going through and it's just really disappointing to me. >> Definitely 100% agree
we need to increase you know the number of responders to adequately support the town and uh to increase hours. With six people we can't increase hours. >> Exactly. Mhm. Yep. Yep. And like you all
like you said in terms of what the town is expecting, right? Which is like, you know, that increased number of dispatch and everything else. How are you all going to be able to be responsive if you only have six responders and you don't have an assistant director? You can't be everywhere, you know, all the time.
There isn't, you know, clones of you as of yet, right, Camille? In the future they're going to have clones of all of us, but for now, no. So, it's like, you know, this needs to happen, you know. So, for us on our ends yes as ACC, we need to
continue to advocate for the increased funding and make sure for this next budget season that we're already in, that we make that happen. That has to be, you know, priority number one.
>> I agree and I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Camille, my my memory when you had spoken before was it sort of the bare minimum that you saw as the need was four more responders, two of which could be supervisory and an assistant director. Is that >> Four responders. >> Yeah. So, it might be helpful
>> but yes, to get to 10 and then >> The bare minimum, yeah. Yeah. All right, so hopefully you'll be able to have a >> if right, if you look at other um other response, you know, you look at
Northampton or you look at Cambridge and the number of responders they have. So, and for hours, you know, like Cambridge started with three days a week with their responders and then now they're at I think they're at six and
the same thing with Northampton. And they have They have I think 10 >> And also, all of their responders like have other like specifics. They have directors, assistant directors. They
have team leads, um clinicians. So, right now, you know, we're doing a lot a lot with a lot less people. >> Yes. I guess. And then you compare it to the police with 47. And within that 47, there's command staff. There's all of
that that assists to chief thing. And so, no. Is this like you all need to get the funding to be able to get the bare minimum. Cuz C-ASWBG, we had recommended 14 responders. You know, plus an assistant director, you know, um to be kind of like fully
staffed so that you all can have shifts, so that you all can be really even more so like the extended hours, right into the later hours in the evening, which is what LEAP had kind of said would would have more of the foot traffic in terms of calls and things like that. So,
but yeah, we could start with 10, you know, um for now and assistant director, you know, like so four more plus the assistant director. And then the following year year, then, you know, maybe add another two and then another two, you know, because we need to you know, increase you all's numbers. I
mean, that's that's critical, you know. >> And then again, as our numbers increase, you know, you're going to see a need. So, um and that is, I think, um that because of the pull-up program and being in the community and being at um
the morning movement mentoring program, that we've had the ability to see more and more people. So, um being out and highly visible is really important. >> You guys have the best fidgets and throws from braids and things like that.
They're excellent. >> And we now have the the stickers Um we're also all trained in Culture City. So I mean any of the any classes or trainings that we can get especially if they're free because I
don't have a budget you know for training. So I do the best I can with what I have. >> And so also one of the agenda items that Eric and I had asked to add later so we can kind of circle back to that was reconstituting the subcommittees for
CSSJC. Hopefully one of which would be focused on CRESS and being able to like really directly support that budget advocacy. And so in speaking with Council Brevik and I know that Council Lord is our liaison that
hopefully we can sometimes soon sit down and like try to hammer out what those actual numbers would look like for the positions that you would be requesting and then also maybe training budget. Would that be a reasonable request? Things like that would have actual hard
numbers to be able to start um pushing would be great. >> Well and just well for me and for the listeners you said culture ready. What did you mean by that? >> Culture City. >> Oh Culture City. >> Culture City that's in
so for people with special needs for like crowds one of the things this was something that Becky from Rec recommended through morning movement program and talking about that. So some of the
things that we picked out of that were like earplugs. So for example the fireworks. Many people can't handle the noise of the fireworks. So that was something that was you know really
important. And then other people to help with calming we have stickers created stickers Britney did. and that have texture. And you can like move around them, and they
say like breathe, hold for two, breathe, hold for four, and those are really helpful. So. And now I'm realizing now like the dates and like what else was going on, the fireworks. Um, Crest was there for the fireworks. I think that it went very,
very smoothly this year. Uh, we had a couple of people that went down with heat exhaustion, uh, but um, the senior center had the it's uh, their Uh, it's not a van, it's bigger. The
shuttle. They had the shuttle. Um, one of the first responders had the senior van. And then we also had, um, two golf carts. So, on the back of the golf carts, because it was 97°, we put our Crest coolers, the 5-gallon coolers,
filled with water and ice. We had cups, and we drove around, um, and helped people. We had the cups, and we also filled up water bottles. Um, we were able to give out, you know, some fans to people, paper fans. And, um, if people
were unable to walk back to their car, or needed help with some equipment or something like that, it was really good for us to be able to be out there in the crowd and help people and meet them where they were at. >> Mhm. >> So, um, it was it really was a wonderful
event. They, I think they said it was, um, at least 8,500 people. >> Wow. Awesome. Thank you. Any other questions for Camille? Okay, thank you, Camille. I appreciate and also appreciate, again, like I said,
you assisting and and giving the report given that you're still recuperating, so much appreciated. >> Thank you. >> Um >> I'm still going to be here just to let you know, but I'm going to go off video. >> Oh, perfect. But yeah, thank you for being here because I probably need help
if people want to talk later cuz I still don't know how to pull people and I I'll probably just need to talk to you and figure that out, you know, in the future. >> No problem. Okay. >> All right. So, um to continue with the DEI, like I said, it's uh disability uh
pride month um for the month of July and so DEI is doing different um activities around that. Uh so, disability pride month celebrations, have Jones Library story time and disability and another one at
the Mill River Park. So, the Jones Library story story time is July 16th on a Thursday and then the other event is on July 20th um at 12:00 p.m. Um where para uh uh Olympian uh swimmer will be uh talking.
So, Tory Dickson and Juan Dickson will be at these events um talking about their experience and um sharing, you know, different um goals they were able to achieve. Um also talked about the fact that there was Race Amity Day and Human Rights
Commission Youth Hero Awards and how well all of that went. Um then there was the Amherst Pride. Um They said they saw over 500 marchers from 37 different organization for the parade and over 80 vendors and
roughly over 1,000 people on the common. Um and obviously thanking everyone for taking part in the Amherst Pride. Uh they also talked about um celebrating they had a panel display for the USA Democracy 250 years in the
making. And then there was the reading of the Frederick Douglass, um What to Slave is the Fourth of July. Um And that was on Sunday, July 5th at 3:00 p.m. Um, da da da da da da. I'm just going to do the highlights here.
Um, and there's also there was a a Braille storytime with Mary Westgate. Um, that was July 10th at 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. Kind of talking storytime talking about Braille books, singing, and
musical instruments. Um, let me see if there's anything else here. I think those were the the highlights. But, obviously, their newsletter is at on our website. So, if you want more detail, just go to our um, you know, on
the crest and you can look at the the newsletter that they sent in to us. Okay? So, um, now we will move on to the resident oversight board um, GOL update.
So, um, with the resident oversight board, I know that there was a meeting that GOL had cuz they would they're the body in the town council that were given the task to look at the two proposals that
were made by the consultants. One is an investigative proposal, the other one is a review proposal a model, right? And um, and so, at the last meeting, from what I I I know, it's not as if I haven't listened to the recording, um, but it
they asked the town attorney to come in and kind of look at the two proposals. And so, the town attorney, based on what I've heard, has just uh, um, asked a ton of questions and really trying to poke holes at um, at having, you know, I think at having a resident oversight
board. So, what I want to do with us is kind of So, then I was contacted actually by Anna, what's the Anna's last name from Town Council? >> Devlin. >> Yeah, Anna Devlin. I was contacted by Anna Devlin who basically said um
that they're going to be meeting in August. Um and so she would like CSSJC to kind of CSSJC members to to one look at the meeting recording, look at the questions that
that were raised and how the uh attorney answered those questions, and then for us to provide any responses and any any information that we'd like in regards to it. Um because as you all know, you know, that we've been talking about for you know, many years and and months as
we've kind of engaged in this process cuz in November we put pressure on the Town Council and that's when the Town Council um and the consultants made, you know, their presentation and we put pressure for the resident oversight board to be put in place um since we've been waiting since 2021 for this to be
established. Um and so uh you know, the fact that again they're poking holes um you know, for instance, I know that one of the things is that because POST is is is you know, a law that obviously kind of looks at
you know, reviews uh the police officers, they feel that it's since there's POST that there shouldn't be any review kind of town review to review the police and that's POST is a whole that's a a state uh agency that really looks at high-level egregious issues and they're
not looking at the issues that we would be complaining about that town residents would be complaining about. And this was something that Chief Ting and others bring up all the time that why do we need a resident oversight board because there's already POST and that is two
different totally different um aspects. Um and so, you know, that and I feel that that that's a a huge excuse. So, what I want to talk with you all, um, you know, members of the CSSJC is for us to kind of talk further about it, but we need to
put make a plan in terms of how, you know, you know, we need to provide that information to them prior to the meeting. I believe it's in August, but I got to think of I got to see what when it it is.
Um, but in the meantime, let me call on Erica while I'm looking at when it is that they're having the meeting. >> Thank you, Deborah. Um, I did go to the meeting and I sat through it. Um, and, um, so I just want to say that Council Ryan
was there, Council Grismore, Council, um, Devlin Gauthier, uh, who's the chair, and Council, uh, Cano Martin were there. Um, and the lawyer, um, from JP Law, um, that represented the town,
it was very clear that the role of the lawyer was around town risk avoidance. It was absolutely about risk avoidance. Um, and I think, you know, the underlying, um,
presentation or response to the questions that each of the councilors raised, uh, though the lawyer didn't always answer them, was that, um, POST, um, as it it it's a commission and, um,
that, you know, starting 2021, that, um, our recommendations for, or our, meaning the community safety working group's recommendations for Rob was prior to the POST creation. And, um, she kept on
stressing that by, um, the, uh, statutory bylaws, that POST actually has the ability and has a responsibility to actually review any complaint any complaint and that a complaint has to be
reviewed within 24 hours. And so there are a lot of questions about what does that mean? Who is on post? How is post representative of community? The lawyer couldn't answer that. The lawyer kept on raising that there might
be one the issue of double jeopardy meaning that if Rob were to take on a case I really didn't really hear her talk about should it be review or investigative. It was just really Rob period. If Rob were going to
an investigation and um they came up with you know some finding and then post took out you know had to look at the same investigation because it has to go to post whatever the complaint is. And there could be quote unquote a
double jeopardy. And again saying that Rob did not have the authority to subpoena people. Rob did not have the authority to get any any records beyond what's public record whereas the post did. So their ability to actually investigate couldn't be very
deep. The other thing you know she kept on just stating is that you know this police officer standards and training you know they they go through training you know they you know they it's not you know Rob is not really needed because post is comprehensive.
It actually can decertify officers which Rob would never be able to do. I mean literally it was more of Rob can't can't can't. Anna actually asked well there are Robs in Cambridge and in
Boston and I believe in Somerville maybe and actually in Springfield how are they able to do this? And that was never answered. Um so um Anna said that she was going to actually get in touch with Boston, uh Cambridge, and Springfield and find
out how they're operating. Um supposedly Cambridge was formed prior to POST. Um so then again Anna said it would then would be really good to know how they are working with POST. Um so Anna actually um I mean they all were asking questions uh trying to get certain um
clarification questions. But I I just felt that the lawyer was more of we can't we can't we can't we can't versus how can we? Um and so um that's when Anna said, "Look, um I think it's really important that the CSSJC uh
listens to um this whole session and comes up with questions." Uh she also said she was going to contact APD as well um to ask about questions that they had um and then uh send it back to the lawyer. But they themselves were going to look
into how the ROBs are working in other um cities. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and um and I think so I I found the email from um Anna uh Devlin Gauthier and it's basically um they're
going to be meeting on August 11th. Um so we should be getting them any information relevant to this um before August 11th for them to take into consideration because the the the arguments that the attorney is making
are the same arguments that I heard from the police when they were when I was in the committee um who was was working on the different proposals. You know, the whole double jeopardy, the fact that there was POST and that is not true because POST is high-level like I said.
They really look at is more like use of force and things like that like those really like if you're you know, taking out a weapon if you're really kind of you know, brutalizing someone things like that which again as we've said in Amherst Amherst is not a an inherently
violent town. So the lot of those things wouldn't even rise to that level or that standard of post because we did send a lot of the complaints that we have had with the police with these past few years. We have sent a post and they always come back and say we we don't review those.
So it's it's and if you go to post and you see cuz they will they have a whole lot of the issues that they actually deal with and they decertify police. But again high level use of force and those types of things um
you know, like high level fraud, you know, those you know, like really you know, abhorrent kind of behavior, you know, um that we're dealing with is I you know, police saying you have no rights. You know what I'm saying? Post
is not going to look at that. But we need the resident oversight board to be able to look at that, right? They need to be able to look at these types of um grievances and complaints that come that might not reach the level of post
but is actually very egregious for our town residents, right? Our BIPOC town residents who are intimidated and and and deal with these types of injuries on a daily basis. So um and so and and
based on what you're saying Erica I'm I'm concerned that the attorney like you said wasn't even looking at which model, right? But just looking at why is there even a need, you know, which was again so I I really feel like this
attorney is biased because these are all the arguments that the police were making when we were on the committee. Why is there a need? Why you know, so why are we back there? Why are we back there with why is there a need, right? Why is she Is it she that the attorney is a she? Why is there well this post
and double jeopardy? These are all police arguments. You know what I'm saying? I just want to make it clear that these are all police arguments and that she's regurgitating, you know, what the APD have have said in the past. So, um
So, we do needs to to make a response. We do need to, you know, respond by August 11th. Um and then to go further, I guess the only thing that she did kind of respond a little bit on was around um saying that they, you know, that you
couldn't review records, that you couldn't um What is it? You wouldn't have subpoena power. Those are all things that we would need to really She would need to show us why. You know what I'm saying? Why couldn't we review records? Why couldn't um Resident
Oversight Board have subpoena powers? Because yes, you you are able to do it if the town wants to do it, you know? You know, I'm an attorney myself. There's An attorney can always come up with with arguments one way or the other. Let me just say that's my profession, right? I can very easily say
all these things for and then I can easily come up with 10 other arguments against. Um so, so I really think if there was a will, there would be a way. But since there is no will, right? The will is to to um
you know, really sink the Resident Oversight Board, um sabotage it and and bombard it, then oh, look at all these problems. Look at everything, you know? We can't do this, we can't do that, we can't do the other. My thing is show me. Show me where it is in terms of the laws
and regulations and so on and so forth. I don't want to just hear from you that we can't do it, you know? So, um So, yeah, any other feedback before we come up with a plan in terms of how we're going to respond? >> I just want to say one more time that um
Anna was very clear and she asked a couple of times, "Well, where would Where would Rob actually What kind of place could a role Rob could play?" But the attorney never responded, you know, so it's a it's again um that that
was a question never answered. >> Okay. Okay. >> All right. So, um August 11th, I'm just pulling up my calendar here. Um and I know obviously, you know,
vacations and all of that cuz I know like I'm going to be away next week and then maybe away again for another few days and in a few weeks. So, August 11th is in like 3 weeks?
Let me see. Yeah, 1 2 Yeah, like 3 weeks. Um like 2 and 1/2 weeks. So, you know, we need to kind of figure out and I know we're going to be talking about subcommittees, but I think we should just kind of subcommittees I think we we need to just weave them in to our
discussion items because basically it's like, okay, we need subcommittees to do our work, which we have used subcommittees in the past in CSSJC. Um you know, it's just obviously we've always haven't had too many members, so we haven't been able to to utilize subcommittees in the past.
Um but now that we're close to being full, I mean, obviously, now we're down one because one member because of Allegra um leaving, but um but yeah, subcommittees is always a great idea. But with subcommittees though, it would need to be at least two people. You see what I'm
saying? Because at least two people works because, you know, you want the other person there to kind of help that person, so you all hold each other accountable and everything because right now, because we haven't been able to have subcommittees cuz of our low
numbers, then it's just one person and then obviously things come up and then you're not able to follow through, you know, on on some of the things that that you were able you have to do cuz you have no one else to kind of rely on, you know? Um so with this one over here, um we
need to kind of um think about obviously the questions that were asked. I did ask um Anna to send me the questions cuz that would have made it a lot easier as opposed to having us, you know, have to look at the recording, but she never responded to me to the email
that I sent to her weeks ago where I asked her to just send us the questions cuz then, you know, that the attorney post cuz that would be a lot easier than it ever has um have to sit down and and review a recording. Um
but so what we need to do is we need to you know, whoever's going to do it, you know, review the recording and then, you know, highlight the questions and then have responses to those questions. Um and obviously we can take two from our
the CSWG um report because, you know, our group CSWG did a lot of of work in terms of why there was a need for the resident oversight board. So we can also get some information from this because none of us have time to recreate the
wheel. And then um we need to probably look at some of the models, maybe think look at Springfield and you said Cambridge, um but possibly any other models that has resident oversight boards in place. Um and then,
you know, respond by, let me see, it's by the 11th Well, they're having the meeting at the 11th. So she never told me like when it is that she would need to receive it. Um but I'm thinking, you know, they need to get it before the 11th. You know what I'm saying? So, they could have time to
review and things like that. So, um and so how we we'd have we'd need to do it would be for at least two people take this on, kind of put together a draft response, share it with us so that if we have any any edits or
tweaks, and then and then we we we send it to um you know, the well, Anna so that she can get it to the GOL, all right? Um so, Erica? >> Um my my understanding from Anna was is
that this group had so many questions just from meeting with the lawyer that uh because they had so many questions she also wanted us to look at the you know, the presentation and wanted to get questions from us to give to the lawyer.
Um so, I mean, I understand, you know, you you want to respond to uh you know, what the the lawyer um stated but I think, you know, um one of the things that they're that the GOL's doing right now is doing exactly
what you're saying, which is that they're looking at other different models because they are not clear, you know, if this these are all the the different challenges, why is it it's working in other places? And so, I I'm just worried that we're you know, we're
going to be doing the same thing that Anna's doing right now. versus, you know, uh trying to work with possibly Anna. I mean, I I could call or or get in touch with Anna and say, "Look, have you looked at these already?" Because we want to hear, you know, what's happening in other places as opposed to us calling and she's already called them already.
Um so, I I mean >> Um but this is a thing. So, in in her thing, she said the the meeting was you know, whatever. In the discussion, we discussed how it would be helpful to hear thoughts from the CSSJC um on on the questions and answers and
to see if if the committee had questions to recommend that we ask. So, it was an end book. You know what I'm saying? And I think it's important for us to to to to respond. You know, we need to respond to what that attorney was saying. I mean, we can't just pose questions back.
I think we can pose questions back, but that's not the only thing we need to do. We need to really kind of go at because like I told you all, the the things that the good attorney brought up things that APD has been making. And if we don't address them, it's just going
to be things that will end up um nullifying the Resident Oversight Board because it's already an uphill battle with the Resident Oversight Board. We already know the town does not want it. APD does not want it. The union the APD union does not want it. And they are a
very APD and the union the APD union are very powerful in our town. Um and we know that the town really um leverages their opinion over pretty much at anyone else's opinion. So, we need to
address um those questions like head-on. Um and and this will be the opportunity because you know, the members the JOL members And I I just >> Given what you stated, Erica, given the
tone of the meeting, I don't see them moving forward with a Resident Oversight Board if we're not able to make a case for the Resident Oversight Board at this point. You see what I'm saying? It's very critical. Like the this is a a critical um situation we're at right now because
I I'm I'm already seeing that they're at the precipice of being like not even a Resident Oversight Board. You know what I'm saying? Because remember, that's what the town is all about, right? Risk avoid risk avoidance. We're not going to take on liability, you know, any type of
excuse at to not really deal with the needs of our residents and in particular our Bipoc residents who are the ones that suffer most at the hands of the police. So, that's that's the the situation.
So, um are there, you know, folks that are willing to um at least, you know, work on a draft? I I can assist, but I can't be the point person or whatever just because like I said I have some vacations that
are coming up. So, I can't like take on, but I know that I'd like to be involved in formulating some of the answers to these questions since, you know, I do know some of the information and things like that, but I can't, you know, I'm I would almost be kind of like
a maybe a third person or whatever that would would assist in that way, but I couldn't like take this on as being like the two primary people or whatever. >> When did you say it needed to be done by because I'm also going to be gone for about 2 weeks at the end of
July? >> Yeah, so July, I mean July August 11th is when they're meeting next. Cuz they were they're away for the, um I guess, you know, they were going to be away, too, I think for vacation. >> Anna Anna's going to be away. Um so, they would need it before July 11th to
see take a look to see what they had. >> Yeah, I'm thinking that we would probably get it to them by the 7th would be that Friday. I'm thinking because the 11th is a Tuesday. >> Yeah. >> But I think if we get it to them by the 11th, um that would be a a good thing, but you're away. When are you away, um
Anna? >> As of July 28th. >> So, July 28th through the what what day? >> 11th uh actually I won't be back in Amherst until the 12th. >> Okay. And then I'm I'm away next week,
um starting the 20th through the 27th. >> Um you know what I would recommend is um, because the lawyer actually wrote the response and the response is part of the packet, I would take a look at that. Um, it if you know, I mean I could I
could try to pull together whatever anybody wants to send me. Um, and it would be preliminary. Um, I mean I I was pretty clear about our concerns when there was public statement about our concerns. You know, it was even before listening to the whole lawyer but
what our concerns were and what we what we expected, which was a rob with investigative powers. That was what the CSSJC expected, um, which is what this CSWJ uh, G put together. Um, so um,
you know, that statement could be like the beginning of it and these are the reasons why and these are where I we're concerned regarding the responses from the town. So if um, you know, if I at least can start with that skeleton and people can send me anything else, um,
then at least we'll have something to respond. >> So why don't you do this? Why don't you start it, right? Start the draft. Um, maybe by when do you want folks to send you anything that we need to send you? Because then if you can start a draft,
then cuz then I'll be back on the 27th and then you're leaving on the 28th, then I can pick it up. You know what I'm saying? And then kind of work on it a little bit more. I don't know Anna if you have any time to also, you know, work on it with me um, at that point, you know, on the 27th
cuz then cuz then um, well, not the 27th. I get in really late on the 27th. So I'm saying I'll probably be able to kind of look at it like when you leave the 28th, you'd get give me the draft by the 28th and then maybe we can look at it cuz then I'm going to be away again on the
6th through the 9th. So really um, you know, then we'd need to work on it from the 28th until like, let's say, the 5th or whatever, you know, to kind of finalize it and then get it get it to to them. Um,
>> Maybe the thing is is if you could send me high-level concerns, um, or comments, um, and Deborah, because you were with the CSWG, anything that you want me to emphasize, um, from the CSW, uh, CSWG,
um, I could start pulling it together and where and then, you know, it it'd be the skeleton, um, if you can get this, you know, just I mean, these are high-level, it doesn't have to be full sentences, just these are the points, you know, even if it's just, um, you know, bulletin point bullet points,
you know, make sure this is included, make sure this is included, make sure this is included, cuz these are the huge things that, you know, the CSWG really emphasized, then I can start working on it. And, um, you know, if you can get it to me maybe, uh, by next Thursday the latest.
>> Well, we might have to get it to you by like the 19th, cuz I'm off. I'm gone. >> Okay, the 19th sounds good. >> at the 20th. >> 19th sounds so this sounds perfect. 19th sounds good. Um, and if you can you want to get it to me by the 20th if you have
any comments, any, you know, your concerns. >> Erica, what you should do, can you just after this meeting just kind of, um, you know, send it out to the all CSW, I mean, CSWG members, you know, CSWG members and just kind of do like a little blurb like what
we discussed and what we're, you know, what we're asking for and just, um, ask people and then you said that you were like, you want to get it by when? I mean, obviously, for me, I you'd have to get it for me by by the 19th, but others, are you giving them a little bit longer or
>> Yeah. Just one more day. I'll just give it to them the 20th. >> Okay, so just say until the 20th. Yeah, just stay to provide um comments to by the 20th and then and then you can put together a kind of like a draft. >> Yeah. >> And then um and then you can get it to
me by the 28th. >> Yeah. >> Um well, get it you can get it to all of the members, but I'll be the one to kind of like work on it to try to fine-tune it and things like that. Um >> Could we do it as like a shared Google Doc so we could kind of do it
collaboratively and add commenting and then we could respond to? >> If we do that, it has to be public as part of >> Okay. >> public meeting um So, any My understanding is that any document we might work on as a group like that has to be available to the
public. >> Okay. >> Um as we work on it. But, if you send your comments to one point person, like, you know, everybody sends their comments to me, I work on it, send it to everybody, and then you send their comments to Deborah only. >> Yeah. >> Um and um
I think that still meets the the um public meeting laws. >> Yeah. >> Yep. That's true. Mhm. >> Okay. Um the um I have I'm also going to be traveling and then have a conference I'm presenting at, so things are pretty tight for the rest of
July, but then picking up sort of in that second phase ever if you want to support and kind of coming back to it and editing and tightening things up, stuff like that, I'll probably be more available for that part of it. >> Okay. Great. So, yeah. Cuz for me it'll be like like I said, the 28th through
the 5th I have some flexibility because then I'll be away again on on the 6th. >> Yeah. >> So >> we also have um what do you think Everald would be interested in that or would that >> I mean, I don't know because obviously he's not here, so you know, that's why I
want I want um Erica to share with all the members cuz maybe he'll say, "Yeah, I want to be involved, you know?" But at this point. >> Yeah. Had you Had you gotten any responses when you sent out that the email initially from uh Anna? >> No. >> Okay. Okay.
>> No. No. They're not. But we had also not discussed it, so >> Right. Yeah. >> Um yeah. Um All right. Okay. So then in terms of that um So let's say I get it the 28th,
I would really want to kind of work on it a few days, like maybe the 30th until like the 31st, that Friday, and then share it with the group to finalize it by the 5th, so that I could get it to Anna on the 5th. So I'm I'm just kind of trying to work. So
basically we're giving, you know, you the feedback by the 20th. Then 7/28, you're going to send the draft to me. Then uh well, to the members, but me as the point, you know? And then on that
email just tell people if they have any edits to send it directly to me. Okay? All right. So when you send the thing on the 28th >> Yep. >> And then I'll um get any feedback, and then um anything else that I want to
add, and then finalize the the next draft by the 31st, and give people again an opportunity to provide any other edits, and then the 5th, I will get it to Anna. Okay? And I'll share it obviously with you all when um I
I send it to Anna. I can do that, right? As when I share it to Anna, kind of Oh, no. I'll probably just send it to you to her, and then forward what I send to her to you all. Okay? All right. All right. >> And then we just include it in in the
packet of our next meetings to make it available. I mean, as once we finalize it, we could just post it on our website, and people can comment if they want to. >> Um you're saying wait, so once we finalize it, do what? >> Uh if if we wanted to, we could post it
on a website. If not, we could just put it in our meeting packet for August. >> Yeah, we'll just put it in the meeting packet. I'll make sure it's included in the meeting packet cuz geo the the kind of resident oversight board will be on the agenda again geo update. So we'll add it to the meeting packet.
Perfect. All right, we have a game plan for that. So thank you all. Um The next one um ice updates um Sanctuary City bylaw. Uh so basically this is
based on um we had the meeting with town council. This was when again that we met with them? All the months are melding into one at this point. >> 8th 8th can you hear? >> Of June, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um and you know, as you all know that we
had this um meeting with Chief Tenge and Paul Bockelman. It was our group as well as the Human Rights Commission and the town council and we we had a chance to kind of ask follow-up questions to the response
that um the Paul Bockelman had in regards to questions that we had submitted to to him. And then based on that, there were a ton of questions that at that point Paul Bockelman had said that he wasn't prepared to answer or Chief Tenge were
not prepared to answer that he was going to get um further uh response from from um I mean he was going to submit further response to those answers. In the meantime, Human Rights Commission did submit the questions again to the um
town council and saying, "Hey, these were some of the questions that you said you were going to ask in regards to ICE." Um and so, you know, I know that Paul did say, "Yes, thank you for those." Um, but I haven't, you know, we haven't heard anything else in regards to it.
And then, um, I did uh, contact uh, Mandy Joe in regards to those questions, like, when are we going to get answers to those questions? And, um, and she said that on July 20th that the town manager is going to be
presenting and providing responses to some of the questions that he was not able to answer uh, during that the the town council meeting where we had attended. And that those those responses are going to be in writing. So, I think what we want to do is
you know, you know, I won't be able to attend because, like I said, I'll be traveling. Um, so, if there's anyone that's able to attend it to to kind of, um, you know, hear what he says and also kind of get uh, the report in terms of
the questions cuz we really want to see whether he responded to the ICE questions. And then, obviously, in terms of our other agenda item, whether he responded to the questions that we asked him relevant to um, the CSWG recommendations cuz there was a ton of
questions that we posed during the the CSWG recommendation portion of the meeting, which he said he was going to get back to the town council on. So, we definitely have those two parts um, that they that he needs to respond to. Um,
so, I guess the first is just to ask if is anyone planning to attend the the 20th meeting? >> Um, I can attend the 20th. >> Yeah. Perfect. Yeah, so, if you could >> 6:30 down uh, 6:30 in town council
meeting? >> I I'm assuming. I mean, she didn't say the the time, but I'm assuming that's when they occur, right? Is it 6:30? >> Yeah. >> Um but she did say that he was going to be a given a report and responding to some of the questions, but but obviously
it's questions that she had and I'm assuming the question that Human Rights Commission had. Um but I don't know if that's going to encompass all the questions that we had. So that's why I wanted to see if we could if someone could like if you're attending Erica, if you could see what
are the questions that were posed to him that needed responses and see what he gives. And then if if there is a report, if you can just share um the report with us, okay? So that we get a chance to review it. Any other questions in terms of ICE
updates? >> Uh there is going to be a rally on Thursday, which is tomorrow. >> Yeah. Yeah, we actually announced it early in the meeting, but thank you for announcing it again. Um 5:30 is going to be right across from the um APD in the
in the park there. Um so hopefully everyone comes out. You know, of course they're asking for for signs and everything, but me a lot of times I don't have signs, so just show up. I just show up, you know? So we need the voices. We need people there, you know, to really showcase the importance
of um you know, getting rid of ICE because as you all know, three people have been killed this week um in in in different states throughout our country. Um ICE is decimating people, decimating
families, and um really intimidating and making people fearful. I know people that are afraid to leave their home, afraid to go to the grocery stores, afraid to go to hospitals, um courthouses because ICE is
everywhere trying to to to capture people. Um you know, it is really, you know, as as a black person, it really makes me think of um slavery times, you know, like back in the days when we needed to have um underground railroad
and so on and so forth um because this is just it's it's just horrific. Horrific that people are living in this way and people are losing their lives um because of what
this this um you know, what is it? Um gang um organization and and you know, department is doing because call it what it is. But um I know there was a hand up. Anna, did
you want to say anything? >> Um yeah, I was just going to say and I think I don't I don't want to say this um in any sort of like alarmist way, but that as like the discussions we've been having within the Lucha network, is that there has there have been increased numbers of calls not right here in
Amherst, but within Massachusetts. It's more concentrated in the east, but folks who are involved in that kind of support have been trying to sort of shore up everything um just to be sure that we have our uh ducks in a row in case there is more
activity around here. >> Mhm. Mhm. Yeah. >> And I was just going to say and that that doesn't include the detention centers where uh people are not getting uh humanitarian treatment. Uh you know,
lack of medical care, um lack of just hu- humanity. Um so is is it is yes, what they're doing on the streets with impunity um as well as what's happening in detention centers. >> Yeah, exactly. Um
>> And and for folks that are interested in doing more, so one of the things like that happened recently um was that this the Western Mass Asylum Support Network um had a client that they were representing in court and they put out a call to have, um, folks come to the courthouse to be
present and watching for any sort of threat, um, to this person as they showed up for the the hearing that they needed to be there for to stay in compliance, um, with the process they're involved in. But because there have been these targeting of people as they go to things like court hearings. Um, so
anybody who is interested in doing that kind of support, there's always need for it to really try to proactively safe. >> Yeah, um, in terms of deaths, um, you know, there's more than 50 deaths in terms of when you include like detention
centers and, um, you know, people on the streets and and things like that. So, yeah, you're absolutely right, Erica. It's just like but the alarming, even, you know, more alarming, three deaths in one week. You know what I'm saying? I'm just like
that is just abhorrent. And this is from, uh, an administration that says they want to end violence. And that's why they're doing what they're doing. How how is that showcased when you're killing people and injuring people
on the streets and in the detention centers? That's not, you know, that's not the message. It's you know, you're creating violence as opposed to ending violence. So, um, you know, it's just it's terrible.
Are there, um, comments or questions or thoughts? All right. Um, so, uh, the racist flyer response, I know that, um, you know, Camille DI and I don't know if there was another
group that were working on doing different sessions for the community around like the racist flyer that was was, you know, lift-leaf littered around, you know, cars um in in our community, but as of right now
I haven't heard anything else in regards to it. I know there was um an event that Kathleen Anderson and others had put on to kind of discuss it, but I wasn't able to follow up with her, so I don't have any update in regards to how that event went. Not sure if anyone went to it or
wants to speak on it. Um but that could be something that we can circle back unless anyone has any other information. >> The only thing that I would say um I'd gone to some of the DEI events. I wasn't able to make it to the one that Kathleen um it was Gabe's last soccer game. I had to go to that. Um
I did go to the the Cup of Joe with um Paul Bockelman and Pamela from DEI um and pushed him a little bit on some kind of response. And one thing that he did say that he would do was to
follow up with the police department to see if this investigation that was supposed to be what was waiting for the next step had ended because there should be some sort of announcement if this is ended or if it hasn't for some reason we should know that. Um I haven't heard anything since that. I haven't seen
anything come out. I did email um Chief Tang last week and haven't heard anything back to saying is it if it's still open is there something we should be worried about? If it's not can this be can can can it be closed and that can cannot be made public? So if anybody
else wants to follow up and put some pressure to have some sort of response on that because that was something that the town manager said that he would do. >> I mean is there any way like if you if you contact them um just CC me on it. >> Sure. >> And then and then we'll see what he says
and if he doesn't respond I can follow up. >> Yeah. Oh well, you know, it's been about a week so I can respond I can just do a little nudge with that and copy you on it. >> Yeah. Yeah. All right, great. Um the next item is around the Youth
Empowerment Center uh funds and location. So, I did contact Paul Bockelman based on our discussion at the last meeting um to ask again in terms of the funding for the Youth Empowerment Center, that $450,000,
as well as earmarking space in the um Wildwood for the Youth Empowerment Center, given that we already know that other town um programs are being already situated there. Um we know that they have the ability to earmark some of the
space for the Youth Empowerment Center. But, of course, I didn't stop there. I also said around the Multicohort Center that they need to think about both because right now we need to make sure that we get um both set in in that location. Um and I think that, you know, again, he
did not respond. I said that, you know, we had the meeting yesterday. I had said we had the meeting last week. Um and I I didn't hear back from him at all. Um and so, this needs to be one of those things that we definitely need to if we he doesn't respond to some of these things to on July 20th we need to
follow up with the Town Council on that because those these things we brought up at the Town Council meeting back in June, and we definitely need like a liaison that's going to attend our meetings on a monthly basis that's going to be able to talk about the Youth Empowerment Center. And then also, um we
want to know why isn't the money earmarked and why isn't it the location set in terms of Wildwood. Because we know that if we don't get this right now, we're not going to get it. And that was their excuse. So, just so you all know after we had made the um
the recommendation it was adopted by the Town Council um that's been the excuse. There's no location. There's no appropriate location. We can't find anything, so on and so forth. But now there is a location. So now what's the excuse now? You see what I'm saying? So
it's just a lot of delay and you know, distract and resist tactics that we need to make sure that that we don't fall for and that we keep putting the pressure. And Paul, you know, responds when he wants to respond, doesn't respond when
he doesn't want to. So Anna. >> Um I'm one question and then two comments I guess. The my understanding was that that the Amateurs Recreation is going into the space during the summer in
Wildwood. Have there been any sort of official announcements of how that space is going to be used? I did my kids are at an Amateurs Recreation camp this summer and I saw Becky Dumling um and she was mentioning that her she had
some actual sort of numbers about like what the upkeep is for that and the impression that I got from her was that there wasn't necessarily a plan to have anybody stay in there past that September time that it's being handed back over by the school committee to the town. Has
there been anything like officially about that space being used for other town departments or is that just based on what's being what it's being used for it for the summer? >> Well, me I don't know if it's for the summer or beyond and at this point I really I'm not concerned with that.
>> Yeah, well it would be good to have clarity. >> Yeah, but >> if they are actually especially if it is past that and it's not >> Yeah. >> publicly known. >> Yeah, but you know, well for me I'm I'm going to make that argument regardless. >> Yeah, yeah. I think it's worth it for sure.
>> Yeah. >> Um the other two things, one was I just wanted to report back I a while back so that I would reach out to the Waltham Partnership for Youth. My the first person I reached out to is no longer with the organization, um but then I found that actually a person I'd done some organizing with in Waltham back there is now on the board.
Um so he gave me a little bit more information sort of about like the early days because now it's it exists as a non-profit. It's not part of the town. Um but that originally when it came into existence, it actually was a a partnership. So it came into existence as a group of people that represented
different departments within the city um that would come together and basically as they identified a specific youth-oriented needs, would put together a plan and spin off um programming or whatever it was that was needed to to kind of fill that need and that eventually that was what kind of came
together into this um more unified organization um that became the Waltham Partnership for Youth that then ended up getting spun off into a non-profit. So that was the model that they'd used. It was more about um realizing they had they didn't really have a youth-centered
department. So it was that the different departments that were um providing those different services coming together and trying to develop that together. So that was the sort of the background on that. The other thing I just wanted to throw out there if I don't know if anybody is familiar with um that I started thinking about more because of space,
um but is organization Palante in Holyoke. I don't know if anybody that you know yeah. Um that I know that their sort of their origin and their focus is about restorative justice, but I've been able to go to a couple of programs there and it a lot of what they're doing seems
very oriented in the same direction in terms of um empowerment, youth-led activity, giving that space for belonging and stuff and that they have this beautiful space that's a house, um that really is a really nice comfortable space. I'm just wondering if that would
be anything worth exploring a thinking about space in that sense. Um I know that there's been a couple of times where um buildings like that have have ended up getting turned over into like shelters or things like that that the town works with. Um and also if it would worth kind of speaking with somebody
there about the programming and the way that they they run their things, if that was something that we could learn some from in terms of what we wanted ours to look like. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think that would be a a great thing to look at Palante and and look at their model. >> Yeah.
>> Um, like you said, you know, they are, you know, focused on youth empowerment and leadership and things like that. Um, and so that would be great to kind of, you know, showcase as an example for the town. Um, you know, it's great that they have that space, but I'm telling you, I mean,
the thing is is that, you know, we've been dealing with the town since 2021. Okay? We've had all these conversations. We've provided all sorts of locations, houses, buildings, this, that, and the third, and nothing
ever fits. That's why I'm telling you all, we need to focus on Wildwood. Like, if we don't get this Wildwood space, we're going to go be back into the, you know, the treadmill of excuses.
That's where we're going to be. I I get it. Like, I wish they were open to, you know, obviously a home or this or that, but they're not and they're not. I'm telling you they're not. We've been battling with them since 2021. We're in 2026.
We've talked about all the different locations in manageable in Amherst. Discussed, we've shared, we found out locations that were available, brought it to their attention, to no avail.
That's why I'm saying we need to all hands on deck. Focus on Wildwood and let let them slink away in terms of Wildwood. This is our best opportunity to establish this. If we don't establish this now,
telling y'all, it's going to be another, you know, few years and you know, I told you all I'm leaving in a year, so So, um you need to get it together like now to get it done.
But, um also Anna, that was great information in terms of just like how Waltham did it. So, I think what we could do is um you know, are you able to get any other information? Maybe if you can get more information around Palantir, like
what they've been doing, like their program. >> absolutely. >> Yeah, if you can do that, um I'll I have to follow up with B with um what's his name? Sam, cuz I know Sam McCloud was really interested in establishing
the um the youth empowerment center. Um and then the town council, I I have to, you know, follow up, you know, after the 20th, Erica, whatever you share in terms of
what the the town manager comes back cuz if he doesn't mention the youth empowerment center, I'm I'm going to reach out to Mandy Joe and and and let her know that we need answers in terms of the location, in terms of the liaison, in terms of the funding for the youth
empowerment center. We want answers. Uh because we posed all of those questions to Paul Bockelman during our town council meeting and he said he was going to get back to us on those on those questions. So, if he doesn't respond to those, I I I'm I'm going to go directly to Mandy Joe.
Um >> One other question actually that's sorry, this just occurred to me as I was thinking about Palantir that that the the origin of that actually was within the schools in partnership with the schools. Is that anything that that CSSD CO or is it ever explored was working either with the the
elementary or regional district um in terms of youth center. Would that be another avenue to explore? >> Yeah, I mean I think it could
be something to explore in the future. It's just that we know that our I mean it all depends on what we mean by that because I think we would be collaborating with them anyway if we're establishing a youth empowerment center, but >> Right. >> have funds. They don't You know what I'm saying? They don't even have funds for
their own schools right now, you know? So So I think it's more so kind of collaborating with them, you know, as we're establishing because I know that they it would be very welcome to them cuz I I've heard from other residents who are, you know, teachers and
administrators in in our school system who obviously will welcome that because we'd be, you know, helping especially after hours, right? After school to help with homework help and have have the space where that they can have, you know, do the arts and and, you know,
sports and this and that, all the different things that young people need to do to kind of really feel supported and help and, you know, and then obviously, you know, have workshops on on youth empowerment have them do different community service things throughout the the the town, right?
Really engage with, you know? So this is all going to be helpful for the schools cuz happy youth, happy, you know, things, you know what I'm saying? >> And I don't think this will necessarily help in terms of ongoing funding, but if we're thinking about what we need in order to sort of get things up and running that if we were able to find
some like allies within the schools, whether it was teachers or administrators or anything, there might be funding sources like the What is it? The Amherst Education Foundation, things like that that will do certain grants that even if that was to sort of do some of the like exploratory work or being able to hire anybody to try and put
together budgets and things like that. It might open up some other um resources. >> Yeah, that's a great idea, for sure. I don't know if you want to like take that on. >> I will you know I I can at least start with asking some questions. Um >> Yeah. Mhm.
>> Yeah, for sure. >> Yeah, that would be great. All right. All right, so I'll follow up with Sam and follow up with the Mandy, but I'll wait to hear from you Erica before I follow up with Mandy so I know specifically what I'm going to be asking her. Okay?
And then, you know, I'll follow up with Paul again. I'll do another email to him um to see if he um asks anything. Or maybe what I'll do is I'll when I send it to Mandy, I'll I'll I'll CC Paul on it so he knows exactly
what I'm asking Mandy. And so on and so forth. So All righty. Um So the next one we had is the town council meeting follow up. I think we've already kind of talked a little bit um in terms of of when we were talking
about some of the other agenda items. Is there anything else we need to discuss in regards to that? Erica. >> I think we should uh talk to Hall about uh scheduling ourselves again because um you know, we need to stay on their schedule.
>> Mhm. Mhm. All right. Um and I'm sorry that I'm kind of doing this in this way given that we don't have that many people on. Um Erica, would you be willing to follow up with Hall? >> Yes, I I'll um I'll email her. I'll copy
you as the chair. Um and I'll email her uh tonight. >> Perfect cuz then I can follow up if um you don't hear from her. Okay? All right. Um And then our next item is, you know,
membership, co-chair nomination vote. So, I mean, obviously we don't have a lot of our members today, so I think we're going to need to table the um kind of chair nomination and vote until the next meeting um because I want to make sure that, you
know, that's a discussion with like our our full our fuller membership to give um people opportunity if they do want to um be a co-chair for them to be able to to say, you know, as much and obviously
why they want to be a co-chair um because obviously for me I definitely need a co-chair, you know, I mean, the co-chair has always worked really well. It was a model that started back with CSWG. Um initially though CSWG we only had one
chair and it was just too much work. And then, um you know, we went into the co-chair model and that worked really really well. And then with CSCC continued with the co-chair model um and then, you know, when Allegra, you
know, was by herself then I said, "Okay, I'll be co-chair." And Allegra and I used to work really well and kind of tag team a lot of things. Um you know, kind of copy each other on, you know, different issues, but a lot of times, you know, if she responded, I wouldn't necessarily need to respond and
and vice versa unless there was new information for us to kind of share. Um and, you know, we work really well and then also kind of like, you know, tag teaming in terms of things. I mean, obviously with me and her, too, but it's just like different strengths and stuff like that in terms
of co-chairs, you know, a lot of times she would kind of take on the well, I'm going to provide at least the first draft of documents and then I would kind of provide more the edits and more information added in and things and fine-tune uh the documents just because of obviously, you know, everything that
I have on on my plate. Um but that worked well, you know, or I would respond in certain ways, she would respond in other ways, you know, to different matters and things like that based on our also our connections in the community and things like that. So, for a co-chair, you know, those are
all of the things that, you know, looking for in terms of a co-chair, um, and, um, and also voices, right? Because, you know, sometimes you need a voice like mine and then sometimes you need a voice like a a you know, whoever
the co-chair, you know, so Allegra needed a voice like Allegra, right? Like as an example. So, that would be the same thing, right? Um, to have different voices too as co-chairs, like two different voices so that we can kind of apply the voice that would be most effective for the person or for the
situation, you know, sometimes that's how we would kind of use those different strategies, you know? Um, so, you know, hopefully we can get a fuller, um, members meeting because obviously, you know, we're meeting
on the off week because we weren't able to meet last week. So, I know our next meeting will be the 12th. Um, you know, oh, Lisette just got came on, yay, cuz I know she was going to be able to get on after 8:00.
Um, hey Lisette, how you doing? >> Hi everyone, sorry. >> No, no worries cuz, you know, like you said, it was meeting and, you know, you had another commitment already. So, um, which makes sense. Um, no, I was just saying so we're going to table the co-chair vote until our
next meeting. But, I guess if I can get just like a quick poll, that our next meeting's going to be on, um, the 12th of August. As of right now, are are all of us on here able to attend on the 12th of August? >> Yeah.
>> Okay. You too, Anna? Oh, you're you're muted. >> I believe so. >> Okay. >> Yeah, all right. >> So, just yeah, to get a quick poll because then hopefully I will hold um Cannon and Bridget can, too. Um so, that then we can do the vote at point because like I said, I really
really need a co-chair because it's it's too much to be on on one person. >> Can I ask you without you divulging any names, uh have you had anyone who's shown interest? >> Yeah, I have had um someone who's shown interest. Um >> Good.
>> But, we'll see though, you know. >> Good. >> Hopefully, you know, everyone think about it. I mean, obviously it is. I mean, it's taken on what tasks and stuff like that. And as you all know, you know, you take on, you know, also like presenting at the um Town Council
meetings and and different things like that. Um but um but obviously it's an important, you know, role uh for the for for our group. So, um other questions?
No. So, the other one is just around membership. Oh, Lucette, did you have something to say? >> No. >> Oh, okay, sorry. Um was around membership. So, right now we are down one member. Um unfortunately, Allegra has um you know,
moved on to doing other exciting things with her family. Um so, we do want to kind of think about you know, some recruiting um you know, to see if we can, you know, find other members
um another member for um CSSJC. Um I know that in the past we've asked I mean, I doubt it though if we're going to be up for kind of member interviews and everything since we they just did one cuz I know they have a bunch of
other committees. Um but obviously it doesn't hurt to ask I guess. Um as to when they would be looking at you know cuz usually what they do is that the town does is that they'll get a few applications and wait you know to get a
good you know pool of people and then they'll do the interviews at that point you know. Um but I guess I could you know when I contact Paul around um why are they around the youth empowerment center I could also ask him about the
membership process to see you know if they've gotten any applications and into see you know if they put anything out there that we we you know we need another member. Um because also like I said though the important thing will be for us to also recruit you know we need to recruit
people good people to apply and people who you know are going to be advocates people who are going to obviously feel very passionate about these topics and you know have the time well you know most importantly too have the time because if you get on and then you're
not able to attend the meetings then you know you're not as as helpful to the group you know. Um so but Erica >> Um I think it's a good idea um you just checking with Paul or maybe Angela
because they sometimes do sit on applications and then you hear from applicants that they've put it in and they've heard nothing and there's nothing more frustrating than wanting to volunteer and not being responded to. Um I know I spoke to one person um at the
Human Rights Youth Recognition event. Um and he was very very gung ho and I sent him the application. Um so I know at least there's one person who might have actually applied. >> Who was it? >> Hm? >> Who was it? >> Am I allowed to say?
>> Yeah, don't think we should. There was somebody that was there also that I also saw at the Juneteenth celebration who also turns out to yeah, be a known entity to someone who's on the CSWG. >> Yeah, you shouldn't say their names because obviously, you know, they go through a
selection process. Some people get selected, others don't. You know, that's okay. But you all can, you know, >> talk offline in regards to it. >> Well, I was going to say this there was also an ex-professor from UMass that I used to work with long, long time ago
and she was also interested. So I think I need to push her to apply. >> Exactly. Yeah, cuz it would be good. Like obviously, I was excited when we were at full membership for for a few >> a month.
>> Now, we're back to not being full membership. So well, >> I'm wondering, can we expand our membership? Is is there like a bylaw we need to have or something because I I think it would be worthwhile to have uh more than just one more member. I
think if we had a few more, then we would actually be able to have good subcommittees. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, I mean, I think we'd we'd have to kind of figure that out, um you know, how we could do it. Maybe when you reach out to Hala, you can ask her that. Um in terms of how we could um expand
our membership cuz I know right now it's seven members, you know, and one was supposed to be for you know, it's supposed to be for youth, but obviously, that's been difficult for us to find a youth member who's you know, has the time to commit to
CSSJ. See, we have had youth members in the past, but they you know, they either show up to a meeting and never show up again or some of them have not showed up at all. So um >> I also had spoken with Becky Dumling um about because she's been doing the the
morning movement and that and has a really strong pool of youth who are pretty engaged there about if she could recognize any candidates and then she also recommended and I sent an email out I just right now sent a follow cuz I hadn't heard back but Dwayne Chambliss at the the school system
who also does a lot of work with youth so she'd recommended that he would be somebody that also might do that so I'd been trying to push on that part cuz especially for the youth center I think it would be really helpful to have a really engaged young person. >> No that would be great if we can get like you said I mean I think the
operative word is >> engaged and >> also able to attend the meetings cuz like even like you know I have my son you know who's 16 years old and you know would be awesome for this however he's a soccer player and he's you know what I'm saying so he's always
at practice he's always you know you know he has part-time job he has this and that so he wouldn't have the time you know so that's a thing it's kind of like you know young people that yes are wonderful you know leaders and you know would
speak up would be able to do all that but have the time to commit to at least cuz for them you know for a youth I would just say just once a month you know what I'm saying I don't even know if we would expect them to be like on committees and all of those things but just have their voice in our
meetings would be so incredible you know because they would just bring that other slice you know to our discussions which would be just incredible I'd love to have a young person >> Yeah. >> to be part of our group. Um >> I wonder if you would consider having
two youth share a position and that way they could tag team if one couldn't make it. I mean the responsibility would be is that they have to share the information. Um but it's just something to consider because that way they could you know like co-chairing sharing they could share a position and so if one
couldn't make it then the other could make it. >> Yeah and I think why don't you ask that of Hala because I don't I'm not sure if we could do that or not but that's a great idea you know, if we could get like, you know, maybe they can alternate meetings or something like that, you know, so that maybe if they're coming on
bi-monthly, that might be a better um way and like you said, then they would just have to share information or kind of make sure they they're um what is it? Reviewing the recording, you know, before they their time to meet or what have you, you know? So, yeah, but
that would be a good idea to see if we could get a young person on. But, yeah, it would be incredible if we're able to get a young person, you know? Okay, great. And then um we've already kind of talked about subcommittees, but I don't know if um Erica, Anna, you want
to add anything else in terms of subcommittees cuz I already know like obviously we're kind of doing a subcommittee for the um response to the GOL and the Resident Oversight Board. Um but, I think that's the only one right now because the other ones is still kind
of like more Anna's doing this, Deborah's following up, Erica's following up, you know? So, I don't know if you all want to talk any anything else in regards to that. >> Well, I just want to say that, you know, at the uh the retreat before last, we
did talk about subcommittees and we actually had They were small, but we had two. Um and um I know uh Les said you and Avril and I uh we talked about uh really
specifically about trying to engage Chief Ting and uh trying to get him to come here. And I know Avril had actually met with him and wanted to collect data, but we haven't gotten that far. I think we need to rethink that subcommittee. Um so, I mean I I think there are so many
things we could do and one, you know, of course uh we had talked before, which is Crest and really putting our full force and focus on Cress. Um Um so that, you know, that's definitely one of the subcommittees that I think it'd be really important. The the Youth Empowerment Center and the Multicultural
Center is another really, really important. But I I just think we need more members to actually make it viable. Um because, you know, even just uh our small group taking on these different small tasks that will have an end date, like, you know, by August 11th
we'll be done with the GOL. Um the subcommittee, I think, you know, really would give us sort of a guideline. Like, I know that, you know, at the last retreat I agreed to put together, um you know, maybe a a funding timeline that supposedly the the school of um
the school committee advocates have. Uh and I haven't had a chance to do that. If I had a subcommittee that keeps me on task that, you know, I have to answer to, um I think I'd probably be more uh more focused and and more productive. So, I really do think
you know, getting more members on board and then um prioritizing what we really need to continuously do. Uh a subcommittee could help do that without it always being the chairpeople. >> Mhm. Mhm.
Yeah. Um yeah, because really like the chairs, we're really not a subcommittee, like, the co-chairs. We're really just kind of, you know, obviously the folks that, you know, everyone will contact and ask questions or send information, and then we're kind of either responding and or
sharing information with you all. And so, we're kind of like troubleshooters, problem-solvers, and also kind of like the the keepers of of information to kind of, you know, send out to you all and things like that. Um so, yeah. So, for us, it's it's it's difficult for us
to be that, you know? Um so, we do need to kind of like, like I said, so for the for the Resident Oversight Board, um you know, so it was good that you brought up some of these kind of big ticket items that we discussed in the retreat because really the resident oversight board now we do have like this
committee like they you know Erica and me, you know, the kind of deal with with this next next task at hand, right? That we need to turn in by August 11th. But also it would be good for people to think about so Crest and the budget,
right? Cuz we've we've identified throughout the discussion today that that's a main thing, right? And Anna asked the question of again, you know, to Camille like how many responders would really at least get you to a place where you could extend some of the hours
and really be able to be responsive to cuz obviously we're focusing on adding, you know, making sure the dispatch numbers go up and and so on so forth. Um And you know, and Camille said, you know, four more responders and then also the assistant director, we cannot forget that that's key. So we would need a kind
of a subcommittee to kind of be the subcommittee to kind of rethink about that, right? And like what you're saying Erica, really think about the budget season because we need the funding to be able to increase Crest in that way and it's going to be pivotal and
critical for Crest to to get increased in that way um in terms of the funding. And then the youth empowerment center is the other one that needs a subcommittee because we do need the follow up, right? In terms of you know, and Anna's doing
some of the research and I'm contacting some of the folks, but we need dedicated people that are going to kind of assimilate that information so that we are able to kind of okay, this is what we have in terms of information. This is where we're at and
you know, what's our next step, right? In terms of establishment of the youth empowerment center. So I think, you know, Crest youth empowerment center and the resident oversight board. I really like the three main ones. Obviously, we have the other CSAB like DEI and
and multicultural center and everything, but at least if we could be like, okay, these are the three things that we're going to focus on, you know, right now um, as kind of obtainable goals, right? That we could um, you know,
obtain kind of like some of the objectives that we want to to get at um, that would really move us forward. >> And could it actually be um, could the multicultural center be with that the youth empowerment center since in particular as you were mentioning like if we're looking at space
um, that and then I think the other I um, I mentioned that Jill Brevick is looking at the a couple of the other CSAB um, recommendations about stopping um, pretextual stops and things like that
um, that maybe the the uh, resident oversight board could also be looking at like if there's a subcommittee looking at that resident oversight board that also putting those those sort of um, policy things together with that.
>> Yeah, I mean, yeah, I think ideally that would that would be good, but it's just in terms of bandwidth. >> Yeah. >> You know what I'm saying? Our bandwidth, you know, >> Yeah. >> as Erica stating is just like, you know, we just
cuz what what what just we you know, we're volunteers. But the time. So, I'm just trying to see what what we can actually do, you know? Um, but I think I think it's a good idea to obviously as we're kind of talking about
these big ticket items like CRESS, youth empowerment, resident oversight board. So, youth empowerment, yes, you know, bring in multicultural center, but the focus needs to be youth empowerment center because they it was adopted by the town council. Multicultural center hasn't even been adopted by the town council. But yeah, we still continue to
bring it in, right? And say it needs to be adopted, you know, budget needs to be put in place, location, right? Even if we just earmark it, even though it's not you know, um kind of adopted by the town council, we could still say, "Hey, we need a location for it." You know what I'm
saying? Just in the, you know, just to make sure we we've kind of reserved the space. So yeah, wonderful. But our first battle needs to be the youth empowerment center because we have more uh leverage with the youth empowerment center, you know? >> Yeah. >> And then the protectual, um you know,
search and everything, which is part of our, again, our um CSWG recommendation concerns searches, protectual um searches. Um yeah, we can, but like I said, right now, you know, our fight >> Well, I I I I particularly bring up
those ones because Councillor Brevik is planning on moving forward with um putting forward a bylaw. So if we can even just do that as We don't have to lead that, we can be supporting her in doing that. >> Yeah. Oh no, definitely. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That would be great. Yeah. And I hope she does because, again, we brought
that up in the meeting in June as one of the things that have not been accomplished based on the CSWG recommendations. So yeah, so that would be great. Um So I think folks want to think about it and then maybe, you know, for next time,
at least if we can have like two people kind of be, you know, the folks kind of thinking about CREST, and then two people for the youth empowerment center. And we already have two people for the resident oversight board for this next um you know, task that we need to do,
then, you know, it would be good, but we can kind of, you know, have more of a discussion, you know, the next time. All right. Okay. So I think, um I Any other comments questions before we move on to the next item?
>> Uh, I don't know if this is on there or not. Uh, uh, eventually having conversation about meeting in person. >> So you're saying like to have a meeting in person that's not a retreat? >> Well, that will be our retreat in
September, but to have maybe a maybe we should have a conversation about that in September, but um, just maybe a couple of times meeting in person, maybe even if it's before meeting with town council, just meeting in person. I think meeting in person, I
know just my experience with meeting everybody at the retreat has really um, I think provided more cohesion and more connection with everybody on the committee. Bridget's a new person. I don't know Bridget and if we get more members on board, it just might be a
really great way to just sort of um, be together a little bit more. Um, and then you know, I know that you know, it's open our meetings are open to other members of the community and sometimes it's an opportunity for them to also get things off their chest that they might
not want to have in a public space. It is a public space because it'll always be a public space according to open meeting law, but maybe not recorded for, you know, the rest of their lives. >> Mhm. >> Or conversations before or after that can be a little more
uh, candid. For for the public. Now that they know how to find us and talk to us. >> Yeah. >> So one first thing is that um, as you stated, we we do have a day for the retreat. Can you share that so that what's the date, Erica?
>> Yes, it's uh, Saturday, September 24th and we're doing it the same time, same place. Um, so let me just make sure >> Wait, you said Saturday the 24th? >> Oops, wait. >> Or the 26th. >> Uh, the 26th. Thank you. Thank you. It
is the 20 Saturday the 26th. Yeah, this way I had I should have looked at my calendar beforehand. Um, yes. So, 9:00 to 1:00 as usual. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. is what we usually have. Um we don't have a budget because Chris has
no money. Um something we >> Another thing to advocate for. >> Well, I mean, we also advocated for budget for ourselves and that didn't get very far. Um >> But no, but those are some of the questions that we posed though. So, if if Paul doesn't respond, we need to
follow up with those. >> Yeah, and I know his response prior where, oh yeah, work with DEI and Chris, but if they have no money >> They have no money. >> Yeah, they're the bad people who then say to us, well, we have no money. So, that's you know, then go back to Paul um
to make him responsible. So, yes. So, we do have the retreat um and um I know that Hala and uh and Angelica also had said that they wanted to continue being part of this. Um so, I think we're going to
September's probably going to roll along really fast. So, maybe we need an agenda item for August cuz that's the month before September about um what's our focus. Um >> Mhm. >> Yeah, so if you want anything
>> Are you still willing to be the point person for the retreat and all of those things? >> Yes. Yes. Just so you know, >> Do you need any other help in terms of like a subcommittee for that or >> No, I think um you know what? I I will in my email to everyone about what we're
doing with um you know, with the ROB, I'm just going to put a PS. This is our date for the retreat. Uh be ready to come up with um items for discussion in terms of structure at the next meeting. Um so, um let's put on the agenda um
structuring the retreat for the next meeting. And then I can take that and work on that, um, after our next meeting. Um. So, I think that will be good. >> Okay, perfect. Um. And I think like, you know, how we did
it last time, I think worked really well. And like you said, Hala being there and And Halima in terms of having her, um, you know, facilitate because we we're building, you know, she has that institutional knowledge in terms of who we are and things of that and we'll kind of continue to build with her. And
hopefully we can, you know, do a stipend again. Um, but again, as you said, and we have no budget, but to be able to get food and a stipend for Halima so that we can, kind of, you know, do the the retreat because I think it worked out really well. In terms of meetings in person,
so my only reservation, but so I want to know how we could do it, is is obviously, you know, I want to make sure though, too, that our meetings are able to be, you know, accessible so that people can can can listen in and
and that it can be recorded because a lot of times people don't aren't able to attend and then they look at the our recording, you know what I'm saying? So, if we do have a month where we just in person and folks come, but you know, there's no recording, there's no anything, folks might feel a little bit out of the loop. So, part of me kind of
thinks like we could kind of, you know, when we do want to have an in person, maybe meet twice in that month, you know, maybe do a regular Zoom meeting and then we do another meeting, you know, where it's in person. And then we invite the community and and things like that. Um, and then
whoever comes comes and then, you know, and then we could do that maybe, you know, bi-monthly, uh, quarterly or something like that. Um, so that then we we give that opportunity and it's an opportunity for us to meet in person, but also an opportunity for the community to come out. But I just don't
don't if I want to like just skip a all type of thing, you know, on Zoom. Um because I think folks really rely on, you know, our our Zoom meetings to kind of get the information and things like that. >> Yeah. Yeah, well, we have to figure out how to do hybrid meetings uh cuz that might
really work as well. Um also, I mean, I know minutes are not the same as as recordings, but there will always be minutes because that's required by law. So. >> But it's it's it's not the same, you know. No, I'm looking at our minutes and it's just like very
obviously high-level, you know, type of information. This is what we talked about, but no no details. Um so I guess it in in terms of that, do we want to kind of at least tentatively think about so, you know, we're we're
meeting in July, um you know, then we're meeting >> Yeah, no, that's what I said. We we're meeting like right now, July, so we uh we met in July. Um so then we have August. So, August 12th we're going to be meeting.
Do we want to schedule another meeting like, you know, end of August or I know beginning of September because school's starting and all of that that that would be difficult. And then we have our our meeting on the 26th and we would be meeting on the 9th for our regularly
scheduled meeting. So, yeah, so it really would be like kind of like end of August if you wanted to kind of schedule an in-person meeting uh before our retreat. Um I don't know if people want to do that,
like maybe the week of the 24th. And I don't know if we want to do it it would have to probably be like a Saturday, um so that if we were going to invite the community. >> Yeah. So, I think August is going to be a little too hard. So, even though I
raised it, I think my uh gut reaction is let's discuss this at the retreat. Um because I think it's going to be a little too hard with vacations and kids starting I don't have kids but I do have a son who's bringing his grandson here
his grandson my grandson is coming for few weeks before school starts and so I'm just wondering you know it's going to be vacation it's going to be transition time if August and the beginning of September is too difficult and we just start with our retreat which is in person and then we make a
commitment even a schedule for the rest of the year of what we want to do and just try to keep to it. >> The only thing is though I I I and we should talk more about it but I just want to get like a date so yeah August out September really out and stuff cuz then we're meeting in the retreat but I
would want us to at least hold a tentative date and then we can talk more right and then we can release the date if we don't want it you know what I'm saying but I want us to at least have a tentative date so let's say if we go into October we're meeting on the 14th of October but
we could meet you know in person you know the end of October if we wanted to but what are people thinking though are we again are we going to meet is on a Saturday for that's what I would think right we'd meet on a Saturday for um in person so that the community can come
out cuz if we do it after work like after 5:00 I don't know you know >> And so with the like town council and school committee they do that as well cuz they know that weekends can get tough for families that have various
soccer and games and sports and things like that. I was also wondering it might be worthwhile to check in would it be Angela Mills like to see if there other um committees that do either hybrid or
in person other than town council or school committee and just see how they how they go about doing that. >> Yeah, you know, we can definitely ask them that. Um but going back to like like a tentative meeting though, um so you all want to do
it like during the weekday as what you're saying? Like maybe like 5:30 on a weekday? >> I'm open to either. I don't have young children. I don't have a lot of um uh dependents on me, so I I would defer to
people who have children or other people that they have to take care of. >> I would say that if we are meeting in person and we plan on still having a Zoom meeting that it wouldn't having a meeting during the weekday
after work maybe that could work um since I don't think they would be in-depth like a Zoom meeting would be. Um for me personally um I start school in September, so I'm
going to be extremely busy, which obviously I will make it work, um but Saturdays are almost out of the question. Um I can make it work, but weekdays if we're doing in-person and on Zoom might
be a little bit better. >> Mhm. Okay. But which weekday would work for you because since you're going to have to schedule, you know, classes and stuff like that. >> As of right now, the only weekday that does not work is Thursday. >> Okay, not Thursday.
All right. I mean, we could also just keep it at like if we did like the 28th, we could just say well, I don't know if we want to do like 5:30 on the Wednesday the 28th, you know? So, we keep it on a Wednesday.
Um but do it a little bit earlier because you know, I'm assuming people need to go to dinner and I don't know if we'd be able to get food and because since we have no budget. So probably be like a shorten kind of
meeting, you know what I'm saying? It wouldn't be a long meeting. Like you said, it would be a more abbreviated kind of meeting cuz it's the second meeting. So, maybe we do it like 5:30 to like even like an hour, 5:30 to 6:30 or 5:30 to 7:00, you know, the latest.
>> Mhm. >> You know? And then people could go >> Could we do that too with during the weekend? Like maybe have like a instead of a 9:00 to 1:00 p.m. do like a 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.? >> No, we could. Yeah, because we definitely have to do like an
abbreviated one again. Like an hour and a half. I think an hour and a half probably tops, you know? Um so yeah, we could do it in the in in the weekend, but I don't know, you know, obviously we got to think about everyone with, you know,
child care and and things like that. I mean, I could do that, but could some of the rest of you do that? If we did it like or even like 10:00, 10:00 to like 11:30. >> I won't know until like the soccer schedule comes out what days and at what
time. That's the problem. And it like it's the reason that we we can we day after evenings are easier with that is it's much easier for me to like arrange for somebody to take a kid to practice or something like that than a game that could be home or away or this or that or whatever. You know, there's a number of people in that position.
>> All right. What about the 28th then? So, that Wednesday 5:30 to 7:00. This is a tentative. We can obviously cancel it. Well, just so we have something so that we can talk about that when we go to the retreat. Would that work for folks right now?
>> This is October >> October. October. Yeah. >> Yeah. 28th. >> Sure. 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Cuz I mean like you cuz you're right. I mean even for me and I don't even know for sure because my son's practice schedule isn't out too.
Soccer schedule. So I may not even be available. But at least we have that on. >> I did just do a a quick look also on the website and it looks like the Council on Aging does hybrid meetings in the library room at the town hall. >> Mhm. >> Um and the Cable TV Advisory Committee
sometimes does. So there are there are committees that are doing hybrid. Um that might be worth seeing if we can figure that out. >> So the library, that's interesting because the only way they could do that it I mean
we've tried to do it when I was on the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust. And we didn't have any technology except a phone. Um generally what we were told is the town council room would be the best to have a hybrid meeting because they have everything set up there already.
>> Yeah. No, I was just I was just just scrolling through the that meeting schedule and seeing ones that had a location and a Zoom and that's what it said. It said the the library room at the town hall. Maybe they've gotten I don't I've no idea. So I wouldn't mind I can like
pop in at some point and see if I can like catch somebody's ear to ask about it. >> Well, what I can do is that when I do the email to Paul and Angela, I'll CC Angela. Um I can ask them about the hybrid meetings
and how town committees do it and stuff. Um cuz then yeah, if we could do a hybrid meeting, then we could possibly even have it during our regular meeting, you know, and then just have it. But for now since we don't know if we have we have that potential or not.
Let's just have this date as a tentative, you know? >> Sounds good. >> Cuz sometimes we'll talk about things and then we'll never end up doing things. So, that's why I was like, let's just put something on the books. >> I think that's a great idea. >> Like now. But, um okay, awesome. So, my time is
running out cuz I need to go pick up my son um at driving school in like a few minutes. So, uh let's um move to the next um agenda item, which is public comment.
Uh not sure if there's anyone in the public that wants to I see one person. Hello. >> Hello. Hi, everybody. Hope you can hear me. Hope everybody is well. This is um Lauren. My last name is
Mills, and I'm a resident of the um South Bay Amherst. Um I want to thank you guys for um the work that uh you are doing doing for justice, and I always um wish that I had caught the first public
comment, but I wanted to say all because, you know, I do have a lot of things on my mind. Um one being um you know, just the current news, the situations that are um
occurring um with ICE, and I am still very concerned about um our community, the youth in the community, and why, you know, things haven't been
able to move forward. Um I have had um two older sons um who I I at certain points of our nine years of
living in Amherst have, you know, been targeted. Um, so I would really hope that, you know, we could move forward in having um, more community members able to share
their experiences and somehow document those experiences, so um, there is that to give to the town council and in these meetings when you're discussing um, needs for, you know, a resident
oversight board. And um, some of the things that I have dealt with, um, that uh, would really be helpful for for young people. Every time summer comes
around, I try to figure out what all my kids are going to be doing for the summer. Um, and with all the, um, higher education, the universities, the colleges here, um, there's a lot going on on the campuses, but they're
very expensive. And then also, even with the town services, I know they do discounts and things like that, but to me, those have not fit, um, been a fit for my kids. And um,
you know, once your kids, you know, start um, being in high school, um, you know, the summer needs to be a time for them to like not just have fun, but to gain some responsibility. And I know there's a Upward Bound program, um,
at the university, but I think I I was told today that that is really for inner city youth to come to Amherst. So it just seems very lopsided that the youth of BIPOC youth in Amherst
don't really have the the programming that they need that is affordable and also is going to help them with the skills that they need that it's not just like going to camp. Um I did find and I'll try to make my
um comment um a little shorter um but I did did want to share that um there I have gone to Springfield to to have my other child attend a summer program and
there's a really great um space in Spring Springfield called Make-It Space. Um they have a bike shop there. They have a 3D printer um that they do you know work with the community. They have um art supplies. They have fabric and
sewing machines. And so again I see all of these you know things that are happening in other communities and I just still wonder like what is what what is exactly the problem? Um it just feels like
there has to be more community input um and more like planning um because even if there was like one one location that the town would
spearhead such as the um the school that you were talking about the um Wildwood um school it always seems like the town kind of does things their own way and I just really feel like the community needs um
to lead in a youth empowerment center. So I would I would also hope that maybe the Hampshire College um property that could be looked at too. I just feel like there's
always going to be opportunity, but there really has to be some planning and um I just wish that you know, whatever the situation that is has continued in the town I I wish it could be resolved because it
really to me feels neglectful that you know, my family has been here for 10 years and you have nothing no center for youth to go to.
It it just doesn't feel right. Um So, I mean, that's pretty much, you know, all I wanted to say that um um the last thing too is that I've looked at um what is going on in Northampton as well
and they have a youth commission and I really would hope that maybe we could adopt something like that um because I do feel like the the youth, you know, are missing opportunity to participate in these plans and and to be engaged.
So, just thank you for all your work and hope my com- comment is helpful. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate it. And then we have Miss Pat. >> Good evening. Can you guys hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> Thank you all as always for your time,
your commitment and um cooperation in the work that you do. I know it's not easy. I just want to comment very quickly and I'll be very very sh- uh brief.
So, in terms of the issue about membership, increasing it, I think when and this is just my opinion, when I served on CS, uh, DWG,
we kind of settled on seven member because of quorum in making decisions. I do understand the need for subcommittee. I think it's needed because you guys meet every month and it's a lot of time.
This is just what came to my mind as I was, you know, listening and watching tonight's meeting, is have you guys maybe thought about that, uh, residents who may want to do like a
short-term project. They don't have to be in the member of CS, SCJC, but perhaps they might be interested in being a subcommittee to look into, you know, um,
buildings, for example, for youth empowerment and what that will look like. I'm just throwing, you know, suggestion. Um, also, in terms of youth representation, I think
I cannot emphasize enough the value of youth in this, uh, committee. Because with CS DWG, while we had an a high school kid, it's a kid that I know very well. When he's not able to make it
for prac, uh, for our meeting, I usually meet with him. He gives me, you know, give me feedback when he was not able to attend. I think my suggestion would be for you guys to think, uh, think more broadly in terms
of youth, uh, rep. They don't have to be high school kid. You know, college kid I also consider the youth. Perhaps um I mean, we live in a town that, you know, has colleges, a lot of resources. Perhaps, you know, college kids that,
you know, can do you know, can join can apply if they get accepted. Perhaps it could be a for internship credit for them, you know, for one semester. Like every semester you have you know, uh a college kid who could who is interested
in in in the work you guys are doing. Just to be, you know, to look beyond high school. Um Another thing is, let's see my notes. Um Okay. So, I mean, I'm I'm glad that you
guys will continue with co-chairs because with CSWG our first experience when the only chair that we had, you know, resigned abruptly, and that's, you know, made us to have co-chairs. So, I'm so glad that you guys are sticking to that.
And um The last couple things is just to thank everyone uh that supported Black Business Association and Sankofa with Juneteenth event. It was well attended. It was highly successful. So,
all our supporters, attendees, um donors, like well, you know, people who attended Juneteenth really reflected our town. People that you normally would not see out there of all racial background.
Of all, you know, social class. I mean, it was really I was very humbled to have like different people show up. So, thank you. Our performance, it was really, really nice. And the last thing is
I was so sad like, you know, all of you have already heard that our school superintendent resigned. And really to me for a black woman um what is it that we didn't do right, you know, to
you know, retain her. We have white men behaving badly in this town and they keep their job. And also to read in the media that that she got mixed review really just I didn't like it.
I just want to put that out that I was very sad to hear that she's moving on next year. It's not a good reflection of our town. Um I feel like I'm missing something. That's it. Uh I think so.
Yeah, I think I covered everything. Enjoy the rest of your sum- summer. If you get Are you guys doing next month? Oh, okay. I might be around. Okay. And thank you um Deborah for your leadership. Yeah.
You guys are working very great together. Everybody. Let me stop talking. >> Thank you, Ms. Pat. Appreciate it. >> I tried to unmute myself. >> Any other um
commenters? I don't see any other hands raised. Um any items not anticipated? So, for our next meeting as I had said um previously, we will be meeting on
August 12th. Um and you know, we'll have the the same agenda items uh plus the retreat. We'll be talking about the retreat at the next one. Um,
and then we'll just kind of Maybe we could say retreat and um in-person meetings, maybe. Retreat and in-person meeting. Um And then obviously as as I did the last time, you know, I'll send it out and
then if you all have other agenda items, I'll just add those. Okay? Okay. Being that there's nothing else, I think we are good to go. Thanks, everyone. It was great seeing everybody. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Have wonderful vacations, whoever's going on any. >> Thanks. >> Yes. Yeah, I'm looking forward to everybody. Yeah, thanks. Take care. >> Ciao, ciao.