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2020-06-16 CC Agenda SPC - Public Communication related to Item #A1 - Citizens ProtestShilling, Mona From: Mitnick, Scott Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2020 12:44 PM To: Weaver, Tracy (City Clerk); Shilling, Mona Subject: Citizens Protest Agenda Item Believe this needs to be part of the record. From: Roxi Smith <roxi3@vt.edu> Date: Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 10:49 AM To: "Mitnick, Scott" <smitnick@elsegundo.org> Subject: Re: Citizens Protest Agenda Item Hi Scott, Thanks for your response and action. Yes please feel free to keep me in your contact list. If you need my phone let me know. I would be happy to speak live during this week (however I can't attend council meeting be of work). I don't only want the name changed but to consider how EI Segundo is looking to the future to serve the community outside from funding the police. Thank you for your response. As a public leader, I understand it's very difficult to make these changes and listen to opinions from a multitude of opinions. Thank you for your response and effort. I look forward to hearing from Council more frequently. Yours, Roxi S. On Sun, Jun 14, 2020 at 9:50 AM Mitnick, Scott <smitnickPelseeundo.org> wrote: Ms. Smith — Thank you for your email to EI Segundo City Council. Upon reflection, the agenda item description will be changed from "Civil Unrest Update" to "Citizens Protest Update." Also, the staff presentation will come from both the City Manager and Police Chief. As we move forward on diversity and inclusion issues, your voice will be important and we would like to encourage you to stay engaged with the City. That said, would you object to my adding your name to our evolving list of residents for us to stay in contact with? It is important for all voices and perspectives to be heard. I would be happy to talk with you live during the week, if you like. Sincerely, Scott Mitnick City Manager Cite of El Segundo 350 Main Street I El Segundo, California 90245-3895 (o) 310-524-2301 1 (c) 310-648-2655 %VXVXV.elSCgUT]dn.nrg l=11,',t,-,tindoBLLsiiiess.com I DestinationElSe�,,irndo_com From: Roxi Smith <roxi3@vt.edu> Date: June 12, 2020 at 2:38:36 PM PDT To: Councilmember Subject: City Council Meeting: "Civil Unrest" Good afternoon, My name is Roxi Smith and I'm a fairly new EI Segundo resident, originally from the state of Virginia. I work and live in the township. This area has been known for leaning conservatively, but driving home from work and seeing the Black Lives Matter protest that the high school set up gave me hope for the acceptance that could come from EI Segundo. I think this town is a great place to live and work, but I'm writing in concern about the 6/16/2020 City Council agenda. In the agenda, you will be having Police Chief Whalen talk about "Civil Unrest". That word choice to me seems like you are not defining what you really want to talk about, and since it is the most recent upcoming meeting, it makes me believe you are going to not define what's going on in our town and in the world. This is about Black Lives. It's about keeping all citizens safe - especially our black citizens. Having a police chief speak about "Civil Unrest" as the only way to address this local and global issue at a city council meeting reads to me as neglectful and hypocritical, considering Mayor Boyles' well-meaning ears and promises during the BLM march. It seems outwardly tone deaf when there are calls from local, city, and global citizens to begin defunding the police in order to stop assigning policemen who are wildly unfit to serve their community from solving issues like domestic abuse, racial violence, and basic robbery. These are all issues the police are assigned to work on, yet from anecdotal and statistical evidence, many people feel undermined when police get involved. I strongly urge you to represent black voices in this meeting. Do not call this "Civil Unrest" and sweep it under the rug. Defund the police. Keep this town safe. Yours, Roxi Smith Roxanne Smith Virginia Tech '19 Food Science and Technology Roxanne Smith Virginia Tech '19 Food Science and Technology Shilling, Mona From: Weaver, Tracy (City Clerk) Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 10:41 AM To: *ALL CITY CLERKS Subject: FW: Civil Unrest/Citizens Protest Agenda Item Council received over the weekend. Tracy From: Mitnick, Scott Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2020 12:45 PM To: Shilling, Mona; Weaver, Tracy (City Clerk) Subject: FW: Civil Unrest/Citizens Protest Agenda Item From: "Mitnick, Scott" <smitnick@elseRundo.org> Date: Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 9:56 AM To: "Mitnick, Scott" <smitnickPelsepundo.org> Subject: Civil Unrest/Citizens Protest Agenda Item City Council — In response to the below resident (Ms. Roxi Smith) email and a Councilmember request, staff will be happy to revise the agenda item description from "Civil Unrest Update" to "Citizens Protest Update." Also, the staff presentation will come from both City Manager and Police Chief. The City Manager will provide follow-up from Thursday's closed session with recommendations (based on direction provided in closed session). I will work with City Clerk to revise the agenda first thing on Monday morning. Happy to discuss further with each of you in our upcoming one-on-one meetings. In addition, I will also inform Ms. Smith of the agenda item title change. Thank you, Scott Mitnick City Manager From: Councilmember Date: Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 7:04 AM To: "Mitnick, Scott" <smitnick(@elseRundo.org> Subject: Fwd: City Council Meeting: "Civil Unrest" Hi Scott I do agree that at we should change the wording. Thanks Councilmember Begin forwarded message: From: Roxi Smith <roxi3(@vt.edu> Date: June 12, 2020 at 2:38:36 PM PDT To: Councilmember Subject: City Council Meeting: "Civil Unrest" Good afternoon, My name is Roxi Smith and I'm a fairly new EI Segundo resident, originally from the state of Virginia. I work and live in the township. This area has been known for leaning conservatively, but driving home from work and seeing the Black Lives Matter protest that the high school set up gave me hope for the acceptance that could come from EI Segundo. I think this town is a great place to live and work, but I'm writing in concern about the 6/16/2020 City Council agenda. In the agenda, you will be having Police Chief Whalen talk about "Civil Unrest". That word choice to me seems like you are not defining what you really want to talk about, and since it is the most recent upcoming meeting, it makes me believe you are going to not define what's going on in our town and in the world. This is about Black Lives. It's about keeping all citizens safe - especially our black citizens. Having a police chief speak about "Civil Unrest" as the only way to address this local and global issue at a city council meeting reads to me as neglectful and hypocritical, considering Mayor Boyles' well-meaning ears and promises during the BLM march. It seems outwardly tone deaf when there are calls from local, city, and global citizens to begin defunding the police in order to stop assigning policemen who are wildly unfit to serve their community from solving issues like domestic abuse, racial violence, and basic robbery. These are all issues the police are assigned to work on, yet from anecdotal and statistical evidence, many people feel undermined when police get involved. I strongly urge you to represent black voices in this meeting. Do not call this "Civil Unrest" and sweep it under the rug. Defund the police. Keep this town safe. Yours, Roxi Smith Roxanne Smith Virginia Tech '19 Food Science and Technology Shillinq, Mona From: Weaver, Tracy (City Clerk) Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2020 11:53 AM To: *ALL CITY CLERKS Subject: FW: Lack of leadership bad judgement. Council received email below. Tracy Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S10+. an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Steve Mossman <skmossman@me.com> Date: 6/11/20 11:24 AM (GMT -08:00) To: ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS <ALLELECTEDOFFICIALS@elsegundo.org> Subject: Fwd: Lack of leadership bad judgement. Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Steve Mossman <skmossman@ne.com> Date: June 11, 2020 at 10:12:38 PDT To: Smitnick@elsegundo.org Subject: Fwd: Lack of leadership bad judgement. Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Steve Mossman <skmossman@me.com> Date: June 9, 2020 at 21:29:57 PDT To: bwhalen@elsegundo.org Subject: Lack of leadership bad judgement. I am a along time resident of El Segundo & a 30 + year retired, veteran Of LASD. I was just shown a picture of you holding a political sign obviously representing your Personal, political beliefs. I find It unbelievable that a chief of police and supposed leader of police officers would do such a thing!! What you did is an embarrassment to all law enforcement officers & particular to the officers of ESPD whom you represent & are suppose to set an example for. When you are at work Representing ESPD as a law enforcement officer & in uniform, you must absolutely remain impartial & neutral in your political views, representations & beliefs. You obviously don't follow this philosophy. What you did should be a violation of your own Department policy & Ethics. Your behavior should be Condemned ! ! Based on your leadership & actions, you have given your on duty, uniform, Department members the OK to verbally and physically express their political views & opinions by displaying political signs in uniform In front of the police station while on duty & in their patrol cars. Make sure you convey this to your troops ! ! Assure them ( officers) that its OK to conduct this type of behavior ! ! Very disappointed in your leadership, character and decision making. Sometimes as a leader the correct decision is difficult to make. You absolutely have to remain neutral & impartial, regarding Your personal Political views. Your job is to keep the peace & enforce the law. You took the easy way out & made a bad decision in not remaining neutral & un bias. Shocked & disappointed. Steve Sent from my iPhone Shilling, Mona From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Tracy Weaver City Clerk Begin forwarded message: Weaver, Tracy (City Clerk) Friday, June 05, 2020 10:31 AM *ALL CITY CLERKS Fwd: Inform the Community image0jpeg From: Bob Turnbull <rturnbu11361 @me.com> Date: June 5, 2020 at 8:50:55 AM PDT To: "Whalen, Bill (Chief of Police)" <bwhalen@elsegundo.org> Cc: "Mitnick, Scott" <smitnick@elsegundo.org>, ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS <ALLELECTEDOFFICIALS@elsegundo.org> Subject: Inform the Community Good morning Bill, I'm sure you are well aware of this, but in case you are not, click on the attached link directed at your department and my City police force. httDs://www.chanee.orplt)lto-the-mavor-and-city-counci 1 -of -el -scRundo-defund-esi)d-and-a- condemnation-of-recent-communitv-efforts-aaainst- blm?recruiter=71157225&utm source=share petition&utm medium=facebook&utm campaign =psf combo share initial&utm term=nsf combo share abi&recruited bv_id=90db8d40-5798- IIe3-9555-95d47c534b99&utm content=fht-22570116-en-us%3Av10 I think your time would be best served for our community by informing this group and our citizenry that it is unlawful to go around our beautiful City and tape up posters or papers, of any kind, on public property or in the public right of way. It's a misdemeanor. The poor citizen depicted in the video, who is a twin sister of a council person, did the right thing by cleaning up our City and removing litter. For years, I too walked those same sidewalks and removed political signs, lost dog signs, for sale signs, etc. because it's against the law to litter and post these types of documents and it's the right thing to do. I still do this today. Now, because this goes unaddressed, you have a group in the community that is misinformed. They are leveraging this anti -police movement to get signatures to de -fund policing in El Segundo. This is one of the narratives of Black Lives Matter (BLM) that you supported in our Civic Center on duty and in uniform by holding up two signs and posing for a photo that has gone viral on Instagram and Facebook. PI I think it's time for your next community message to apologize to the community and not justify and rationalize your story like you did to me yesterday. Every mistake has a story. Unfortunately, that does not make the mistake or lapse of sound decision making justified. Please do the right thing for our community and police force as I would hate to see the BLM pressure our Council like they did in the City of Los Angeles and many Cities across our great Nation to de -fund our great police force. Respectfully watching and listening, Bob Turnbull --:7!!!n d D V W 20 likes jlcederblom photo EI Segundo's police chief Bill Whalen out with a group of peaceful protesters today showing his support V* He was answering questions and offered his office to speak anytime to anyone who wanted to talk. I love our little town more everyday. View all 2 comments elsegundopd Can you DM us this photo please? Thank you! Shilling, Mona From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Received today Tracy Weaver, Tracy (City Clerk) Wednesday, June 03, 2020 5:10 PM *ALL CITY CLERKS FW: IMG_1708 jpeg IMG_1708 jpeg; ATT00001.txt Sent via the Samsung Galaxy 510+_ an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Bob Turnbull <rtumbu11361 @me.com> Date: 6/3/20 4:40 PM (GMT -08:00) To: ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS <ALLELECTEDOFFICIALS@elsegundo.org> Cc: "Whalen, Bill (Chief of Police)" <bwhalen@elsegundo.org> Subject: IMG_1708.jpeg Dear Mayor and Council Members, This is extremely unfortunate that El Segundo Police Chief Bill Whalen felt it was appropriate to hold up a BLM sign while in uniform and on duty in our Civic Center. This type of political bias, when all lives matter, serves only to fuel divisiveness between races and community members. It's one thing if he wants to get undressed from that uniform and remove the badge that many officers take great pride in and express his support and first amendment rights for BLM, but not on duty and in uniform. Thank you in advance for addressing this inappropriate behavior. H