Minutes 07-07-2020 Virtual Listening Session on Policing and Racial Justice in Orange County

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5 between people, but between systems as well. She said Covid is going to bring so many changes, many of which will more adversely affect brown and black people. She said taking advantage of poor people, discrimination, etc. is built into the foundation of this country, and must be addressed if real change is to be achieved. She said having conversations like this — showing up and asking — is being a part of the change. Elizabeth Evans stressed the importance of having bilingual people involved with building relationships: Spanish, Burmese, and Karen, Souna, (she) Culturally Specific Trainer, suggested using repurposed funds to extend the Orange County Health Department hours to include weekends and some sort of emergency services through the health department. She asked the BOCC to seek consideration to help with the eviction crisis and housing crisis, e.g. extend payment deadlines. She suggested making police hiring procedures public, along with any officers who have received complaints or concerns. She said the public could be part of the hiring and investigative process. Mark Xavier said he would like to speak about the Education in Orange County, and the numbers over the years are alarming for African American kids. He asked if the BOCC can help to stop these trends. He said if a problem is solvable, but continues for several years, the Board should address the issue and try to help. He said the BOCC is not the school board, but it can still be helpful in educational issues. He said he would also like the Board to help make the police system better in Orange County. He said no one is benefitting from the County until everyone is benefitting. Jean Bolduc applauded the Board for its efforts with this session. She said it has been her experience that when elected officials get together and want to be quite, it can be very challenging. She said her son was in middle school in the early 90s, and was headed for Orange High School, which was full of troubles. She said there was a lot of violence, which would have resulted in arrests, had the actions occurred elsewhere. She said the Governors Crime Commission put out $1 million to fund SROs to help get a handle on these situations. She joined the task force to help create a safe schools program, and wrote the grant that funded the original SRO program. She said the intention at that time was for the SROs to be focused on relationship building and preventative strategies to keep schools safe. She said this program has been well run by the Sheriff's department, and has been racially balanced in its officers, and she is confident that it can continue to be a leading program in the state. She urged the BOCC to have the community review the program, and establish any improvements that may be needed. She said not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Sophie Suberman referred to previous comments about restorative practice and trauma, and said all have experience with trauma in one way or another. She said we do not have good systems to process feelings, and there are people from within the system who were not able to speak tonight for fear of retaliation for their comments. She asked if there are ways to support governmental systems that allow those from within to voice their feelings, without fear of retaliation. She said this is especially important in cross-cultural communication. Horace Johnson said he worked as the Director of City Wide Programs for the New York City Housing Authority for 20 years, with children and after school programming. He said the system in Orange County is woefully inadequate in dealing with children after school. He said if students are not athletes, they have nothing to do. He said a transportation system is needed to take children to after school programing, and community centers to house them. He encouraged the Board to get out into the community, and learn more about the children and their needs. Charlene Campbell echoed Horace Johnson's comments, and said there is a desperate need for after schools activities for Middle and High School students. She said if one is not in band or sports, there is really nothing for one to do at school. Souna, (she) Culturally Specific Trainer, said after school programming is important, and it is also important to as why are parents having to work so long in order to live here. She said