City Council - Regular Meeting

[snorts] Good evening everybody. We're going to start public speaking. It is now 6:40 and I'll call the first person to the to the poll, Jasmine Cooper. Oh, yes. Oh, I'm sorry. We'll do roll call first. I'm sorry. Can't hear you. Yeah. Nicole Nelson, Denise Taylor Moy,

George Cruz, Dasha Spellel, Rolanda Smith, Ake Boy, Janette Heron, Loretta Dubat,

okay, Michelle Lions, Mary McBrightley, Rich Ortiz, Alfredo Castillo, Frederick Hodes, Id Neves, Maria Valley, Kayla Medina, Maria Pereira, Anita Martinez, Ernest Newton,

good evening everybody. We will start the public speaking at 6:40. I have Jasmine Cooper first. Jasmine Cooper. Jasmine Cooper. Okay. Next, John Marshali. Please state your name and address for the record, please. contemporary conversations. A sentence worth of wisdom from him was revealed with a quote in David McCullik's history matters. quote, "Any nation that expects to be ignorant and free expects what never was and never will be." ignorant and free. Civics is the study of citizen rights and responsibilities, duties and obligations. When we demand our rights and fail to practice the activities of duty personally and regularly, why are we surprised as the assault on representative democracy continues? Did any of you see the protesters outside the federal courthouse today? The public archives show that I've encouraged council persons to participate in casual civics conversations within your own districts at a comfortable and convenient location. I have created welcoming posters approved by property managers and have received approval at multiple

locations within the city in at least four districts. Now for monthly sessions. During the past year, only two council members have participated in such one-hour conversations. No expense to participants or to council member. It's a free use of space for peaceable gatherings, just listening and reflection and likely some learning to ultimately increase city voting results and participation. Who's impressed when perhaps as few as 10% of registered voters decide upon officials and questions like our foundational charter revision last November? Where is an opportunity for constituents to share knowledge and opinion with you in hearings on subject matter like public safety drones last week. Before you convene to discuss and vote, how do you regard public comments when the public is silenced? Will you reach out to me? Tell me about your thoughts on casual civics conversations within your district. It is an informal practice in a city where people look to be heard but often are uninformed in process or detail. Is that purposeful? as it has failed to keep boards and commissions fully staffed with interested citizens serving unexpired terms and not subject to conflicts of interest. If 20% of registered voters are not a party affiliated, what message is the city sending to them as to board vacancies? Where is their training? Where is a priority listing of council purposes in the coming year or two? How will you improve? Ask the council podcast program. Time will tell.

Thank you, John. Good evening everyone. Clyde Nicholson, 396 Madison Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut. I am here tonight plan of action responding to if brother when I invades detain. How do you notify families or anyone that you have been detained? Being prepared. Minneapolis and Chicago may have been caught off guard, but we don't have that excuse. Emergencies, we prepare for every kind of emergency. This is an emergency. Life or death. immigrants uh who they supposed to be going after. But now they doesn't care who they arrest because when you can gun down and kill a woman, a white

mother of three in the streets in broad daylight. What chance do a black man have in America? Uh anyone else if that matters? The problem I see if we are not prepared and the mayor have not prepared us or given us any instructions on what to do. The problem I'm having is that parents are dropping the kids off to school and the mothers are showing not showing up in afternoons. These kids are standing out there in the ice cold weather. What are they supposed to do? When are we going to wake up and say that we're living in the United State, not a communist state? ICE, we're paying for this and has no business in the United States doing this to anyone. Years ago, police will pull you over license, registration, uh reason why you run a light or whatever. They're snatching peoples out of the cars in broad daylight. And now this woman had no chance. Had no chance at all. And people, we're sitting here thinking that, well, it happened over there in Minneapolis and happening in Minnesota and happening in California. But you know, Chicago, but we're a blue state, too. And Donald Trump is coming after us. Now, I think we all need to get together. I wrote a little something here. We need to close down every school until Ice is gone. Every sport, football, no Super Bowl this year, basketball, hockey, and airports, trains, and planes. We have to We have to get together as a

nation and do something together. Not black, not white, not green. We are one nation and we are all God children's. Thank you and have a Thank you. Sonia Hernandez, please state your name and address for the record.

Good evening, council members and everyone present. My name is Sonia Hernandez and I live 87 Washington Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I am a organizer with Meo Kerico, a statewide organization that we work with immigrant, black, Latino, and workingclass community across Connecticut. We are here today to strongly urge you to onhold the committee's rejection of the proposal contract with flock safety and expansion of police drone civilians in the Bridgeport. Our community care deeply about safety. Many of us are parents, workers and seniors who want to feel secure in our neighborhoods. But safety should not come at the cost of our rights, our privacy or our dignity. In today political climb, civilian is not natural for immigrant communities and community of color. It often create fear and stress. Technology like drones, license plate readers and fashion reconations had been used across the country in ways that harm black and brown community. These tools increase the risk of mistakes and make people afraid to call for help, reporting an emergency in our city or ask for city service. We are also concerned about the com companies behind technology. While Flux provides the hardware, cameras and software to call data, companies like Palunteer provide the software that contains the dots of the data. Reporting has show up that Palunteer technology has power mass deportations efforts across the country. This raised serious questions about what could happen to the

data collect here in Brisport. So officials said that tools can only be used by limit purpose. Once data is collected, I can be a strong be shared uh and reuse and many of the families of Brisb that we live here. We are in fear being uncertainly by civilians by immigrant law enforcement. This risk cannot be ignored. We are also deeply concerned about the lack of transparency and meaningful community input in this process. Decisions are being made without listen to the people who elected you and being council members theirel raised concerns about this proposal. Our tax dollar should not be paid by technology that puts our privacy at risk and these decisions should never be moved forward without community consent. We understand that the Brisper Police Department wants to improve safety, but safety cannot be infringed and a right to the privacy. Safety do not come from being watched and civilian. 27 safety come from Jude programs, mental health service, violence prevention program, increased trainings to the police, um stable housing and other um programs that can be invested in our community.

Thank you. Thank you, [applause]

Meg Delton. State your name and address for the record, please. Um, Meg Dalton, 174 Morehouse Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Thank you.

Um, I am a resident of Bridgeport who works with amazing organizations like Make the Road Connecticut and the Democratic Socialists of America. Um, I am deeply concerned about the safety of Bridgeport residents if this city contracts with Flock, a company that is building a quite dangerous mass surveillance infrastructure nationwide. Mass surveillance always expands beyond the uses for which it is initially justified. And as the ACLU has documented, this technology does more than just record what car is driving where and at what time. The possible misuses and abuses of this technology are not only likely, but inevitable. Already, the company's surveillance data is being used by ICE. And in a city like Bridgeport with a large and proud immigrant community, that alone should be enough to not contract with flock. On top of that, the system has links to stalking by police officers, data breaches, and tracking and criminalizing women forced to cross state lines to have an abortion. Um, as the city considers using Flock, other cities across the nation are actually cancelling or suspending their work with this company. um cities like Austin, Cambridge, and just this week, Santa Cruz. So to the members of our city council, your community is imploring you to not join this flock. [applause] Uh Liam Conway, five Thorn Place. Uh my name is Liam Conway. a 22-year-old student at Sacred Heart University. I grew up in Bridgeport. I went to school in Bridgeport. I want to live in Bridgeport for the rest of my life. I love this city and I especially love my fellow young adults and youth. I want to be known that we do not want mass surveillance in this city. I had the opportunity to attend the committee meeting discussing the introduction of Flock. And before and after, I spent

time speaking to folks my age about the proposal and every person said the same thing. No to mass surveillance. No to a police state. no to drones to license plate readers to any tools that be used to brutalize the people of our city. We want to be able to live our lives here in Bridgeport. Want to thrive here in Bridgeport. We cannot do that while living in fear. Whether a flock of police brutality, of future surveillance plans, or of ICE who have already kidnapped many in our state and attacked peaceful protesters in Hartford recently. I ask and implore the council to think of my fellow speakers today, both before and after me, and of the youth from the city, especially those who do not look like myself, when voting on flock or any future surveillance proposals. We say no. [applause] Hi, my name is Todd Sample. I live in uh Westfield Avenue here in Bridgeport. Uh I'm also the elected co-chair of the Bridgeport branch of the Democratic Socialists of America and uh I love Bridgeport. Uh I moved here after living in New York City for 17 years. In New York City, I lived uh I survived uh 911 as well as super storm Sandy. Uh I'm against surveillance and I'm particularly sensitive to any matters that might weaken a community in a time of crisis. Uh we don't need to get with the 21st century. We are the 21st century and every decision we make is a vote for the world that we want to live in. While surveillance is often implemented to enhance security and crisis response, it often undermines a community's natural resilience and ability to handle crisis. Here's a breakdown of the negative effects of surveillance that weaken crisis handling capacity. Erosion of social trust and cohesion. Chilling effects and reduced civic community.

Misallocation of resources and a security theater. Discrimination and marginalization of vulnerable groups. Information distortion and the panopticon effect. Psychological impact is anxiety and fatalism. The brittleleness of a top-down control. Real world examples are that it's a weakened pandemic response, which you all should be pretty sensitive to, natural disasters, which are coming, and civil unrest, which we're experiencing now. In conclusion, resilience is built on trust, social capital, and legitimate institutions. Destructive surveillance practices directly attack these foundations. A community that is watched, controlled, and divided is a brittle community. When a crisis hits, it lacks the internal bonds and shared purpose and makes our community more fragile and less capable in the face of disaster. No true surveillance. Thank you. [applause]

Thank you, Dell Stevenson. That's too loud. Close that door, please.

Good morning, good afternoon. Dell Stevenson from the University of Bridgeport. I am going to start with a Malcolm X quote. And a quote by Malcolm X is, "I believe in a brotherhood of all men. I do not believe in a brotherhood with just anybody. I believe in treating people right, but I am not going to waste my time trying to treat someone who does not know how to return the favor. I am going to speak on members of the CIA and the FBI under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover systematically destroyed the Black Panther Party through its secret counterintelligence a agency program which sabotaged, disinformed, wiretapped, harassed, and violated constitutional rights of black African-Americans such as Fred Hampton and Hueie Newton. The CIA established the war on drugs, which primarily focused on the distribution of crack cocaine and predominantly [singing] black and brown communities through the 1980s. Unclassified documents from the CIA distribute the uh describe illegal narcotics and firearms to members of organized criminal activity within the black and brown communities throughout the United States in the 1980s. uh the 13th amendment which states that neither slavery nor involuntarily so solveritude except as a punishment for crime uh whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. Uh the systematic racism degradation of inhumity of slavery inflicted severe psychological distress among the black African community today which includes

trauma, anxiety, and depression. The Willie Lynch Syndrome is a letter written in the uh the 18th century which describes the psychological and social effects of colorism and gender based on how light your skin color or how dark your skin color was in the black African-American community. Again, the KKK historically racial torture throughout the uh the 1960s uh influenced psychological warfare on the mental health of African-Americans, including the 1963 Alabama church bombing and lynching of AfricanAmericans community African-Americans throughout the uh the the 1960s. again uh September 11th, 2001 had a significant mental impact on black African-Americans through the influence of racial discrimination and social economic disparities. [applause] Mary Lee Mary Lee The Reverend Mirror and Ned McBride Lee 125 Hillrest Road, Bridgeport, Connecticut. My owl, Dr. Martin King, stated, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." And I said that

because I'm go I I'm I'm I'm I'm continuing from the last time we met. Our promp person said in his statement that he asked our pre our our present president would they would she play tit for tat for the people that did not vote for her? And he said I'm saying what he said that she said of course not. I'm going to treat everybody fair. Well, tell me. I want to know why is it that one of our council member is so faithful that she come when she don't even have to come. When the committee was signed, guess how many seat she committed she got? One. A king ran against her. How many seat did he get? One and a half. Now, I want to know who is lying here. I believe that one seat and then and and and I want to say this, people that have just gotten on this council have three and four seats. I ain't never seen and said since I've been on the council for almost over 14 years, I have never ever seen one council member with four committees. I don't understand that. The other thing is that I hope that we address on this council is sweeping stuff under the rug. And I say that to say, you know, we as council member, we should use our authority to make the city do what you want to do because you threatening them on our agenda tonight. And I'm sure that everybody read the agenda. We pay money for folks that don't make good sense to me. I believe that if you commit a crime, I don't care if it's your mother, I don't care if it's your father or brother or sister,

you should pay for that crime. The city of Bridgeport should not pay for something that your children did or your grandchildren or your grandmama did. And I hope that we address that. If we do not address it, I'm going to channel 12 and I'm going to Connecticut Post, which I don't particularly care for, but I'm going to all of them to bring you all out. It's not fair. It is certainly not fair what our president did to the people that voted against her. And I encourage you all to be encouraged because you are fighting for the people. You not fighting for her. And you certainly not fighting for our prompts. Thank you very much. That concludes public speaking. Thank you.

Looks like we may have a quorum in the building and it's a few minutes after 7. So before formally opening the meeting, I'd ask council members to kind of wrap up and try and move to your seats so we can timely start this meeting. I sure you all have the agenda in front of you and um there's a couple of proclamations that I think we're going to do early on. Is there someone in charge of the proclamation uh process?

Okay. So, with that, let's stand and see if we can start this meeting off with a prayer. A prayer. Um, and maybe we could um see if you want to lead us in a prayer, pastor.

In the name of Jesus, Lord, we thank you for this day that you made. Thank you, oh God, because we rejoicing in it. And thank you, oh God, for keeping us through the snow, keeping us through the ice without hurt, harm, or danger. And thank you, oh God, for keeping our city safe. ask you, oh God, continue to bless us, continue to keep us in the name of Jesus. And oh God, as we go into this meeting tonight, ask you, oh God, to be with us and stay with us in the name of Jesus, continue to bless the mayor of this great city and all the officials, oh God, in the name of Jesus. And Lord, we ask you right now, let the weak say that I'm strong. Amen. And let the strong say let the strong be strong in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Amen. Councilman Ortiz will you lead us in the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America stands nation.

Thank you. This councilman take their seats. Madame Clerk, your microphone be activated if you would care to take the roll call attendance. And I'll remind members and members of the public that um hopefully we've been consistent in broadcasting these. So, uh is part of the way to make sure that people can either participate or observe council meetings. So, I think they run them live. I'm not really sure. And then they get posted up on YouTube. So, uh madam clerk, you have the floor. Thank you. M

Nicole Nelson Denise Cruz Dasha Rolanda Smith [snorts] Akim Boy Janet Hearnetta Dubag Lions Mary McBryley here. Ortiz here. Alfredo Castillo, Freddy, Maria,

Ka Medina, Maria Perea, Ana Martinez, Ernest Newton. We have a call. Perfect. Update my agenda and ask for a motion to approve the minutes made second. And I'm going to look for anyone who wants to be heard. Seeing no hands or indications of lights, I'm going to ask people to vote. All in favor indicate by saying I. Any opposed? The minutes are unanimously passed. There are a series of matters. Motion to consolidate and refer communications to the appropriate boards and commission has been made, seconded. Madame clerk, are you with us? Yes.

Okay. Hearing that, all in favor indicate by saying I. Any oppose? Okay. There's one matters to be acted upon joint committee on contracts and public safety and transportation. Madame President, does this get is there someone uh one of the chairs that's going to uh move this item from one of the committees? I don't know which one. Anyone want to be want to be heard of this been denied by the both joint committees and I would like this item to be voted as still denial um on tonight's vote. Let's take that as a motion. Is there a second? Motion's made and seconded. Madame Clerk, are you with us? [snorts and clears throat]

And uh Councilwoman Herren, you have the floor. Thank you for that. Yes, it was denied in committee.

Um it was denied in committee by almost all the members there but one and that was appreciated and was denied because of the lack of information the council had. Um my suggestion as well as many of the other suggestions here is to have any company that's going to come in do a presentations to the community and to this council so you see what is going on and get the facts and not believe in the fiction that's being told. I don't know enough about the company to say I would want this company or any other company or if any. So that's our intention. Um there will be notices put out with other, you know, with public hearings on that so you guys can vet and decide what's going on. So we if they vote to deny today, it'll be gone and then we can bring back discussions. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. Motion made, discussions been had. All in favor by saying I. Any opposed? Motion to adjurnn. Is there a second? All in favor by saying I. Thank you so much, members of the council. It's a motion to deny and it was turn it off.