HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-27-20 Public Comment - M. Gaillard - Racial Equity in BozemanFrom:Marguerite Gaillard
To:Agenda
Subject:Racial Equity in Bozeman
Date:Monday, July 27, 2020 9:43:23 AM
Hello,
I am a 19 year-old born and raised in Bozeman. I have been talking to individuals across
our community through a deep canvassing campaign with Bozeman United For Racial
Justice. I have learned some key things that many people in our community care about.
First off, we care about each other, and are willing to have conversations despite
differences in opinion or political standing. Secondly, our community wants to know that
everyone has the resources they need, something which is lacking at the moment. By
putting 32% of the city budget into our police force, but only 1% into affordable housing
and sustainability, we are reacting punitively to crimes that could be avoided by giving
our citizens the resources they need. Our communities of color face the brunt of this
system, and deserve to see a change in how our police and other city officials interact
with our community, including people experiencing homelessness and/or mental
illnesses.
I appreciate that you are taking the time to look into our city’s racial landscape to
promote racial equity and anti-racism in our city systems. I ask that this be an ongoing
and significant change from what we see today. I would like to see our city’s
demographics represented in our leaders and city workers alike. I would like to see
services available to all who might need them, fully funded and functioning. Finally, I
would like to see a shift away from punitive reactions to small crimes, and towards
rehabilitation and wholistic approaches instead.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to seeing Bozeman reflect its beautiful
surroundings by becoming a diverse, equitable, and inclusive city.
Margo Gaillard
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Margo Gaillard(406) 551.0375
gaillardmargot@gmail.com