HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-20 Public Comment - E. Foster - Concerned about diversity statementFrom:Emma Foster
To:Agenda
Subject:Public comment on diversity statement
Date:Monday, July 27, 2020 8:49:16 PM
Hello:
My name is Emma Foster, I live at 501 S Grand Ave unit 2 Bozeman 59715 and my pronouns
are she/her.
I am writing to echo the many public comments that were made today regarding the city’sdiscrimination memorandum.
I am very concerned that this review was done internally, without communication and review
with BIPOC folx who live in this community and experience the effects of discrimination.Additionally, I am very concerned about the review’s citation of “8 can’t wait” policies —
policies that the creators of which have since apologized for, citing that they do not do enoughto decrease harm by policing.
I am strongly encouraging the commission to look at defunding the BPD and reallocating
funds to social services that can support our community, rather than continuing the invest 30%of our cities budget to policing and criminalization. Crisis intervention and social services are
known to be more effective at reducing crime than policing and with Bozeman growing, thereare many social services including mental health support, affordable housing, transportation,
and shelter for houseless folx that are badly needed.
This review lacked teeth, and while I am encouraged that this is the beginning of theconversation, I hope the commission takes the many comments made by folx tonight as an
invitation to dive into this work, which is badly needed, rather than doing a bare minimumeffort to look good, without engaging with real change.
Thank you for your time.
Emma Foster
-- Emma Foster
she/her/hers406-431-1599
fosteremt@gmail.com