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THREAD: Hi, @youngsinick - some notes about your recent opinion piece about how @PeteButtigieg is “long overdue for a reckoning.” In forming, or at least presenting, this opinion you have left out a lot of information and context. I’ll provide sources. independent.co.uk/voices/pete-bu…
2/You address Boykins’ demotion (not firing as characterized), but leave out was due 2 lack of confidence as Chief since he was under investigation & did not tell the Mayor. Further proof he wasn’t fired-kind of hard to retire 5 years after you were fired. 953mnc.com/2017/07/08/for…
3/”No action was taken against the police officers and whatever language was used remains a mystery due to Buttigieg’s refusal to release the tapes.” 2 things: 1) Buttigieg has no legal authority to take action against the officers per state law. lawserver.com/law/state/indi…
4/ 2)Buttigieg *can not* release the tapes bcuz poss. constitutional violation, now subject of ongoing litigation. In 8/2012 city filed fed petition in court to rule on if he could legally release them - fed ruled state crt has to decide which is ongoing cnn.com/2019/04/23/pol…
5/Pete says this was the “first big mistake” - not demoting the Chief, but bcuz he was slow 2 realize the anguish felt in the community. It was a legal issue 4 city, but about more 4 cmnty. He realizes that now, but doesn’t mean demotion wasn’t justified cnn.com/videos/politic…
6/Next is about settlements paid in first 5 years of administration: majority of those cases settled pre-dated Pete. Since ‘13, settlements have plummeted from $800k/yr to less than $200k. This is all info in video *you cited.*
7/Quick note before anyone assumes they’re all racially-motivated or perpetrated by a white cop against black citizens, please watch the video. The clips at the beginning show this is not the case.
8/Next you cite two articles with Regina Williams-Preston’s criticisms for Pete, and in the process insinuate his failure to implement her suggestions “doesn’t help either,” which is curious since the vid you cited says settlements have gone way down under Buttigieg
9/I want to note that Regina is on SB’s Common Council, which is the legislative body for the city. Perhaps she too had power to establish a civilian review board or power to pass resolution directing the establishment? Idk, just spitballing.
10/The other insinuation here is that #MayorPete has done *nothing* in response to use of force or low diversity on the police force, which is plainly false. You also call him a “white politician who ignored AA community until his ambitions called for it…”
11/I encourage you to do your research. Here is a well-sourced presentation of factual information on a range of issues. No editorializing or opinion - just articles and sources: medium.com/@JS_M/f3619564…
12/Highlights in policing sect. (all sourced in article):
*Offered/Administered Diversity Awareness Profile & Harvard Implicit Bias Test
*Put PD app online
*Held LE & local men of color summit
*Pushed for transparency & public data
*Launched Home Grown project 2 recruit citizens
*Offered/Administered Diversity Awareness Profile & Harvard Implicit Bias Test
*Put PD app online
*Held LE & local men of color summit
*Pushed for transparency & public data
*Launched Home Grown project 2 recruit citizens
13/He has also worked with the community for *years* 2 address diversity problem in the force. He has acknowledge they have not succeeded - as have *most* forces around the country - but it has been & still is an ongoing effort with no magic solution. wsbt.com/news/local/cit…
14/You can also see recruiting info & stats on SB Transparency Hub including at what stage people drop out. police-southbend.opendata.arcgis.com And here are more initiatives straight from the source -
15/Next insinuation is about the fact that next 2 Chiefs after Boykins were white - that race must have played a role in decision. Interim Chief Hurley had experience as Chief and was temporary. Next Chief was chosen out of 60 applicants - any evidence race was involved?
16/The most important thing I’m saying is we don’t have much info on the decision-making process so it is *pure speculation* that it was race related - and if you aren’t speculating at the very least you’re leading readers to that conclusion, which is disappointing and dishonest
17/You also bring up the 1k Homes program and link to article quoting Regina (seeing a pattern?) about displacement. I invite you to read the facts including *all* were vacant or abandoned as criteria for program - 0 displaced/0 were lived in.
18/RE: his trouble addressing homelessness -while def a problem that needs fixed, it is not uniquely SB. Even advocates in article cannot agree on how to best fix the problem - part of why its still problem in cities across the country. Certainly a problem, but personal failure?
19/In your premature speculation about his primary obituary, you are concerned about “the proper context,” yet seem to leave out quite a bit of context yourself. Is it possible in forming your opinion you have not independently researched him thoroughly?
20/*If* he does not attract AA voters (and big if because polls aren’t as bleak as people act and because it’s early for a pragmatic group), I do not think it will be because of some purported “homophobia.” It will be because of the media echo chamber…
21/...including articles like this that serve as confirmation bias. Someone declares him racist or insensitive & says he won’t get black vote. Voters see that & form an opinion on your opinion without ever being given the full range of facts to make their own decision
22/This isn’t reporting that is presenting all sides of the information. This is an opinion piece presenting one side as absolute truth and leads readers to conclusions based on personal opinion. It may get clicks, but it is irresponsible as a voter & a writer.
23/Having your own opinion is obvi fine and I'm not even trying to change it - just saying if you present one side as absolute fact without mentioning context or other facts, at least be honest with the reader that you haven't done the research.
Tacking on another tweet to add this source which shows that he has not ignored the homelessness problem. 2017 South Bend Working Group on Chronic Homelessness
southbendin.gov/wp-content/upl…
southbendin.gov/wp-content/upl…
