Thread by @shayshinecastle

We're in open comment. Gina McAfee reporting that BI is cutting off communications with immigrants-rights groups. There was a small group of BI officials and advocates meeting together.

She's claiming BI said meeting with advocates threatened the safety of BI employees.

Nicole Perlman (that spelling might not be right; I can't see the TV screen with the list of speakers that well) is also speaking on BI.
"People think, 'What's the big deal? It's just ppl wearing ankle monitors?'" she says. But "these ppl aren't criminals."

And it's not just ankle monitors; these ppl have to check in with de facto parole officers who are often abusive, immigrants report. Advocates have asked for better employee training, outside audits, etc.

BI declined those requests, Nicole says, then cut off communication. "What are our elected officials going to do about this?" BI won't be held accountable.

Sorry I'm not tweeting much; I can't see many of the names. Plus I'm working on election stuff.

Forgot to say Nagle isn't here.

The father of the 4 yo who picked up the needle is here. "We've had lots of issues with the homeless over the years."

Wade Green is his name.

He's very emotional recounting the incident.

His kid will have to be monitored, getting blood drawn, over the next few months to make sure he doesn't have HIV or Hep C.

Elizabeth Black is up now with another installment of "As the head gate turns."

I think that's the last in her series. I will miss her. I hope she has another series planned.

Twitter is not working correctly for me; apologies. Also, @Twitter what's the deal, yo? I need this for work.

@Twitter Eric Maxfield from the Boulder Shelter is here. Some more data on coordinated entry will be upcoming in future weeks; that approach is wrapping its second full year.

@Twitter Weaver singing the praises of that programming and how many ppl have gotten into homes. We'll find out just how many in a couple months.

@Twitter Katie Farnan: BI holds the sole nationwide ICE contract for monitoring immigrants. Boulder is a sanctuary city. BI is a Boulder-based company.

"We appeal to the council for help."

@Twitter Many anti-BI speakers have started by saying, "I'm here bc I care about immigrants."

@Twitter Anna Segur repeats another speaker in saying that 8 private banks are declining to renew contracts with GEO Group, which owns BI. forbes.com/sites/morgansi…

@Twitter Carolyn Usher ceding her time to Wade Green. He is talking about places his family has stopped going bc of the homeless people in north Boulder, one of whom gave his kid a "sexually oriented" toy.

@Twitter I empathize with the things he's saying and feeling unsafe, but he just referred to an unhoused resident as "a homeless."

@Twitter That is the end of open comment. Reminder: council is discussing the BI, Inc. issue later. (Much, much later.)

@Twitter Except now council is going to address some of the things said in open comment. Brockett starts: I know the Works program, works. What is city doing to keep public spaces clean? Can we improve?

@Twitter Brautigam: We focus on areas that "continually" have campsites and "trash left behind," or needles.

"There are so many public places in this town that are open to any member of the public. We don't have enough staff and we can never have enough $$ to have enough staff to be constantly monitoring every person who walks into every public space to make sure they don't litter."

Morzel asking for increased patrols. References Green's anecdote about a neighbor who came home to find an unhoused person in her house and had to call the cops.

It's an "unfortunate reality" that ppl need to lock their doors during the daytime.

Weaver: North Boulder "needs as much focus as downtown" because there are a lot of unhoused residents there.

Carlisle: Police say the best defense is locking things.

Brautigam: That's true.

RE: BI discussion. That may get pushed. Again, a looooong meeting ahead.

That's all for this and consent agenda. Moving to a new thread for the budget discussion / public hearing.

@threadreaderapp please unroll. Thank you!