Thread by @BenWinslow

I'm at @SLCoMayor's news conference where she is expected to make some policy proposals related to policing, economic opportunity, housing, etc., in response to the recent protests. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Members of the state's MLK Jr. Human Rights Commission are in the audience.

They met with @GovHerbert earlier this week in a very emotional meeting where he promised statewide policy proposals within 30 days: fox13now.com/news/local-new… @fox13 #utpol #Utah

Pastor France Davis (recently retired) from Calvary Baptist going to kick things off with a moment of reflection and prayer.

"These are difficult times," he says, not only the virus but "history has caught up with us regarding our racial relationships." @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Pastor Davis prays for @SLCoMayor and other government leaders.

She says she'd planned to announce this later, but it was important to do it now in light of the protests. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

"I am personally grieving," @SLCoMayor says, crying.

"Change is needed. Desperately needed."

She acknowledges the demands of peaceful protesters in downtown #SLC. She joined @slcmayor in taking a knee "as a sign we are listening." @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Not everyone appreciated that, @SLCoMayor says, but among the range of views she heard, a call for action.

She pledges to take "additional steps toward equality and social justice." She calls on the audience to join with her in policy changes. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

SL County Sheriff Rosie Rivera now up.

"I do support the mayor's vision on this Council on Diversity Affairs," she says, calling on "bringing people together to make change."

Sheriff Rivera says people's outrage is justified and "I feel it too." @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Sheriff Rivera acknowledges that she's a woman of color and a law enforcement officers.

She says she believes in inclusion and anti-bias strategies.

"We have to do something and we're committed to doing something," the sheriff says. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Sheriff Rivera says it's important to "understand our communities, look like our communities."

She says officers believe what was done to George Floyd "was murder."

"We all feel that way," she says. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Sheriff Rivera ends with a call for peaceful protests going forward.

@SLCoMayor says she's been working with @RepAngelaRomero and @SenatorLuz to address #COVID19 health care issues in minority communities.

She commits $$ to ethnic owned businesses. @fox13 #utpol #Utah

.@SLCoMayor says she is "re-focusing" the Council on Diversity Affairs to respond to the events of the past few weeks.

FYI, CODA has been in existence for 16 years in @SLCoGov.

The mayor says she will expand their role to identify "systemic failures." @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

.@SLCoMayor says she will re-assign someone from her office to HR to do more for fairness, inclusion, anti-bias in the county, including @UPDSL.

@fox13 #utpol #Utah #SLC

.@SLCoMayor announces efforts for criminal justice work, community engagement, housing, health, economic opportunity, etc.

She introduces Ze Min Xiao, who will oversee a lot of this.

@fox13 #utpol #Utah #SLC

.@ZeeSLC says she's ready to get to work (she currently heads the Mayor's Office for New Americans).

Jojo Liu (a lawyer) will head up law enforcement issues with @UPDSL's Sgt. Nick Renfro.

Liu says @SLCoGov believes in collaboration. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Liu talking about how unconscious bias and structural racism really impacts sincere efforts for change.

Sgt. Renfro says he came to policing critical of an officer. But instead of fighting it from the outside, he decided to fight from within. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Sgt. Renfro says he is pushing for better trainings, better communication, better outreach.

He notes he is one of 3 black officers in @UPDSL.

"I refuse to be silent and accept that things will remain the way they are," he says. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Mike Gallegos says he will handle housing.

He says affordable housing is in a deficit and it can't keep up with demand.

Jen Ungvichian says she will deal with economic opportunity. They will reach out to ethnic owned businesses, including multilingual info. @fox13 #utpol

Dr. Siosaia Hafoka of @SaltLakeHealth has been asked to head up health initiatives.

He says there are disparate communities and they need to provide support with both data-driven and community-led recommendations. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Gabe Moreno, who works in @SLCoMayor's office, will help with youth, including identifying emerging leaders and getting them involved in the policy-making process. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Pashion Whales will head up the HR initiatives for CODA. Unfortunately, a technological issue means we in the Council chamber can't hear her.

@fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

It's fixed!

Whales says it is important to have representation and increasing diversity in leadership roles.

It adds "diversity in thought," she says. @fox13 #utpol #Utah #SLC

.@SLCoMayor says they will also have data to help drive decisions.

Javaid Lal will oversee that, she announces.

"Our vision for SL County is to be a place where everyone has equitable access to opportunities," the mayor says. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

.@SLCoMayor announces she will have listening sessions and roundtables in the community.

She says "younger people deserve voice in the community."

@fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

.@SLCoMayor specifically calls out young refugee activists out there demanding change.

"I've been struck by their passion, by their commitment to the community," she cries. "It's an asset in this community."

@fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

.@SLCoMayor thanks the seniors in the community "who have been at this for some time."

She says they have "serious work" to do. She asks @SLCo_Council and @SLCountyDA to be a part of listening sessions. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

Here's @SLCoMayor's announcement on the restructured CODA and the upcoming listening tours.

Sounds like this will all craft specific policy proposals in the future. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah

A woman calls out @SLCoMayor for saying she wants to "empower" people of color and says she just got rid of a director of diversity/ inclusion?

Mayor Wilson says they are re-organizing but will stick around to talk one on one. @fox13 #utpol #SLC #Utah