Thread by @lindsonhere

Going to attempt to live tweet the @MorgantownGov City Council meeting (my first attempt at being a #folkreporter)

Lots of money stuff on tonight, including growing the surveillance state, the ‘23-‘24 budget, and more. 🪡

Here’s the agenda: morgantownwv.gov/AgendaCenter/V…

Not related to policy, but the Patrick Henry statue in the stairwell at the county courthouse is terrifying.

First up is neighbor Vaike Haas talking about Suncrest Safe Routes, a pilot project (grant funded) to keep intersections in Suncrest safe. The idea (I think) is that people change behaviors at crosswalks - so her project is to simulate crosswalks where they don’t exist.

Haas’s project is a really stellar example of a citizen taking (positive, not harmful) control of their own neighborhood’s safety.

Haas says that the project is meant to demonstrate the need for policy change. Notable that Haas made the flags herself. Serious Leslie Knope vibes and I love it.

Also notable that first ward city council candidate just leaned over to a guy next to him and asked “who’s giving her permission to do this?” incredulously.

No one, James. That’s the beauty.

Whoops - got distracted. Now a proclamation celebrating social workers. Love to see it - social workers rock my world. Lucky to have so many in my life!

Here are the resolutions requesting congressionally directed spending. Note the focus on “crime prevention”

Public comment portion starts with James Giuliani, council candidate.

Wearing a shirt that says “I’m not yelling, I’m projecting.”

Uses social work proclamation to now talk about homelessness. Points to site on the city’s website that talks about homelessness / says outdated

Says website is a nice promotion of what we have to offer. A nice advertisement of what we have to offer.

Keeps saying “the homelessness situation”

Says we aren’t working or facilitating as a team on the “issue.”

Now reading … something? I don’t know what.

I think making a case for a “coordinator” and a (one of my least fave phrases in English) public-private partnership.

“Not doing what needs to happen here.”

Need to bring in the “professionals.” Can’t be chased by “volunteers.”

I think he just wanted to say he’s running

Next up: @marlymorgantown

Thanks the orgs and individuals that made the warming shelter work this year. Now is talking about the need for affordable housing in our community. Disheartening to see a crisis of housing being pointed at people who need help.

Now at the consent agenda part of the night. Pulling some resolutions off the agenda.

Going through those items that WERE NOT pulled from the consent agenda (all but D and J I think)

Consent agenda approved.

Moving onto the items pulled off.

First up: item D, a request for $200k to install surveillance cameras around downtown

Want to “prevent crime” in the downtown area

Gotta love the surveillance state, amirite?

But let’s be real - this is about policing unsheltered people.

Councilman Butcher is asking questions. Says he’s not a huge fan of surveilling citizens in the city. Could use grant of this nature to better deal with downtown crime.

Mentions a “cohoots” program out of Eugene, OR. Brings social workers and teams of that nature into downtown

We don’t have a downtown beat at this time, so how effective can the cameras be for this purpose? Prefers we look for more proactive ways of addressing the issue.

Dep. City Manager says there was a big string of graffiti - certain types of crime that having cameras stop

James Giuliani nodding his head and saying “mmm hmm mmmhmm” - he’s into it.

Dep. (Asst?) City Manager says will keep city from having to use business’s cameras.

City manager says it’s not meant to focus on a certain population or group. (Suuuuuuuuure it’s not)

Now city manager saying something about people stealing plantings (do we want to criminalize something so trivial?!)

James Giuliani out loud to no one: “why are we apologizing for this?!”

Apparently we used ARPA funds (covid rescue funds) to buy surveillance cameras (wut)

Graffiti and destroying flowers are the two cited offenses.

Like, my dudes, this is not sufficient criminality to necessitate mass surveillance.

Councilman Kawecki agrees with Councilman Butcher (but sounds like he’ll still vote for the resolution?)

Take advantage of these funds and recognize this isn’t the ideal solution.

Councilwoman Trumble: hears a lot from business owners and I’m all for better lighting..

Foot patrol, & cameras in some instances.

“We don’t even have our system in place yet. Bought stuff w/ARPA but haven’t had it installed. Don’t know how effective even that is.”

Understanding that these earmarks are very competitive. Surprised to see we’re putting in so many.

Would prefer we advocate for trail lighting over buying and installing more cameras. (Totally agree here!)

Much prefers advocating for one over the other.

Councilman Harshbarger says he supports both. Councilwoman Vega prefers lighting the trail > additional surveillance.

Asst. City Mgr - we met with the 7
US Senators and removed some requests from the original list. These remain because senators suggested diff buckets of funds

Trumble: infrastructure money is hard to get. Agencies that have money are easier to apply for. Lobbyist that’ll take them around on DC said pick 5 or so projects. Says she doesn’t want to be talking about cameras.

Mayor says “we want a network of cameras downtown”

I wonder if James Giuliani will be as flippant and dismissive on council as he is being in the crowd here tonight?

Councilman Butcher points out several federal grants that are available and says “feels like there are a lot of proactive steps we don’t take” and he’d like us to move in a more proactive direction.

James Giuliani: “is it proactive when people are high on your street?”

(Like what dude?)

Trumble asks what’s up with cameras we already have? City says about 10% have been installed. No clarity about timeline (WHY DO WE NEED MORE CAMERAS?!?)

Apparently the city is looking for a social worker to work WITH the police department on street outreach. (Tell me how they’ll relationship build with people they criminalize?)

Tried to hire for this position once already and failed (pay was terrible FYI)

Kawecki moves to approve, Harshbarger seconds.

For: Harshbarger, Mayor, Kawecki
Against: Trumble, Vega, Butcher

James Giuliani shaking his head fiercely and saying “wow”

Now onto rail trail lighting. People have complained that trail doesn’t feel safe.

Mayor says best example of lighting is down by the Amphitheatre. High priority project.

“Would really improve perceived and actual safety.”

This resolution - to request federal monies for lighting the rail trail - passes unanimously.

Now on to the budget (my fave - seriously!)

Finance did an update that I honestly did not follow well (sorry! I’m tired)

Already moving to approve. Approved unanimously (first reading).

(I heard councilman @Butcher4wv is going to hold office hours to answer questions about the budget!)

Ok I messed up: before we were voting on an amendment to the ‘22-‘23 budget.

Nowww we’re onto the ‘23-‘24 budget (general fund and coal severance fund)

Councilman Butcher encourages the public to reach out to their council members and ask questions! (YES, do this!)

Budgets are moral documents, they’re value statements. We value those things to which we allocate money.

Ask questions! Get involved and push your leaders.

Closing with police saying they’re trying to recruit more women. Apologies, I don’t care about this. The idea is recruiting women to address policing shortages (because looking at the root ills with policing is too radical).

City manager is reporting out, including saying we’ll soon have more police on the streets (I guess they’re hiring a number of people)

Chief is coming up to talk about police coverage in our downtown (James Giuliani: “Great!”)

Something called directed foot patrol that requires an officer 9a-9p doing foot patrol in downtown. Directed to make at least two contacts with business owners and bring info back to police.

(Business has disproportionate influence says my friend and I agree)

Made sure officers weren’t taking the same routes over and over again (to prevent overpolicing?)

Everyone likes to refer to downtown as a “situation.”

Real talk: I’ve never had a bad or scary experience downtown ever. And I’m down there a lot.

Trumble says business owners and individuals have called her to celebrate this policing downtown. Says she talks about complaints about downtown more openly than others.

(I’d be interested to see if there has been an uptick in stops/arrests and who is being stopped/arrested)

James Giuliani loves police and policing (per his exclamations and body language)

Now naming off candidates in the different wards for the upcoming April 25th election (including my friends @Butcher4wv and @marlymorgantown)

Voter registration deadline is April 4th! Early voting 4/12 - I missed it.

Flyers advertising the elections are going out with MUB mailings (this is great!)

Significant amount of polling location changes this year (always check your polling location)

Council members are reporting out now:

Kawecki mentions some residents saying trash pick-up happening before 6a which isn’t permissible (per city attorney). Says to report to Republic and call Carol Allen (?)

Kawecki is calling out council on voting down camera resolution

Says he doesn’t understand their approach or rationale and that he is very disappointed. Concludes his report.

Councilwoman Vega - it’s international women’s month (event at 123 Pleasant tomorrow! to benefit RDVIC). Also a walk for survivors 4/1

Flags the “end child marriage” bill and urges folks to contact their state leaders. Children shouldn’t be married!

Deputy Mayor Trumble shouts out the Wiles Hill Community Center cafe (their community center is dope!)

Says she doesn’t appreciate Kawecki’s personal attack

Councilman Harshbarger is rep to MUB. Says there are still several White Park issues they’re working through.

(What residents are still watching this at 9p and getting anything from these report outs? It’s past my own bedtime and I don’t have kids or any huge responsibilities)

Councilman Butcher spent 3/2 at the warming shelter talking with folks using the shelter and helping them formulate plans (including seeking vouchers). Went to NAACP’s know your rights training (re: interactions w/ police)

Says every neighborhood needs a space like Wiles Hill’s community center (including the incorporation of historical narrative)

Close by saying he’s been inundated with messages and calls that are harassing and aggressive and stating harmful things about the homeless pop.

Worries that someone in that community is going to get hurt because of the misinformation and lies. All service providers are also having a really hard time because of this behavior. It’s gotta stop.

Mayor: “wow, there’s a lot going on” weird negative comments online

Mayor is talking and James Giuliani says “please don’t do this.” Ftr, she’s asking people to redirect vitriol.

If you don’t have something nice to say, maybe don’t say it. - Mayor

That’s not going to happen. - Giuliani (he’s been really disrespectful of the mayor all night)

Adjourned! Yay!

Dear @threadreaderapp unroll