Time Sensitive: Citizens Police Oversight Committee to Meet Monday Night
In October 2020, the City of Pasadena approved a Citizens’ Police Oversight Committee to review police misconduct issues. The board will consist of 11 members, 8 chosen by each member of the Pasadena City Council and 3 nominated by community based organizations. Having a member of the LGBTQ community on this committee is vital for the safety of our LGBTQ community.
SGV LGBTQ+ Center Board Member, Kenny Rotter, is seeking a spot on the Citizens’ Police Oversight Committee. This will be a great opportunity to touch on some LGBTQ+ advocacy work here in the San Gabriel Valley!
Hate crimes are on the upswing for all minority groups, and the City of Pasadena can make a preemptive strike by having a diverse team of community members representing those who are often targeted, but fearful to speak up and give voice to the issues that affect our everyday lives. Keep in mind that the LGBTQ+ community encompasses people of all religions, races, abilities, ethnic backgrounds, genders, and socioeconomic statuses.
We need to mobilize and reach out to Pasadena elected officials so they know how important LGBTQ representation is for this committee. Please take a few minutes and send an email, fill out a speaker card, and spread the word.
Many of the council members have already chosen their rep for the committee, including Felicia Williams, who is Kenny’s district city councilperson. Victor Gordo has not announced his decision so he may be the best person to sway to appoint Kenny as his chosen candidate for the committee.
Kenny’s qualifications can be detailed below:
Current employment involves critically evaluating federal crimes and submitting sentencing recommendations to judges, putting aside biases to objectively analyze evidence.
Licensed attorney, spent the last decade refining skills at objective and logical analysis.
In the Fall of 2019, attended Pasadena’s Citizens Police Academy to learn about the PPD experience
Through work with the SGV LGBTQ Center, has attended many anti-bias and diverse population trainings.
Brings the knowledge, experience, and ability to look at a specific set of facts and make an unbiased recommendation, including analysis of a set of facts against a certain evidentiary standard.
Brings the experience of a member of the LGBTQ community, a community that still experiences large amounts of violence and persecution.
Our SGV LGBTQ+ Center needs your help! Spread the word. Make a public comment on Monday, April 19th, 2021. Email constantly from now until Monday, April 19th, 2021 by 4 PM.
Speaker cards can be submitted here: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/city-clerk/public-comment
People can email their reps here:
District 1, Tyron Hampton: cbell@cityofpasadena.net
District 2, Felicia Williams: ddyson@cityofpasadena.net
District 3, John Kennedy: johnkennedy@cityofpasadena.net
District 4, Gene Masuda: nsullivan@cityofpasadena.net
District 5, Margo Morales: mlmorales@cityofpasadena.net
District 6, Steve Madison: N/A
District 7, Andy Wilson: pthyret@cityofpasadena.net
Mayor: Victor Gordo: vgordo@cityofpasadena.net
If you need help with sample language, please use this template below:
“The LGBTQ+ community has historically been disenfranchised, marginalized, and maligned by law enforcement and other institutions (religious, educational, political, medical, family). My fear is that LGBTQ+ members of our community might fall into those categories if the Public Safety Committee fails to appoint a well qualified candidate, Kenny Rotter, as a representative for the LGBTQ+ Community. I would think that the Committee would want to have the best interests of all communities in mind, and appoint a candidate that can give voice to the safety issues confronting the LGBTQ+ community in the City of Pasadena.”
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