[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:09] AS PARDON ME OF CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER AND ASK US ASK YOU TO JOIN US AS IS OUR PATTERN. WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MR. CLERK, IF [ROLL CALL] YOU'D CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER KILGORE, PRESENT. COMMISSIONER. KNIGHT. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER. PRESIDENT. COMMISSIONER. PERDUE, PRESENT. COMMISSIONER BOUCEK HERE. MAYOR [PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS] LEGRAND. YES. AND IF OUR INTERPRETER COULD COME UP AND EXPLAIN HER ROLE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS. EXCUSE ME, SANDRA NICOLE. AND I'M HERE TO HELP YOU INTERPRET FROM SPANISH TO ENGLISH WHENEVER IT'S NEEDED. COMMENTS, PUBLIC COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. BUENAS NOCHES. SANDRA NICOLE. ESTOY AQUI PARA AYUDARLO A INTERPRETER. ESPANOL A ENGLISH DE INGLÉS ESPANOL POR CUALQUIER COMENTARIO CUALQUIER COSA NECESITA PREGUNTAS CUALQUIER COSA ESTOY AQUI PARA AYUDARLO. THANK YOU. AND NOW IS OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I HAD SOMEONE ASK ME BEFORE THE MEETING, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND SO IF YOU'RE IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THOSE HAPPEN. BUT OTHERWISE, ANY ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR US TO TAKE ACTION ON, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME UP AND TALK. AND AS MR. JONES HAS THE MICROPHONE. HOW Y'ALL DOING? I'M DEE JONES, I'M SPEAKING ON FISCAL COMMITTEE RESOLUTION FOR. ARE YOU GUYS ACCEPTING THE $300,000 GRANT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO INTEGRATE TWO COLLEGE THROUGH COLLEGE? I SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE. I KNOW A LOT OF YOUTH GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE AND GET SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, ESPECIALLY ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE COMMUNITY, TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ADVANCE AND GET A HIGHER EDUCATION. BUT I ALSO LIKE YOU GUYS TO CONTINUOUSLY SUPPORT INITIATIVES LIKE THIS BECAUSE EDUCATION IS VITAL. EDUCATION IS KEY. OUR NEXT GENERATION OF YOUTH WILL BE ABLE TO ADVANCE TO COLLEGE AND BE ABLE TO GET A COLLEGE DEGREE AND HOPEFULLY COME BACK TO THE CITY WHERE THERE'S EQUITABLE, ETHICAL JOBS AVAILABLE THAT IS ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE. SO AS YOU GUYS ARE ACCEPTING THIS GRANT, PLEASE CONTINUOUSLY ACCEPT GRANTS LIKE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW SOME YOUTH THAT ACTUALLY BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS DEFINITELY A PART OF THIS. THERE'S EVEN SOMEBODY ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD, CHAI BENNETT, NOT CHAI, NOT OUR SCHOOL BOARD, BUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION, CHAI BENEDICT. SHE WAS ACTUALLY ON THE COMMITTEE FOR THIS. SO I LIKE YOU GUYS TO CONTINUOUSLY ACCEPT GRANTS, LIKE I SAID, FOR THIS, BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IS VITAL IN HIGHER EDUCATION. AND THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS THAT ALSO CAN GET SOME ESPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ALSO HAS GRANTED SOME FUNDS TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY GO TO DIFFERENT COLLEGES AND CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENT COLLEGES, BUT ALSO THEY HAVE GIVEN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AND FUNDS TO ADVANCE EDUCATION. SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO ACCEPT THESE GRANTS BECAUSE THIS TRULY DOES BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND OUR NEXT GENERATION OF YOUTH THAT WILL GO TO COLLEGE THROUGH COLLEGE TO COLLEGE. THAT'S WHAT TDC STUDIOS IS. THANK YOU. GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. MY NAME IS DANIEL. I'M A FOLLOWER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. I'LL BE SPEAKING TO ORDINANCES TO BE ADOPTED, AMENDING SECTION ONE OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE. MORE MONEY GOING TO DRUG SOBRIETY, COURT GRANT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. SOBRIETY COURT EXPANSION PROGRAM. IT'S RATHER HYPOCRITICAL. TO SPEND OUR MONEY FOR THESE PURPOSES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KEEP ALLOWING THE BUILDING OF WEED STORES. MARIJUANA STORES. BREWERIES BEING BUILT ALL OVER THE CITY. WE'RE KNOWN AS A BEER [00:05:02] CITY NOW. WHAT A WONDERFUL NAME. NEXT WILL BE THE WEED CITY. SO RATHER THAN GIVE MONEY TO THE RESULTS OR THE CONSEQUENCES. STOP BUILDING THE WEED STORES. STOP GIVING LICENSES TO THE BREWERIES AND THE TAVERNS. AGAIN. ADMINISTERED IN THE INNER CITY HEARTHSIDE. FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, I'VE SEEN THE RESULTS OF THESE TWO EVILS. THESE ARE GATEWAYS TO EVEN FURTHER DEPENDANCE, A MORE HARDER DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. WE CAN SPEND OUR MONEY MUCH BETTER ON PREVENTION RATHER THAN TRYING TO SOLVE THE SOLUTION AFTERWARDS. THE HOLY SCRIPTURE SAYS, THE DRUNKARD SHALL COME TO POVERTY, AND THOSE THAT GIVE STRONG DRINK TO OTHERS BY OKAYING IT. ON THIS COMMISSION YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DRUNKENNESS. AND NOW THE WEEDS. MARIJUANA STORES. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. OH, MAN. YOU KNOW. SORRY, MR. LOVITZ. COMING UP. GOOD EVENING LUCAS. FIRST WARD LOOKING NOW AT SECTION NINE, ITEM EIGHT, AND HOW IT HIGHLIGHTS THE OVERALL PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR CITY, OUR LEADERS, AND THESE GIANT, GREEDY CORPORATE INTERESTS. LIKE THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE AMPHITHEATER. NOW, TO CUT THROUGH THE CLEVER WAYS IN WHICH THIS BUDGET ITEM IS DISGUISED IN THE AGENDA, LET ME SUMMARIZE IT FOR THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. OUR CITY IS ABOUT TO REROUTE ANOTHER $770,000 IN COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMPHITHEATER FOR A SEWER TRUNK THAT WAS, QUOTE, NOT PROPERLY ABANDONED DURING THE BUILD, MEANING THE TAXPAYERS ARE CONTINUALLY CONTINUING TO PAY INTO THIS VENUE. NOW, I'M STILL AN OVERALL SUPPORTER OF THE AMPHITHEATER, BUT FROM THE JUMP, I'VE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU WERE SELLING OUT TO GREEDY SLIME LIKE LIVE NATION AND ASSORTED USUAL SUSPECTS IN THE GR OLIGARCHY. WITH LIVE NATION, YOU'VE BECOME PARTY TO A MONOPOLY SO BAD THAT IT'S BEEN PUNISHED. EVEN UNDER THE TRUMP REGIME. WE KEEP LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT YOUR ACCEPTANCE FROM A FLY BY NIGHT SOUND STUDY, FROM SOME FLIMSY RUBBER STAMP FIRM THAT YOU GAVE THAT GAVE YOU AN OVERLY ROSY PREDICTION OF SOUND DYNAMICS AROUND WHICH YOU BUILT ORDINANCES THAT HAVE LED TO YOU GETTING SLAPPED BY A JUDGE. IN THAT PROCESS, WE'RE LEARNING THAT THE NOISE EXCEPTIONS THAT YOU GRANT MAY OR MAY NOT CONSIST OF A LOOSE PROCESS OF SENDING A TEXT TO THE CITY MANAGER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FROM SOME RANDOM ROADIE. MEDIA COVERAGE HAS EXPOSED HOW THE MICHIGAN BEER PAVILION INSIDE THE VENUE FEATURES VERY LITTLE MICHIGAN BEER AND EVEN LESS FROM ACTUAL LOCAL BREWERIES. AND NOW WE HAVE THIS ADDED HANDOUT OF ALMOST 800 GRAND ADDED TO THE TAB. COUPLE THIS WITH THE SOCCER STADIUM, WHERE YOU'RE ONCE AGAIN HITCHING YOUR WAGON TO THE LEGENDARY SKETCHY LIKES OF AMWAY, WHO JUST SETTLED FOR 225 MILLION. WITH THE FCC AGAIN IN TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION OVER DECEPTIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES, AND TOSS IN THE RECENT NATIONAL HEADLINES ABOUT HOW EVIL THESE CORPORATE GOONS ARE WHEN THEY'RE ATTACHED TO VENUES AS SEEN IN THE CENSORSHIP AND ZIONISM BEING PERPETRATED BY ROBERT KRAFT AND THIS WHOLE PINK MACKLEMORE ED SHEERAN DUST UP, WE'RE SEEING A WHOLE LOT OF EXAMPLES OF HOW GROSS THIS GARBAGE IS, WHEN WE SHOULD HAVE JUST KEPT TAXING ALL THESE BASTARDS LIKE WE DID BEFORE REAGAN, BUT NOW WE COULD HAVE JUST BUILT OUR OWN STUFF INSTEAD OF SHADY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. YOUR RESPONSE TO MOST CRITICISM IS TO PASS IT OFF. WELL, IT BELONGS TO THE COUNTY NOW. KIND OF SOUNDS MORE LIKE A PUMP AND DUMP, EXCEPT WE'RE ABOUT TO WATCH YOU APPROVE ANOTHER 800 K OF OUR MONEY IN THE FALLOUT. IT'S FUNNY HOW SOCIALISM IS ALWAYS SEEN AS A DIRTY WORD BY THE IGNORANT AND GULLIBLE, BUT WE JUST KEEP ON SOCIALIZING, ROBBER BARONS AND OPPRESSORS EVERY CHANCE WE GET. REAL LEADERS WOULD STEP UP, SPEAK OUT, AND INSERT THEMSELVES INTO SOME OF THIS DUMB CRAP AND FIND SOLUTIONS THAT CENTER THE PEOPLE FIRST. AND INSTEAD YOU LAY BACK, MAKE EXCUSES, AND APPROVE EVEN MORE RESIDUAL SPENDING. SEEING NO ONE ELSE [APPROVAL OF MINUTES] COMING UP TO THE MICROPHONE, I'LL MOVE US ON TO OUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? [00:10:02] SO MOVED SUPPORT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THAT BRINGS US [PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS] TO PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS. CITY CLERK. THE FIRST ONE IS COMMUNICATIONS. THREE OF THEM RECEIVED, RECEIVED EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR ACRISURE AMPHITHEATER. STEVEN FILED COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM DARREN GLADSTONE, INCLUDING A FOIA APPEAL FOR FOIA REQUESTS. 2026-29447 FILED COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM HOLLAND, QUOTE UNQUOTE. DEAN NORMA CENTRAL VENTURES, LLC, INCLUDING A FOIA APPEAL FOR FOIA REQUESTS. PR 222026-28077. FILED COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM PATRICK REGARDING RECEIVED REGARDING PATRICK HILTON'S RESIGNATION FROM THE MICHIGAN STREET CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS COMMUNICATION RECEIVED REGARDING VACANCY ON THE SOUTH DIVISION. GRANDVILLE AVENUE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM BEN IRWIN, INCLUDING A FOIA APPEAL FOR FOIA REQUEST NUMBER PR DASH 2026-9077. FILED COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM SABRINA WITH A NOISE COMPLAINT AGAINST FIESTA MEXICANA AT CALDER PLAZA. STEVEN FILED COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM DOCTOR ELENA ZISA REGARDING LATE NIGHT VEHICLE NOISE VIOLATIONS ON MEDICAL MILE. STEVEN FILED COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM DAN HILLMAN LAND AND COMPANY REGARDING THE AMPHITHEATER. STEVEN FILED COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM BEN IRWIN, INCLUDING A FOIA APPEAL FOR FOIA REQUEST NUMBER. PR ONE DIFFERENT ONE THAT A DUPLICATE NO REQUEST NUMBER PR DASH 2026-916. STEVEN FILED COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM ADAM FULLER MORTGAGE ONE INCORPORATED SENIOR LOAN OFFICER WITH ACCURATE ACRISURE AMPHITHEATER NOISE DATA FILED COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM LINDSAY PIPER, URGING THE CITY COMMISSION TO REJECT ANY CONTRACT OR EXPANSION OF FLOCK. AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER ALPR SURVEILLANCE IN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS FILED TWO COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED, URGING THE CITY COMMISSION TO PROHIBIT GRPD COOPERATION WITH ICE FILED AND FINALLY, COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM SEVILLA. MAN WMUK NEWS DIRECTOR, INCLUDING FOIA APPEAL FOR FOIA REQUESTS. 202026-3186 FILED. THAT BRINGS [REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS] US TO REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS, MR. CLARK. FIRST ONE IS COMPTROLLER'S WARRANT REPORT. SORRY, LET ME GO BACK. SORRY. COMPTROLLER'S REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF AUGUST 22ND AUGUST 25TH, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,778,750.89. STEVEN FILED AND THE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF AUGUST 26TH, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026. [CONSENT AGENDA AND REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES] STEVEN FILED. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR CONSENT, CONSENT AGENDA AND FOR INFORMATION. THESE ARE ITEMS WHICH PASSED UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF COMMITTEE AND WERE NOT REMOVED FOR ANY REASON. FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION BY ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION. CAN I HAVE A MOTION SO MOVED. SUPPORT ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA? SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [1. Ordinance Amending Section 1 of the Budget Ordinance 2026-11 for Fiscal Year 2027 (Amendment No. 03)] THAT BRINGS US THEN TO ORDINANCES TO BE ADOPTED. THE FIRST IS ORDINANCE AMENDING OUR [2. Motion to give Ordinance Amending Section 1 of the Budget Ordinance 2026-11 for Fiscal Year 2027 (Amendment No. 3) immediate effect. ] BUDGET. AND CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT. SO MOVED. AND COMMISSIONER IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE THIS FOR US. THANK YOU MAYOR. THERE'S A NUMBER OF ITEMS AS AS IS PRETTY TYPICAL. I'LL START OFF WITH THE NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THIS IS FOR THE CHIP LEAD HAZARD CONTROL GRANT. NEXT IS FOR THE MICHIGAN INDIGENT DEFENSE FUND. THIRD IS FOR THE 61ST DISTRICT COURT. THIS IS FOR THE DRUG AND SOBRIETY COURT GRANT. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS FOR THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THIS IS FOR 1500. SCRIBNER. THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS RELATED TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING FACILITIES. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS THE SUPREME COURT EXPANSION PROGRAM. NUMBER SEVEN IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS RELATED TO THE AUTO THEFT PREVENTION AUTHORITY GRANT. RECEIVING THAT ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS FOR PARKS AND REC, WHICH IS FOR THE MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND. GRANT APPROPRIATION FOR THE RIVER EDGES TRAIL. AND ITEM NUMBER NINE IS FOR THE 61ST DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES GRANT AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS UNDER THIS ORDINANCE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION COLLEAGUES ANY COMMENTS. OTHERWISE THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE. SO, MR. CLARK COMMISSIONER. YES. COMMISSIONER. KILGORE. YES, COMMISSIONER. YES. COMMISSIONER. PERDUE. YES, COMMISSIONER. NIGHT. YES. MAYOR. LEGRAND. YES. AND CAN I HAVE A MOTION CARRIES? CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE EFFECT? SO [00:15:04] SUPPORT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THAT BRINGS US TO A [1. City Commission will convene a public hearing to sit as Board of Review to hear appeals on Special Assessment Nuisance Roll 8808.] NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE FIRST ONE IS ON THE BOARD OF REVIEW. SPECIAL ASSESSMENT NUISANCE RULE 8808. AND I SEE SOMEONE FROM OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE COMING UP. AS OPPOSED. HELLO. ON JULY 21ST OF THIS YEAR, THE CITY COMMISSION ISSUED AN ORDER FOR THE ASSESSOR TO CREATE THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT RULE NUMBER 8808 OF UNPAID CHARGES FOR SERVICES OR CODE VIOLATIONS FROM JANUARY 2026 THROUGH JUNE OF 2026. THESE CHARGES STEM FROM MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES SUCH AS HOUSING VIOLATIONS, YARD VIOLATIONS, RENTAL CERTIFICATIONS, AND BLIGHT MONITORING. PROPERTY OWNERS AFFECTED BY THESE CHARGES WERE SENT NOTICES ON AUGUST 14TH THAT INCLUDED THE AMOUNT OF CHARGES, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON THE APPEAL PROCESS. THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT RULE HAS BEEN OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC INSPECTION FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS, STARTING ON AUGUST 28TH THROUGH TODAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND. IN ADDITION, THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE HAS POSTED THE ENTIRE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLL TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE. TO DATE, WE HAVE RECEIVED TWO APPEALS. TONIGHT, THE CITY COMMISSION CONVENES AS THE BOARD OF REVIEW TO HEAR APPEALS OF THESE ASSESSMENTS, AND TONIGHT IS THE FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE NOTIFIED TO FILE AN APPEAL OF THE ASSESSMENT. I'LL BE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE HALL. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER ANY ADDITIONAL APPEALS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO COME UP AND AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THAT APPEAL PROCESS? SEEING NONE, THE HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. THAT MOVES US ON TO A NUMBER OF TIED PROJECTS. RIGHT. SO I BELIEVE MR. TUCKER IS GOING TO COME UP OUR FIRST OUR NEXT PUBLIC [2. Public hearing to consider past performance detailed in the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report and future needs of housing and community development programs] HEARING IS TO CONSIDER PAST PERFORMANCE DETAILED IN THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR. FUTURE NEEDS AND HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. SO, MR. TUCKER, WELCOME. GOOD EVENING, CITY COMMISSION. TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS A IS AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT. THIS IS ONE OF THE PUBLIC STRATEGIC. ONE OF THE PUBLIC STRATEGIC REPORTS THAT OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AT THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT REQUIRE OF US. IT COVERS. IT COVERS A PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE BETWEEN JULY 1ST OF 2025 AND JUNE 30TH OF 2026. SO IT IS THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S WORK, AND IT'S A LOOK BACK AT OUR PERFORMANCE AND OUTCOMES OVER OVER OUR, EXCUSE ME, SUPPORTED BY OUR FEDERAL FUNDS. SO AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS ONE OF THE PUBLIC REPORTS REQUIRED BY HUD. THERE ARE TWO OTHERS. THE FIRST IS THE CONSOLIDATED HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THIS IS BASICALLY OUR FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. THAT FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN REQUIRES US TO SET GOALS AND OBJECTIVES RELATED TO OUR FEDERAL FUNDING. THE. THE SECOND REPORT THAT OUR OUR HUD PARTNERS REQUIRE IS AN ANNUAL ACTION PLAN WHICH LOOKS ONE YEAR FORWARD. WHAT DO WE PLAN TO PRIORITIZE IN THAT UPCOMING YEAR? AND THEY ALSO REQUIRE US TO PUBLISH A PLAN AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE CAPER, TO LOOK ONE YEAR BACK. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY. THE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS THAT THAT THAT WE FUNDED OVER THE LAST YEAR INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, HOME ESG, WHICH STANDS FOR EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT, JAG JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT. WE ALSO INCLUDE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND. I WILL I WILL SAY THAT OUR FEDERAL OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS DO NOT REQUIRE US TO REPORT ON THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS OR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND, BUT WE DO INCLUDE THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THIS SUMMARY SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A A SUMMARY OF ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES AND THEIR PERFORMANCE ACROSS ALL OF OUR FUNDING SOURCES. THE NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT PLAN HAS EIGHT OUTCOMES THAT IT COVERS. I WILL I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL EIGHT OF THESE, BUT I BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE AND PULL OUT HIGHLIGHTS FROM EACH ONE. SO JUST KNOW THAT THERE ARE EIGHT OUTCOME AREAS THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUPPORT UNDER, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THIS, THIS PIE CHART JUST DETAILS THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS BY EACH OUTCOME AREA. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LARGEST IS DEDICATED TO HOUSING. IN FACT, THE FIRST FOUR OUTCOME AREAS ARE RELATED TO HOUSING IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. I WILL NOTE THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO NOTE ABOUT THIS SLIDE BEFORE WE MOVE ON. THE FIRST IS THAT I SAID THERE ARE EIGHT [00:20:02] OUTCOME AREAS. THE EIGHTH OUTCOME AREA DEALS WITH DEALS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE NOT GRANTED OR SUPPORTED THAT IN SEVERAL YEARS. AND SO BECAUSE THERE ARE NO FUNDS TO SUPPORT THAT PARTICULAR OUTCOME, YOU DON'T SEE ANY REPORTING ON IT. SO THAT'S WHY THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN OUTCOMES HERE. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO NOTE BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER EACH OF THESE OUTCOME AREAS, IS THAT THE, THE, THE PRIMARY, THE PRIMARY AUDIENCE FOR OUR SERVICES ARE RESIDENTS EARNING 80% AMI AND BELOW IN OUR CITY. AND SO FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, FOR ONE PERSON, THAT'S SOMEONE EARNING $59,000 A YEAR, APPROXIMATELY, OR FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, THAT'S ABOUT $85,000 A YEAR. SO THESE SERVICES PRIMARILY SUPPORT FOLKS WHO ARE MAKING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY OR LESS. SO FIRST, AN OUTCOME ONE, PREVENT AND RESOLVE EPISODES OF HOMELESSNESS. I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE HIGHLIGHT. I'LL JUST PULL OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS UNDER EACH OUTCOME AREA TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF OF WHAT SERVICES WERE PROVIDED, BUT UNDER OUTCOME ONE, WHICH DEALS WITH PREVENTING AND RESOLVING EPISODES OF HOMELESSNESS, 222 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND OR SERVICES THAT PREVENTED, PREVENTED OR RESOLVED HOMELESSNESS UNDER OUTCOME TWO. IMPROVING ACCESS TO AND STABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 31,600 PEOPLE RECEIVED FAIR HOUSING, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. 55 PEOPLE RECEIVED FREE LEGAL, COUNSELING AND OR REPRESENTATION UNDER OUTCOME THREE. INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE SAW 135 UNITS COMPLETED AND 68 UNITS UNDERWAY OR IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PROGRESS TO GO INTO THAT, THAT HOUSING PRODUCTION JUST A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF BRICK AND MORTAR PROJECTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE FIRST I'LL POINT TO IS SEYMOUR CONDOMINIUMS, WHICH IS A PROJECT OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER, ICF HOMES. THIS IS AN ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE SEYMOUR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, AND IT INCLUDES 27 CONDOS, 14 SOLD TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING 80% AMI, AND 13 OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS AT OR BELOW 120% AMI. SO THAT'S THAT PRIMARILY 80% AMI THAT I TALKED ABOUT. THE OTHER BRICK AND MORTAR, THE OTHER BRICK AND MORTAR PROJECT THAT WILL THAT I'LL POINT TO IS THE MOTOWN SQUARE AFFORDABLE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY. THIS IS BY OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER AT LINK UP. IT'S NEW CONSTRUCTION AND IT INCLUDES 54 AFFORDABLE ONE BEDROOM UNITS FOR RENT TO SENIORS AT INCOMES AT OR BELOW 60% AMI. I'LL COME FORWARD DEALS WITH IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF EXISTING HOUSING. 3400 CODE COMPLIANCE CASES WERE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE. 55 RESIDENTIAL BLIGHT MONITORING CASES WERE CLOSED AND 531 HOUSING UNITS RECEIVED REPAIR OR MODIFICATION. THIS INCLUDES THE CITY'S HOUSING REHAB PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO ARE WHO ARE DOING HOUSING REHAB IN OUR CITY. AND THIS THIS GRAPHIC THAT YOU SEE IS A DISTRIBUTION OF WHERE THOSE PROJECTS ARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. TO OUTCOME FIVE IS FOCUSED ON FOSTERING ENGAGED AND CONNECTED, RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS PRIMARILY SUPPORTS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, WHERE 1934 PEOPLE WERE EDUCATED ON NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP OR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. OUTCOME SIX IS ABOUT IMPROVING COMMUNITY SAFETY. A FAIR NUMBER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM THIS OUTCOME AREA AS WELL. HERE WE SAW 2400 PEOPLE INFORMED ABOUT OR EDUCATED ON A VARIETY OF PUBLIC SAFETY TOPICS. 772 HOMES OR PUBLIC SPACES RECEIVED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. OUTCOME SEVEN IS ABOUT IMPROVING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. 540 ADULTS AND YOUTH RECEIVE JOB TRAINING OR JOB READINESS TRAINING OR SUPPORT. AND FINALLY, OUTCOME EIGHT ENHANCING NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. JUST TO REPEAT, NO INVESTMENTS WERE PLANNED FOR FOR THIS PARTICULAR OUTCOME AREA. FINALLY, THE PUBLIC THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION STARTED ON ON AUGUST 11TH, WHEN THE CITY COMMISSION SET THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 8TH AND WAS PUBLISHED WAS PUBLISHED FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW. CITY COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING IS TODAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, AND PUBLIC COMMENT CLOSES TOMORROW ON THE 23RD. AND FINALLY, WE ARE DUE TO SEND OUR PAPER TO HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ON SEPTEMBER 25TH. THANK YOU. THANKS VERY, VERY COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW THERE. AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE ALL OF THAT WORK GOING ON. I WILL ADD THAT ALTHOUGH THIS IS FOCUSED ON A REQUIREMENT FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE EFFICIENCY OF HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT OBVIOUSLY IS A IS A CREDIT TO OUR CITY STAFF WHO ARE REALLY ZEROING IN. AND IT WAS IMPRESSIVE TO SEE ALL THOSE DETAILED AND TO SEE ALL THE NUMBERS BEHIND ALL THE OUTCOMES. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. JONES. HOW Y'ALL DOING? I'M DEE JONES, PASSIONATE ENTREPRENEUR [00:25:07] AND VISIONARY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CONSOLIDATED HOUSING PLAN, BOTH THE FUTURE HOUSING PROGRAM. SO I DID GIVE THAT PRESENTATION PRESENTATION AT THE EAGLES CONFERENCE FOR MICHIGAN SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE, AND I SPOKE TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND GAVE THEM THE PRESENTATION ON THE BENEFITS OF 3D PRINTING CONSTRUCTION, AS I'VE ADVOCATED HEAVILY FOR YOU GUYS TO ADOPT 3D PRINTED CONSTRUCTION AND 3D PRINTING HOUSES, AND THEY'RE AT THAT CONFERENCE, I LEARNED THAT EAGLE ACTUALLY CREATED THE SOLAR PROGRAM, THE SOLAR FOR ALL PROGRAM, FROM A CONVERSATION THAT SOMEBODY JUST SPARKED UP THERE AT ONE OF THE CONFERENCES THERE BEFORE, THE YEAR BEFORE. AND SO I SPOKE TO THE LADY AND I SAID, HOW CAN WE STANDARDIZE 3D PRINTED CONSTRUCTION? HOW COULD THIS ACTUALLY BE A STANDARD WHERE WE ACTUALLY 3D PRINT HOUSES AND WE ADD GREEN ENERGY EFFICIENCIES LIKE SOLAR ENERGY OR GEOTHERMAL, AND ALL OF THESE GREEN ENERGY APPLIANCES THAT ACTUALLY CAN GO TO A HOUSE AND MAKE IT ACTUALLY SUSTAINABLE, BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ALSO LOWER THE COST OF ENERGY AND JUST THE COST BURDEN OF THESE HOUSES. SO I LIKE FOR THE CITY TO TRY TO PIONEER AN INITIATIVE LIKE THAT. AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE FUTURE PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO ACTUALLY GET INTO 3D PRINTING, WHICH I'M STILL WORKING ON, BUT I AM GOING TO GET A 3D PRINTER HERE. THIS IS SOMETHING I'M GOING TO BE SURE THAT I DO. I AM GOING TO 3D PRINT HOUSES AND APARTMENTS, AND I'M GOING TO BE SURE THAT OUR CITY IS CONTINUOUSLY PUT ON. AND I LIKE THE OTHER NEWS OUTLETS THAT DO STORIES ON THIS TOO, NOT JUST FOX 17, BECAUSE THEY DID DO A STORY ON THIS OF ME ADVOCATING FOR THIS. BUT I LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE INNOVATION OF ACTUALLY HAVING THIS AS A STANDARD, CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING VERY, VERY FAST. I WAS JUST AT THE GROUNDBREAKING TODAY FOR THE ALPINE SENIOR APARTMENTS, AND I'VE SEEN HOW THE CITY WAS ABLE TO POUR SOME FUNDING AND HOW ALL OF THESE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION FIRMS ACTUALLY CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE 52 AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS. SO I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THE CITY CAN DO, BUT I LIKE IN THE FUTURE, AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION AND THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION, AND ACTUALLY HAVING OUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY LEARN 3D PRINTING CONSTRUCTION, AS I KNOW, 3D PRINTING, CONSTRUCTION ORGANIZATION THAT HAVE 40 HOUR COHORTS WHERE STUDENTS ACTUALLY EARN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CREDITS. BUT I LIKE FOR OUR FUTURE OF YOUTH AND OUR FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION INNOVATORS TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS 3D PRINTED CONSTRUCTION. SO I'M GOING TO ADVOCATE, IF I'M STILL AROUND HERE IN 2031, I'M PRETTY SURE I'LL BE AROUND HERE ADVOCATING FOR SOMEWHERE ACROSS THE GLOBE DOING SOMETHING WITH 3D PRINTED CONSTRUCTION. BUT I LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT THIS AS A STANDARD, ACTUALLY STANDARDIZING THIS, BUT BE BEYOND 2031. ONCE YOU GUYS ACTUALLY DEVELOP ANOTHER CONSOLIDATED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN, TO BE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE 3D PRINTED CONSTRUCTION, BUT WE ADD SOLAR ENERGY AND ALL OF THE GREEN ENERGY EFFICIENCIES THAT CAN MAKE A HOME A HOME TRULY AFFORDABLE, BUT ALSO ADD THOSE GREEN ENERGY APPLIANCES WHERE SOMEBODY CAN LIVE THERE AND HAVE A SUSTAINABLE HOME, BUT THEY ALSO CAN HAVE LOW COST WHERE THEY CAN USE THAT ADDITIONAL CASH TO DO THINGS THEY TRULY LOVE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. MR. CITY COMMISSIONER OR MR. CITY MANAGER AND CITY COMMISSIONERS. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY HI TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK WHO NEVER GET ENOUGH LOVE UP HERE. I WANT TO THANK MR. TUCKER FOR HIS PRESENTATION AND THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE ON THE CAPER AND ON ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. MISS BULLOCK DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR HER LEADERSHIP OVER THE YEARS HERE, FOR OUR LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS TONIGHT, MY NAME IS JIM DAVIS. I'M WITH FAMILY PROMISE OF WEST MICHIGAN. I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER PREVENTING AND ENDING FAMILY HOMELESSNESS A STRONGER, EXPLICITLY FUNDED PRIORITY IN THE FUTURE. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPENDING OF GRAND RAPIDS. WHILE WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU ARE DOING TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S HOUSING CRISIS, AND WE SEE IT AS A CRISIS, I'M ALSO ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER THE FAMILIES WHOSE HOMELESSNESS IS SO OFTEN HIDDEN, PARENTS WHO ARE WORKING CHILDREN'S ATTENDING SCHOOL, FAMILIES WHOSE STABILITY UNRAVELS AFTER AN ILLNESS, REDUCED HOURS, OR AT LEAST THAT IS NOT RENEWED. A JOB DOES NOT GUARANTEE A PARENT CAN AFFORD RENT, GROCERIES, TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTH CARE. AND IN 2026, TWO JOBS DOESN'T EITHER. HUD'S MOST RECENT DATA, AVAILABLE TO US, LAST PUBLISHED IN 2025, SHOWED THAT FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WERE THE FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC OF HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COUNTRY. IN ONE YEAR, IT INCREASED BY MORE THAN 39%, AND IN 2026, FAMILY PROMISE OF WEST MICHIGAN'S CALLS ARE INCREASING. CALLS FOR MOMS, DADS, GRANDPARENTS, DUAL INCOME FAMILIES, COLLEGE GRADUATES. THE WORKING CLASS HOUSEHOLD IS A COUPLE OF TANKS OF GAS AND A MISSED PAYCHECK AWAY FROM AN EVICTION. CHURCHES, DONORS AND BUSINESSES ARE ESSENTIAL PARTNERS TO US AT FAMILY PROMISE, BUT WE CANNOT BUDGET ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT ANOTHER CONGREGATION OR ANOTHER FOUNDATION CAN COVER THE GAP. AND THERE IS A GAP, AND IT'S GETTING WIDER BY THE MONTH. CHARITY WILL NOT CARRY PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY ALONE. CHURCHES [00:30:02] ARE HURTING AND PHILANTHROPY IS WONDERING WHOSE IDEA WAS TO STICK THEM WITH THE BILL FOR BASIC NEEDS. YOU ARE SEEING THE ISSUES MOUNT AND FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT KENT COUNTY, AND WE'RE SEEING IT IN OUR SHELTERS FOR ALL TAXPAYERS LISTENING. LEAVING FAMILIES WITHOUT SHELTER CARRIES COSTS AND WE SHOULD EXAMINE THE COSTS OF EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, PUBLIC SAFETY CALLS THAT STABLE HOUSING COULD HELP PREVENT CHILDREN CARRY COSTS THAT NEVER APPEAR IN THE DOLLARS AND CENTS OF OUR CITY BUDGET IN THIS WAY, AND FEDERAL HOMELESSNESS FUNDING IS BEING RESHAPED AND FOUGHT OVER IN COURT. FAMILIES NEED LOCAL LEADERSHIP THEY CAN COUNT ON THROUGHOUT THAT UNCERTAINTY. AND AS YOU SET SPENDING PRIORITIES, PLEASE DIRECT STAFF TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC FUNDING COMMITMENTS FOR HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, EMERGENCY FAMILY SHELTER, SHELTER, DIVERSION AND SERVICES THAT HELP FAMILIES SECURE AND KEEP PERMANENT HOUSING. GRAND RAPIDS HAS PLENTY TO CELEBRATE. OUR MAGAZINE COVERS AND TOP TEN LISTS SHOULD COME WITH A COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO LIVE HERE. A CHILD SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEND THE SCHOOL DAY THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING, WITHOUT WONDERING WHICH PARKING LOT THEY'LL BE SLEEPING IN TONIGHT. PLEASE MAKE ROOM FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN YOUR NEXT BUDGET. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS NANCY HAINES. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FAIR HOUSING CENTER OF WEST MICHIGAN. AND I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE JIM DAVIS'S COMMENTS ABOUT HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF HERE AT GRAND RAPIDS. THEY'RE REALLY EXCEPTIONAL, AND I WORK WITH A LOT IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. WE COVER 38 COUNTIES, AND THIS IS AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP. SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE CAPER. THE FAIR HOUSING CENTER IS A NONPROFIT CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1980 TO ENSURE FAIR HOUSING CHOICE AND EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED IN THE THIRD WARD ON 20 HALL STREET SOUTHEAST, AND I'M A PROUD LONG TERM RESIDENT OF THE FIRST WARD. FIRST, WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS FOR ITS LONG STANDING COMMITMENT TO FAIR HOUSING AND FOR RECOGNIZING THAT FAIR HOUSING SERVICES ARE NOT SEPARATE FROM HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, THE CITY HAS SUPPORTED FAIR HOUSING, EDUCATION, TESTING, COMPLAINT, INVESTIGATION, ENFORCEMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THESE SERVICES ARE A CRITICAL PART OF ENSURING THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS AND MAINTAIN HOUSING ONCE IT EXISTS. WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY'S INCREASE IN SUPPORT THIS YEAR TO $90,000. THIS MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT RECOGNIZES BOTH THE GROWING DEMAND FOR FAIR HOUSING SERVICES AND THE MEASURABLE IMPACT OF OUR WORK. IT STRENGTHENS OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO DISCRIMINATION, SUPPORT RESIDENTS AND HELP HOUSING PROVIDERS COMPLY WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS. THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ALSO COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME AS WE ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED FEDERAL FUNDING CHALLENGES, GAPS AND RETRACTIONS. THE THE DRAFT PAPER HIGHLIGHTS THE CITY'S LAST YEAR'S INVESTMENTS AND AS YOU SAW, FAIR HOUSING WAS FEATURED THERE. BUT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS. FOR THE $80,311 LAST YEAR, WE PROVIDED OVER 188 HOURS OF FAIR HOUSING, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, REACHING MORE THAN 31,000 INDIVIDUALS. WE CONDUCTED 52 HOUSING DISCRIMINATION TESTS AND HELPED OPEN ACCESS TO HOUSING UNITS THAT OTHERWISE MAY HAVE REMAINED UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THESE NUMBERS REPRESENT REAL HOUSING OUTCOMES WITH THE CITY'S FUNDS. LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HELPED EIGHT HOUSEHOLDS OBTAIN OR RETAIN HOUSING. WE SECURED NINE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS THAT ALLOWED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO REMAIN HOUSED. WE ASSISTED 16 HOUSING PROVIDERS AND CHANGING PRACTICES TO COMPLY WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS. WE ALSO INVESTIGATED SYSTEMIC BARRIERS AND RESOLVED CASES THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE LIMITED HOUSING CHOICE AND STABILITY IN GRAND RAPIDS. ULTIMATELY, ULTIMATELY, OUR WORK FUNDED BY THE CITY LAST YEAR ALONE REMOVED DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES AND PRACTICES AND OPENED UP 1420 HOUSING UNITS FROM HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. SO AS WE LOOK FORWARD, WE HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO COUNT ON THE CITY TO BE A PARTNER AS WE FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M ANNA DIAZ, VICE PRESIDENT WITH COMMUNITY REBUILDERS. WE'RE A NONPROFIT HOUSING ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON HELPING PEOPLE OBTAIN HOUSING, REMAIN STABLY HOUSED, AND CONNECT TO THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING LONG TERM. ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WE ADMINISTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, IS THE HOME TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR HOME TBRA DURING THE JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026 REPORTING PERIOD. COMMUNITY REBUILDERS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $400,000 IN HOME FUNDING FROM FROM THE CITY. WITH THAT INVESTMENT, WE SERVE 61 HOUSEHOLDS AND 99% OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS EXITED TO PERMANENT HOUSING. OF THOSE EXITS, 89% WERE TO UNSUBSIDIZED PERMANENT [00:35:04] HOUSING AND 10% WERE TO SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, WITH ONLY 1% EXITING TO A TEMPORARY SITUATION. THE PROGRAM SERVED HOUSEHOLDS FACING SIGNIFICANT HOUSING INSTABILITY. 43% OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED HAD CHILDREN, 34% HAD THE VETERAN HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD, AND 12% OF THE PEOPLE SERVED WERE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS. WE ALSO SAW 63% OF ADULTS EXITING THE PROJECT WITH INCOME HOME TEBRA IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOES MORE THAN PROVIDE SHORT TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE. IT GIVES HOUSEHOLDS THE STABILITY AND TIME THEY NEED TO ADDRESS BARRIERS, INCREASE INCOME AND MOVE TOWARDS SUSTAINING HOUSING INDEPENDENTLY. AS THE CITY CONSIDERS BOTH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 HOUSING PROGRAMS AND FUTURE COMMUNITY NEEDS, WE CONTINUE TO SEE A STRONG NEED FOR FLEXIBLE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PAIRED WITH HOUSING FOCUSED SERVICES. THESE OUTCOMES SHOW HOW THE INVESTMENT CAN HELP HOUSEHOLDS MOVE FROM HOMELESSNESS OR HOUSING INSTABILITY INTO PERMANENT HOUSING IN GREATER LONG TERM STABILITY. WE APPRECIATE THE CITIES ACROSS THE CITY'S $400,000 INVESTMENT IN THIS PROGRAM, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE IMPACT IT IS HAVING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. WELL, THAT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE BUNCH OF TESTIMONY. COLLEAGUES. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO HAVE ANY COMMENTS, BUT CERTAINLY ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING GREAT WORK. AND SO I GUESS MY COMMENTS WERE INCOMPLETE. IT'S GREAT THAT THE CITY IS DOES SUCH A GOOD JOB OF DELINEATING WHERE THE WHERE THOSE FUNDS GO. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY IS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY DOING GREAT SACRIFICIAL WORK AT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REALLY ZEROING IN ON NEEDS. SO REALLY GREAT TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THEM. SO THANK YOU. SEEING NO ONE ELSE, I WILL CLOSE. OH, I GUESS I'LL CLOSE THIS. WHAT DO I DO? I REFER IT TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. YES, WE'RE CLOSING THE HEARING. THANK YOU. THAT [3. Public hearing to consider an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District, pursuant to PA 146 of 2000, for North Quarter Development LLC at 2130 Plainfield Ave NE] [4. Public hearing to consider an application for a ten-year Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate, pursuant to PA 146 of 2000, for North Quarter Development, LLC at 2130 Plainfield Ave NE] BRINGS US TO MISS ROMERO. AND ALTHOUGH THIS LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TWO, FOUR, SIX ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, IN REALITY THERE ARE THREE. BECAUSE IN EACH THESE ARE THREE PROJECTS. IN EACH CASE, THE QUESTION IS A HEARING TO CREATE AN OBSOLETE PROPERTY REHABILITATION DISTRICT. AND THEN THE SECOND STEP IS CONSIDER AN APPLICATION FOR THE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FOR THE PROPERTY. SO THE FIRST ONE UP IS 2130 PLAINFIELD. MISS RENAUD YES. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD EVENING. COMMISSIONERS. BEFORE WE GO INTO THE PROJECT DETAILS, I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU'RE SEEING A BATCH OF THREE REQUESTS TONIGHT, BECAUSE WE ANTICIPATE THIS TOOL AS SUNSETTING AT THE END OF THE YEAR. AND SO WE'VE BEEN PROACTIVELY WORKING WITH THESE APPLICANTS TO GET THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS IN ORDER TO SUBMIT TO THE STATE TAX COMMISSION IN A TIMELY MANNER. SO THIS IS ULTIMATELY A TOOL THAT IS MEANT TO REHABILITATE OBSOLETE PROPERTY. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE THREE EXAMPLES BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. SO YES, THIS IS ANDREW STAUB AND I DON'T IS ANDREW HERE TONIGHT. OKAY. THIS IS THE REHABILITATION OF A 3000 SQUARE FOOT TWO STORY BUILDING, NEW CONSTRUCTION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION OF 1600 SQUARE FOOT WHITE BOX COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR ONE BEDROOM HOUSING UNITS PRICED AT 100% AM I TOTAL PROJECT COST 1.19 MILLION. THIS IS THE HIGHEST IN MY TENURE. SHORT TENURE. IT'S ONLY BEEN TWO YEARS, BUT HIGHEST ASPIRATIONAL INCLUSION PLAN GOALS FOR OUR MICRO LOCAL WOMEN OWNED AND OUR MINORITY BUSINESS OWNED ENTERPRISES AT 82%. OVERALL, THIS QUALIFIES AS A BASE TEN YEARS. IT CAN GO UP TO 12 WITH SPECIFIC INVESTMENT CRITERIA, BUT THIS QUALIFIES FOR THE BASE TEN YEARS, AND WE ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN HERE SOON. AND THIS THIS APPLICANT WAS AN EMERGING DEVELOPER GRANT RECIPIENT. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES SEEING NONE. ANYONE FROM LET'S SEE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. AND WE'RE BATCHING CONSIDERATION OF THE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE AND THE CREATION OF THE REHAB DISTRICT. GREAT. I WORK FOR THAT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. AND THAT BRINGS US NEXT [5. Public hearing to consider an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District, pursuant to PA 146 of 2000, for 1024 MLK LLC at 1024 Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE] [6. Public hearing to consider an application for a ten-year Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate, pursuant to PA 146 of 2000, for 1024 MLK LLC at 1024 Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE] TO THE SAME PROCESS FOR A PROJECT AT PROPOSED PROJECT. 1024 MLK. YES, THIS IS LATRICE HAMPTON. IS LATRICE HERE? HI. SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT. I'M GOING TO LET LATRICE TELL YOU WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HER. LATRICE IS ALSO AN EMERGING DEVELOPER APPLICANT AND ALSO A RECIPIENT OF THE THE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY FACADE GRANT. THIS PROJECT WILL REHABILITATE THE EXISTING 5300 SQUARE FOOT STRUCTURE BY [00:40:07] CREATING SPACE FOR A CHILD CARE FACILITY, ALONGSIDE FLEXIBLE AREAS FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMING. YOU SEE THAT THERE IS A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION IN TOTAL PROJECT COSTS. THIS AGAIN QUALIFIES FOR THE TEN YEAR BASE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MORE TIME. LATRICE, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY THE PROJECT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LATRICE HAMPTON AND I PURCHASED 1014 AND 1024 MARTIN LUTHER KING. AND THE REASON WHY IS MY PASSION. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FAMILY AND CHILDREN FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I GREW UP IN A 49507, MATTER OF FACT, KALAMAZOO AND FRANKLIN. SO JUST MY DUTY TO KIND OF GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN. WELL, AND I KNOW WHICH BUILDING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. THIS IS MISS TRACY. YES. RIGHT. MY FIRST HOME WAS IN THE BACK YARD OF THIS BUILDING, AND THIS WAS A SOURCE OF A LOT OF COMMUNITY PROBLEMS BACK IN THE DAY. SO TO SEE A TRANSITION TO CHILD CARE SOUNDS LIKE HEAVEN. SORRY, THAT WAS UNNECESSARILY EDITORIAL, BUT YES. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER? NO QUESTIONS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT YOU AT THE CIA AND THROUGH THIS. AND THANK YOU, MISS ROMERO, FOR YOUR TEAM'S KIND OF THINKING AHEAD TO MAKE SURE WE GET FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE PIPELINE PAST THE FINISH LINE AS, WE DON'T KNOW, KIND OF WHERE THE FUTURE OF THIS INCENTIVE LIES, BUT JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR YOU, EXCITED FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST SO HAPPY TO SUPPORT YOU. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS THAT MOVES US TO OUR THIRD PROJECT. AND THIS IS [7. Public hearing to consider an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District, pursuant to PA 146 of 2000, for 1956 Eastern LLC at 1956 Eastern Ave SE] [8. Public hearing to consider an application for an eleven-year Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate, pursuant to PA 146 of 2000, for 1956 Eastern LLC at 1956 Eastern Ave SE] SAME, SAME PROPERTY TAX PROCESS FOR PROPOSED FOR 1956 EASTERN SOUTHEAST. YES. THIS IS RIGHT AT BURTON AND EASTERN. THIS IS MARY MALONE AS MARY MALONE HERE TONIGHT. OKAY. THIS IS THE REHABILITATION OF AN 8000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING INTO EIGHT ONE BEDROOM HOUSING UNITS PRICED AT 80% AMI A LITTLE OVER A MILLION AND A HALF TOTAL PROJECT COST. AND I WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE THE TERM ON THIS ONE. SO WE QUALIFY AS THE BASE AT TEN YEARS. BUT BECAUSE MARY IS COMMITTING THESE UNITS TO BE AT 80% AMI AND ADDING HOUSING DIVERSITY, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD ANOTHER YEAR TO THE RECOMMENDATION HERE, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AWESOME. AGAIN, I THINK PROBABLY EVERYONE ON THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN WAITING TO SEE MORE HOUSING IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, SO IT'S GREAT. OKAY. SEEING NO ONE ELSE. I WILL ALSO REFER THAT TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS BRUNO. THAT [PUBLIC COMMENTS] BRINGS US TO OUR SECOND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WANTS TO ADDRESS US ON ANY MATTER CAN COME UP. AND PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELVES AND TAKE UP TO THREE MINUTES, I SAID AT A RECENT MEETING. I WILL CERTAINLY TRY MY BEST TO LET YOU FINISH YOUR THOUGHT IF YOU'RE AT THE END OF YOUR TIME, BUT PLEASE DO KEEP AN EYE ON THE CLOCK THAT'S UP HERE SO THAT YOU CAN SELF MONITOR. AND ALSO PLEASE AUDIENCE. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT BOO, CHEER, CLAP SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HEAR PEOPLE. THANK YOU. HOW Y'ALL DOING? I DID TRY TO GET UP HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE THERE WERE TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN, AND I'VE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE 2018, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN TOO MANY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN ACTUALLY PRESENT PROJECTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY PRAISE TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN THAT ARE ACTUALLY GETTING PROJECTS PASSED HERE AT CITY COMMISSION, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE NOT SEEN TOO OFTEN COMING HERE. MY NAME IS DEE JONES. AS I CONTINUE TO HONE IN ON THE 3D PRINTED CONSTRUCTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A STORY. SO LAST YEAR, YOU GUYS KNOW, YOU GUYS GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A ESPORTS CAMP AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GIVING ME THAT OPPORTUNITY. BUT AS YOU GUYS, AS THINGS KIND OF UNFOLDED, I DID A, I HAD A FAMOUS HIP HOP ARTIST NAMED CHIEF KEEF, SUPER FAMOUS HIP HOP ARTIST, AND I GOT HIM TO DO AN EDUCATIONAL SESSION. HIS GAMING TEAM IS CALLED GLO NAVI GAMING. SO MY COUSIN THAT WAS HERE DURING THE SUMMERTIME WHERE I SPOKE AT CITY COMMISSION. HE ACTUALLY ASKED THE CEO AND VICE PRESIDENT AT THE ESPORTS CAMP WHEN I DID HAVE SOME STUDENTS THAT WERE THERE, BUT HE DID ASK, CAN HE GET AN INTERNSHIP? HE ENDED UP GETTING AN INTERNSHIP, AND HE WAS ACTUALLY HELPING CHIEF KEEF, ONE OF THE BIGGEST HIP HOP ARTISTS ON LIKE EARTH FOR REAL. AND SO HE ENDED UP DOING THIS INTERNSHIP AND HELPING HIM WITH THE BACK END. HE INVITED ME TO THE DETROIT SHOW, BUT MY COUSIN GOT INVITED COMPLETELY FREE, AND THEN HE ACTUALLY GOT INVITED THE NEXT DAY TO GO TO CHIEF KEEF HOTEL ROOM, WHERE HE ACTUALLY IS HERE IN THIS [00:45:02] PICTURE. SO SOME FUNDS THAT YOU GUYS GAVE ME TO DEVELOP A E-SPORTS CAMP ACTUALLY BENEFITED A STUDENT FROM GRT THAT GRADUATED FROM GRT, MY COUSIN, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING RIGHT NOW TO DEVELOP AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WITH GRT FOR 24 STUDENTS FROM GRT WILL EXCLUSIVELY BE ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM. SO 12 ON THE GAMING SIDE AND 12 ON THE MUSIC SIDE. SO I TRULY WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT. ALSO, WE'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING THE ESPORTS REGIONAL FINALS. SO LAST YEAR I BROUGHT 39 SCHOOLS, 26 HIGH SCHOOLS, 13 COLLEGES TO THE DEVOS PLACE IN BALLROOM C THIS YEAR, WE'RE EXPANDING IT TO 50 PLUS SCHOOLS. AND THEN WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL GAMING ORGANIZATION BRINGING 2500 GAMERS ACROSS THE GLOBE. AND WE ALREADY HAVE TWO TV INTERVIEWS BOOKED. AND SO I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR THAT BECAUSE I CONTINUED MY VISION AND I REALLY LIKE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY. I REALLY DID HAVE TO ACT IN ITSELF AND SELF-DEFENSE, AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY BECAUSE THE THINGS I'M ALSO DOING, LIKE WORKING WITH THE URBAN LEAGUE, WE GOT 75 STUDENTS OF COLOR THAT ARE ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GO TO GR COMIC CON COMPLETELY FREE, WHERE THEY'LL GET THE ACCESS TO ALL THREE DAYS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET THEIR PARKING PAID FOR AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SO I'M INCREASING DIGITAL EQUITY. I'M DOING A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT I LIKE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY CITY GOVERNMENT AND MY COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AS I DID HAVE TO ACT IN AN ACT OF SELF DEFENSE. BUT I REALLY WANTED YOU GUYS TO SEE THIS. LIKE, MY COUSIN WAS JUST IN HOUSTON WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST HIP HOP ARTISTS OFF OF THE INITIATIVE THAT YOU GUYS FUNDED, AND IT COULD BE SO MANY MORE STUDENTS. SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, CONTINUE TO DO THAT WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMY BROCK. I CARE ABOUT GRAND RAPIDS AND THE PEOPLE IN IT. TONIGHT, I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS TO SUPPORT SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES, TO HELP KEEP THEM SAFE AND TO END THE USE OF FLOCK CAMERAS. BUT I ACTUALLY COME HERE TONIGHT AS A MEMBER OF GRAND RAPIDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO DISCUSS THE HOUSING CRISIS AND THE WAR ON THE POOR. CURRENTLY IN GRAND RAPIDS, YOU NEED TO MAKE BETWEEN 23 AND $27 AN HOUR TO AFFORD MOST ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS. THIS IS OUT OF REACH FOR MANY, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE LOWER INCOME BRACKETS. THOSE WHO SERVE AS GRAND RAPIDS LITERALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, AND THEY'RE BEING SHUT OUT BY GENTRIFICATION AND EXPENSIVE NEW BUILDS. FOR THOSE WHO DO QUALIFY FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING, THE WAIT LISTS ARE LONG. THE AGENCIES ARE OVERLOADED, AND THE UNITS AVAILABLE ARE OFTEN AGING AND FULL. ALTHOUGH SOME NEW BUILDS ARE GILT GEARED TO THE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD. IT'S THE EXCEPTION IN THIS CITY AND NOT THE NORM. IN SPITE OF GREAT NEED, AS THOUSANDS OF UNITS ARE NEEDED SO PEOPLE DOUBLE UP IN LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS OR ARE FACED WITH EVICTION OR BECOME HOMELESS. OTHERS COUCH SURF OR STAY IN VEHICLES AND ARE NOT EVEN COUNTING PROPERLY AS HOMELESS. MEANWHILE, THOSE ON LOWER INCOMES WHO MAINTAIN HOUSING LIVE WITH THIS CONSTANT FEAR AND ANXIETY OF LOSING SHELTER. IT'S DIFFICULT TO MOVE OUT OF A SURVIVAL LEVEL. I WANT TO THANK YOU. CARE FOR THOSE FACING AFFORDABILITY ISSUES OR HOMELESSNESS? I HAD A DISAGREEMENT WITH A FRIEND WHO SAID, YOU JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT THE POOR IN THIS CITY. AND I HESITATED TO SPEAK TONIGHT BECAUSE WHEN A CITY CAN CREATIVELY FUND SUCH LARGE AMOUNTS, I BELIEVE 560 MILLION IN PUBLIC SUBSIDIES WENT TO THE THREE TOWERS PROJECT AND GIVE 60 OR 10 MILLION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT GIVES ME A LOSS FOR WORDS, A BIT OF A LOSS OF HOPE FOR WHO YOU PRIORITIZE. BUT STILL, I AM HERE, AND I ASK THAT YOU WORK WITH INNOVATION TOWARD MORE FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESS INTERVENTION. WE HAVE EMPTY BUILDINGS, MAYBE TURN WAREHOUSES INTO HOUSING LIKE MINNEAPOLIS, WHO CREATED AVIVO VILLAGE WITH 100 TINY LIVING SPACES IN THE WAREHOUSE THAT INCLUDE HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES. OR BE CREATIVE, LIKE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, THAT USES A RAPID VERSION OF THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL, WHICH PROVIDES A SPEEDY PLACEMENT INTO HOUSING WITH APPROPRIATE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. HOMELESSNESS IS DOWN THERE 63%. ANOTHER OPTION MIGHT BE TO APPROVE MORE BUILDS THAT HAVE MIXED INCOME LIVING MODELS AS A REQUIREMENT. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORS AND BE LESS SEGREGATED. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED TO GET CREATIVE, THINK OUT OF THE BOX, AND DO MORE FOR OUR LEAST, AND DO IT NOW AND LOOK AT WHAT OTHER SUCCESSFUL AREAS ARE DOING. WE NEED MORE FUNDS. DO NOT LOOK IN TERMS OF YOUR LIMITATIONS, BUT IN TERMS OF YOUR POWER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JACOB WARNER. I WANT TO FIRST THANK THIS COMMISSION AND THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS AS A WHOLE FOR ITS CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY. SINCE 2024, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CITY ABOUT A NUMBER OF TOPICS RELATED TO OUR BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR BIKE LANES. AS A BIKE COMMUTER, I REGULARLY SEE THINGS LIKE TRASH BINS PLACED IN THE BIKE LANES. WE'VE BUILT, CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT BEING STORED BY THE CREWS AND UNUSABLE LANES, FULL GLASS ROCKS, SCRAP METAL. THESE ARE FRUSTRATING BUT UNSURPRISING SAFETY HAZARDS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED OVER 25 YEARS AGO. [00:50:04] WE ACKNOWLEDGE THESE CHALLENGES NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IN OUR 2002 MASTER PLAN. THE 20 2011 COMPLETE STREETS POLICY 2016 VITAL STREETS PLAN, 2019 BICYCLE ACTION PLAN IN 2024 COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN. THESE ISSUES ARE WELL DOCUMENTED, THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD, HIGHLY PREDICTABLE. YET THE CITY HAS LACKED THE RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP NEEDED TO ADDRESS THESE REALITIES OF OUR GROWING BICYCLE NETWORK. I HAVE MET GREAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP JOHN GORNEY AND CECILIA BOOKER JONES FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND JOHN BARTLETT FROM MOBILE GRT. I'LL SHARE MY SAFETY CONCERNS. BUT MEANINGFUL CHANGE WILL REQUIRE COORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP THAT ONLY THIS COMMISSION CAN PROVIDE. I'VE SPENT OVER TWO YEARS TRYING TO LEARN WHO OWNS WHICH RESPONSIBILITIES, YET I HAVE NO CLEAR ANSWERS. PUBLIC WORKS, MOBILE, GRT ENGINEERING AND THE REST OF OUR CITIES DEPARTMENTS NEED SUPPORT. THEY NEED INTERDIMENSIONAL DEPARTMENT COORDINATION, INTERDEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION, AND THEY NEED LEADERSHIP FROM THIS COMMISSION AS WE MUST ENSURE THAT OUR BIKE LANES REMAIN ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE FOR ALL. GRAND RAPIDS CITIZENS, SOMETHING AS PREDICTABLE AS TRASH DAY CAN'T RENDER OUR INFRASTRUCTURE UNUSABLE. I'M ASKING THIS COMMISSION TO PROVIDE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT FOR THE DEPARTMENTS, SO THAT THEY MAY CREATE CLEAR GUIDANCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND CITY EMPLOYEES, SO THAT THEY MAY DEFINE CLEAR OWNERSHIP OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES AMONGST THEMSELVES. IMPROVE AND EXPAND THE 311 REPORTING AND RESPONSE SYSTEM, AND CREATE AND EMPLOY EFFECTIVE MAINTENANCE AND ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES. REMEMBER THAT WE DON'T BUILD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY RIDING THEIR BIKE. WE BUILD THIS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEOPLE WHO COULD OR WOULD CONSIDER COMMUTING ALTERNATIVELY, BUT DON'T BECAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS AND CONVENIENT OR JUST UNINVITING. WE HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN THE POLICY. WE ARE ALREADY BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE CARE ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN IT. THANK YOU. HELLO. ADAM WILLIAMS, SECOND WARD RESIDENTS. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION, WHICH IS A PROGRAM I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT. AND WHILE VITAL STREETS IS OFTEN PRESENTED AS AN ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS NOT INACCURATE, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE ASSET MANAGEMENT OF STREETS WAS ONLY ONE COMPONENT OF THAT PLAN. AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY AND IS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OR KPIS, I AM AWARE OF THE ■HAZARD THAT IS SIMPLE, CLEAR INDICATOR. FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETHING LIKE ASPHALT QUALITY OR PACER RATING CAN EASILY BECOME THE CONVENIENT. THE INDICATOR. SO WHILE VITAL STREETS PROGRAM WAS DID ESTABLISH A GOAL RELATED TO THE PACER RATING, IT ALSO INCLUDED A STREET PLAN DOCUMENT AND A 270 PAGE, 207 PAGE DESIGN GUIDELINE. THE PLAN EMPHASIZES ALONGSIDE THE PACER RATING. TRAFFIC SAFETY. WHO WOULD. TODAY WE WOULD CALL VULNERABLE ROAD USERS MODE. SHARE AND MOST RELEVANT TO MY COMMENT THIS EVENING IS CONNECTIVITY. THE CITY OVER THE LAST DECADE HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS. YET THESE INVESTMENTS PERFORMED OPPORTUNISTICALLY, ARE SCATTERED AND OFTEN DISCONNECTED. THE OPPORTUNISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NETWORK HAS LIMITED THE REALIZATION OF THE RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT. I URGE THE CITY AND THE COMMISSION IN THESE FINAL YEARS OF THE VITAL STREETS PROGRAM, WHICH ENDS IN 2029, TO ENDEAVOR TO BRING THOSE INVESTMENTS TOGETHER INTO A COHESIVE NETWORK BY EMPHASIZING THE GOAL OF CONNECTIVITY, WHICH IS EMPHASIZED IN THE PLAN AND WHICH THE CITIZENS REQUESTED 11 YEARS AGO. THE CITY WILL DRAFT FOR MORE BUDGETS WITHIN THE VITAL STREETS PROGRAM, AND I HOPE CONNECTIVITY CAN BE A FOREFRONT WITHIN THOSE BUDGETS. AND JUST LAST OF ALL, ON A RELATED, MORE SPECIFIC MATTER, I FREQUENTLY HEAR THE MAYOR AND OTHERS TALK ABOUT QUICK BUILD PROJECTS AND TEMPORARY INFRASTRUCTURE. I FEEL THAT THE OPENING OF THE SOCCER STADIUM IN THE SPRING OF 2027 IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE SUCH AN APPROACH. MOUNT VERNON, SOUTH OF THE STADIUM, WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN 2728, WHILE THE SECTION NORTH OF THIS. OF THE STADIUM, WHICH WOULD CONNECT TO THE EXISTING CYCLIST INFRASTRUCTURE, IS NOT SCHEDULED UNTIL 2829. SURELY WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO SUPPORT THIS CONNECTION TO A MAJOR COMMUNITY ASSET ON A STREET, WHICH WILL BE DESTROYED ONLY A YEAR LATER, AND WHICH IS ONLY THREE BLOCKS LONG AND WILL SEE MANY CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS, WHICH, INCLUDING ME, WHERE I INTEND TO ATTEND MY FIRST SOCCER GAME EVER. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HELLO, I AM LAURA SESSA AND I LIKE ADAM AND VERY HAPPY TO SERVE ON THE MOBILE GR COMMISSION. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MOBILITY SPECIFICALLY FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE CITY CAN BE DOING MUCH MORE TO IMPROVE SAFETY OF, AS ADAM MENTIONED, VULNERABLE [00:55:02] ROAD USERS, WHICH IS BASICALLY ANYONE WHO IS NOT ENCLOSED IN THE LOVELY CLIMATE CONTROLLED STEEL BOX OF A CAR. SO RECENTLY AT MOBILE, AT MOBILE GR COMMISSION, WE HEARD SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS A NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED AT THE BEHEST OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR THE KALAMAZOO CORRIDOR. THE TRAFFIC STUDY RECOMMENDED INSTALLING TWO TRAFFIC LIGHTS ALONG THE CORRIDOR, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CITY BUDGET CAME BACK THAT THEY WOULD YOU ALL APPROVED, WOULD INSTALL ONE TRAFFIC LIGHT. BUT OF COURSE, THEN THIS LED TO SOME TENSION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MIGHT WANT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ONE HERE. THE ENGINEERS MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION. AND SO IT, IT SEEMS THAT THEN THE BUDGETED AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE FOR TRAFFIC CALMING AND TRAFFIC SAFETY IS NOT ENOUGH. SO ONE TRAFFIC LIGHT COSTS ABOUT $800,000, WHICH IS ABOUT 0.1% OF THE YEARLY CITY BUDGET. SEEMS LIKE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND SOME EXTRA CHANGE IN THERE TO JUST FUND TWO TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND. BUT FURTHERMORE, THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF ONE CORRIDOR WITH VERY REAL SAFETY CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CORRIDORS IN THE CITY THAT HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME SAFETY CONCERNS, AND WE WE CANNOT JUST KEEP INVESTING IN THIS WAY WHERE IT'S WE WE PICK ONE PROJECT AND, AND DO THAT PROJECT, AND THEN THAT'S ENOUGH. OR MAYBE WE DO HALF OF THE PROJECT THAT WAS RECOMMENDED. WE, WE HAVE TO START MAKING REAL INVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND IT'S NOT REALLY A NICHE GOAL. YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALK ABOUT VULNERABLE ROAD USERS, PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS. THIS ALSO INCLUDES PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS, DISABILITIES THAT MIGHT BE USING MOBILITY DEVICES. AND TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, REAL PROTECTED BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVES SAFETY OUTCOMES AND TRAFFIC OUTCOMES FOR ALL ROAD USERS. SO EVEN PEOPLE WHO STILL CHOOSE TO DRIVE SEE A BENEFIT FROM THIS. THEY HAVE LESS TRAFFIC, THEY GET INTO FEWER CRASHES. AND ALSO THIS HAS REAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS AS WELL BECAUSE LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WHEN WHEN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS INSTALLED, SEE INCREASED REVENUE AND MORE SPENDING IN THEIR STORES. SO I REALLY THINK THAT THE CITY CAN AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO NOT INVEST IN THIS TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE. THANK YOU. HELLO, ANDREW CALI. THIRD WARD RESIDENT DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH FOR STRONG TOWNS, GRAND RAPIDS. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT DOING THE MATH AND THE STRONG TOWNS, THE RHETORIC AND THE ZEITGEIST THERE. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT DOING THE MATH. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO BIKE LANES SAVE THE CITY A TON OF MONEY AND WALKABILITY IN GENERAL. SO BIKE LANES AND WALKABILITY TO CREATE LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON OUR ROADS, SAVING YOU MONEY ON MAINTENANCE. HUMAN SCALE DEVELOPMENT ALSO HAS CONSISTENTLY PROVEN TO BE MORE FINANCIALLY VIABLE THAN CAR SCALE SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENTS. THIS MAKES THE CITY MORE RESILIENT. IT'S CHEAPER TO MAINTAIN. IT'S CHEAPER TO ACTUALLY EVEN PRODUCE THAN A LOT OF ROADWAY. THIS ALSO MEANS IT'S SAFER FOR THE FOLKS. FOR EVERY ONE PERSON THAT DIES, IT CAUSES AN ECONOMIC COST OF ABOUT. I THINK THE CURRENT FIGURE IS ABOUT $6.5 MILLION PER PERSON. SO LAST YEAR, WHEN I THINK ABOUT SIX PEOPLE DIED AFTER BEING HIT BY A CAR AS PEDESTRIANS IN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS HERE, THAT MEANS THE CITY LOST ALMOST $10 MILLION. THAT'S A BIG FIGURE. NOW YOU START GOING REGIONAL. AND OVER THE MANY, MANY YEARS THIS CITY HAS LOST MILLIONS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, MAYBE INTO THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE GETTING RAN OVER BY CARS BECAUSE OF A FAILURE TO REALLY DESIGN A MORE RESILIENT AND FINANCIALLY STABLE ENVIRONMENT. AND SO FROM THE CITY FINANCE SIDE, IT'S YOUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THE CITY MAINTAINS AND CAN WEATHER ANY ECONOMIC CRISIS AND WALKABILITY AND BIKE LANES CAN HELP WITH THAT. THE OTHER BIG THING IS ON YOUR CITIZEN SIDE. IT ACTUALLY MAKES THE CITIZENS WAY HEALTHIER. FOR EVERY ONE POINT YOU GO UP IN A WALKSCORE, YOU REDUCE THE CHANCES OF DIABETES IN A COMMUNITY BY 50%. THAT'S LITERALLY THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR A COMMUNITY IS TO MAKE IT MORE WALKABLE. AND AS AN ADDED BONUS, IT'S INCREDIBLY CHEAP TO DO. AND THE CITY SIDE, PLANTING TREES AND IMPROVING SIDEWALKS ISN'T VERY EXPENSIVE. WE ALREADY PLANTED A TON OF TREES, AND MOST OF OUR SIDEWALKS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION. REALLY, IT'S CONNECTING SOME OF THOSE LITTLE BIKE LANES, CONNECTING THOSE ODDS AND ENDS AS WE GO THROUGH MAINTAINING THE CURRENT BIKE LANES AND THEN ADDING MORE CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE, PREFERABLY PROTECTED INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS STILL CHEAPER THAN AN AVERAGE LANE OF TRAFFIC TO BUILD. DOES HELP MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE YOUR [01:00:02] CITIZENS LIVES. WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ALSO MORE LIVABLE. THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST WANTED PLACES TO LIVE IN CITIES. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THEM OR AN INCREASE IN COSTS IN THOSE PLACES BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE THERE. AND A LOT OF THE REASON IS BECAUSE IT'S INCREDIBLY AFFORDABLE. TRANSPORTATION IS NORMALLY THE 1 OR 2 MOST EXPENSIVE THINGS THAT PEOPLE PAY FOR. WELL, IF IT'S 1 OR 2 HOUSING BEING THE OTHER ONE, IF WE CAN START HELPING REDUCE SOME OF THOSE TRANSPORTATION COSTS, WE CAN MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE. WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY MORE AFFORDABLE, WE CAN HELP REDUCE THE BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS AND REDUCE THAT AFFORDABILITY CRISIS ON OUR CITIZENS BY MAKING THEIR ENVIRONMENTS MORE WALKABLE. SO YOU SAVE THE CITY MONEY, YOU SAVE YOUR CITIZENS MONEY, AND YOU IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH. IT'S A WIN WIN WIN, AND IT SOLVES MOST OF THE GOALS IN YOUR CITY MASTER PLAN. THANK YOU. HELLO. AMANDA. CALI. THIRD WARD RESIDENT. I HAVEN'T BEEN UP HERE IN A MINUTE. PART OF STRONG TOWN IS GRAND RAPIDS. JUST A COUPLE PERSONAL ANECDOTES FROM THE LAST MONTH OR SO BIKING AROUND THE CITY. USUALLY WHEN I COME DOWNTOWN, I GET TOLD, GET OUT OF THE ROAD, GET ON THE SIDEWALK. NOT GREAT. AS SOMEONE WEARS A HELMET, BIKES LIKE THIS ON MY BIKE, DOING ABOUT 14 MILES AN HOUR IN THE ROAD, 60% OF THE SPEED LIMIT DOWNTOWN IN THE DDA WHERE BIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BIKE ON THE SIDEWALK. WE NEED TO INCREASE THE EDUCATION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I THINK GOING FORWARD INTO THE NEXT SEASON FOR AMPHITHEATER SOCCER STADIUM, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A MAIN FOCUS POINT FOR THE CITY, BECAUSE OTHERWISE THAT FRICTION IS JUST GOING TO KEEP BUILDING UP. AND AS A BICYCLIST, YOU'RE NOT PROTECTED BY MUCH. IT'S KIND OF THREATENING. OBVIOUSLY, SOMEONE IS WHERE CYCLISTS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF BIKING IN THE ROAD. THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE A LOT OF STRESS FOR THEM. JUST TRYING TO USE THE CITY. THAT WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE PUT UP. SO OFTENTIMES THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE I HAVE FROM THIS, I WAS BIKING DOWN IN FRONT OF GRAND VALLEY AND SOMEONE HONKED THEIR HORNS AND SAID, GET OUT OF THE ROAD. THAT'S ILLEGAL. I SAID, CALL THE COPS. AND THEN A BIKE LANE TURNED OVER ONTO FULTON. THERE. BIKE LANE RIGHT THERE, PULLED RIGHT INTO IT, SAT NEXT TO THEM AT THE STOPLIGHT AND SAID, AM I SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE ROAD? SO JUST A LITTLE PERSONAL ANECDOTE THERE AND WHAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON FOR THE NEXT SUMMER GOING INTO EVENT SEASON HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS. THANK YOU. HI, I'M JULIE HOUK, I'M WITH GRAND RAPIDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE WORLD I'D LIKE TO CHANGE, INCLUDING KEEPING BOTH ICE AND FLOCK OFF OF OUR STREETS. BUT TODAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING. THIS IS AN INEQUITY THAT NEARLY EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS WITNESSED. WE ALL SEE PEOPLE LIVING UNDER BRIDGES. HUD FUNDING IS NOT INCREASING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND. WHEN IT DOES GO UP, IT'S ONLY ENOUGH TO ALLOW EXISTING VOUCHER HOLDERS TO COVER THE RISING RENTS. NO NEW PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET HELPED. IT'S PRETTY REASONABLE FOR PEOPLE USING HUD VOUCHERS TO LIVE IN FEAR OF THEIR LANDLORD RAISING THE RENT. BEYOND WHAT THE VOUCHER COVERS. MONEY IS ABSOLUTELY A KEY FACTOR. HOUSING IS AN EXPENSIVE ISSUE. YOU FOLKS HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET. I GET THAT YOU CAN'T BUILD ALL THE HOUSING WE NEED. PERSONALLY, I'D LOVE TO SEE A DEDICATED STREAM TO PUT MONEY INTO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND. PERHAPS A MILLAGE OR BETTER YET, A WEALTH TAX FEEDING RIGHT INTO THAT FUND. THEN THE CITY COULD BUILD A TINY HOME VILLAGE, AS MY FRIEND AMY MENTIONED, FOR FOLKS STRUGGLING SO MUCH THAT THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A PRIVATE PLACE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, A PLACE TO BRING THEIR SPOUSE OR THEIR DOG. IN SOME CITIES WHERE TINY HOME VILLAGES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED, THEY EVEN BUILD THEM INSIDE OF HEATED WAREHOUSES. I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE A PUBLIC PUBLIC HOUSING BEING BUILT ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE THAT WE COULD BE, LIKE THE CITY OF VIENNA, WHERE HALF OF THE RESIDENTS LIVE IN PUBLICLY OWNED HOUSING AND THEY LOVE IT. BUT I GET THAT THESE ARE DIFFICULT OR EXPENSIVE PROJECTS. I KNOW THESE THINGS WOULD BE A LOT TO EXPECT OF YOU. MR. SELMA TUCKER HIGHLIGHTED TODAY SOME GOOD HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACCOMPLISHED THIS LAST YEAR, WHICH WE SHOULD INVEST A LOT MORE INTO. BUT THERE ARE EVEN MORE THINGS WE CAN DO, LIKE PORTABLE TENANT APPLICATIONS. A PORTABLE TENANT APPLICATION ALLOWS YOU TO PAY ONCE FOR YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK WHEN YOU'RE APPLYING TO RENT, AND THEN YOU SHARE IT WITH ALL LANDLORDS WHERE YOU'RE APPLYING. YOU COULD YOU COULD MAKE A RULE THAT SAYS ALL THE LANDLORDS HAVE TO ACCEPT THESE, AND IT WOULDN'T COST THE CITY LIKE ANYTHING TO DO THAT, OR REGULATIONS TO BAN ALGORITHMIC PRICE SETTING FOR RENTS. THE COST TO DO THAT COULD BE PRETTY SMALL. JUST HIRING A CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY TO OVERSEE IT, TO ENFORCE IT. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW ABOUT REGULATIONS THAT WOULD PROTECT OUR HOUSING FROM BEING TREATED AS A LUXURY ASSET TO PARK WEALTH IN? YOU CAN PUT LIMITS ON BULK PROPERTY OWNERSHIP THAT PREVENT HOUSES BEING BOUGHT UP, NEVER EVEN VISITED, HELD VACANT, AND EVENTUALLY SOLD FOR PROFIT [01:05:02] BY HUGE CORPORATIONS. AND HEY, A VACANCY TAX COULD BE A STREAM OF MONEY TO PUT INTO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND. THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO. YOU NEED TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE POSSIBLE, BECAUSE EVEN THAT WON'T BE ENOUGH TO GET US OUT OF THIS HOUSING CRISIS. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M MARTHA COOPER FROM GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A NEIGHBOR OF OURS THAT WAS LOST TODAY WHEN ICE CHASED HIM. HIS NAME IS MARIO DAVID CORONADO. JUAREZ. HE WAS A WORKER. HE WAS A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY. HE WAS A FATHER. AND IT WAS SUCH A LOSS. NOT ONLY DO I THINK THAT YOU OUGHT TO HAVE THE SANCTUARY CITIES, IF YOU ARE DOING IT ANYWAY, YOU SHOULD PUT IT, BE WILLING TO PUT IT ON PAPER. AND I THINK WE SHOULD ABOLISH ICE. AND WITH THAT, I'LL JUST CONTINUE WITHOUT. WHAT I USUALLY SPEAK ON IS HOUSING. I'M GLAD YOU'RE BACK, DAVID, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS A WORD. THE GRAND RAPIDS HOUSING CRISIS IS GETTING MUCH WORSE AND THE PAIN IS SPREAD VERY, VERY WELL FROM THE HOMELESS. IT'S GETTING COLD AND IT'S WET, AND THE PAIN IS. AND TO THE WORKERS THAT ARE SPENDING OVER HALF OF WHAT THEY EARN ON THEIR HOUSING, TO THE HANDICAPPED AND THE ELDERLY WHO CAN'T AFFORD ANY PLACE, AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOUSING FOR THEM TO WORKING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A HOME. IT TAKES 30 YEARS TO PAY OFF A HOME SO THEY CAN RETIRE WITHOUT A HOUSE PAYMENT. AND WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS GOING TO AFFECT THEM LATER. I RECENTLY ATTENDED A MEETING OF THE GR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD AND FOUND OUT THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM. WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL 6990 RENTAL UNITS BEFORE 2030 TO MEET DEMAND, AND WE NEED 6333 ADDITIONAL OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS BY 2030 TO MEET DEMAND. THAT'S FOUR YEARS. FOUR YEARS IS WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CHART SHOWING INCOME AND THE COST OF THE HOMES WAS WAY OFF FROM WHERE THE COST OF HOMES ACTUALLY IS RIGHT NOW. RENTAL HOUSING IS SIMPLY NOT BEING DEVELOPED FOR THOSE UNDER 40% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME, EVEN THOUGH 17% OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE UNDER THE POVERTY LINE, THE HOUSING BEING DEVELOPED AT 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS BEING DONE WITH BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT CREDITS. MEANWHILE, THE THREE TOWERS IS A FOR PROFIT HIGH END HOUSING AND CONDOS AND HOTEL, AND IT'S GIVEN 560 MILLION IN PUBLIC SUBSIDIES. PUBLIC SUBSIDIES HAVE ALSO BEEN USED TO DEVELOP THE AMPHITHEATER AND THE SOCCER STADIUM. THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS IS SLOW TO PRODUCE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OR SOCIAL HOUSING, BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF SOCIALISM FOR THE RICH. I HEAR RICH DEVOS WANTS TO CLEAN UP THE HOMELESS SLEEPING ON OUR STREETS. GRAND RAPIDS SPENDS MORE MONEY MOVING THE HOMELESS AROUND THAN IT WOULD TO HOUSE THEM. PERHAPS MR. DEVOS WILL MAKE A SIZABLE CONTRIBUTION TO ORGANIZATIONS, DEVELOP HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS, AND GIVEN THE HIGH ESTIMATES OF WHAT IS NEEDED TO MEET DEMAND, WHICH IS ONLY FOUR YEARS AWAY, THE CITY SHOULD BRAINSTORM WAYS TO ACCELERATE DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. YOU PASSED YOUR THREE MINUTES. IF YOU COULD FINISH YOUR THOUGHT, THAT'D BE GREAT. HI. EXCUSE ME. STANDING THERE. HI. MY NAME IS DAN HIBMA. I OWN UNIT 12 WITH MY WIFE AT PLAZA TOWERS, AND I'D LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT WITH THE CONCERT SEASON ABOUT OVER, THE SOUND WILL RETURN TO NORMAL. NOW THERE IS TIME TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEEDS OF THE GRAND RAPIDS CONVENTION AND AREA ARENA AUTHORITY AND THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE AMPHITHEATER. WE DO NOT WANT THE AMPHITHEATER SHUT DOWN. WE WANT THE AMPHITHEATER TO PERFORM WELL LIKE WE WANT THE CITY TO THRIVE AS WE ARE INVESTED IN THE CITY. I'M SURE THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS HERE, NOR ANYONE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN 2023, THOUGHT THAT THE CONCERT SOUND WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY FOR MILES, MUCH LESS 2000FT TO THE PLAZA TOWERS. AFTER ALL, WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THE SPECIAL LAND USE IN JUNE OF 2023, THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS REQUIRED TO FIND THAT THE AMPHITHEATER WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL OR DISTURBING TO EXISTING OR FUTURE USES, OR TO THE PUBLIC WELFARE BY REASON OF EXCESSIVE TRAFFIC, NOISE, SMOKE, ETC. TO REPEAT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE DETRIMENTAL OR [01:10:06] DISTURBING BY REASON OF EXCESSIVE NOISE. AND WHY WOULD THEY THINK THAT BACK THEN? THE MINUTES GO ON TO EXPLAIN, BECAUSE PURSUANT TO THE SUBMITTED NOISE STUDY, THE EXISTING FREEWAY WILL ACT AS A NOISE BUFFER FOR AREAS NORTH OF THE PROJECT, AND THE BULK OF THE NOISE GENERATED BY THE VENUE WILL BE DIRECTED UPWARDS BY THE LAWN SEATING, BERM AND DISSIPATE OVER THE RIVER. NEITHER OF THESE EXPLANATIONS ARE TRUE, BUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION BELIEVED THEM. THEY CAME FROM A CREDIBLE SOURCE, BUT THEY WERE WRONG. WHAT TO DO? THE MOTION OF THE APPROVAL BACK IN 2023 INCLUDED THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL OPERATE. ACCORDING TO THE TESTIMONY, AS RECORDED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES. ON PAGE TEN OF THOSE MINUTES. MR. ROSENBAUM, A PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER, ASKED IF THE MODELING INCLUDED A WALL ON TOP OF THE BERM OR LANDSCAPING. MR. CULHANE, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF GA2, REPLIED THAT THE MODELING CURRENTLY DOESN'T INCLUDE THAT, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THEY COULD ADD TO MITIGATE AND MODIFY THE SOUND. SO I SAY BUILD A SOUND WALL. EARLIER TODAY, I GAVE THE CLERK COPIES OF A POLL RECENTLY COMPLETED. 74% SUPPORTED A SOUND WALL. I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHER STEPS THAT COULD BE TAKEN. OUR SOUND ENGINEERS AT CASS ENGINEERING ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT. THEY WORKED WITH MEYER GARDENS, PINE KNOB AND OTHERS, AND THEY CURRENTLY. AND THEY ACCURATELY PREDICTED THE CURRENT HIGH LEVELS OF SOUND BACK IN 2023. HAL FRUIT, PETE STEENSMA, EIGHT OTHERS AND MYSELF THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE LAWSUIT WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS TO MAKE THE AMPHITHEATER NOT ONLY A WONDERFUL VENUE FOR THE CONCERT GOERS, BUT ONE THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING OR AFTERNOON OR EVENING? I GUESS IT IS NOW. MY NAME IS TODD ROSEBOOM, AND I WANT TO DIGRESS JUST A LITTLE BIT FROM MY MINUTES, WHICH ARE REALLY TO TALK ABOUT THE AMPHITHEATER, BUT TO INDICATE THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORLD FOR ABOUT 46 YEARS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL, AND ABOUT 11 STATES, INCLUDING INCLUDING OBVIOUSLY, MICHIGAN. AND ALL THE TIME I'M ASKED WHO DOES IT WELL. AND I ALWAYS POINT TO GRAND RAPIDS, AS WE'VE SEEN HERE TONIGHT, I SAW SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT I'VE WORKED ON IN THE PAST. GO ROLL THROUGH YOUR SCREENS AND YOUR YOUR STAFF IS ALWAYS RESPONSIVE, CREATIVE, AND VERY OPEN MINDED ABOUT HOW TO DO WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO IT. SO I JUST WANTED TO SNAKE THAT IN BEFORE I GET TO MY COMMENTS, MY REAL REASON HERE TONIGHT IS TO TALK ABOUT THE NOISE AT THE THAT I'M HEARING MY UNIT AT THE PLAZA. IT FACES DIRECTLY THE THE AMPHITHEATER. AND OFTENTIMES IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN MY IN MY LIVING ROOM TALKING&TO ME, I HEARD JELLY ROLL WELCOME HIS DAUGHTER TO THE STAGE. I HEAR MORE PROFANITY THAN I WANT TO HEAR. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE. I THINK IT'S LOW EFFICIENCY BASE THAT THEY CALL IT. YOU KNOW, THAT THROBBING SOUND. I CAN FEEL IT, YOU KNOW, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. IT DOES INTERFERE WITH MY ENJOYMENT. BUT AS WE'RE FINDING OUT, AS MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. THAT THIS ISN'T JUST A LOCAL PROBLEM, IT EXTENDS OUT UP THE RIVER, YOU KNOW, ONE MILE, THREE MILES, FIVE MILES, AND POTENTIALLY UP TO EIGHT MILES WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE RUNNING INTO THE SAME PROBLEMS. I THINK THIS IS SORT OF A UNIQUE TIME IN THAT, AS THE PROGRAM OR AS THE AMPHITHEATER WRAPS UP ITS PROGRAM SEASON, IT'S A TIME TO STEP BACK AND SAY WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK, TO REACH OUT TO OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE AMPHITHEATERS AND LOOK FOR BEST PRACTICES. I KNOW SOME COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES SAY NO LOW FREQUENCY BASS. THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR A A CITY COMMUNITY. AND THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE ADOPTED AS WELL. AND ALSO A MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MITIGATE THE EXISTING PROBLEMS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT. AND WE KNOW THAT THE BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING, THE REPORT THAT WAS SUBMITTED TONIGHT, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE SAME, SAME PROBLEMS. SO I THINK REALLY THE THING TO DO IS TO STEP BACK, HAVE A DISCUSSION, BRING EVERYBODY IN AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. I SUPPORT THE AMPHITHEATER, I LIKE MUSIC, I LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS. I LIKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND THEN FOR MUCH OF MY CAREER, EVEN ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SIDE, THAT'S BEEN WHY I HAVE BEEN IN THAT AREA. AND NOW IT'S TIME TO DO [01:15:01] THE SAME THING FOR THIS PARTICULAR VENUE. AND AS WE GO FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY AGAIN, TO TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND SAY, YES, THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU, THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU, AND EVERYBODY MOVES FORWARD. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M MATTHEW SCOTT AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO. WITHDRAW TO KEEP A ADDRESS PRIVATE BECAUSE OF THREATS AND. CONCERNING SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES. THINK THAT THE ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF MURDER IS THAT WE CANNOT WE ARE JUST MEN AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN AT GRAND VALLEY WHERE THEY WERE. THEY THINK THE TWO. AND WE MAY BE. WE MAY BE MAN, BUT WE ALSO HAVE KNOWLEDGE FROM THE LAW TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT ISSUES. AND WE DON'T HATE ANYBODY. WE DON'T SLANDER ANYBODY. WE JUST RESOURCE. HAVE WITH US AGREE TO DISAGREE ON AGREEING LOVE AND RESOURCE OUT SHARING THE GOOD WORD, AND HAVE AN. AND GET HIS MONEY INTO THE KINGDOM, LIKE CHARLIE COOK SAID IS ALL ABOUT JESUS AND WE ALL WE. WE ALL ABOUT MAKING. HAVING CROWDED. AND WE DON'T. WE ARE NOT DEMOCRAT OR INDEPENDENT. WE VOTE ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE. AND WITH THE ELECTIONS COMING UP, I WOULD JUST SAY VOTE. VOTE HOW YOU SEE IT? BECAUSE IF YOU. IF YOU DON'T VOTE, THEY WILL. YOU DON'T HAVE NO WAY. YOU DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO COMPLAIN. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE I HAVE MANY TIMES THE LOAD IS COMING SOON. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORRY ON ME AND THAT MAY WE, ME AND DAD. HAVE BEEN TOLD WE'RE GOING TO HELL, BUT WE KNOW WHERE WE GOING AND. AND I JUST WANT AS MANY OF YOU TO JOIN IN. JOIN US IN HAVING AS POSSIBLE. AND IT'S SIMPLE AND EASY. CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD AND YOU SHALL BE SAVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MATTHEW. WELL SAID. AS HE MENTIONED, THE ELECTIONS WILL SOON BE HERE. AND AS MATTHEW STATED, WE ARE NOT REPUBLICANS. WE ARE NOT DEMOCRATS. WE ARE NOT INDEPENDENTS. WE VOTE ACCORDING TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. I'M HERE THOUGH, TO. SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE GENTLEMAN RUNNING FOR OUR SENATE. ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE. HE'S A DEVOUT MUSLIM. FOLKS, FOLKS, PLEASE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE FRUSTRATING FOR SOME OF YOU, BUT IF YOU COULD PLEASE TRY TO HOLD IT IN. I'VE NOTICED MAYOR LE GRAND COMMISSIONERS KILGORE AND KNIGHT ARE ENDORSING HIM. DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT HE WANTS TO IMPLEMENT SHARIA LAW? SHARIA LAW? BELIEVES THAT IF YOU'RE CAUGHT STEALING, YOUR HANDS ARE CUT OFF. THE OLD TESTAMENT SHARIA LAW SAYS IF YOU'RE CAUGHT IN ADULTERY, YOU'RE STONED TO DEATH. FOLKS, FOLKS, DO YOU REALIZE WHAT. LET'S NOT LET. CAN WE PLEASE TRY NOT JUST. IT'S. IT'S CLEARLY INACCURATE, BUT IT'S NOT HATE ISN'T. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU. IT'S CLEARLY INACCURATE, RIGHT? I MEAN, MAYOR, I WOULD ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SEE I MEAN, YOU'RE MAKING A REALLY DISTINCT CLAIM HERE OF SHARIA LAW. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THAT IS HATE SPEECH AGAINST THIS CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE, SENATE HERE IN MICHIGAN. AND I [01:20:06] DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT. AND ALSO, I WOULD MOVE TO ADJOURN UNTIL WE CAN GET AN ANSWER. WELL. I APPEAL I APPEAL TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT. I APPEAL TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT. IF YOU COULD STOP FOR A MINUTE, MR. SCOTT, I THINK WE CAN GET I THINK I GET A RULING FROM THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE. THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE. YOU. MOTION TO ADJOURN SO WE CAN MEET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ASK. HOLD ON. BE CAREFUL. BE CAREFUL ON THE MOTION TO ADJOURN, BECAUSE THAT WILL SEND US ALL HOME FOR THE NIGHT. OH, SORRY. MOTION TO CONSIDER. MAYBE RECESS. WE CAN. WE COULD GO ON RECESS. YOU'VE ASKED A RELATIVELY COMPLEX LEGAL DECISION UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, SO I CAN'T PROMISE YOU HOW QUICK WE CAN GO INTO RECESS. SURE. SO I WANT TO HEAR THE ENTERTAINMENT. I'LL PAUSE HERE FOR A MOMENT AND ASK THE MAYOR TO PULL THE COMMISSION ON WHAT WE WANT TO DO. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I'LL TAKE THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT OF MOTION TO RECESS AND. WELL, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M CHAIRING THE MEETING HERE. SO I THINK I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO MAKE A CALL HERE. BUT I WILL SAY THAT IF SOMEONE STOOD UP AND SAID THAT TWO PLUS TWO EQUALS A BANANA, OR THAT THE EARTH WAS FLAT, OR A VARIETY OF THINGS I HAVEN'T HEARD HIM SAY, I HAVEN'T HEARD THE SPEAKER SAY THAT HE HATED ABDULLAH SAID. I THINK THAT HE HAS. I THINK THAT HE HAS. HE HAS. WELL, DOES SLANDEROUS NOT SLANDER IS NOT HATE SPEECH. I MEAN, AGAIN, I'M AGAIN, I'M THIS IS THIS IS NOT A COURT OF LAW. I AM GOING TO SAY THAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO TEMPER YOUR COMMENTS, MR. SCOTT, AND I DON'T. AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER. THE. I CAN'T STOP YOU FROM MAKING STATEMENTS THAT I CONSIDER INACCURATE, BUT I WOULD I WOULD ASK YOU TO TEMPER YOUR COMMENTS AND FINISH YOUR COMMENTS. PLEASE. CAN YOU SAY THE SAME TO THE OTHERS? YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE, MR. SCOTT. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO ABIDE BY THE RULES OF PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I'VE ALREADY ASKED THE AUDIENCE TO NOT PARTICIPATE. AND I'M ASKING YOU TO TO SUMMARIZE YOUR COMMENTS WITHOUT ENGAGING IN HATEFUL COMMENTARY. MAYOR, QUESTION, POINT OF INFORMATION. SO ASSERTING THAT MUSLIMS, ALL MUSLIMS, BELIEVE IN SHARIA LAW AND BELIEVE IN I, I MAY I HAVE THE POINT OF INFORMATION THAT THAT WHAT I'M HEARING. IF CORRECT, HE BELIEVES IN SHARIA LAW. MUSLIMS BELIEVE IN THIS AND THAT MUSLIMS BELIEVE IN FOLKS HANDS BEING CUT OFF. THAT'S NOT HATE SPEECH. FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, WE. CITY'S HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE. COMMISSIONER, I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO BE COMFORTABLE IN THIS MEETING. AND THIS HAS BECOME WITH THIS PARTICULAR CITIZEN INCREASINGLY CONCERNING TO ME, AS I AM ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT CONTINUES TO BE JUST. AND COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, REALLY ASKING FOR A POINT OF INFORMATION HERE. OKAY. FIRST OF ALL, HE HE DID NOT SAY THAT ALL MUSLIMS BELIEVE THAT. OKAY, SO JUST ONE. BUT EITHER EITHER IT ALL OR I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN HIS MOUTH. OKAY, OKAY. I, I WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO HERE IS GIVE AS MUCH LATITUDE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AS I CAN. FOLKS, I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS SPEAKER'S COMMENTS. I DON'T THINK ANY. I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE ROOM DOESN'T. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO COMMENT. IF THE. IF THE COMMENTARY DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF HATE SPEECH AND I THINK THAT. YEAH, I, I DON'T KNOW, CITY ATTORNEY, YOU WANT TO GIVE ME SOME KIND OF INDICATION HERE ON WHAT YOUR WHAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS. OFTENTIMES THE PARAMETERS OF HATE SPEECH ARE BASED IN SPEECH. THAT IS A TRUE THREAT OR SPEECH THAT IS INTENDED TO INCITE ACTUAL VIOLENCE. I, I INACTION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AT A CITY COMMISSION MEETING. SO THIS IS THIS IS. THE SECOND. LET THEM OWN IT. GO AHEAD. I WOULD ALSO REMIND THE CITY COMMISSION OF YOUR OWN RULES THAT SAYS YOU'RE NOT TO EXPECT. COMMENT FROM THE COMMISSION DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL. I'M SORRY, CITY ATTORNEY, YOU WERE CUT OFF FOR A MOMENT THERE. SO YOU SAID INCITING VIOLENCE. I DID HEAR SOME VIOLENCE OF CUTTING OFF HANDS. THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY INCITING. I DO WANT TO RESPECT FIRST AMENDMENT. I BELIEVE IN OUR CONSTITUTION DEEPLY. I'VE STUDIED IT. AND SO HIM SAYING THAT THIS PERSON BELIEVES IN [01:25:03] CUTTING OFF HANDS IS NOT INCITING VIOLENCE. IN THIS INSTANCE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO THAT YET. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE POINT OF INFORMATION. SO, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU'RE ASKING IF YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION THAT WE GO INTO, I BELIEVE I'LL REVOKE THE MOTION SINCE WE GOT THE ANSWER FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MR. SCOTT, YOU HAVE A MINUTE LEFT. LET ME CLARIFY. I AM NOT ACCUSING OF AL QAEDA OF WANTING TO CUT OFF ANYONE'S HANDS. I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S WHAT SHARIA LAW SAYS. I HAVE A KORAN RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I'LL BE WILLING TO SHARE WITH ANYONE WHERE IT SAYS THAT. I'M JUST STATING WHAT HE BELIEVES. MR. SHUT UP. LOOK IT UP, MR. SHUT, IF YOU WOULD, IF YOU WOULD REFRAIN FROM. AND I THINK I THINK I WILL SAY THAT STOP MY TIME, PLEASE. I WOULD ASK YOU TO STOP ATTRIBUTING, TO STOP ATTRIBUTING BELIEFS TO OTHER PEOPLE WHEN YOU DON'T POSSIBLY HAVE ANY BASIS FOR FOR THAT, FOR THAT, FOR THAT ALLEGATION. HE SAYS THAT HE SAYS THAT HE'S A DEVOUT MUSLIM. LOOK IT UP. IT'S JUST AND IT MAKES ME LOOK LIKE HE GETS HIS TIME. HE ALSO HAS SAID, CHECK THIS OUT. QUOTE, ANYONE THAT DISAGREES OR CRITICIZES SHARIA LAW IS A WHITE SUPREMACIST. LOOK IT UP, LOOK IT UP FROM FOX NEWS. IT IS ACTUALLY DISPROVEN LIBERAL. SHE SAID, I APPEAL, PLEASE STOP. I APPEAL NOT TO VOTE. PLEASE REFER TO US, MR. SCOTT. DON'T TALK TO THE AUDIENCE. PARDON ME? TALK. TALK TO US, NOT TO THE AUDIENCE. OKAY, THAT IS VERY CLEAR AS WELL. IN OUR RULES. I ALSO APPEAL NOT TO VOTE FOR BENSON, WHO GIVES MONEY TO THE KKK, THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER, WHO HAS FUNDED NAZI GROUPS AND WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS. TIME'S UP, MR. SCOTT. YES, I'LL BE BACK. I'LL SHARE THIS AGAIN. OKAY. MR. MR. LEVERETT, CAN YOU PLEASE REFRAIN? NO. IT'S OKAY. DON'T READ THE OLD TESTAMENT. DON'T WANT TO RECESS. OKAY. HERE WE GT WITHOUT JOEL. I'LL RUN THE CLOCK. OKAY. I WILL RECONVENE OUR MEETING. AND, SIR, YOU HAVE IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS, ADDRESS THE GROUP. HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. IS THIS ON? IT DIDN'T SOUND. IT DIDN'T SOUND IMPRESSIVE. NOW. OKAY. HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MATT. I LIVE IN THE THIRD WARD, AND I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH KASHA AND THEIR SICK SANCTUARY POLICY DEMANDS, AS WELL AS THOSE OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE ADVOCATED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE BUILT. BUT I'M HERE AGAIN TO DEMAND THE CANCELLATION AND REMOVAL OF ALPR CONTRACTS AND CAMERAS FROM OUR CITY. WITH THE RECENT PUBLICATION OF THE TRANSPARENCY PORTAL, WE NOW KNOW FOR SURE WHAT'S LONG BEEN SUSPECTED THAT NOT ONLY IS OUR CITY'S DATA BEING SHARED ACROSS DEPARTMENTS IN 34 STATES AS FAR AWAY AS ARIZONA AND FLORIDA, IT IS ALSO BEING SHARED DIRECTLY WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES KNOWN TO COLLABORATE WITH ICE. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT, JUST TWO DAYS AFTER ICE CAUSED THE UNNECESSARY DEATH OF OF MARIO DAVID CORONADO JUAREZ, A SEVEN YEAR LAW ABIDING RESIDENT OF GRAND RAPIDS. THIS IS NOW AN URGENT MATTER. OUR CITY SHOULD NOT BE COMPLICIT IN SHARING DATA WITH THE DOMESTIC TERRORIST ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS ICE. BUT IT IS. THERE'S NO LONGER ANY PLAUSIBLE DENIAL OF THAT. AND THIS BODY NOW GOVERNS THE FLOCK. CONTRACT CONTINUED INACTION MAKES YOU CULPABLE FOR FUTURE HARM CAUSED BY ICE. MOST, IF NOT ALL OF YOU ARE ON THE RECORD OPPOSING THE ACTIONS OF ICE UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO PROVE IT. ANY ONE OF YOU COULD INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE TO BAN ALPR TECHNOLOGY AND SHARE DATABASES FROM OUR CITY, BUT I SUSPECT THAT YOU WON'T. I WOULD LOVE TO BE PROVEN WRONG, BUT EVEN IF YOU REFUSE TO TAKE THAT STEP AND CONTINUE DRAGGING YOUR FEET UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE CONTRACT NEXT YEAR, YOU COULD STILL TAKE THE STEP TO RESTRICT THE DATA SHARING WITH FEDERAL AND OUT-OF-STATE AGENCIES. I NOW CONSIDER THAT TO BE THE BARE MINIMUM ACTION REQUIRED OF YOUR STATION. FOR MY COMMISSIONERS IN WARD THREE, AND FOR YOU, MR. MAYOR, YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT MY VOTE IN THE FUTURE IF YOU DO NOT SEEK TO CLEAR THIS VERY LOW BAR. WITH MY REMAINING TIME, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING YOU SAID TWO WEEKS AGO, MR. MAYOR. NAMELY, THAT IF WE THINK OUR DATA IS BEING MISUSED, WE SHOULD REPORT IT TO THE OPA. BUT HOW ARE WE TO KNOW IF A FEDERAL OR OUT OF STATE AGENCY IS MISUSING OUR DATA? FURTHERMORE, HOW ARE WE TO KNOW IF GRPD IS THE ONLY AUDITING AVAILABLE? IS FLOXIN AN INTERNAL TOOL AND IT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? GRPD WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO MISUSE OF THE [01:30:05] FLOCK SYSTEM AS THEY HAVE LAUNCHED ZERO INVESTIGATIONS, BUT WE HAVE NO WAY TO CHECK THAT. AND OF COURSE, THE SECRETIVE DATABASES AREN'T EXCLUSIVE TO FLOCK. SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHEN I ASK FOR THE CANCELLATION OF THE CONTRACT, I DON'T MEAN HAND IT TO AXON OR SOME OTHER THIRD PARTY VENDOR THAT COLLABORATES WITH ICE. I MEAN BAN AND REMOVE ALL ALPR FROM OUR CITY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TANNER. I LIVE JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY. I'M HERE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE FIVE ACTIVISTS ARRESTED TRYING TO BLOCK AN ICE TRANSIT VAN, WHICH WAS TRANSPORTING OUR KIDNAPED NEIGHBORS TO THE PRISON IN BALDWIN. THESE INDIVIDUALS EXHIBITED A BRAVERY MOST PEOPLE ONLY IMAGINE. AND THESE ARRESTS HAVE PROVEN BEYOND A DOUBT THAT THE GRAND RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKS IN OPEN COLLABORATION WITH ICE. ADDITIONALLY, 127 OF THE DEPARTMENT'S GRPD SHARES FLOCK FOOTAGE WITH OUR 287 ICE PARTNERS, OVER HALF OF THOSE HELD AT THE NORTH LAKE PROCESSING CENTER IN BALDWIN HAVE NO CRIMINAL CONVICTION OR PENDING CHARGES. THEY CALL IT A PROCESSING CENTER, BUT MANY HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED THERE WITHOUT THEIR FAMILIES FOR NINE MONTHS OR LONGER. THEY DON'T RECEIVE PROPER FOOD AS AS IS THE CASE FOR MOST IMPRISONED PEOPLE IN AMERICA, AND THEY DON'T RECEIVE PROPER MEDICAL ATTENTION THERE. THEY'RE FORCED TO LABOR TO OPERATE THE PRISON, WHICH, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, CONSTITUTES SLAVERY. WE KNOW THAT MANY WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION ARE SEEKING REFUGE FROM WAR TORN AND GANG CONTROLLED COUNTRIES, THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS SYSTEMATICALLY IMPOVERISHED WITH CIA BACKED COUPS. WE KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE LIVED IN THE US PEACEFULLY FOR YEARS AND BECOME PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS WAS THE CASE FOR MARIO DAVID CORONADO JUAREZ, OUR GUATEMALAN NEIGHBOR WHO WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE UNMARKED ICE VEHICLES TRIED TO KIDNAP HIM. ON SUNDAY. WHEN MY ENGLISH ANCESTORS CAME HERE, THEY COMMITTED UNSPEAKABLE VIOLENCE. AND WHEN MR. CORONADO JUAREZ CAME HERE, HE WORKED HARD AND LIVED PEACEFULLY. YET I'M GOING HOME TO MY KIDS TONIGHT. AND HE IS NOT. GRAND RAPIDS SHOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE FIVE INDIVIDUALS BRAVE ENOUGH TO PUT THEIR BODIES BETWEEN ICE AND THE CONCENTRATION CAMP. INSTEAD, GRPD ARRESTED THEM. I JOIN MY VOICE WITH MOVIMIENTO COSECHA AND DEMANDING GRPD AND ALL COLLABORATION WITH ICE. ADOPT THE SIX SANCTUARY SANCTUARY POLICIES AND DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST THE FIVE PEOPLE WHO DID A THING. MOST OF US ONLY DREAM WE ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO. I ALSO AM AGAIN DEMANDING AN END TO OUR CONTRACT WITH FLOC, THE REMOVAL OF FLOCKS, HARDWARE FROM OUR COMMUNITY, AND NO NEW CONTRACTS BETWEEN GRPD AND FLOCKS COMPETITORS SUCH AS AXON AND MOTOROLA. I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN AT LENGTH ABOUT FLOCKS, FOURTH AMENDMENT ABUSE, THE FLOCK CAMERAS THAT FACE PUBLIC POOLS AND GYMNASTICS ROOMS, AND THE TRULY UNKNOWABLE CONSEQUENCES OF INTEGRATING AI WITH PUBLIC SURVEILLANCE. THE THING I WILL ADD TO THOSE COMMENTS IS THIS IMAGINE WHAT HEINRICH HIMMLER COULD HAVE DONE WITH ACCESS TO 140,000 CAMERAS, WITH MODERN AI PROCESSING FACING EVERY MAJOR ROADWAY IN THE COUNTRY. HIMMLER AND STEPHEN MILLER SHARE THE SAME ROLE IN HISTORY. YOU CAN HELP THEM OR YOU CAN HINDER THEM. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TAKE A SIDE. AND WITH MY 20S, I WANT TO SAY A SHOUT OUT TO THE BIKE LANE GUY. REST IN PEACE, STEVE IRWIN. CITY COMMISSIONERS MAYOR, MY NAME IS JACOB CRISTOFORI. I'M A SECOND WARD RESIDENT, AND I'M HERE TO ECHO THE CALLS TO ADOPT THE SIX SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES THAT COSECHA IS ASKING. WHILE YOU SAY THAT GRPD DOES NOT COOPERATE WITH ICE, THERE'S NO REASON YOU SHOULD LEAVE THESE COMMUNITIES IN LIMBO AND FOR FEAR OF THEIR LIVES, BY NOT ENACTING THESE POLICIES INTO THE CITY CHARTER. I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT FLOCK CAMERAS AND MY OPPOSITION TO THEM. THERE'S NO NEED FOR THESE CAMERAS TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY MAKE US FEEL UNSAFE. THEY MAKE PEOPLE UNHAPPY TO COME TO THE CITY. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE MONITORED. I WOULD ASK YOU ALL, IF YOU WANT YOUR RESIDENTS TO BE MONITORED EVERYWHERE THEY GO, DO YOU WANT TO BE MONITORED EVERYWHERE YOU GO? AND I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE ON HOUSING, TAXING THE RICH HERE AND USING THOSE FUNDS TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD GO A GREAT DISTANCE. I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE ON THE IMPROVEMENTS TO MOBILITY IN THE CITY. I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT PLANS TOO. BUT PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE THESE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN LIMBO AND IN FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES. THEY'RE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY. THEY'RE HARDWORKING AMERICANS. PLEASE ADOPT THE SIX SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES INTO YOUR CITY CHARTER, AND PLEASE CANCEL YOUR CONTRACT WITH FLOCK. THERE'S NO REASON TO WAIT. YOU CAN DO THIS NOW. YOU CAN END THEIR SURVEILLANCE [01:35:04] ON THE CITIZENS OF GRAND RAPIDS TODAY. AND WITH THAT, I YIELD MY TIME. I HAVE THE FLOOR. I HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I TRAVEL ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES DOING THIS, AND I'M FIRST OF ALL SAY I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE CITIZENS HERE. I JUST GOT BACK FROM DALLAS, TEXAS LAST WEEK AND THEY HAD HALF THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE. SO KUDOS FOR YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING THEM TALK. THAT'S A GOOD MORALE. SO WHEN THEY COME UP HERE AND SPEAK EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE YOUR ADDRESS. YOU CAN DO IT. ANONYMOUS. THAT'S THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED, RIGHT. OKAY. AND WE DO THAT FOR FEAR OF REPRISAL BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THE GOVERNMENT LOVES US TO DEATH AND WANTS TO PROTECT US. RIGHT. OKAY. SO I CAME HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I LOOKED AT THE CITIES HERE, THE TOWNS HERE, AND LOOKED OVER YOUR DECORUM. AND YOU HAVE SOME POTENTIAL CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. AND I NOTICED THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN YOUR RULES, BUT YOUR RULES PROHIBIT WHAT YOU CALL PROFANE AND ABUSIVE REMARKS. AND THEY SAY YOU CAN'T PERSONALLY AFFRONT, WHICH THAT'S NOT TRUE. SO THE THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS SIMPLY YOU CAN'T SCRUTINIZE JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE OFFENSIVE, RIGHT? YOU THINK IT'S OFFENSIVE. HE EVEN HERE SIX SIX CIRCUIT, YOU HAVE A CASE I SAW ON VERSUS MADISON IN WHICH THE COURT UPHELD THAT RESTRICTIVE ABUSIVE LANGUAGE, PERSONAL DIRECTIVE AND ANTAGONISTIC IS A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. RIGHT. AND THAT'S YOUR CASE LAW HERE, GUYS. SO IF THEY DENY YOU ON THAT, REMEMBER YOUR CASE LAW. SO WHAT THE COUNCIL CAN DO IS THEY CAN TIME, PLACE AND MANNER, WHICH THE TIME IS WHATEVER TIME YOU DO YOUR CITIZENS COMMENTS. THE MANNER IS WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MANNER IS MANNERS RIGHT HERE. THIS PODIUM OR ONLINE VIRTUAL RIGHT. AND IN THE PLACES THIS BUILDING, THAT'S WHERE YOU DO IT AT. GOOD. NOW WHAT YOU CAN DO IS IF SOMEBODY DISRUPTS THE ORDINANCE, YOU CAN SHUT THEM DOWN. SO YOU'RE CLAPPING IS GOOD. YOU CAN DO THAT. THE PROBLEM IS, AND THIS IS FOR EDUCATIONAL FOR YOU GUYS, IF THEY HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM AND THEY GET UP HERE AND PRAY SOMEBODY LIKE THE CITY MANAGER AND THEY START CLAPPING, THEY VIOLATED THEIR OWN RULES. SO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, BOTH SIDES. THEY CAN'T DO THAT. AND I DO LIKE YOUR LITTLE. THAT'S INTERESTING. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ANYWHERE. I'VE BEEN. THAT'S INTERESTING. SO. LET'S SEE. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CONFUSE SPEECH WITH DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT. RIGHT. SO I MEAN I CAN GO UP HERE RIGHT NOW AND SAY, AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT, RIGHT? EVEN IF YOU KIND OF DEFENSIVE, IT'S PROTECTED SPEECH. SO TONIGHT I'M ASKING THE COMMISSION TO REVIEW SOME VERSES IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT AGAINST YOUR DECORUM, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME SCRUTINY THERE. AND ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE MIGHT HATE ME ON THIS, BUT YOU IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT MAN'S SPEECH, THEN YOU WEREN'T EDUCATED ON FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT? YOU WERE INDOCTRINATED. ALL RIGHT. SO HATE SPEECH IS 100% LEGAL WITH WITH YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THE ONLY THING THAT MAN CANNOT DO IS HE CAN'T THREATEN ANYBODY AND HE CAN'T BE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT. OTHER THAN THAT, HE HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEAK. SO YOU ALL CAN GET IN TROUBLE BY SHUTTING HIM DOWN. RIGHT. AND THE AUDIENCE, I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS, BUT HE HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK, AND IT WOULD HAVE TOOK LESS THAN THREE MINUTES TO GET IT DONE HAD YOU JUST LET HIM SPEAK. SO HE WASN'T THREATENING ANYBODY. HE DIDN'T THREATEN ANYBODY. HE WENT OFF HIS OPINION, AND IT MIGHT BE CRAZY OR ERRATIC, BUT HE HAS THAT RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT IT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I HOPE IT DOES. SO EVEN IF YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE HIM. THE FREE SPEECH IS FREE SPEECH, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR DON'T LIKE IT, RIGHT? YEP. IF YOU COULD YOU WRAP IT UP, SIR? OH YEAH. NO PROBLEM. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. YEAH. LUCAS AGAIN, WHAT A SEGUE. I RECENTLY WALKED AWAY FROM MY ROLE AS VICE PRESIDENT OF WEST GRAND NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION. IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE GRPD AND OUR CITY MANAGER WERE SEEKING TO INTERFERE WITH THE MAKEUP OF OUR BOARD, ALONGSIDE THE LIKES OF THE BRANDS, BY ATTACKING MY FREE EXPRESSION AND POLITICAL RHETORIC ON MY OWN TIME AND IN MY OWN SPACES, INSTEAD OF TAKING MY PEERS FOCUS OFF THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG, PROTRACTED FIGHT FOR MY OWN RIGHTS, I CHOSE TO QUIT. ONE TOPIC THAT CAME UP AND SEEMS TO LIVE RENT FREE IN THE HEADS OF PRO-POLICE BOOTLICKERS FOR YEARS NOW IS A PROTEST T SHIRT I ONCE WORE THAT SPORTED A JUSTIFIED BUT UNKIND STATEMENT ABOUT GRPD. THE SAME SHIRT WAS ALSO USED BY SOME TO BELLYACHE ABOUT MY PARTICIPATION IN APPLYING FOR THE FIRST WARD COMMISSION VACANCY IN THE SPRING. MY WORDS, MY PROTEST SIGNS, A T SHIRT, EVEN MY REMARKS HERE AT THIS PODIUM OVER MY FIVE YEARS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAVE BEEN MET BY ENDLESS WHINGEING FROM A LOUD MINORITY [01:40:03] WHO CAN'T HANDLE IT. WHEN REGULAR PEOPLE FIGHT BACK AGAINST HARM, HATE, OPPRESSION AND CORRUPTION. MY ACTIONS AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, WHICH I TAKE CAREFUL AND DELIBERATE STEPS TO SEPARATE FROM OTHER PROJECTS AND ROLES, HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF EVERYTHING FROM HARMLESS BUTTHURT TO ACTUAL THREATS BY JOHNNY BRAND SENIOR HIMSELF, TO A GROWING BODY OF PROOF OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL INNUENDO FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR NEW GRPD CHIEF. SPEAKING OF CHIEF TRIGG COMMISSIONERS, I BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE VIOLENT IMAGERY JOE TRIGG HAD PUBLICLY DISPLAYED ON HIS FACEBOOK PROFILE IMAGE. I'M BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AGAIN. SEE, IT'S FASCINATING TO ME THAT A CITY WHO LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WHILE ONE OF THEIR LEADERS SPORTED THIS DESPICABLE AND HARMFUL PHOTO FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS, WOULD HAVE LEADERS THAT COME AFTER PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO HAPPEN TO HURT COPS. LITTLE FEELINGS. IT'S FASCINATING TO ME THAT I HAD TO CHOOSE TO STEP AWAY FROM SERVING IN A VOLUNTEER CAPACITY FOR MY COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THE HARMLESS T SHIRT AND DIFFERING POLITICAL OPINIONS. BUT SOMEBODY WITH AN OFFICIAL ROLE AS CHIEF OF POLICE HAS NEVER ONCE HAD TO RECONCILE OR EXPLAIN THIS PHOTO AND ITS PUBLIC VISIBILITY BEYOND JUST QUIETLY MAKING IT DISAPPEAR. AND I'M NOT EVEN ADDRESSING THE LITANY OF ANTI ACTIVISTS AND RIGHT WING GARBAGE THAT I ALSO HAVE RECEIPTS FROM, FROM HIS POSTS AND COMMENTS. SO LIKE I DID WHEN TRIG WAS PROMOTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF, I'M ASKING YOU NOW THAT HE'S CHIEF FINGER GUNS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELVES FOR THIS KIND OF HYPOCRITICAL HORSE MANURE? YOU'VE ALREADY IGNORED AN EMAIL IN FEBRUARY ABOUT THIS. SO THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT, AND I ASSURE YOU, I'M NOT EVEN REMOTELY DONE. WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO TO WORK TOWARD PEACE? BECAUSE SO FAR, YOU'VE CHOSEN WAR. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BE UP HERE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS TONIGHT. BUT MY NAME IS CHLOE MULDER. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 26 YEARS. LAST SATURDAY ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, MYSELF AND FOUR OTHERS WERE ARRESTED IN A PUBLIC ALLEYWAY AT 517 OTTAWA AVENUE, THE ICE OFFICE FOR PROTESTING THE KIDNAPING AND DETENTION OF OUR NEIGHBORS. WITHIN MINUTES OF ARRIVING, MORE THAN 15 GRPD VEHICLES SHOWED UP, THE VAN TRANSPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE CONCENTRATION CAMP WAS TRYING TO LEAVE, AND GRPD CLEARLY ASSISTED IN GETTING PROTESTERS OUT OF THE WAY SO IT COULD LEAVE. GRPD THEN BLOCKED OFF BOTH ENDS OF THE ALLEY KETTLING US. MOMENTS LATER, WE WERE TOLD TO BACK UP AND WE REFUSED BECAUSE WE WERE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, EXERCISING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PROTEST AND DOCUMENT ICE OFFICERS KIDNAPING, TAKING KIDNAPED NEIGHBORS TO A CONCENTRATION CAMP. OFFICERS THEN HAD THEIR PEPPER BALL GUN POINTED AT US AND THREATENED TO USE CHEMICAL AGENTS IF WE DID NOT LEAVE. SECONDS LATER, AN OFFICER GRABBED MY FRIEND BY THE ARM AND THREW HER TO THE GROUND AND HANDCUFFED HER, AND THEY THEN DID THE SAME TO ME. IF I HAD NOT BEEN WEARING MY MASK, MY CHIN WOULD HAVE SLAMMED INTO THE CONCRETE. A USE OF FORCE THAT WAS EXTREMELY UNNECESSARY FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTERS. SO LET ME SAY THIS AGAIN. GRPD ARRESTED FIVE PEOPLE FOR PEACEFULLY PROTESTING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ASSISTING ICE. SO FOR YOU TO CONTINUOUSLY TELL US GRPD IS NOT COOPERATING WITH ICE IS COMPLETE. AND AS I WAS BEING PUT INTO ANOTHER POLICE CAR, AN OFFICER SAID TO ANOTHER OFFICER, OH LOOK, HERE, SHE IS A HERO. SHE'LL BE ON THE NEWS WITH COMPLETE SARCASM AND MOCKERY AS THE OTHER OFFICER LAUGHED. BUT I PERSONALLY DO NOT FIND FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF OUR NEIGHBORS FUNNY. BUT HONESTLY, THAT INTERACTION SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE CULTURE OF GRPD. AND NOW I'M JUST FINDING OUT THERE WAS A CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING ICE IN GRAND RAPIDS, AND AN AFFECTED COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS PASSED AWAY. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NOTHING IS BEING DONE. SO NOW I WANT TO TALK TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE, THE PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING JUSTICE, HONESTY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ALL OF YOU. YOU MAY SAY YOU DISAGREE WITH WHAT ICE IS DOING. YOU MAY SAY YOU SUPPORT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY COMMUNITIES, BUT WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY DOING? BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, YOUR ACTIONS, YOUR WORDS, NEED TO BECOME ACTIONS. KOSACA HAS BEEN TRYING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TO GET A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE MAYOR TO DISCUSS SANCTUARY POLICIES, AND YET WE GET NO RESPONSE FROM THE CITY. SO PLEASE MEET WITH US. AND IF THERE ARE BARRIERS, EXPLAIN THEM. IF YOU'VE TRIED SOMETHING AND IT DIDN'T WORK, TELL US WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT. BUT PLEASE STOP TELLING US THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO. THERE ARE REAL PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE ON THE LINE AND WE ARE DONE WITH THE DISMISSIVE DISMISSIVENESS. IT IS TIME YOU ALL GROW A SPINE AND HELP US FIGHT THIS CORRUPT REGIME THAT HAS TAKEN OVER OUR COUNTRY. PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK WHY NO ONE DID ANYTHING WHEN THE NAZIS TOOK OVER. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW, YOU SEE EXACTLY HOW INACTION ALLOWS HORRENDOUS THINGS TO HAPPEN. MY LATE GRANDMOTHER ESCAPED NAZI GERMANY, AND THE STORY SHE TOLD ME ABOUT WHAT SHE WITNESSED HAVE STAYED WITH ME MY ENTIRE LIFE. WATCHING THOSE STORIES ECHO IN WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY IS HEARTBREAKING, AND I'M GRATEFUL SHE'S NOT HERE TO [01:45:01] WITNESS THIS. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE DO SOMETHING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO KEEP SHOWING UP. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY. WE KNOW WHAT SIDE OF HISTORY WE WILL BE ON. BUT DO YOU. I'M HERE TO READ. MY NAME IS TERESA, AND I'M HERE TO READ THE STATEMENT FROM JASMINE, WHO IS ANOTHER ACTIVIST TAKEN TO THE POLICE STATION AFTER SHE WAS THROWN, HANDCUFFED AND THROWN DOWN VIOLENTLY. I, I, I'M IN DISBELIEF BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS CHIEF OF POLICE, AND THE THOUGHT THAT THIS IS WHAT HIS DEPARTMENT ACTED LIKE WHEN THEY WERE OUT, IT JUST SICKENS ME. I WAS PROUD OF HIM FOR THAT. AND THAT IS HARD FOR ME TO ADMIT BECAUSE I SEE THE BEHAVIOR OF THE POLICE OF GRAND RAPIDS. OKAY, JASMINE IS THE PERSON THAT I'M READING THE STATEMENT FOR. SHE'S 40 YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME, AND I'M PROUDER THAN ANYTHING TO STAND BESIDE HER. SHE SAYS HELLO. I WAS ONE OF THE FIVE PEOPLE ARRESTED ON SEPTEMBER 12TH AT 517 OTTAWA. EVERY DAY WE ARE SEEING OUR NEIGHBORS BE TAKEN FROM THEIR FAMILIES, CHILDREN'S JOBS AND COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE SEEN THE VAN LEAVING IN INCREASED NUMBERS TO TAKE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO NORTH LAKE, THE DETENTION CENTER IN BALDWIN, MICHIGAN, WHERE THEY ARE TREATED AS NUMBER SEQUENCES AND NOT HUMAN BEINGS. ON SEPTEMBER 12TH AT 517. OTTAWA, WHILE NONVIOLENTLY PROTESTING, I WAS VIOLENTLY GRABBED BY THE WRIST AND DRAGGED TO THE GROUND BY A GRPD OFFICER AND ARRESTED AS THEY KETTLED BOTH ENDS OF THE ALLEYWAY AND TARGETED PEOPLE FOR ARREST, THE GRPD HAS ONCE AGAIN SHOWN ITS CONTINUED COMPLACENCY AND COOPERATION WITH ICE IN THESE ATROCITIES, AND ITS UNNECESSARY USE OF ESCALATED FORCE AND VIOLENCE. EVERY PERSON WHO CLAIMS TO CARE ABOUT THE VICTIMS OF ICE VIOLENCE HAPPENING HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS AND AROUND THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE USING WHATEVER PRIVILEGE, TALENT, SKILLS AND CAPACITY THEY HAVE TO PUT A STOP TO IT. PLEASE ADOPT THE SIX SANCTUARY POLICIES AND HELP PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THIS, WORDS ARE JUST WORDS. IF YOU TRULY SUPPORT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PUT YOUR WORDS INTO REAL ACTION. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, I'M COCO AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE ILLEGAL CITIZEN SURVEILLANCE ALPR CAMERAS, COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS FLOCK CAMERAS, AS WELL AS TO ADDRESS THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS SURVEILLANCE STATE AND HOW IT AFFECTS ALL OF US, INCLUDING OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS. THESE CITIZEN SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ARE ILLEGAL NOT ONLY UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, RATIFIED IN 1791, BUT ALSO UNDER THE JULY 26TH, 2026, SUPREME COURT CASE OF CHATER V US, WHICH PROHIBITS GEOFENCING AND WAS DECIDED IN A SIX THREE VOTE. THESE CAMERAS DO CREATE A GEOFENCE WITH THEIR LUDICROUS DENSITY. YOU ALL KNOW WHERE EVERY CAR GOES ANYWHERE IN TOWN AND THE GREATER METRO AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE CIVILIANS. THEY ARE NOT ABOVE THE UNITE THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND THEY'RE NOT ABOVE THE SUPREME COURT. THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS LEGALLY UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS LAND. WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT OF THE 1655 ORGANIZATIONS THAT GRPD SHARES ITS DATA WITH, 127 OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO ENROLLED IN ISIS 287 G PROGRAM, OR 8% OF THEM. FIRST OFF, WE WERE TOLD THAT GRPD DOESN'T SHARE ANY DATA WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE COMMISSION ALSO STATED REPEATEDLY THAT IT DOES NOT SHARE INFORMATION WITH ICE YET. NOW WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THEY DO. THANKS TO THAT TRANSPARENCY PORTAL. OUR IMMIGRANTS, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR HOMIES, OUR COWORKERS AND FELLOW CHURCH GOERS, IMMIGRANTS AND SLAVES BUILT THIS COUNTRY AND OUR IMMIGRANTS OF TODAY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR NATIONAL GDP IN SPADES. ALL OF US CAME FROM IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING MANY OF MY ANCESTORS, THOUGH I ALSO HAVE NATIVE BLOOD ON BOTH SIDES OF MY FAMILY. AND WE KNOW HOW ICE FEELS ABOUT NATIVES TO. WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, NOT CATTLE, TO BE HERDED, HERDED AND MONITORED 247 BY THE SURVEILLANCE STATE THAT GRAND RAPIDS HAS CHOSEN TO TAKE PART IN WITHOUT A DEMOCRATIC VOTE, ON TOP OF GRPD SHARING DATA WITH ICE, THIS COLLECTED DATA CAN BE SOLD AND RESOLD TO THIRD [01:50:04] PARTIES, EVENTUALLY ENDING UP IN THE HANDS OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. I ALSO KNOW THAT THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS USES ALPR FOR PARKING ENFORCEMENT. I INTERVIEWED FOR A CITY POSITION RIGHT HERE IN THIS BUILDING. I PRAY THAT YOU'RE NOT SELLING THAT DATA TO THIRD PARTIES, AND I'LL FINISH BY ADDRESSING THE RETAIL SURVEILLANCE APPARATUS. WALMART, LOWE'S, APPLES AND MANY OTHERS USE FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK HOW LONG SHOPPERS HANG OUT IN A PARTICULAR AISLE WHEN THEY BUY THINGS AND THEIR GENERAL SPENDING HABITS. I'M NOT JUST DEMANDING THAT THESE ILLEGAL CITIZEN SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS BE TAKEN DOWN AND NEVER REPLACED WITH ANOTHER ALPR VENDOR. I'M ASKING THAT THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS TO BECOME A PIONEER IN PROTECTING CITIZENS FROM THE RETAIL SURVEILLANCE APPARATUS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE LEVERS OF POWER TO DO SO. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR. NO EXCEPTIONS. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS DYLAN DODGE. I AM FROM THE FIRST WARD AND I'M ON BEHALF OF SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE GR, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE MINNESOTA 15. RECENTLY, LIKE 15 ACTIVISTS, LABOR ORGANIZERS WHO HELPED ORGANIZE THE SUCCESSFUL STATEWIDE STRIKE IN MINNESOTA TO COMBAT ICE AND TO GET ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA. THEY'VE BEEN RECENTLY INDICTED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND BEING. THEY'RE BEING ARRESTED AND LABELED AS TERRORISTS JUST FOR ORGANIZING A SUCCESSFUL PROTEST THAT KICKED ICE OUT OF THEIR STATE. IT'S ALL A MATTER OF LIKE, REVENGE. IT'S ALL LIKE TARGETED AGAINST LIKE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIKE EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. AND THAT SETS A VERY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR LIKE, ANYONE EXERCISING THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LABELING ANYONE WHO CRITICIZES IT AS TERRORISTS. IF YOU'RE AN ATHEIST, YOU'RE A TERRORIST. IF YOU'RE A MUSLIM, YOU'RE A TERRORIST. IF YOU'RE TRANS, YOU'RE A TERRORIST. IF YOU DON'T LIKE TRUMP, OR IF YOU'RE JUST LIKE A LIBERAL, YOU'RE A TERRORIST, APPARENTLY. AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PROSECUTING THE 15 PROTESTERS IS AN EXPANSION OF THIS AGENDA TO CRIMINALIZE THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND FREELY PROTEST. AND IF TRUMP GETS HIS WAY, WHAT'S TO STOP HIM FROM SENDING ICE ON US? AND LIKE. AND IF WE PROTEST AND GO ON STRIKE, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE LABELED AS TERRORISTS. LIKE, HOW IS THAT FAIR? IT'S SUCH A BLATANT FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION. THEY NEED TO BE. THESE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS NEED TO BE RESPECTED. THE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS OUT OF LINE, AND IT IS OUR DUTY AS AMERICAN CITIZENS TO PROTECT AND ENFORCE THE CONSTITUTION. FOR THE RECORD, LIKE YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN PRAIRIE LAND, RIGHT IN TEXAS WITH HOW LIKE THESE PROTESTERS GOT LIKE, ARRESTED AND SENTENCED FROM LIKE 30 TO LIKE 100 YEARS IN PRISON JUST FOR PROTESTING. ONE OF THEM GOT SENT TO PRISON FOR 30 YEARS FOR MOVING A BOX OF ZINES, A BOX OF ZINES. THAT'S NOT A CRIME. AND THEY'RE BEING AGAIN, LABELED AS TERRORISTS. THIS IS A TERRIFYING PRECEDENT. SO LIKE DAVID LA GRANDE, IF YOU TRULY SUPPORT THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AS IS THE CASE WITH ONE OF THESE FOLKS OVER HERE SLANDERING ABDUL, THEN YOU'D LIKE SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO PROTEST. YOU WOULD HELP PROTECT PROTESTERS FROM BEING TARGETED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND BY ICE. AND ALSO THE FLOCK CAMERAS GOT TO GO. AND YOU. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN I SAY FLOCK CAMERAS, I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL ALPR CAMERAS DON'T GET AKS ON TO REPLACE FLOCK. AND JUST A REMINDER, THEY OWN CARBYNE, AN ISRAELI SURVEILLANCE COMPANY, AND THEY HAVE TIES WITH EPSTEIN. THEY'RE LITERALLY WHAT WE'RE LIKE. CO-FUNDED BY EPSTEIN. DEFEND THE 50. TERRIBLE THINGS ARE HAPPENING OUTSIDE. POOR HELPLESS PEOPLE ARE BEING DRAGGED OUT OF THEIR HOMES. FAMILIES ARE TORN APART. MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE SEPARATED. CHILDREN COME HOME FROM SCHOOL TO FIND THAT THEIR PARENTS HAVE DISAPPEARED. YOU WOULD BE FORGIVEN FOR MISTAKING THESE WORDS AS AN EXCERPT FROM A CONTEMPORARY PUBLICATION WRITTEN THIS YEAR. BUT THOSE WORDS WERE WRITTEN BY ANNE FRANK. MY NAME IS MARY AND I'M A GR RESIDENT, BORN AND RAISED. I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION USES ICE AS A TOOL TO INVADE OUR COMMUNITIES AND TEAR FAMILIES APART. ALL OF THOSE AGENTS ARE TRAITORS TO THEIR PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF WHO THEIR ANCESTORS ARE, AND THEY ARE NOT WELCOME HERE. ON SATURDAY THE [01:55:01] 12TH, I ATTENDED A COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATION TO PROTEST ICE ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY. THAT MORNING, MYSELF AND AT LEAST 100 OTHERS WATCHED AS GRPD PUSHED THE PEACEFUL CROWD BACK WITH SMILES ON THEIR FACES, ENJOYING IT, AND USED THEIR CRUISERS TO ESCORT THE ICE VAN OUT OF THE FACILITY. AFTERWARDS, THEY INTRODUCED VIOLENCE TO THE DEMONSTRATION BY SNATCHING FIVE PROTESTERS FROM THE CROWD. TIME AND AGAIN, WE ARE TOLD THAT GRPD DOES NOT COORDINATE WITH ICE, YET GRPD DEMONSTRATES A PROTECTIVE NATURE TOWARDS THE FEDERAL AGENTS THAT ARE HUNTING OUR NEIGHBORS. THERE IS NO DENYING THAT GRPD AND ICE ARE COLLABORATIVE, ARE COLLABORATORS. I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES. AND THEN THIS WEEKEND, ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WAS CHASED DOWN BY THESE TRAITORS. AND THAT CHASE RESULTED IN THIS CITY LOSING A NEIGHBOR. HIS CIRCLES LOSING A FRIEND AND HIS FAMILY, LOSING A FATHER, A HUSBAND AND A SON. HIS NAME WAS MARIO DAVID CORONADO JUAREZ. AND HE SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY. IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS TO LISTEN TO OUR MOST EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY. SORRY, AFFECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON HOW TO PROTECT THEM FROM THIS GENUINELY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THIS COMMISSION HAS BEEN PRESENTED WITH SIX SANCTUARY POLICIES BY GRAND RAPIDS. I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEM AND INSIST THAT BOLD AND DECISIVE ACTION MUST BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO PREVENT MORE OF OUR NEIGHBORS LIVES BEING TAKEN BY THIS VIOLENT FEDERAL FORCE. WHILE ON THEIR WAY TO WORK. THANK YOU. HI, I'M KYLE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK UP AGAINST FLOC AND ICE. SHOUT OUT TO THE SPEAKERS ON HOUSING AND MOBILITY TODAY AND EVERYONE WHO SPOKE AGAINST HATE SPEECH EARLIER. LAST MEETING, I THANKED YOU FOR TAKING A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BY RELEASING THE GRAND RAPIDS TRANSPARENCY PORTAL. BUT WITH TRANSPARENCY, NOW COMES ACCOUNTABILITY. LAST WEEK, GRPD RECENTLY ARRESTED FIVE PROTESTERS TO PROTECT AN ICE TRANSPORT VAN. A MAN NAMED MARIO DAVID CORONEL JUAREZ, DIED NEAR MY NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER BEING CHASED BY ICE WHILE GRPD COVERED FOR THEM. I WISH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT PROTECTED OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE SAME ZEALOUS THAT THEY PROTECT. ICE. WHERE ARE YOUR HEARTS AND SOULS FOR YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS? I SPENT SIX HOURS OF MY OWN TIME PERSONALLY REVIEWING PD'S FLOCK TRANSPARENCY PORTAL SHARES TO CONFIRM THEY SHARE DATA WITH 1656 AGENCIES, OF WHICH AT LEAST 127 OR 8%, THAT I VERIFIED, ARE DEPUTIZED BY ICE THROUGH THEIR 287 G PROGRAM AND A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT TO COMPLY WITH ICE REQUESTS AND LAWFULLY ACT ON ICE BUSINESS. CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ONE OF THEM IN OUR OWN STATE. THAT MEANS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS. PRIOR CLAIMS OF NOT COLLABORATING WITH ICE ARE FALSE AND OUR CITIES FLOCK. USER AGREEMENT SECTION 4.2. SECOND TO LAST SENTENCE CUSTOMERS GRANT FLOCK A NONEXCLUSIVE, IRREVOCABLE, WORLDWIDE ROYALTY FREE LICENSE TO USE THE CUSTOMER GENERATED DATA FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FLOCK SERVICES. THIS MEANS FLOCK CAN USE COLLECTED DATA FOR ANY REASON THEY CHOOSE, REGARDLESS OF CITY PREFERENCE. EVEN AFTER CONTRACT TERMINATION. LAST WEEK, HACKER GROUP HACKED A FLOCK CAMERA AND MADE PUBLIC ALL OF ITS DATA. BY THE WAY, 27,000 VIDEO CLIPS WERE RELEASED OVER THE COURSE OF 21 DAYS FROM THAT. THAT MEANS AT FLOCK SAFETY MEETING WEEKS AGO, THEY LIED WHEN THEY SAID THAT FLOCK ONLY RECORDS STILL IMAGES. YOU CAN VERIFY IT YOURSELF. NONE OF US VOTED FOR FLOCK LICENSE PLATE READER CONTRACTS WITH NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED UNFIXED VULNERABILITIES. EVERY CITIZEN IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AT ALL TIMES BY FLOCK. THAT DOWNLOADED DATA IS OWNED BY FLOCK FOREVER. EVEN AFTER WE CANCEL OUR CITY'S FLOCK CONTRACT AND IS USABLE FOR AI TRAINING DISTRIBUTION AS THEY SEE FIT TO ICE. AND EVEN IF FLOCK WISHES NOT TO DO SO, IT IS OBTAINABLE BY AGENCIES THAT ARE DEPUTIZED BY ICE. AS SUCH, GRPD COLLABORATES WITH ICE AND HAVE NO CONTROL OR EVER WILL OVER COLLECTED FLOCK DATA. THERE IS NO REMEDIATION FOR ANY AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEM, INCLUDING FLOCK TO EARN BACK PUBLIC TRUST. I CALL ON YOU TO IMMEDIATELY CANCEL OUR FLOCKS. OUR CITY FLOCK CONTRACT ADOPT PUBLISHED SIX SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES AND NEVER AGAIN CONTRACT WITH ANY AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER OR COMPANY THAT SHARES DATA WITH ICE. YOUR ACTION IS IN. YOUR INACTION IS COMPLICITY. THANK YOU. HELLO, EVERYONE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MYSELF AND APPROXIMATELY 60 OTHER PEOPLE CAME TO THIS MEETING TO TALK ABOUT OUR FEELINGS ABOUT FLOCK. SINCE THEN, I QUICKLY COME TO REALIZE THAT FLOCK IS THE LATEST IN A LONG LINE OF SYSTEMIC ABUSE OF PRIVACY BY THE POLICE INFRASTRUCTURE. I STILL STAND WITH KOSHER SIX SANCTUARY CITY POLICY DEMANDS. THE POLICE [02:00:05] ROUTINELY USE NEW TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER TO FURTHER THEIR GAZE AND GRIP OVER THE PEOPLE. THEY HAVE GONE FROM OUTDATED ALPR TO ALWAYS ON SHOTSPOTTER MICROPHONES TO WARRANTLESS DOORBELL CAMERA ACCESS TO DRONES, AND THEN TO THE MODERN NETWORKED ALPR CAMERAS IN LESS THAN 15 YEARS, ALL TO STRIP AWAY FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO US IN THE CONSTITUTION. JUST TEN DAYS AGO, MANY PEOPLE BECAME FIRST HAND WITNESSES TO HOW THE POLICE USED DRONES TO SELECTIVELY ATTACK AND SUPPRESS PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE PROTESTS INTO SILENCE. THIS GROUP HAS COLLECTIVELY OFFERED THE CONVENIENT LIE THAT GRPD DOES NOT WORK WITH ICE, THAT THE SIX SANCTUARY CITY POLICY DEMANDS FROM COSECHA ARE ALREADY BEING FOLLOWED. THAT DATA COLLECTED BY FLOCK IS NOT SHARED WITH ICE. THAT THE SURVEILLANCE STATE WE LIVE IN DOES NOT RAPIDLY INCREASE THE SPEED OF OUR NEIGHBORS BEING KIDNAPED, KIDNAPED, AND TOSSED INTO AN UNMARKED VAN TO BE WHISKED AWAY TO THE NEAREST DEPORTATION CENTER. THESE SHIFTING OF GOALPOSTS, THIS WEASEL WORDS USED TO DEFLECT YOUR ACTIONS OR INACTIONS TO TELL POLITICAL HALF TRUTHS. IT IS SIMPLY COWARDICE. IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT FLOCK ALPERS, IF YOU DON'T CARE THAT ICE IS KIDNAPING YOUR NEIGHBORS IS SENDING THEM AWAY, THEN SAY WITH YOUR CHEST, SIT OR STAND UP TILL YOUR CHIN BACK. LOOK THE PUBLIC IN THE EYE AND TELL THEM THAT YOU DON'T CARE. THAT WAY WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHERE YOU STAND ON THESE ISSUES. WHOSE SIDE YOU STAND ON, WHETHER YOU STAND ON THE SIDE OF THE PUBLIC WITH LOVE, OR YOU STAND ON THE SIDE OF HATE AND DESTRUCTION. IF YOU ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE, HELP US. PLEASE HELP US DISMANTLE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. IF YOU ARE ON THE SIDE OF HATE, THEN GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY. BUENAS NOCHES. MI NOMBRE ES GEMMA. USTEDES SABEN EN VIVO. POR QUÉ SON LAS CAMARAS FLACK AND SANDRA, HER INTERPRETER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KIMA. YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHERE I LIVE BECAUSE OF THE FLOCK CAMERAS. MIREN SUS MANOS, MIREN SUS MANOS. LOOK AT YOUR HANDS. I WANT YOU TO LOOK CLOSELY AT YOUR HANDS. THE MAYOR. MAYOR ALSO FOR THE MAYOR. SUS MANOS. POR LA MUERTE DE UN MIEMBRO DE MI COMUNIDAD IMMIGRANT. YOUR HANDS ARE STAINED DUE TO THE DEATH BY THE VIOLENT DEATH OF A MEMBER OF MY IMMIGRATION IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. SU NOMBRE ERA MARIO. DAVID CORONADO. JUAREZ MURIO EN UN ACCIDENTE AUTOMOBILISTICO DURANTE LAS PRIMERAS HORAS DE LA MANANA DEL DOMINGO, 20 DE SEPTIEMBRE. HIS NAME WAS MARIO DAVID CORONADO JUAREZ. HE DIED IN A CAR CRASH DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH. TENIA APENAS CINCO ANOS ERA ESPOSO PADRE DE TRES HIJOS DE LOS HIJOS, UN HIJO. HE WAS ONLY 35 YEARS OLD, A HUSBAND, A FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN, TWO DAUGHTERS AND A SON, MARIO TRABAJADOR DE UNA FAMILIA DE CLASE TRABAJADORA VIVIR UNA VIDA DE CENTRADA EN SU FAMILIA Y SU TRABAJO ERA UN CRISTIANO EVANGÉLICO, SEGUN SU FAMILIA NO TIENE. SUBJETIVO ERA SENCILLO TRABAJAR MANTENER A SU FAMILIA. AHORA SUFICIENTE DINERO Y ALGUN DIA COMENZAR A CONSTRUIR UNA CASA PARA SU ESPOSA Y SUS HIJOS EN GUATEMALA, MARIO MARIO WAS A HARD WORKING MAN FROM A WORKING CLASS FAMILY. HE LIVED A HUMBLE LIFE CENTERED AROUND HIS FAMILY AND HIS WORK. HE WAS AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN, AND ACCORDING TO HIS FAMILY, HE HAD NO VICES. HIS GOAL WAS SIMPLE TO WORK HARD, SUPPORT HIS FAMILY, SAVE ENOUGH MONEY, AND ONE DAY BEGIN BUILDING A HOME FOR HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN IN GUATEMALA. MARIO EQ7Q SU VIDA TENIA UN SIGNIFICADO EN ESTE ES EL MOVIMIENTO DE ACTUAR NO PODEMOS ESPERAR. QUÉ OCURRA OTRA DESGRACIA DEBIDO A LA INACTION INACCEPTABLE DE [02:05:04] USTEDES. NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHO MARIO WAS, AND NOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT HIS LIFE HAD MEANING, IT IS TIME TO ACT. WE CANNOT WAIT FOR ANOTHER TRAGEDY TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF UNACCEPTABLE INACTION. WE HAVE THREE DEMANDS. UNO. PROMULGATED THE ORDINANCE OF THE GRAND RAPIDS PRIVACIDAD SEGURIDAD Y DIGNIDAD PARA TODOS ESTA ORDENANZA PARA PROTEGER A LAS FAMILIAS MIGRANTES DE NUESTRA COMUNIDAD DE LA VIOLENCIA DE EYES Q CONTIENEN LAS POLITICAS SANTUARIO INCLUYENDO LA PROHIBICION DE LAS CAMARAS COMO FLAG. ONE IMMEDIATELY ENACT THE GRAND RAPIDS PRIVACY, SAFETY AND DIGNITY FOR ALL ORDINANCE TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE VIOLENCE OF ICE THAT CONTAINS THE SIX SANCTUARY POLICIES, INCLUDING THE BAN OF ALL A LPR LIKE THE FLOCK CAMERAS, SEGUNDO I DE LA POLICIA ESTATAL DE MICHIGAN, EL DEPARTAMENTO DE BOMBEROS Y TODOS LOS DEMAS. AUTORIDADES INVOLUCRADAS DEBEN PROPORCIONAR TOTAL TRANSPARENCY SOBRE EL ACCIDENTE FATAL DE MARIO DAVID CORONADO, JUAREZ, OCURRIDO EL DOMINGO DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2026. ESTO DE TODAS LAS GRABACIONES DE VIDEO DISPONIBLES. CORREOS ELECTRONICOS COMMUNICATION FOR RADIO COMMUNICATION POR TELÉFONO CELULAR IN LA MAYOR MEDIDA POSSIBLE PARA EL PUBLICO Y LA FAMILIA DE MARIO PUEDEN SER EXACTAMENTE OCURRIO TWO ICE GPD, THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OTHER AUTHORITIES INVOLVED MUST PROVIDE FULL TRANSPARENCY REGARDING MARIO DAVID CORONADO FATAL FATAL CRASH ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2026. THIS INCLUDES RELEASING ALL AVAILABLE VIDEO FOOTAGE, EMAILS, RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AND CELL PHONE COMMUNICATIONS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE SO THAT THE PUBLIC AND MARIUS, MARIO'S FAMILY CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. LAVAR ANTE LA JUSTICIA A LOS AGENTES RESPONSABLES DE SU ACCIDENTE FATAL COSTA, LA VIDA DE MARIO, DAVID CORONADO, JUAREZ THREE BRING TO JUSTICE THE AGENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FATAL CRASH THAT TOOK MARIO DAVID CORONADO'S LIFE. AHORA MIREN A SUS MANOS ESTAS EN LAS MANOS Y POR LA JUSTICIA PROTEGER A NUESTRA FAMILIA NO ES EL TRABAJO DEL ESTADO DEL GOBIERNO FEDERAL DE NUESTRA COMUNIDAD DESCRIBIR ESAS ORDENANZAS ES EL TRABAJO DE SUS MANOS ES RESPONSABILIDAD NO AIR, NO MANANA. AHORA. LOOK AT YOUR HANDS AGAIN. THESE ARE THE HANDS THAT HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE ACTION FOR JUSTICE AND TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. NOT YESTERDAY, NOT TOMORROW, BUT NOW. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALEX. I'M A GRT RESIDENT. AGAIN BECAUSE OF FLOCK. YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHERE I LIVE TO AND I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH GRAND RAPIDS RAPID RESPONSE TO ICE. I'M NOT HERE. I'M HERE NOT ONLY BECAUSE DAVID LE GRAND AND ALL OF YOU HAVE REFUSED TO ACT, BUT GRPD HAS YET AGAIN COLLABORATED WITH ICE IN TWO DAYS AND TWO DAYS AGO, THE SAME AGENCY YOU ARE ALL COMPLICIT IN MURDERED A MAN THROUGH THE RECKLESSNESS. SO JUST TO GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY, BASED ON SOME COMMENTS IN THE PAST, WE'RE NOT JUST DEMANDING NO FLOCK. WE'RE DEMANDING NO ALPR CAMERAS, NOT REFORMS, HOW DATA IS SHARED, NOT A NEW VENDOR, NOT A STUDY. BUT THEN THE CONTRACT. WE, THE COMMUNITY, DO NOT CONSENT TO THIS KIND OF SURVEILLANCE. ALSO, YOUR REFUSAL TO MEET WITH COSECHA SHOWS CONTEMPT AND DISRESPECT. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO HIDE BY HAVING A PUBLIC CONVERSATION? ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, GRPD COLLABORATED WITH ICE AGAIN, IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED ON PICTURES AND VIDEOS. THEY WERE EXCEPTIONALLY VIOLENT AGAINST UNARMED COMMUNITY MEMBERS DEFENDING THEIR NEIGHBORS. TO BE CLEAR, BECAUSE YOU KEEP MISREPRESENTING, MISREPRESENTING OUR POSITION, THIS EXACT ACTIVITY THAT GRP DID IS WHAT WE ARE DEMANDING YOU STOP. THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN BY ENDING COLLABORATION WITH ICE. THEY NEED TO NOT DEPLOY TO TO DEFEND THESE MURDERERS. SOMETHING SOMEONE TOLD A A FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO WAS THERE TOLD ME SOMETHING THAT REALLY RESONATED ME, RESONATED WITH ME. THEY SAID THAT THEY BELIEVED ME BEFORE, BUT SEEING [02:10:01] IT IN PERSON MADE IT MORE REAL. AND THAT SPIRIT, I'M GOING TO READ OFF SOME NAMES FROM REAL PEOPLE. CHAD VAN DAM, AARON SANDERS, BRETT SALZMAN, DRAKE SHUB, IAN HANNITY, JACK TABARROK, JESSE SAMSEL, JOSEPH ROLOFF, JUSTIN KOTEK, KYLE DE SOLA, SPENCER. SELLNER, THEO CHAWLA, S BATES. THESE ARE ALL GRPD OFFICERS WHO HAVE SHOWN UP TO COLLABORATE WITH ICE WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS AT THE ICE FIELD OFFICE BEFORE ANYONE POINTS OUT THEY'RE FOLLOWING LAW AND ORDERS. WE ALL KNOW THE HISTORY OF THAT. THEY CHOSE THIS JOB. THEY CHOSE TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION IS TO DO THE WRONG THING. WE'RE A PRETTY SMALL COMMUNITY. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THEM IN OTHER CONTEXTS. YOU SHOULD KNOW THESE PEOPLE ARE UNSAFE AND ARE COMPLICIT WITH MURDERERS AND ARE VIOLENT. THESE OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO DO THIS HARM BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU UP HERE. THESE SANCTUARY DEMANDS HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU FOR OVER A YEAR. REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE, YOU ARE ALL COMPLICIT UNTIL YOU ACT. HELLO, MY NAME IS MICHAEL THOMPSON. I'VE BEEN IN GRAND RAPIDS IN THE VICINITY OF 34 YEARS. ISH. I LOVE THIS CITY. I DON'T LOVE EVERYTHING I SEE THAT'S HAPPENING IN IT. I'VE BEEN DEBATING MYSELF STANDING IN LINE. IF I SHOULD SAY THIS, TONIGHT'S DISPLAY THAT WAS ANTI ISLAMIC AND ANTI. JUST HATE SPEECH. REALLY. IN THE NAME OF LORD JESUS CHRIST. FOR MANY OF US WHO ALSO CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WE HAVE THE SAME REVULSION IN OUR GUTS TO THAT ATTACK AS THOSE IN MY. IN MY GROUP. THE RAPID RESPONSE TO ICE FRIENDS, WHETHER THEY ARE ALSO CHURCHGOERS OR WHETHER THEY ARE NOT CHURCH GOERS, IT. WE HAVE SOLIDARITY AT OTHER LEVELS, AND I THINK IT'S WORTH SAYING ONLY BECAUSE OF HOW BAD IT WAS TONIGHT NOT TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE EVANGELISTS SPEECH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT I'M SORRY TO THE ROOM FOR OTHERS WHO ARE PART OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOU, THAT MADE US SICK AS WELL. AND MARSHALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE TO STAND UP. NOW TO THE MAIN POINT. I'LL BE BRIEF. THE SIX SANCTUARY POLICIES I ADD MY AMEN. AS I HAVE MANY TIMES HERE BEFORE, I AM SADDENED AND DISGUSTED THAT WE LOST MARIO, DAVID CORONADO HAS, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, A GREAT HUMAN BEING, NEEDLESSLY, STUPIDLY, MALICIOUSLY. IF THERE WERE, AND IF THIS IS GOING TO GO THE WAY IT GOES IN OTHER CITIES WILL BE TOLD THAT HE WAS PROVOKING WHETHER HE WAS THE TARGET OR NOT. HE WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO TO MERIT HIS OWN DEATH. AND IF YOU LET THAT GO BY, I DON'T QUICKLY GOING TO SAY YOU'RE ALL COMPLICIT. I THINK WE ARE ALL COMPLICIT IF WE LET IT GO BY. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STANDING HERE FOR HIM, FOR OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS. AND I ALSO SUPPORT THE GRAND RAPIDS FIVE, AS WE'RE COMING TO CALL THEM. WHO GOT ARRESTED? I WASN'T THERE THAT DAY. I WAS THERE ANOTHER DAY WHERE A VERY SIMILAR THING OCCURRED. WE WERE STANDING PROTESTING, AND THEY HAD 3 OR 4 PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MOVE. AND AS SOON AS THE DOOR OPENED FOR THE VAN TO COME OUT, THERE WAS A GOOD 10 OR 12 ICE AGENTS WITH TEAR GAS. WE WERE ALL, WE HAVE T SHIRTS AND, YOU KNOW, PLACARDS OR LOUD VOICES AND WHATEVER. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING. THEY WERE READY TO PEPPER SPRAY US. BUT BEFORE THE VAN COULD COME OUT OR THESE MEN MARCH ON US THE VERY SAME SECOND, 3 OR 4 GRPD CRUISERS WERE THERE TO START SHOVING US OUT OF THE WAY THE VERY MOMENT. SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE SAYING TO YOU, WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU. MY TIME IS UP. WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU SAY THERE'S NO COLLABORATION, PLEASE END THAT COLLABORATION. MY NAME IS JOHN HAYNES. I LIVE IN THE SECOND WARD. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. I WANT TO JUST SAY, FEEL FREE TO STAND UP AND STRETCH OUT IF YOU NEED TO GET THE BLOOD FLOWING A LITTLE BIT AT THIS POINT, FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE STOOD BEFORE YOU, ASKING FOR SIX POLICIES TO PROTECT OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS FROM THE HARMS HAPPENING. EVERY DAY. WE HAVE COME PEACEFULLY. WE HAVE COME REPEATEDLY, AND STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN PUT INTO POLICY. WE ARE TOLD BY THE [02:15:02] MAYOR THAT THE CITY IS ALREADY DOING WHAT THESE SIX POLICIES WOULD REQUIRE. SO I HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION. IF YOU ARE ALREADY WILLING TO DO THESE THINGS, WHY WON'T YOU PUT THEM IN WRITING? WHY ISN'T A SINGLE COMMISSIONER WILLING TO INTRODUCE AN ACTION RESOLUTION SO THESE POLICIES CAN AT LEAST BE DISCUSSED, REVIEWED AND CONSIDERED BY THIS COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY. POLICIES PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY. THEY PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THEY TELL OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS THAT THEIR SAFETY AND RIGHTS ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON PROMISES. WE ARE ALSO TOLD THAT GRAND RAPIDS POLICE DO NOT COOPERATE WITH ICE. BUT ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, I PERSONALLY WITNESSED GRAND RAPIDS POLICE HELPING ESCORT VANS CARRYING IMMIGRANTS TO A DETENTION CENTER, AND POLICE THREATEN PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WHO WERE THERE PROTESTING ICE AND THE DAILY HARMS ICE IS BRINGING TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO WHEN WE ARE TOLD ONE THING, WHILE OUR OWN EYES TELL US SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WHY SHOULD WE SIMPLY TRUST ASSURANCES? AND ALL OF WHAT I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT REMIND ME OF THE HISTORY OF A FAMOUS BRIDGE IN ALABAMA, WHERE PEOPLE ONCE STOOD PEACEFULLY, DEMANDING THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZE THEIR RIGHTS. THEY WERE MET WITH A WALL OF AUTHORITY THAT ALLOWED BRUTALITY TO CONTINUE. TODAY WE ARE STANDING BEFORE OUR OWN WALL, NOT OF CONCRETE AND STEEL, BUT OF GOVERNMENT IN ACTION, LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN ACTION. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO STAND AGAINST US. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO STAND WITH US, TO TAKE DOWN THE WALL, BRING THESE SIX POLICIES FORWARD. LET THE COMMUNITY DISCUSS THEM, LET THIS COMMISSION DEBATE THEM, AND THEN TAKE ACTION. OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME BACK MONTH AFTER MONTH, YEAR AFTER YEAR, BEGGING THE CITY TO PROTECT THEM. THEY DESERVE MORE THAN PROMISES. THEY DESERVE ACTION. THEY DESERVE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THEY DESERVE A CITY COMMISSION WILLING TO STAND UP FOR THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS. AFTER TWO YEARS, WE ARE STILL ASKING, WHERE IS THE CHAMPION ON THIS COMMISSION? WHO WILL FINALLY BRING THESE POLICIES FORWARD? AND MAYOR LE GRAND, WHEN WILL YOU COME OVER TO THIS SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND MEET WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED? AND IF THE MAYOR WON'T DO IT, WHY AREN'T COMMISSIONERS GETTING TOGETHER AND MEETING WITH THE AFFECTED COMMUNITY? THIS SHOULD BE DONE. THANK YOU. HELLO. GOOD EVENING TO YOU ALL. MAYOR LA GRANDE. HI, IT'S ME AGAIN. SEVERAL WEEKS I STOOD RIGHT HERE AND I PROMISED THAT WE WOULD ALL KEEP SHOWING UP. HERE WE ARE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BE HERE TELLING YOU THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ANGRY. YOUR COMMUNITY IS SCARED. WE ARE SO TIRED OF HAVING TO BEG YOU ALL TO HELP KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE FROM ICE VIOLENCE. I PLAN TO COME HERE TONIGHT AND TALK ABOUT SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS, FLAT CAMERAS AND THE ENTIRETY OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY ARE. THE SIX SANCTUARY POLICIES THAT MOVIMIENTO, COSECHA AND RAPID RESPONSE HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR THE LAST 19 MONTHS THAT YOU HAVEN'T PASSED THE TRAGIC DEATH OF MARIO DAVID CORONADO JUAREZ, THE MAN WHO DIED FLEEING ICE AGENTS RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY ON SUNDAY, OR THE UNJUST ARREST OF FIVE PEOPLE AT 517 OTTAWA ON SEPTEMBER 12TH. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT ALL THESE THINGS HAVE IN COMMON GRPD AND ICE COLLABORATING AND WORKING TOGETHER DESPITE YOUR CONSISTENT COMMENTS OF DENIAL. LAST SATURDAY, ABOUT 100 OR SO OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AND I HAPPENED TO WITNESS IT WITH OUR OWN EYES AS GRPD THREATENED TO RELEASE CHEMICAL MUNITIONS IN A PUBLIC ALLEYWAY. WE WERE ALL THERE TO MARK A MOMENT IN HISTORY AND TO WITNESS ICE, WHO HAD KIDNAPED OUR NEIGHBORS RIGHT THERE AND TAKEN THEM TO 517 OTTAWA. THAT MOMENT WAS MARKED ALL RIGHT WHILE WE WATCHED A FULL GRPD ESCORT ASSIST THE VAN OUT OF THE ALLEY WITH OUR KIDNAPED NEIGHBORS IN THERE AS THEY WERE HAULED TO THE CONCENTRATION CAMP. NEXT, WE HAVE HAD OVER 1000 IMMIGRANTS KIDNAPED BY ICE AND GR THIS YEAR. 1000. MORE THAN 1000 AT THIS POINT. IN FACT, JUST TODAY WE SUPPORTED IN A SITUATION WHERE AN IMMIGRANT MAN WAS TAKEN AT HIS APPOINTMENT AT 517 OTTAWA. THIS MAN, HE HAS ALREADY BEEN IN NORTH LAKE. THIS YEAR. HE WAS GRANTED RELEASE BY A JUDGE AND THEN DETAINED AGAIN TODAY. YOU KNOW WHO WAS THERE TO SUPPORT ALL OF US, THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW WHO WASN'T THERE, DAVID, YOUR PEACEFUL OBSERVERS. GRPD HAS ASSISTED THE GEO GROUP VAN IN LOADING AND DRIVING OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH LAKE DETENTION CENTER IN BALDWIN, MICHIGAN, AND WE HAVE WITNESSED IT. GRPD HAS ASSISTED ICE AGENTS AND LEAVING WORK FOR THE DAY SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL SAFE AND CANNOT BE EASILY IDENTIFIED. AND DAVID SAID THAT ICE AGENTS DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE. GRPD HAS ASSISTED ICE IN ARRESTING IMMIGRANTS ALL OVER OUR CITY, AND MOST RECENTLY, THIS LAST SUNDAY, GRPD BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC AND WORKED THE SCENE WHERE MARIO DAVID CORONADO JUAREZ DIED BECAUSE ICE WAS AGGRESSIVELY IN PURSUIT OF HIM. WE KNOW THE SAME VEHICLES AT THE SCENE OF MARIO'S DEATH ARE THE EXACT SAME VEHICLES THAT ARE PARKED AT THE ICE OFFICE AND REPEATEDLY SEEN AT SCENES KIDNAPING OUR NEIGHBORS. I'M SURE YOU CAN SEE THEM ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, JUST LIKE WE DO. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THE ARREST NOW OUTSIDE OF THE ICE OFFICE ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, THE ICE FIELD OFFICE. THAT SATURDAY, WE WERE OUT IN A PUBLIC ALLEYWAY. WE WERE CALLING AWARENESS TO THE ICE VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR TAX MONEY? BECAUSE AFTER THOSE FIVE WERE [02:20:04] ARRESTED AND THE GRPD VEHICLES LEFT THE SCENE, AND WE ALL STARTED FEVERISHLY CHECKING OUR RECORDS AND CONTACTING THE JAIL, TRYING TO LOCATE OUR COMRADES, THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AND SOME UNCLARITY BECAUSE MORE AND MORE TIME PASSED AND GOSH, THEY WEREN'T BEING BOOKED AT KENT COUNTY JAIL. AND GOSH, THEY HADN'T EVEN SHOWN UP TO THE BUILDING YET. WHY YOU ASK? HERE'S A WILD SURPRISE SHOCKER. THE GRPD OFFICERS THAT HANDLED THE ARREST AND LEFT THE SCENE WERE GATHERED UP, SITTING IN A PARKING LOT A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY ON THE CLOCK, WITH HUMAN BEINGS IN HANDCUFFS IN THE BACK SEAT, SITTING THERE SUFFERING INSIDE. THE OFFICERS WERE DISCUSSING WHAT THEY MIGHT DO WITH THE PEOPLE ARRESTED. SO PAST THE SIX SANCTUARY POLICIES, YOU HEARD THE THREE DEMANDS WE HAVE FOR MARIO. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. HI. SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE WHO JUST SPOKE BEFORE ME ABOUT A VARIETY OF THINGS, ABOUT THE FIGHT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGAINST ICE, ALL OF THAT. YOU'RE WONDERFUL. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING NEW. I JUST REMIND YOU THAT NOBODY IN THIS ROOM IS SAYING THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. RATHER, THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM KNOW WITH GREAT CLARITY THAT THEY'VE BEEN PRESENTED THIS FALSE EITHER OR CHOICE TO ACCEPT BEING SURVEILLED OR DON'T, AND JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WE CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, THIS CITY, AND SO MUCH SO, THAT FLOCK AND ALPERS ARE DEEPLY UNPOPULAR AMONG PEOPLE ACROSS VAST POLITICAL BELIEFS, AND THAT UNPOPULARITY IS NOT A RESULT OF INDOCTRINATION OR WHATEVER YOU MIGHT CALL IT. IT'S AN INNATE KNOWING OF HOW UNSETTLING IT IS TO BE WATCHED. IT'S WRONG THAT DRIVING TO WORK, PICKING UP YOUR CHILD FROM SCHOOL, GETTING GROCERIES, SEEING FRIENDS CAN PUT YOU ON A POLICE DATABASE. AND IT'S NOT MAINTAINING COMMUNITY SAFETY. WHEN AN ERROR FROM AN ALPR CAN LEAD AN OFFICER TO BELIEVE THAT AN INNOCENT PERSON IS A DANGEROUS CRIMINAL, IT'S ESPECIALLY NOT A TOOL FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY. WHEN THESE CAMERAS GROW MORE OVERT IN THEIR USE FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. WITHOUT OUR SAY ON THE MATTER, POLICE SHOULD INVESTIGATE PEOPLE BASED ON EVIDENCE. THEY SHOULDN'T BUILD A SEARCHABLE RECORD OF EVERYONE'S MOVEMENTS IN CASE IT BECOMES USEFUL LATER. ADOPT SANCTUARY POLICIES AND END ALL CONTRACTS PRESENT AND FUTURE WITH ANY ALPR PROVIDERS. WE SAY THIS TO OUR KIDS ALL THE TIME. EVIDENTLY, WE STILL NEED TO HEAR THIS AS ADULTS. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COUNTRY'S ANTI-IMMIGRATION LEGACY. STOP COLLABORATING WITH ICE. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE VO. I AM A RESIDENT OF THE FIRST WARD. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO ADOPT THE SIX POLICIES OF THE SANCTUARY CITY ALSO, AND TO SPEAK ON THE HOUSING ISSUE AND FLOCK CAMERAS. AND HONESTLY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ALL OF THESE ISSUES LAY LEAD TO THE SAME LOCAL OLIGARCHS AS THE BILLIONAIRE FAMILIES. IF YOU'VE HEARD ME SPEAK BEFORE, MY FATHER WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH THESE FAMILIES. HE WAS REGIONAL MANAGER AT MORGAN STANLEY, HANDLED SOME OF THEIR CORPORATE AMWAY ACCOUNTS FOR THEIR CLIENTS AND SOME OF THEIR PERSONAL MONEY. WE KNOW THESE FAMILIES HAVE LOTS OF MONEY DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT HE HELPED HANDLE A CHUNK OF THAT AND WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN POLITICS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. I GREW UP GOING TO THESE POLITICAL EVENTS. MY PARENTS WERE. ANYWAY, THIS IS THEIR LONG TERM GOAL IS TO OWN EVERYTHING AROUND US, TO HAVE CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. THAT IS THE FINAL GOAL OF THIS. ALL THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN SEVEN MOUNTAIN DOMINANCE. AND NOT ONLY THAT, AS TIME IS GOING TO GO ON AND MORE WHISTLEBLOWERS COME OUT, PEOPLE THAT KNOW EVEN MORE THAN I DO. ALTHOUGH I DO KNOW QUITE A BIT FROM MY TIME HANDLING FILES AT MORGAN STANLEY, KNOWING WHO EXACTLY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS ARE. IT'S A COUP. IT'S A PLOT. IT'S BEEN THEIR PLAN FOR A LONG TIME TO PRIVATIZE EVERYTHING, AND WE ALLOW IT. AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY ARE IN BUSINESS WITH EPSTEIN. IT'S SHOWING IN THE FILES ALREADY THAT THERE ARE BUSINESS ENTANGLEMENTS BETWEEN THESE FAMILIES. NONE OF THIS IS A SURPRISE TO ME. NONE OF THIS IS A SURPRISE TO ME. THIS IS THE CULTURE I WAS RAISED IN. THAT WAS THE CULTURE IT WAS, WE'RE GOING TO PRETEND WE'RE CHRISTIAN ALL DAY AND AT NIGHT WE'RE NOT. HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO BUY INTO THIS, IF I'M BEING QUITE HONEST? AND WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE BALLS TO STAND UP TO FAMILIES THAT SUPPORT PEDOPHILIA, EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY? THIS IS NOT EVEN WITHIN THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION. WE ARE HAVING WHISTLEBLOWERS COME OUT NOW, A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAS BEEN TRAFFICKED MOST OF HER LIFE FOR BLACKMAIL FOR THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION. SHE HAD TO TESTIFY FOR ROBERT MUELLER AND [02:25:04] DO A WHOLE BUNCH JUST TO GET OUT OF HER TRAFFICKING TO OUR PRESIDENT AND TOP PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION. DO WE WANT TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE MODERN DAY NAZI HEAD CENTER CITY? IS THAT WHAT OUR LEGACY IS GOING TO BE, THE HEADQUARTERS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST GOING TO GET WORSE AND WORSE? WHAT DID THE FTC JUST COME OUT? THE AMWAY CORP. AND TWO AFFILIATES HAVE AGREED TO PAY 225 MILLION TO RESOLVE ALLEGATIONS FROM THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION IN WASHINGTON STATE THAT THEY USE DECEPTIVE TACTICS TO RECRUIT MEMBERS TO THE DIRECT SELLING AND MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING BUSINESS. THEY ARE A CULT. THEY USE DECEPTIVE PROFITS, THEY ARE A CULT, AND YOU NEED TO STAND UP TO THEM. HELLO, MY NAME IS JOSH. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE FIRST WARD. I WAS GOING TO USE THE FLOCK JOKE, BUT EMMA STOLE THAT FROM ME SO I WON'T GO. GO START WITH THAT. I JUST HAVE A POEM FOR YOU GUYS TODAY. I'M A PART OF MOVIMIENTO COSECHA. I'VE BEEN IN THE BACKGROUND LARGELY AS A STRATEGIC STRATEGIC MOVE, BUT IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I. I NEED TO COME OUT AND DO THIS. I'M NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUT HERE WE ARE. IT'S CALLED I'M ANGRY AT MY LEADERS. I WROTE THIS AS I WAS WATCHING THE LAST TOWN HALL AND WATCHING EVERYONE JUST KIND OF POUR THEIR HEARTS OUT AND NOT FEELING THERE WAS TOO MUCH OF A RESPONSE. I ACTUALLY REALLY APPRECIATE HOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT MOSTLY EVERYONE TODAY, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT HELPS THE PEOPLE FEEL SEEN. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS WHO CONTINUE TO DISAPPOINT US. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS WHO PUT PROFIT BEFORE OUR COMMUNITY. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS FOR CHOOSING VIOLENCE OVER LOVE. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS WHO CHOOSE THE EXPLOITATION OF ITS COMMUNITY AND GENERATIONS TO COME OVER ITS OWN CONSTITUENTS. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS WHO CANNOT EVEN LOOK AT US IN THE EYES AS WE CRY AND VENT OUR FRUSTRATIONS TO THEM. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS WHO TAKE FOR TAKING THE SIDE OF BIG TECH AND CORPORATIONS. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS FOR PAVING THE WAY FOR AI AND FLOCK TO BECOME EMBEDDED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS WHO CHOOSE TO TURN A BLIND EYE AS OUR NEIGHBOR GETS TAKEN FROM THE STREETS. I'M ANGRY AT LEADERS BECAUSE A PERSON WHO IS ASKING FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IS LABELED AS A VILLAIN IN MODERN DAY AMERICA. I'M ANGRY MY LEADERS, BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THE 10% OVER THE OTHER 90%. I'M ANGRY AT MY LEADERS FOR ALLOWING OUR WATERS TO GET POLLUTED. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS FOR NOT COMMENTING ON THE LYNCHINGS OF OUR 22 BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN 2026. I AM ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS BECAUSE THE ONLY CHOICE I HAD IN THIS PRIMARY WAS PRO DATA CENTER VERSUS PRO DATA CENTER. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT INSTALL SANCTUARY POLICIES IN OUR CITY. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS FOR NOT PROTECTING THOSE WHO NEED IT TO BE PROTECTED. I AM ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS FOR NOT HOLDING CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE AS THEY DESTROY EVERYTHING WE KNOW TO BE BEAUTIFUL. I'M ANGRY AT OUR LEADERS BECAUSE THEY KEEP REFUSING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC WHO REMAINS PEACEFUL AND DOCILE IN THE LIGHT OF FASCISM. I'M ANGRY AT LEADERS FOR MAKING ME DO THIS AFTER SO MANY HAVE BEFORE ME HAVE COME AND THE MANY THAT WILL COME AFTER ME. I'M ANGRY BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET BYRON, WHO PRAYED FOR HIS SECURITY GUARDS OUT OF THE DETENTION CENTER. I'M ANGRY THE LEADERS BECAUSE THEY WON'T DO BETTER. I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE ZIANNA OLIPHANT, A HERO OF MINE SINCE I HEARD HER SPEECH MANY YEARS AGO. I COME HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT HOW I FEEL, AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER PEOPLE, AND I DON'T LIKE HOW WE'RE TREATED. AND JUST BECAUSE OF OUR COLOR DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO ME. WE ARE BLACK PEOPLE. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THIS. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PROTEST BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE TREATING US WRONG. WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE NEED TO AND WE HAVE RIGHTS. SHE WAS NINE AT THE TIME. SHE IS NOW 19. I HOPE WE'RE DOING YOU PROUD. LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO IGNORE THE PUBLIC AND CONTINUE TO ESCALATE THE PUBLIC. THIS MEETING WAS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THAT. HONESTLY, I FEEL BETTER POWER WALKING AWAY NEXT TIME AND JUST EMPTYING THE ROOM FOR SOMEONE WHO'S SPOUTING HATE. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M CORBIN TARRANT, SECOND WARD RESIDENT AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE. I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY AND I DON'T HAVE A BIG SPEECH. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ECHO MANY OTHERS AND ASK THAT YOU STOP THE COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION WITH ICE, AND THAT YOU ADOPT THE MOVIMIENTO COSECHA SIX SANCTUARY POLICIES. THE FEAR AND INTIMIDATION OF OUR NEIGHBORS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND ADOPTING THE SIX SANCTUARY POLICIES WILL MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER AND A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU. JEFF. LIVE IN THE SECOND WARD. I DON'T HAVE ANY ZINGERS OR SPEECHES PREPARED OR ANYTHING, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT IN CONTEXT LIKE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, RIGHT? SOME PEOPLE ARE REFERRED TO SOME OF THOSE THINGS, BUT I THINK THERE'S [02:30:01] OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SAID. SO WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE ACTIVITY OF THAT THAT OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME. AND WE KNOW THAT ON A DAILY BASIS THERE ARE MULTIPLE, SOMETIMES THREE, SOMETIMES AS MANY AS SIX PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE BEING ABDUCTED AND TAKEN TO THAT THAT OFFICE, THE 517 OFFICE, WHICH IS THE ICE DEPLOYMENT OFFICE, PEOPLE ARE THEN PUT IN A HOLDING CELL. THEY HAVE A HOLDING CELL IN THAT BUILDING, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A BUILDING THAT THEY DON'T OWN, THEY RENT THAT BUILDING. THE GEO VAN COMES EVERY DAY TO PICK PEOPLE UP, TO BE TRANSPORTED TO NORTH LAKE. THEY USUALLY PULL INTO THE GARAGE, WHICH IS ON THE WEST END OF THAT BACK BUILDING WHERE THE ALLEY IS. SO ON THE ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, THERE WERE A BUNCH OF US ON BOTH ENDS OF THE ALLEY TRYING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THE GEO VAN WAS. AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT, SEVERAL GRPD SQUAD CARS SHOWED UP. SORT OF TRYING TO KETTLE US IN ON BOTH ENDS. THE NORTH AND SOUTH END OF THAT ALLEY. WE WERE UP BY THE AREA WHERE THERE'S FENCING, THIS WROUGHT IRON FENCING, A BIG GATE THAT THE ICE AGENTS INSTALLED EARLIER THIS YEAR. IT BORDERS WITH THE BUILDING THAT THEY OPERATE OUT OF. WHEN THEY REALIZED THAT WE WERE THERE, THEY STARTED PUSHING US BACK FURTHER TO THE SOUTH PART OF THE ALLEY. AND THE REASON THEY DID THAT, AND THE REASON WE KNOW, BECAUSE THEY WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER, TALKING TO ICE ON THE THE RADIOS, AS CAN BE ATTESTED BY THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ARRESTED BY ICE. THEY DID THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO GET US AWAY FROM THE GATE SO THAT THE VAN WOULD NOT COME TO THE GARAGE, BUT THEY COULD BRING THE ABDUCTED IMMIGRANTS OUT OF THE BUILDING AND PUT THEM IN THE GARAGE, AND THEN GET OUT OF THE THE GATE. BECAUSE WE WERE NOT PRESENT. THEY WERE ESCORTED FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS OUT BY THE GRPD. SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THEY COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH ICE, TO KNOW THAT THEY HAD TO MOVE US SO THEY COULD DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO. BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE LAW DEFENDS ICE, EVEN THOUGH THE LAW SUPPORTS WHAT THE GRPD DOES, BUT WE REFUSE TO OBEY UNJUST LAWS. PEOPLE ARE BEING TAKEN. THEY'RE BEING DISAPPEARED, THEY'RE BEING ABDUCTED, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND TO NOT CONTINUE TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. ADOPT A SANCTUARY POLICIES, BAN FLOCK CAMERAS AND JUSTICE FOR MARIO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LINDA TROUT. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE SECTION. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF SAGE'S DEMANDS FOR SANCTUARY CITY PROTECTIONS. ICE IS TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITY. THESE ARE POORLY TRAINED, POORLY VETTED, OVERLY ARMED HENCHMEN WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO BLATANTLY WHITE CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST RECRUITMENT ADS. SENATOR WHITEHOUSE HAS REPEATEDLY CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THESE HEINOUS PRACTICES. GRPD IS SUPPOSED TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE COMMUNITY, NOT ICE AGENTS, WHO ARE DEPRIVING RESIDENTS OF DUE PROCESS, SENDING THEM TO FOR PROFIT GULAGS WHERE MANY LANGUISH, ENDURING BAD FOOD, UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS AND LACK OF LEGAL COUNSEL. ICE IS NOT GOING AFTER CRIMINALS. THEY ARE FILLING A QUOTA IN SERVICE TO THE REAL CRIMINAL IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WHO FOR YEARS HAS DEMONIZED IMMIGRANTS, AT LEAST THOSE HE DOES NOT MARRY. I WAS AT THE PROTEST SEPTEMBER 12TH. I LEFT, I'M OLD, SO I LEFT WHEN GRPD THREATENED TO ARREST US. I DROVE BACK TO DIVISION VIA MASON AND SAW 15 TO 20 GRPD CARS PARKED IN A LOT ALONGSIDE DIVISION, NOT FAR FROM THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE ON OTTAWA. WE'RE 100 PEACEFUL PROTESTERS. THE THREAT THAT CALLED SO MANY OFFICERS TO THAT AREA HELP PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS. THEIR PRESENCE IN GRAND RAPIDS ENRICHES ALL OF OUR LIVES AND THEY DESERVE OUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. HELLO. I'M GLAD FOR THE NEW INFORMATION SO I WON'T ANNOUNCE WHO I AM. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK. AND I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT [02:35:03] EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID. I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD TIME TO PREPARE SOMETHING TO SAY. BUT I DO SUPPORT THE GRAND RAPIDS FIVE WHO SHOWED COURAGE AND DID WHAT WE SHOULD ALL BE DOING ON SEPTEMBER 12TH. WE SHOULD ALL BE PUTTING OUR BODIES IN FRONT OF THOSE THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED AND USING OUR PRIVILEGE. SO I STAND WITH THE GRAND RAPIDS FIVE. I SUPPORT THE SANCTUARY POLICIES PUT FORTH BY COSECHA TO END THE HARM BEING INFLICTED ON OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS BY ICE. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT ICE IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, AND WE'RE WAY TOO CALM ABOUT THIS. I SUPPORT CALLING OUT CHIEF CRAIG AND HIS ROMANTICIZING OF VIOLENCE. THAT IS NOT WHAT A LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. I DO NOT SUPPORT THE MASS SURVEILLANCE IN VIOLATION OF OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS. I HOPE WE CAN GET RID OF THE MASS SURVEILLANCE. I THINK, AGAIN, WE COULD BE A PIONEER CITY IN THAT RESPECT, TOO. IF I KNEW THAT, I COULD GO TO A PLACE AND THERE WAS NO SURVEILLANCE AND IT HAD A LITTLE STICKER ABOVE IT THAT SAID NO SURVEILLANCE HERE, I WOULD GO THERE AND SLOWLY, ONE BY ONE, WE WOULD GET RID OF THE PLACES THAT ARE DOING MASS SURVEILLANCE. I DO THINK WE CAN BE A PIONEER CITY MAYOR. MAMDANI HAS SHOWN THAT IN NEW YORK CITY, I THINK YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO THE SAME THING HERE. IT TAKES COURAGE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE COURAGE TO STAND UP, DO WHAT'S SCARED. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL DOING. AND THEN I DO NOT SUPPORT THE HATEFUL, RACIST ABORTION GUY. I KNOW HE HAS THE CHANCE TO SPEAK BUT TO SPEAK. BUT OH MY GOSH, HE IS SO FULL OF HATE. SO IF WE COULD ALL BE ROOTED IN LOVE AND LIKE, FIGHT THE RIGHT FIGHT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS JENNIFER. I'M A RESIDENT OF GRAND RAPIDS AND A FORMER ELEMENTARY EDUCATOR. THAT WILL BE RELEVANT IN A MINUTE. I JUST I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE BEAUTIFUL AND BRAVE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HERE, AND I SEE IT EVERY DAY HOW THEY JUST PERSEVERE THROUGH WHAT MUST BE ABSOLUTELY TERRORIZING. AND SO I KEEP COMING BACK. AND MY FIRST DEFINITION IS AN ELEMENTARY EDUCATOR. I LOOKED UP HUMANITY. I KEEP GOING BACK TO HUMANITY. THE DEFINITION IS COMPASSIONATE, SYMPATHETIC, OR GENEROUS BEHAVIOR OF OR DISPOSITION, OR THE QUALITY OF BEING HUMANE. WHERE HAVE WE COME LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN SO FAR FROM THAT AND WAY TOO MANY INSTANCES. AND SEPTEMBER 12TH WAS AN APPROPRIATE I WAS THERE AND I'M JUST REALLY, I'M SORRY. REALLY, REALLY SO SADDENED BY THE EVENTS ON SUNDAY. BUT I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU AS AN OBSERVER IN THIS MEETING. AS A FORMER TEACHER, I CAN EVALUATE LISTENING. AND SO AGAIN, I LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION FOR ACTIVE LISTENING. IT MEANS COMBINED FOCUSED ATTENTION ON THE SPEAKER'S WORDS, TONE AND BODY LANGUAGE WITH THOUGHTFUL VERBAL. I REALIZE YOU CAN'T VERBALLY RESPOND, BUT THERE'S ALSO NON-VERBAL RESPONSES. COMMISSIONER BELCHECK, YOU DO AN AWESOME JOB OF ACTIVE LISTENING, AS DOES KELSEY PERDUE. I'M WONDERING IF WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF ACTIVE LISTENING. AND YOU HAVE TO LISTEN SO THAT WE CAN BE HEARD. WE CAN HEAR YOU, AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO MEET WITH US AND TO PRACTICE THAT ACTIVE LISTENING. IT REQUIRES EYE CONTACT. LOOK AT YOUR PHYSICAL WAY. IT'S YOUR JOB. AND I KNOW THIS IS A LONG EVENING EVERY MONTH. IT'S A LONG EVENING. BUT PLEASE JUST REALLY THINK ABOUT ARE YOU TRULY LISTENING AND HEARING WHAT THESE VALUABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE GIVING YOU AS FAR AS INSIGHTS? SO THAT'S REALLY ALL I WANTED TO SAY. IT WAS AN OBSERVATION, BUT I THINK I KNOW I PRACTICED BEING AN ACTIVE LISTENER IN MY DAILY LIFE, AND I KNOW THAT I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU. HI, I'M SUSAN, I LIVE IN THE SECOND WARD AND I'M ALSO A FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER. CAMERAS THAT SPY ON US DO NOT MAKE US SAFE. ICE KIDNAPING OUR NEIGHBORS. THAT DOES NOT MAKE US SAFE. AND THE GRPD COORDINATING WITH THEM DOES NOT MAKE US SAFE EITHER. I URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE SIX SANCTUARY POLICIES THAT WE KEEP BRINGING UP HERE. I HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH, AND THAT IS, WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOT ON THE SAME SIDE AS US? WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE WE'RE COMING UP HERE AND BARING OUR SOULS? MANY OF US ARE SPENDING LOTS OF TIME VOLUNTEERING, TRYING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, AND I FEEL LIKE WE COME HERE AND WE BEG YOU, PLEASE HELP US DO SOMETHING. WE ELECTED YOU. PLEASE HELP US HELP THE PEOPLE [02:40:01] OF OUR CITY. THEY'RE TERRIFIED. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE AS US. AND PERHAPS YOU ARE. AND IT'S A COMMUNICATION THING. I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S TAKING SO LONG. AND I DON'T THINK THE SIX POLICIES ARE THAT HARD TO ACHIEVE. WHEN I READ THEM. I WANT TO COME HERE FEELING LIKE I'M PART OF THE SAME COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE A PART OF, AND I FEEL LIKE I'M COMING TO LIKE A CLOSED OFF SECTION OF MY COMMUNITY WHERE I HAVE TO COME IN AND IT'S VERY FORMAL AND I KIND OF REPEAT THINGS THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, BUT I WALK AWAY AND IT KIND OF FEELS FRUITLESS. AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT. HI, EVERYBODY. I'VE GOT MY RBG SOCKS ON MY REELECT LISA NIGHT SHIRT ON. I'M READY TO VOTE UP TO AND INCLUDING PROUDLY FOR A MUSLIM WITH A FUNNY NAME. SO I GAVE OUR CITY CLERK ONE OF THESE. FOR EACH OF YOU UP THERE. I HOPE THAT YOU GET IT. I HOPE THAT EVERYONE ATTENDS WHATEVER FORUMS, CANDIDATE FORUMS THAT THEY CAN. THIS HAPPENS TO BE A SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM. IT DOESN'T TAKE BEING A PARENT OF TWO LEGGED, SNOT NOSED KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR EDUCATION. OUR STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURES. AND SO I INVITE EVERYONE TO COME TO THIS AT FOUNTAIN STREET CHURCH ON OCTOBER 9TH, 630 TO 830 AND GET INVOLVED, PLEASE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S TOO LATE FOR US TO BE A PIONEER CITY. THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN OVER 100 CITIES IN OUR COUNTRY THAT HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING UP TO AND INCLUDING BANNING FLOCK CAMERAS. I'M HEARING THE ECHOES THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET, THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR ELDERS ESPECIALLY, TALKING ABOUT OUR COUNTRY BEING REMINISCENT OF 1940S GERMANY. I'M HEARING THAT EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME MAKES ME SICK. I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT JUST A FEW OF THE CITIES OF THE 100 CITIES THAT HAVE CANCELED, DEACTIVATED, OR REJECTED FLOCK SAFETY, AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS, OR ANY CAMERAS LIKE THEM A COUPLE ARE. TEMPE, ARIZONA DEACTIVATED ITS ENTIRE FLOCK SYSTEM PERMANENTLY, STATING THEY WILL NOT SEEK ANOTHER PROVIDER. SO EVEN THOUGH WE LOST A CHANCE TO BE A PIONEERING CITY, WE HAVE SOME CITIES THAT HAVE GIVEN US SOME EXAMPLES HERE TO FOLLOW. PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS DISCONTINUED ITS 28 ACTIVE FLOCK CAMERAS, PHYSICALLY COVERING THEM WITH BAGS BEFORE SHUT OFF. APPLETON, WISCONSIN ENDED THE PROGRAM ENTIRELY AFTER THE MAYOR NOTED. THE MAYOR NOTED THAT CONCERNS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF FLOCKS UNDERLYING SYSTEM HAVE ERODED OUR TRUST. BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA. BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA OF ALL PLACES WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ESCAPED INDIANA AS QUICKLY AS I COULD, TERMINATED ITS AGREEMENT FOLLOWING HEAVY COMMUNITY PUSHBACK. DAVID, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR MONTHS. I REALLY AM HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY ONE OF MY TWO BELOVED THIRD WARD COMMISSIONERS THAT GETS DOXXED ONLINE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF WHO HE LOVES AND HOW HE IDENTIFIES. THEY'VE DOXED ME BECAUSE I COME TO THESE CITY MEETINGS EVERY MONTH. I FAN CLUB. YOU DON'T SCARE ME. KEEP POSTING MY HOUSE AND ADDRESS ONLINE. I'M NOT GOING TO STOP. THIS IS IMPORTANT. REMEMBER I TOLD YOU A LONG TIME AGO. I WANT TO BE PROUD OF MY CITY. I DON'T FEEL PROUD TODAY. HOW CAN WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORS CONTINUING TO COME UP EVERY MONTH, MONTH AFTER MONTH AFTER MONTH WITH THESE TRAGIC STORIES, THESE HEARTBREAKING THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. AND WE'RE STILL HAVING THE SAME DISCUSSION OVER A YEAR AND A HALF LATER SINCE I STARTED COMING HERE. SO PLEASE, I WANT US TO TURN THIS AROUND AGAIN. WE LOST OUR CHANCE TO BE A PIONEERING CITY. LET'S FOLLOW OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONERS. MAYOR. HELLO EVERYONE. LEAVE IT TO KIM TO PUT A SMILE ON EVERYONE'S FACE. JUST BEFORE WE GO, I JUST WANTED TO TO STEP UP REAL QUICK. MY HEAD IS HEAVY. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN AN INTENSE MEETING, TO SAY THE LEAST. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, STANDING IN THE FACE OF UNBEARABLE HATE. I JUST KEPT THINKING THE WHOLE TIME. MAN, I COULD HAVE GONE TO THE ABDUL RALLY OVER THIS, BUT I REALLY I VERY MUCH SO WANTED TO BE HERE. SO I REALLY WANTED TO BE HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I REALLY CARE. AND I WAS VERY INTERESTED TO SEE JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE HERE AGAIN AND CARE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE NEIGHBOR THAT WE LOST, YOU KNOW, EARLIER THIS WEEK, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, YOU KNOW, READING THE NEWS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, [02:45:04] THAT IT HIT ME AND IT HIT ME REALLY DEEP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LOSS OF ONE OF OUR OWN. YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION STATUS DOES NOT MATTER. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MAN WHO, WHO, WHO WORKED AND BUILT THINGS THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WE MAY BE STANDING ON AND HAVE NO IDEA, YOU KNOW, AS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER, HE CAME HERE TO SEND MONEY BACK TO HIS FAMILY TO CREATE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEM. AND I, YOU KNOW, GREW UP IN A, IN A REAGAN ERA DAD HOUSEHOLD AND, YOU KNOW, A, YOU KNOW, RADICAL ACCEPTANCE HOUSEHOLD ON MY MOM'S SIDE. AND, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT, IT WAS ALWAYS KIND OF THAT IMPRESSION THAT LIKE, AMERICA WAS WHERE OPPORTUNITY REALLY, YOU KNOW, COULD THRIVE AND WHERE PEOPLE COULD, COULD MAKE A GOOD LIFE FOR THEMSELVES. AND, YOU KNOW, IT HURTS TO THINK OF THE TERROR AND THE FEAR THAT WAS PROBABLY GOING THROUGH HIS HEART AT THOSE LAST MOMENTS. IT REALLY, REALLY HURTS. AND IT JUST KIND OF CONTRIBUTES. I THINK A LOT OF THE UNDERLYING NARRATIVE HERE IS THAT IT CONTRIBUTES TO KIND OF THIS, THIS GENERAL SENSE THAT THERE MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, IT IS SEEN. BUT FORGIVE ME WHEN I SAY KIND OF THIS UNSEEN TERROR, RIGHT, WHERE MANY OF US MIGHT NOT INTERACT WITH IT ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, BUT THAT THERE IS THIS AURA OF TERROR THAT IS JUST REALLY ENVELOPING THE CITY THROUGH ICE'S ACTIVITIES. YOU KNOW, HAVING AN OFFICE, YOU KNOW, FRONT AND CENTER, THEY'RE NOT AFRAID, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WEAR THAT LOUD AND PROUD, YOU KNOW, AND FLOCK CAMERAS AND HAVING TO HEAR ABOUT KIND OF A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT CONTINUE TO DEVELOP FROM FLOCK. AND THEN KIND OF RECOGNIZING WHEN YOU LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW, YOU'RE LIKE, THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF ME, YOU KNOW? AND IN THAT CASE, THAT'S MY HOME. AND SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID A LOT MORE, A LOT MORE POTENT THINGS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY, LIKE, I JUST, I THINK A LOT OF US HERE ARE READY, WILLING TO COLLABORATE. YOU KNOW, I KNOW I AM JUST, YOU KNOW, TO, TO TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT BECAUSE WE JUST, WE HAVE TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME AND WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING HEARD. AND I THINK THERE'S EFFORTS WITH THAT. YOU KNOW, MARSHALL, I WANT TO APPLAUD YOUR EFFORT, YOU KNOW, FOR BRINGING CHIEF TRIGG INTO THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, TO GO OUT AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MEET, I HOPE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND JUST CONTINUE. WE HAVE TO REPAIR A LOT OF A LOT OF ROADS HERE, BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN JUST HOW BROKEN THINGS HAVE BEEN. I THINK WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND A SENSE OF BELONGING. AND THAT STARTS WITH COMMUNITY. AND I, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BELIEVE AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS THAT PATH IN GOVERNANCE THAT WE THAT IT IS COLLABORATIVE, ESPECIALLY AT THE HYPER LOCAL LEVEL LIKE THIS. SO I JUST, I KNOW WE'RE HERE. I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK A LOT. YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU GUYS, SO I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK A LOT AND WORK REALLY HARD. BUT I JUST KNOW A LOT OF US ARE HERE AND WE'RE READY TO, TO CONNECT AND GET THAT DONE, YOU KNOW, AND MAKE THIS CITY THE PLACE WE KNOW IT CAN BE. BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF US ARE HERE FIGHTING BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THIS CITY CAN BE. SO I'M SORRY I WENT OVER TIME, BUT THANK YOU. OKAY. I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK, BUT EVERYBODY REALLY JUST INSPIRED ME TO. I CAME HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY TO YOU GUYS, AND HOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO THIS. I'M CURIOUS AS TO HOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO ALL THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE NOT. PLEASE. DO YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO? BUT ANYWAYS, I SPENT THE LAST SUMMER DOCUMENTING THE STORIES OF EVERY SINGLE DEATH THAT WE KNOW OF FROM THE HANDS OF ICE AND BORDER PATROL FROM 2024 AND 2025. AND I CALLED THIS THIS PROJECT WAS CALLED TWO YEARS OF POLITICAL MURDER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS. IT'S MURDER. I READ EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEIR STORIES, EVERY SINGLE ONE READING THEM. EVERY SINGLE ONE HUMANIZES HOW HORRIBLE OF A PROBLEM THIS IS. THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS. THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS. THEY ARE NOT STATISTICS. THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS. I WAS SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE WHEN I LEARNED THAT GRAND RAPIDS HAS NOW BECOME PART OF THIS PROJECT. GRAND RAPIDS IS NOW COMPLICIT IN SOMEBODY'S DEATH, A HUMAN BEING. I AM SO SAD AND SO ANGRY. SO OH MY GOSH, THE WORDS JUST SITTING THERE, JUST FEELING THAT I. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? PLEASE? WHEN YOU DRIVE HOME TONIGHT, WAVE, WAVE TO ALL THE CAMERAS THAT ARE TRACKING YOU DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM. AND JUST REALIZE THAT WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING HOME THAT YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING CHASED TO YOUR DEATH. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. HELLO. MY NAME IS ANGELA. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE SECOND WARD. THERE WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE WHERE I USED TO SAY, REPEAT THE PHRASE AMERICA. OR THAT WE'RE A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS. BUT THAT'S REALLY NOT TRUE. WE'RE A NATION OF COLONIZERS, AND WE NEED TO RECONCILE WITH THAT. MAYOR [02:50:02] LEGRAND, YOU ONCE SAID THAT AGENTS ARE PEOPLE THAT DESERVE THE PROTECTION AND TO FEEL SAFE. THEY ARE PEOPLE. THEY ARE ICE AGENTS ARE PEOPLE. ICE AGENTS ARE PEOPLE THAT WORK TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, JUST LIKE IMMIGRANTS DO. ICE AGENTS ARE PEOPLE THAT DRINK COFFEE AT SWEETWATER'S ON BOND STREET AND EAT THEIR LUNCH AT JIMMY JOHN'S ON MONROE. ICE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE JUST REGULAR, ORDINARY NAMES LIKE CODY AND CHAD AND JASON, JESSE. ICE ARE PEOPLE THAT PUT THEIR PANTS ON ONE LEG AT A TIME, AND THEN THEY ADD A GLOCK AND A CAN OF MACE AND A VEST AND A MASK. AND UNLIKE IMMIGRANTS, ICE ARE PEOPLE THAT GET TO DO THEIR JOBS UNBOTHERED AND UNCHECKED. BY YOU AND BY THE GRPD ICE ARE PEOPLE THAT SEPARATE FAMILIES. ICE ARE PEOPLE THAT TERRORIZE COMMUNITIES, AND THE GRPD PART OF THEIR MISSION. IF YOU READ IT, THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE HERE TO ENSURE ALL PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND ARE SAFE. I WOULD ARGUE THAT A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS DO NOT FEEL SAFE HERE, BUT THEY ARE PEOPLE. THEY ARE PART OF THAT ALL PEOPLE. MARIO WASN'T SAFE. HE DIDN'T FEEL SAFE. THE GRPD MISSION ALSO STATES THAT THEY WILL SEEK JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS. MARIO WAS A VICTIM OF ICE VIOLENCE. AND THE GRPD HAS MADE SEVERAL STATEMENTS SINCE SUNDAY WHEN THE NEWS BROKE ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT. FIRST, IN THE NEWS STORIES, THEY SAID GRPD WAS QUOTED AS SAYING TO CALL SILENT OBSERVER IF YOU HAD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED, THEN. THEY SAID THAT ICE WAS THE FIRST TO RESPOND ON THE SCENE. MA'AM, IF YOU COULD WRAP IT UP. YOU'VE GOT. YOU'VE. OH, I'M ALMOST DONE HERE. YEP. BUT AFTER THEY SAID ICE WAS THE FIRST TO RESPOND ON THE SCENE, THEN THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS AN ICE ENFORCEMENT ACTION, AND THEY SWORE THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS UNTIL THEY GOT THERE. ICE. THANKS, MA'AM. MA'AM, YOU YOU'VE RUN WELL OVER YOUR THREE MINUTES, AND I. I DON'T THINK IT WAS WELL OVER THREE MINUTES, BUT I'M NOT DONE TALKING. I HAVE JUST A COUPLE MORE THINGS. YOU'RE NOT DONE. BUT BUT I, I I'VE ASKED PEOPLE AND I SAID I'D GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO FINISH YOUR THOUGHT, BUT I HAVE TO ENFORCE THIS CONSISTENTLY. AND SO I'D ASK YOU TO BE THAT YOU'RE COMPLACENT, YOU'RE COMPLICIT. YOU'RE JUST THAT FOR MARIO, JUSTICE FOR MARIO KART, THAT I GO HAND IN HAND. AND GO HAND IN HAND, COVERED UP BY MAYOR LA GRANDE, COVER UP BY MAYOR LA GRANDE. WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR LIES. WE DON'T WANT TO. OKAY, OKAY. MARK. MARK. OKAY. YOU'RE YOU'RE. YEAH. I'M LIKE, I'M GOING TO RECESS THE MEETING. I'M RECESSING THE MEETING. OKAY. I'D ASK THE SECURITY FORCES, OUR SECURITY FOLKS, TO GET THE ORDER. NO RECESS. ADJOURNING THE MEETING IN THE HOPES THAT THIS WILL ALLOW THIS * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.