(ATLANTA - GA) - Concerned community members filled the room at Atlanta’s City Council meeting on Apr. 20 to express their concerns about public safety and city preparedness for the FIFA World Cup that will take place June 11 through July 19 in Atlanta.
Devon Barrington kicked it off by telling the council that their current proposals for the World Cup do not reflect the city’s commitment to public safety beyond enforcement.
“I feel like I live in the twilight zone in this city,” Barrington said. “There was a time when this administration said public safety was the number one priority. In fact, we had a big fight over $130 million taxpayer funded public safety training centers because of how much we valued public safety officials in this city.”
Other residents also criticized the city’s approach. They referenced the city’s public safety plan and their concern that it leans too heavily on policing with little coordination with community groups.
Photo Credit: YouTube
Sarah Tazon, a medical student in attendance, emphasized the importance of the Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD), a non-profit community-based program that aims to reduce police involvement through diversion and directing people to services.
“People in our community need connection and navigation to financial support, safe housing, mental health services, substance use, rehabilitation, employment etc.,” Tazon said. “My primary ask today is that the city ensures 311 is fully operational during World Cup weekends so that PAD can be deployed to situations before they escalate or before unnecessary arrests can take place.”
Photo Credit: YouTube
Moki Macias, who has worked as the executive director of PAD since its inception, said that the current safety strategy risks the city relying too heavily on policing instead of prevention and diversion services.
“We’re here today because current World Cup safety is limited to police response which risks overburdening 911, increasing arrests for low-level violations, and exposing residents and visitors to ICE involvement, but it doesn’t have to be this way,” Macias said. “Atlanta has community organizations doing powerful work of violence prevention and intervention, and Atlanta has firefighters who need our support to be able to do their jobs.”
“30 years ago, the city prepared for the Olympics with a police only approach,” Macias continued. But today we have options. The city needs to commit to using them and to support all of our city’s first responders.”
Other attendees raised similar concerns, saying Atlanta can’t rely on enforcement alone for an event this size.
Photo Credit: YouTube
“We’re having the World Cup here, and we need 311 to stay open so that PAD can be active because everything doesn’t call for the police,” said Kathy Edwards. “PAD and 311 have better solutions. Everybody don’t need to go to jail.”
The meeting closed out with firefighter union leader Nate Bailey raising concerns about pay and staffing for firefighters in the city. He asked the council to address long-standing pay issues ahead of the budget cycle.
“Our big ask from you this budget cycle and going into July is to fix our pay,” Bailey said. “We’re not gonna just ask you to pass a pay scale. We want to meet with every member of public safety and finance and we want y'all to see what other departments make and we want you to help us get this put in on July 1 and solve this for good.”
Please email mia.s@lead4earth.com for questions, concerns or comments.
0
0
Comments