As we note in our coverage of the Texas Legislature in this issue, lawmakers are whacking at the Austin piñata in both chambers, hoping some kind of candy spills out in time for the 2022 primaries. There s a lot of pent-up scolding, some of which didn t make it into law in 2019, such as stripping the city of its power to adopt ordinances guaranteeing paid sick leave and other worker rights, or making sure Austin doesn t help groups that help people who don t want to be pregnant, in ways that are different from the groups whose help will be forced upon people who don t want it. And, as we reported last week, a bunch of Westsiders just want to bail on the city and its tax bills altogether, because why the hell not. We look forward to visiting the future anarchist collectives on the Lost Creek playa.
Berkeley’s Police Review Commission, or PRC, discussed next steps in its transition to the Police Accountability Board, or PAB, at a meeting Wednesday evening.
There were 37 total PAB applications, some of which were from current PRC members, and applicants are currently undergoing a background check, according to PRC commissioner Ismail Ramsey. Applicants will be voted on by Berkeley City Council at its June 1 meeting, in hopes that the PAB can be established by July 1, deputy city manager David White said.
White and PRC commissioner Kitty Calavita have also been working on budgeting for the office of the Director of Police Accountability and aim to present to the Budget and Finance Committee on May 6.
Opinion | How we are reimagining public safety in Montgomery County washingtonpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Berkeley City Council convened for its regular meeting Tuesday evening to provide updates on the city’s Reimagining Public Safety Task Force and discuss the financing of the Harriet Tubman Terrace apartments.
In regards to updates in the month of March, Nathan Mizell was elected chair of the task force, and boona cheema was elected vice chair. Additionally, the second Thursday of each month was established as the regular meeting date for the task force.
As a part of its approach, the task force’s specialized care unit, or SCU, will be assigned noncriminal police service calls in a pilot program, according to the city’s website.
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