To the residents of the City of Kingston:
When the pandemic hit, the primary
focus of my administration was to do anything we could to protect the public.
Within just a few short days, we worked with a network of organizations to
develop an emergency meals program for thousands of children out of school,
along with their families. We rapidly changed our departmental procedures to
find ways to function and began using technology to perform essential City
business. What we have learned during this difficult process is that when we
commit to prioritizing the health and wellness of our community, despite
logistical barriers or other obstacles, we can overcome anything
together.
As protests have unfolded across the
country, including here in Kingston, demanding justice for George Floyd and the
thousands of other people of color who have been killed or injured by members
of law enforcement, I have personally been confronted with a hard truth. My
privilege has allowed me to believe that COVID-19 is a public health emergency,
but racism and police brutality is not. Every day, people of color are afraid
for their lives- afraid for their children’s lives- because the system that was
designed to protect them has also caused devastating harm. This is an emergency
and I am committed to start treating it that way.
We have made significant incremental
changes to our policies and procedures in Kingston. Over the past four years,
we have equipped every officer with a body camera, adopted the Right to Know
Act, codified our previously unwritten commitment to not approach anyone based
upon their immigration status, and made the Police Commission meetings and
process more accessible. This has been important work, but in order to make
real, long lasting change, we need to dig deeper and look at how the current
system supports, conceals, or perpetuates institutional oppression.
For the past two years, Rise Up
Kingston has worked to develop a comprehensive platform on criminal justice and
housing justice initiatives. One of their key goals has been the adoption of legislation
centered around police accountability. Click here to read their proposal. The
primary goals of this common sense legislation are to make transparent
guidelines for the appointment process and composition of the Police
Commission, create training requirements for the Commissioners, and improve
upon the Commission’s complaint process. It has taken a long time to get to
this point and I want to thank Rise Up Kingston and the hundreds of local
residents who advocated for these common sense changes. I also want to thank
the NYCLU who provided technical assistance to ensure that this legislation
fits our City’s needs and does not conflict with our City Charter. The Common
Council has made it clear that they are eager to act on this proposal and I
thank them for their diligent work to review this legislation. I look forward
to signing this into law as soon as the Council adopts it and working with our
partners in the community to make these important changes.
Thank you again to everyone who
demanded more from me and from your government. I heard you and I promise I
will keep listening, learning, and doing better.
Steve Noble,
Mayor