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City of HMB Will Have Sheriff’s Department/Law Enforcement Discussion
June 16th, 2020 @ 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Dear Half Moon Bay Community (Para ver esta carta en español, oprime aquí),
I’d like to offer my best wishes to all in the community – I hope you are doing well, staying healthy, and keeping your families safe.
Sheriff’s Department/Law Enforcement Discussion:
I think most of you know that Half Moon Bay has contracted with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services for the past nine years.
Next Tuesday evening, 6/16/2020, the City Council will hold a special meeting (online) starting at 6 p.m., to open a discussion around law enforcement and police services (the regular meeting starts at 7 p.m.).
We felt it was crucial to have a public dialogue – the first of several, I’m sure – about law enforcement and police services in Half Moon Bay. We all need a chance to share our thoughts and ideas on this, in light of the national focus on racial injustice, and the indefensible excessive use-of-force in the death of George Floyd, and others.
Sheriff’s Captain Saul Lopez, who is our top law enforcement officer on the Coastside, will be at the meeting. This is as an opportunity for us all to hear each other’s voices around the wider law enforcement and social justice issues which are rightly of such great concern to each and every one of us. A constructive discussion on these issues can only help us to improve, to be more cognizant of the realities of social inequality and racial injustice, in relation to our everyday lives and our local law enforcement.
I know I can count on my Council colleagues, and you – our thoughtful community members – to have a productive conversation. Let’s look at this as a starting point for an improved understanding and connection with the full range of diversity that comprises our community, and how we can be the change that we want to see (to slightly paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi).
As a City, we intend to expand our engagement with local policing issues, toward ensuring that law enforcement focuses on community policing, while protecting our residents, our businesses, and our visitors. I hope that many of you will be part of this discussion.
Last Week’s Protest:
I was honored to be part of last week’s Coastside protest commemorating George Floyd, and speaking against systemic racial inequality. Our Half Moon Bay community, and the rest of the Coastside, showed what it means to take a stand, peacefully protest, raise awareness, and bring focus to this critical issue. I’m proud of our community, and humbled by the many, many thoughtful people who are giving their time to be involved. I am also very thankful to the protest organizers – I expect and hope we will see further momentum for this cause in the coming weeks and months.
Assemblyman Berman’s Statement on Systemic Racism:
District 24 State Assembly Member Marc Berman recently sent out a very thoughtful, and brutally honest, statement which he entitled, “Some are guilty, but all are responsible.” I found it to be a moving, candid assessment of where we are today, and how we all must share responsibility for how we got here. I encourage you to read it on the City’s website, where we posted it along with some of my recent statements concerning this painful issue.
June 16, 2020 City Council meeting:
Next week’s Council meeting will include a few items that may be of interest to you. Take a look at the list below, and if you’re interested, watch for our agenda packet to be published Friday evening.
- Law Enforcement Annual Contract (Sheriff’s Department)
- Adoption of the FY 20-21 Annual Budget
- Revisions to Master Fee Schedule
- Purchase Financing for 880 Stone Pine Road
