CORRESPONDENCE - #22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The entire meeting lasted approximately an hour, and so there was no urgent need to cut the discussion short. This clearly appears to be a tactic to end discussion regarding questions to the police. As the SAPD officers themselves indicated, there are issues with trust of the police in the community. It does not serve to repair relations with the community when public discussion is stifled and SAPD priorities are inappropriately lobbied or rushed through by the Pacific Park Neighborhood Association co -leader. Rather, this activity appears to point to Selica acting in cahoots with the SAPD to interfere with the open public discourse at the meetings and promote the appearance of widespread support for the police appropriation of our critical, and scarce, community spaces. Additionally, some of the people at the meeting most vocally in favor of the police utilizing both the Cypress Fire Station and the Roosevelt Walker facility for the PAAL program DO NOT RESIDE IN THE PACIFIC PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, and do not represent our residents or their views on this matter. Finally, I want to include the fact that Pacific Park Neighborhood Association leader Selica Diaz's husband spoke out against using the Cypress Fire Station as a digital library for community use, because, in his words, it would increase criminal activity in the area due to criminals using library computers to commit crimes. This deplorable and desperate fear -mongering is another indication that honest and important community discussion on this matter are being thwarted by an organized, coordinated effort to railroad a perception of community support for the SAPD use of the Cypress Fire Station. It is hard to believe that the SAPD would not also be involved in stifling and steering discussion, given that the SAPD officer at the June 14 meeting took the opportunity at that time to lobby for the SAPD use of the Cypress Fire Station, while there to present on a different agenda item. To recap the community input regarding use of the Cypress Fire Station, these are ideas the community presented: • Digital library and technology resources • Programming accessible to all ages, from children to seniors • Technology to access social service, job and civic resources and opportunities • Technology training and bridging the digital divide • Public meeting spaces for community events, classes and gatherings • Arts and culture events and programs As you were at the June 14 meeting, I am sure you can confirm this community input for the use of the Cypress Fire Station. In regards to the "police substation" use promulgated by Selica, many residents felt that a substation would be better suited for one of the currently vacant storefronts in the Dollar Tree lot, which would give police direct eyes on the section of Chestnut where illegal activity is a constant presence. Placing a substation inside the Cypress Fire Station would do very little to stop crime on the street compared to a substation literally looking right at the crime taking place 24 hours a day. I am writing to you to communicate my gross disappointment in the lack of integrity of the discussion regarding the SAPD matters at the Pacific Park Neighborhood Association meetings and the complicity of Selica Diaz to stifle public input.