A Statement From The Corte Madera Town Council And Invitation To Participate In Public Discussions

Press release from the Town of Corte Madera:

June 8, 2020

Dear Corte Madera Community,

We share your heartbreak and outrage over the senseless killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, and the many lost before him. We stand with everyone in our community and across the nation against the systemic racism that has plagued this country for centuries, and has shaped the everyday realities of individuals who face intolerance, discrimination, marginalization and bigotry—often with tragic consequences.

We recognize the injustice, overt and hidden, that people of color continue to suffer. We encourage and join you in the peaceful protests and marches taking place in our community, and are moved to see so many people come together with such heart and compassion. In this moment of challenge and resolve, we reaffirm our duty to lead our community in a just and equitable way.

Right now, the movement for real and lasting justice has as much if not more momentum than at any other time in our history, and we are determined not to let this moment pass us by. We are supplied with new and powerful tools in our fight against injustice: the camera each of us carries in our pocket, allowing all to bear witness to realities we may not otherwise see; the unprecedented unity and compassion that sharing of truth has allowed; and of course, our vote, which remains the most concrete way to effect real change in the culture and leadership at all levels of government. Let this be the turning point our society desperately needs so that everyone in our community can lead a life of dignity, promise, and safety.

The tragedy that catalyzed this moment is part of a broader conversation on culture and race that everyone in this country must reckon with. Now is the time for all of us to look in the mirror and resolve to make a difference. We are hopeful that real change will come from this experience, and that our society will be better for it.

In solidarity for a just and peaceful future,

The Corte Madera Town Council

Mayor Eli Beckman, Vice Mayor David Kunhardt, and Councilmembers Fred Casissa, Charles Lee and Bob Ravasio

NEXT STEPS

We encourage our community to engage with the Town Council and Staff and participate in upcoming public discussions:

• Join our Weekly Community Chats with the Mayor and Town Manager, each Tuesday from 11am-12pm. These discussions are open-ended, join the meeting and ask anything that’s on your mind. Town staff will also be on-hand to answer questions. Link to join the webinar: https://tinyurl.com/y7chqd8d (webinar ID: 910-7929-1529). To view the video of the June 2 Community Chat, where Mayor Beckman and Town Manager Cusimano both shared their thoughts and feelings with the community regarding George Floyd, the current peaceful protests and other topics, visit this link: https://youtu.be/SC5XLfPJtEU.
• Q&A with the Police Chief: CMPA Chief Michael Norton will host a Q&A on Thursday, June 11, 2020 from 9-10am. Click here to view invitation. Link to join the webinar: https://tinyurl.com/y968h3qr (webinar ID: 968 3949 9621)
• Special Police Council Meeting: A Special Police Council meeting is being scheduled to take place later this month, at which the Council will take public comment, have a public discussion, and consider formation of a special task force to evaluate our police practices and provide a report and recommendations to the Police Council. This meeting will be held via videoconference and the link will be made available once the meeting date is determined.

Public Comment can be sent at any time to: publiccomment@tcmmail.org

This press release was produced by the Town of Corte Madera. The views expressed are the author's own.