In Episode 124 of Speaking Municipally, co-hosts Troy Pavlek and Mack Male focus on the Community Safety and Well-Being Task Force and its report, Safer For All.
They dissected city council's response to the report, and expressed their disappointment at what came out of it, which was to move forward on the "quickly actionable items" within 90 days, and to put off considering the recommendation to freeze police funding until 2022.
"I think it was very clear that it was a 'kick the can down the road' kind of discussion," said Male. "It was very clear that they didn't want to make a decision about funding and that they were going to leave that to the next council."
He went on to say policing has moved to the "top of the list" for election issues, as anticipated by the report's conclusion, which says: "This fall’s municipal election offers a chance to showcase and support candidates who champion inclusion, offer diverse perspectives of lived experience, and demonstrate allyship in the fight against racism. And it is one of the best times to make our voices heard and demand better."
Pavlek and Male also raised their eyebrows at Coun. Jon Dziadyk's late-in-the-game call to stop the bus network redesign, and noted the funding reductions to traffic safety programs due to lower revenues from photo radar.