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Residents urge transparency on police incidents and criticize city lawsuits and attorney sanctions
Summary
Public commenters raised concerns about alleged suppression of video evidence, sanctions imposed on plaintiffs seeking footage, and taxpayer money spent on lawsuits; speakers asked the council to rescind sanctions and to prioritize social services.
Multiple public commenters used the Feb. 11 public comment period to press the governing body on police conduct, litigation and the city attorney’s office.
Sandy Lassiter, identified in the meeting as a community member and local organizer, said a magistrate judge ordered release of a video that the city attorney’s office initially blocked and that the city later sought a protective order keeping the video from public release. Lassiter said the protective action forced a bereaved mother to file a civil suit to obtain the footage and called on the council to rescind sanctions the city attorney sought against that plaintiff. “All they wanted was the truth,” Lassiter said; she argued the city’s legal posture is costing taxpayers and undermining community trust.
Martha Boatwright, who spoke earlier on a housing item, returned to public comment to raise related budgetary concerns and to argue that the city should not cut social‑service spending while increasing policing budgets. She noted the police budget represents a significant share of the city budget and urged council review of administrative positions and departmental spending rather than automatic increases in police staff.
At least one attendee, Henry McClure, criticized JETO (the economic development organization) in public comment, calling it ineffective and alleging misallocation of tax dollars; another speaker urged use of a citizens committee as an alternative governance or oversight mechanism. Several council members who heard public comment acknowledged the concerns and said staff would follow up where appropriate; no formal council action or vote on litigation or the city attorney’s office occurred at the meeting.
