Residents urge county to fund body cameras, support diverse appointments and protect voters

Three members of the public used the Nov. 6 Erie County Council public-comment period to raise distinct concerns: election administration and community funding (Freda Tepper), county officer body cameras and policing accountability (Malcolm Pulliam), and the need to preserve people-of-color representation on county bodies as members move to other offices (Deonte Cooley).

Freda Tepper (Erie resident) urged the council to "ensure that we fund the Human Relations Commission, which addresses issues of employment, housing, and public accommodation," and to maintain support for Erie County Community College and public-health services at Pleasant Ridge. Tepper also raised a process concern about write-in votes for Inspector of Elections and praised Erie County as "one of the better counties" for allowing voters to cure ballots while suggesting the county could improve ID-handling procedures.

Malcolm Pulliam said body cameras could materially change investigations and cited the death of Marcella Woodard as an example. "We need those body cams in Erie, Pennsylvania," Pulliam said, arguing footage can provide multiple angles and help resolve disputes and hold people accountable.

Deonte Cooley said the community is "losing a historic piece of representation" as Andre Horton moves to city council, and urged the county to appoint more people of color to boards and authorities so that residents remain represented in decision-making rooms.

What happens next: The council acknowledged public comment and proceeded with its agenda; these requests may inform future committee discussions or proposed ordinances but no formal actions on body cameras or new appointment processes were recorded in the transcript.