20.076 A Resolution Establishing a Select Committee on Legislative Approaches to Public SafetyCity of Northampton
MASSACHUSETTS
In the City Council, June 18, 2020
Upon the Recommendation of: Councilor Rachel Maiore
Councilor Alex Jarrett
R-20.076
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE APPROACHES TO
PUBLIC SAFETY
WHEREAS, Section 2.6.3 of the Northampton City Council Rules provides that the City
Council may “establish select committees for the purpose of considering a
particular policy or issue;” and
WHEREAS, in light of the recent call of the Movement for Black Lives for cities
across the country to address systemic racism, it behooves us to act; and
WHEREAS, nationally the role of police departments in perpetuating systemic racism
through incidents of police profiling, harassment and violence is of grave
concern; and
WHEREAS, alternatives to policing have been shown to result in better outcomes1, and
many dispatch calls such as those involving addiction, mental health, and lack of
housing, that are presently being addressed by police would be better served by
other agencies, while lessening the undue burden on the police force; and
WHEREAS, investing in social services has been shown to reduce crime in a
preventative fashion2; and
WHEREAS, the City Council must have a full and independent understanding
of all public safety needs in our city in order to approve budgetary expenditures
in a thoughtful manner; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has a responsibility to examine legislative actions
to improve policing and public safety to reduce the possibilities of harmful
interactions with city residents and visitors.
1 CAHOOTS: https://whitebirdclinic.org/services/cahoots/cahoots-in-the-news/
Newark: https://www.newarkcommunitystreetteam.org/
2 https://www.asanet.org/community-and-crime-decline-causal-effect-local-nonprofits-violent-crime
2
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Northampton hereby establishes a
“Select Committee on Legislative Approaches to Public Safety” as follows:
1. The Council President shall appoint up to twelve (12) members to the Committee by
August 1, 2020, including:
a. Two (2) members of the City Council; and
b. Up to ten (10) city residents who possess expertise in the professional fields of
public safety, criminal justice, restorative/transformative justice, social work, public
health, or other related fields. These residents should be from diverse backgrounds,
including race and socioeconomic class, and include those most impacted by systemic
discriminatory practices.
2. The Committee shall study and evaluate legislative actions that will:
a. increase public safety and public well-being;
b. support alternatives to traditional policing;
c. help set citywide policy around issues related to public safety;
d. support other related issues.
3. The Committee shall review current and proposed budgetary expenditures in relation to
public safety.
4. The Committee shall convene by August 15, 2020 and then meet as determined by the
Committee.
5. The Committee shall submit a report to the City Council by November 15, 2020 that
includes practical and legislative recommendations to create policies that will improve
public safety and provide alternatives to policing in Northampton.
6. The Committee shall be a public body.
7. The Committee shall not be staffed by the Administrative Assistant to the City Council
unless otherwise determined by the Council President.