Updated 11:30am 12/4 **name correction (see below)
This entry is an in-depth account of the dialogue for preventing violence against women, which took place on Thursday November 29, in City Hall's tenth-floor conference room.
Sections include
- *Present
*Control Tactics
*Public Comment
*Contributors
*Suggestions
*Outcomes
PRESENT
Deena Tyler and I arrived early to City Hall for the Committee of the Whole to prepare for the dialogue. We set up photo frames with pictures and names of the women killed in Lansing during 2007. The Power Wheels from Duluth laid against the conference room white board, and a fact sheet about domestic violence and homelessness sat in front of the TV cased in a wood cabinet. Handouts were placed along the table where city officials sit and the seats for the public.
Jessica Narodowiec arrived next. This Lansing resident visited City Council on several occasions to address ongoing harassment she as well as other neighbors (for years!) have faced from someone on their street. Ms. Narodowiec secured a PPO against this individual, yet the person has continued harassment. The person turned themself in after not appearing at court and then was released on bond by a judge who disregarded another judge's no-bond order.
Also present were anti-violence advocates Kathleen Miller for MSU's Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention program and Erica Schmittdiel for MSU Safe Place.
Rina Risper, President and Publisher of The New Citizen Press, arrived after committee started but before the dialogue began.
Council Members Jeffries, Kaltenbach, Leeman, Matt, Quinney, and Wood were in attendance. Cm. Allen is out of state until next week, so Cm. Dunbar was the only member absent who was in town.
City Hall Regulars Charlene Decker, Darnell Oldham Str., John Pollard, and Ms. Timmons were there as well.
Mr. Jerry Ambrose, proxy for Mayor Bernero, left for most of the dialogue time, yet was present for other committee business. Disappointing, since I encouraged the Mayor to join or send someone in his absence. Even Mayor's aide Mr. Joe McDonald was present during committee business early on but was absent during the dialogue.
Additionally, **Mr. Michael Matthis, Legal Advisor to the LPD, was present for most of committee business including the dialogue. (Mr. Matthis attend The Safety Union after I requested the City Attorney's Office to send an attorney.)
CONTROL TACTICS
People trickled into the conference room while Ms. Narodowiec and Ms. Tyler swapped stories about surviving violence and perpetrators. VP Cm. Jeffries arrived and offered people coffee.
With the room mostly filled, I was approached by Diana Bitely, who works in the Council Office. She bared a message from Pres. Cm. Leeman: Would I remove the photo frames until our dialogue began? Because other business was scheduled beforehand.
I replied that I would rather not, but that the message didn't sound like a request but a direction. Consequently, I asked some people if they would hold the frames to display the pictures and names of the women who were murdered during 2007. (Thanks to Ms. Miller, Mr. Pollard, Mr. Oldham, and Ms. Timmons for their assistance!)
PUBLIC COMMENT
During public comment, Ms. Narodowiec and another Lansing resident Barb Kowalk spoke as survivors of violence. (Special thanks to Ms. Kowalk, who is my aunt, for attending.) Advocates Ms. Miller and Ms. Schmittdiel also made comment.
In particular, Ms. Schmittdiel conveyed information on behalf of colleagues who were unable to be present: Two incidents with Lansing 911 dispatchers who declined taking contact information from callers regarding violence directed at women, and the absence of promised police officers on both occasion.
Executive Director of the Fraternal Order of Police Tom Krug, who made public comment regarding surveillance camera funding, encouraged Ms. Schmittdiel to lodge complaints regarding those dispatch incidents. (A complaint form is available on the LPD web site under the menu option Information.)
CONTRIBUTORS
As scheduled, Ms. Tyler shared part of her survival story to lend insight to city officials as a veteran of violence. (Credit goes to Ms. Tyler for coining this phrase in one of her poems.)
I explained the absence of Andy Field, Eastside resident and community activist, who declined to attend. Understandably, sharing even part of one's survival story is very taxing, let alone doing so in public with strangers who happen to be city officials. As a result, I stepped in to share part of my survival story.
Ms. Rispers shared impromptu about part of her survival story. She stayed at EVE's House a number of years ago, and continues to advocate publicly for survivors and against violence.
SUGGESTIONS
Cm. Wood: Resource info about assistance with violence given to new Lansing residents. Learn what school district programs exist related to the issue. Council Members pledge to talk with kids in elementary schools about how to treat each other. City TV messages about assistance.
Cm. Kaltenbach: Communications through Lansing Neighborhood Council. More concentration on crime fighting efforts at the neighborhood level. A Parks and Recs program.
VP Cm. Jeffries: Special programs on City TV. Tracking responses by judges regarding the effectiveness of PPOs and bonds. Partner with Ingham County Human Resources, which has a bigger budget for this issue.
Cm. Quinney: Early prevention through public TV, schools, and neighborhood associations.
Cm. Matt: Information via the City web site. Budget in May for Human Resources.
Pres. Cm. Leeman: Human Resources Department programs and initiatives. Invite Board members from End Violent Encounters to committee meetings. Encourage Council Members to sit on EVE's Board.
Darnell Oldham, Sr.: Employment training requirements, like the State of Michigan, with information about stalking, etc.
Jessica Narodowiec: Public messages where survivors get information without the presence of a perpetrator - bulletin board, PSA during the holidays.
MDH: The Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence's publication A Vision for Prevention, which makes recommendations for local government to prevent violence against women. Breaking the silence around violence by developing conversations with children, and in schools, neighborhoods, and City Hall. Bring advocates and survivors to 2008 City Council meetings and committees, for presentations and tributes.
OUTCOMES
Committee of the Whole agreed to keep the prevention of violence against women as a pending matter through the New year.
A sub-committee will be formed to follow through on the suggestions made during the dialogue.
Advocates who were present at the dialogue will be contacted about future conversations on the issue.