SCHENECTADY – The only Black city council member spoke in stark terms about her “blackness” and experience with systemic racism versus the “whiteness” of some fellow members in explaining why she was voting against the final police reform plan that will go out to the state Tuesday.
Councilwoman Marion Porterfield, who cast the lone vote against adopting the plan, pointed out during Monday’s virtual city council meeting that policing looks “very different” in areas around her Hamilton Hill neighborhood in the 12307 zip code than it does in 12309 on the other side of the city.
“It’s very clear that I bring my blackness and years of witnessing and enduring systemic racism, including in this city to this table, so yes I see that things are different for me than my colleagues who bring their whiteness to the table, and definitely lack of experience living in a black community and of being profiled and overpoliced, and subject to implicit and explicit bias,” said Porterfield.
Despite her objections revolving around race and the lack of changes to the police department’s use of force policy, as well as so called pain compliance, the document won praise from her colleagues, including one who proclaimed Gov. Andrew Coumo will be “pleased” with the plan and another who said twice that he was proud of it.
City officials and police leaders plan to keep a reduced version of the police reform task force in place.
“I believe there will be more changes coming,” said Councilwoman Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas. “This is a good document. I think the governor will be pleased with it.”
Councilman John Polimeni said that policy changes on the force should be driven by a history of problems - not just one that may be an aberration. Polimeni was referring to a controversial encounter over the summer between a patrolman and 31-year-old city resident Yugeshwar Gaindarpersaud, after the officer was seen in a video kneeling on Gaindarpersaud's head.
“It’s very dangerous to dictate the policy in relation to the one off event or other events,” he said, adding he is proud of the plan.
He also said, however, that the document fails to highlight the “civilian oversight” role of the public safety commissioner who oversees the police and fire departments.
Council President John Mootoveren, who is of Indian ancestry from Guyana, did not offer any remarks beyond his affirmative vote.
Porterfield took exception to the lack of meaningful change to department’s use of force policy - and the inclusion of the so called pain compliance, which she defined as “the officer can use pain to get someone under control.”
“I see what we included as use of force policy particularly using the knee to someone’s head, which is something that we took out last year, and now has been put back…saying it can happen when there’s no other remedy available,” said Porterfield. “With your head and your neck being inches apart, it could happen that you would end up on someone’s neck.”
It's unclear what led to the change which again allows the use of force in certain circumstances.
Porterfield, an insurgent Democrat, also acknowledged there might be political “repercussions” for voting no but said she went with her conscience.
The Rev. Nicolle Harris, president of the Schenectady chapter of the NAACP, said people in communities of color are fed up with all the talk and no real action that often follows. She questioned if there are enough changes made as a result of the months long discussions.
“I want you to believe the voices of the people who have already told you these changes need to happen, rather than keep saying you’re going to discuss…and say that this is just the beginning of the process,” she said.
Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said he was buoyed by the process and the atmosphere it's created where people can have open and honest conversations about police and race and that "the goals and objectives are still going to be worked on."
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Schenectady councilwoman: other members 'bring their whiteness to the table' - Times Union
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