Chief Moore addresses CJA

 

From: Andrew Phelps <no-action@cwnet.com>

To: behave@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sat Feb 19 19:42

Subject: [behave] 'aircraft carrier' talk

 

Hi

Thursday Chief Moore, the new chief of the SJPD, met for nearly two hours with the Coalition for Justice and Accountability. The purposes were to set the interactive boundaries for the new arrangement, and to prepare for directions of development. Moore has talked about establishing a "Community Advisory Board," while the CJA is skeptical that real sensitivity to the community's concerns will ensue.

Four officers of the MHCA attended (myself, Allison, Troy, and Karrawinds); Sam Ho from the SJECCD District Office also participated; there were about 35 persons in all. Chief Moore talked, then an hour of planned questions was spread around. Others can speak to that dialogue.

I then asked my question, which related to "aircraft carriers." Moore's metaphor was that the policy of the SJPD was like an "aircraft carrier," which is slow to turn and change direction: He claimed to be attempting such a maneuver. I picked up his metaphor, saying that I was "born on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy," which gave me some dialogical standing. :-)   I asked if the direction he was turning towards actually would promote grassroots sensitivity, where the "realization of our existential beings" would be properly respected. Nothing directly on the "mental health status" problematic, or on the discrimination we face; the conversation was IMHO rather too glib for that. He went past my question, but later .. he caught himself while answering another question, regarding the complexity of the "aircraft carrier" metaphor. So he did take in some of what I said, despite his manner of talking past me. [!]

An intense meeting. Various follow-ups are expected. The first will be March 4th, a Friday, where Moore's supervisor, City Manager Deb Figone, will be presenting at CJA.

 

Andrew Phelps

Secretary, MHCA