From: Andrew Phelps <no-action@cwnet.com>
To: justiceforcautran2003@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat Aug 23 2008 11:13 PDT
Subject: CJA dialogue advancement
Hi
My understanding of the Silicon Valley DeBug project is that involves upgrading the social dialogue in the South Bay. The "community control of police" project from the 70s, which had some direct successes in Berkeley/Oakland — here I'm speaking from personal knowledge not "official history" #151; was unable to achieve a Police Review Commission for San Jose. But I know very well that the people who worked on that project have become "pillars of society" in the South Bay and also that "human relations" got a better spin (t)here, because of the work of folks like Jim McEntee.
The
DeBug project is situated in the political opening consequent upon this history. Right now I'm trying to do my part, which appears to include [1] building a "DeBug Club" for students at SJCC and [2] getting the DeBug group involved in the County Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) oversight "Stakeholder Leadership Committee" so that County M.H. will be obliged to discuss more directly what is "good behavior." Already the CJA is involved in this process but this proposal amounts to a logical upgrade on the relationship.Yesterday at the Stakeholder Leadership Committee meeting Judge Manley was angry. He said the State Dept. of Mental Health was keeping too large of a "prudent reseerve" and too little was being spent fixing the problems (with juvenile incarceration) that he has to administer every day. Does it make sense to spend $80K/year to lock a kid up for some crime + attitude when $30K/year would buy "treatment"? Do we want Band-Aids or do we want "real reform." Shhhhh. I'd better "shut up" while I'm ahead.
Andrew Phelps