Ferguson reforms met with rancor at city meeting

[Judi Lynn]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by NancyBlueINOklahoma (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Associated Press

Ferguson reforms met with rancor at city meeting
By ALAN SCHER ZAGIER, Associated Press | September 9, 2014 | Updated: September 9, 2014 10:37pm

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — Efforts by city leaders in the St. Louis suburb where an unarmed black 18-year-old was fatally shot by a white police officer to repair the local government's fractured relationship with its residents got off to a rocky start Tuesday at the first public meeting of elected officials since Michael Brown's death.

The shooting last month exposed an undercurrent of racial unrest in Ferguson and other nearby suburbs in mostly black communities of north St. Louis County, and prompted days of sometimes-violent protests.

The Ferguson City Council announced a set of proposals this week that include reducing the revenue from court fines used for general city operations and reforming court procedures. Critics say reliance on court revenue and traffic fines to fund city services more heavily penalizes low-income defendants who can't afford private attorneys and who are often jailed for not promptly paying those fines.

The city also plans to establish a citizens' review board to help guide the police department.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Ferguson-city-council-says-it-plans-review-board-5743081.php

[Ash_F]

1. No amount of gerrymandering can save their hides.

IF the citizens of Ferguson keep up the hard work. Throw the bums out!

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Good to see people engaging the local power structure.

That's what it takes in the long run.

[KT2000]

3. trying to head off the DOJ

so far they have not fired the police chief.

[peasant one]

4. related post

There is a related post about Ferguson and surrounding areas profiting from the poor. Please read the post but really read the Washington Post article and the White Paper--you can get to it through this post both are amazing in the way these municipalities systematically hassle the poor.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025511851#post9

[Feral Child]

5. K&R n/t

[OKNancy]

6. Duplicate topic - locking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014892405