Tag Archives: Poughkeepsie

Lunchtime Discussion – Reimagining Public Safety

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The Anti-Racism, Equity and Justice (AREJ) Organizing Team invites you to our next Lunchtime Discussion on Wednesday, May 5 at noon.

This will be the first of a two part discussion on “Reimagining Public Safety”.

In this first session we will engage with what policing and public safety looks like now, in our community and for us personally, and how that informs, influences, and sometimes interferes in the discussion of “reforming”, “abolishing” or “defunding” our existing policing paradigm.

Our second session will deconstruct the origin and evolution of policing followed by a discussion about how public safety could be reimagined from the ground up, absent present-day paradigms and institutions.

We welcome you at either one or both!

Some readings of interest on this topic locally (written by Tiana Headley, Vassar ’22):
How the Poughkeepsie Police Union Tried to Defeat Reform
Uneven Police Reform Compliance Frustrates Mid-Hudson Communities

Opportunities for Action – July 2020

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RIGHT TO KNOW ACT

ENJAN (End the New Jim Crow Action Network!) has been working with NYCLU to support the passage of the Right to Know Act (RTKA) in the City of Poughkeepsie. This law, which can be adopted by local and municipal governments, would require police officers stopping citizens to identify themselves and explain the reason for the stop. The idea behind the RTKA is that it would promote a conversation between civilians and law enforcement. Requiring officers to identify themselves and explain their actions promotes a more consistent, respectful, and community-minded approach to enforcement activities while also potentially reducing the likelihood that a routine police stop will turn violent.

The City of Poughkeepsie Common Council held a special legislative session on June 29th to advance business and dialogue toward policing reform and racial justice and a Hearing to receive public comment on July 6th.

All recordings of Poughkeepsie City Council, Committee and Special meetings can be found here: https://totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=cop

Background:

https://www.courtwatchdutchess.org/blog/2020/6/16/policing-in-america-making-police-more-transparent-and-accountable

To voice your opinion:

https://cityofpoughkeepsie.com/common-council/members

July Celebrations – Good things happening in our community!

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POUGHKEEPSIE COMMUNITY WIFI PROJECT (PKCW) 

Nubian Directions II Inc., a long standing local not-for-profit with a history of working with low-income, under-served, academically under-prepared, multi-cultural populations in the City of Poughkeepsie, continues to move forward to provide free Wi-Fi access to “unconnected” City of Poughkeepsie residents.

It is the objective goal to create a local WiFi project that is “community owned-supported”. The WiFi mesh network will aid in closing the socio-economic digital divide while building a technology inclusive community. As NDI “builds-out” and expands the PKCW WiFi mesh network in the City of Poughkeepsie, we are very mindful that we need to prepare quickly in case there is a second round of COVID-19 in the upcoming fall/winter months. NDI will continue to work with our local colleges, school district, City/County officials, CBOs/non-profits, homeowners, faith-based and civic organizations, businesses, in order to expedite the site locations and WiFi equipment installations. 

Free WiFi is available at the following locations; Winnikee Avenue, Mansion St. Square Park, Malcolm X, and Pershing Avenue Park. Local city residents and Poughkeepsie City School District students can now  enjoy free WiFi/internet access.

Interested parties are welcome to join us and email us for more information about serving on a volunteer WiFi committee.  Contact Nubian Directions (845) 452- 8574 or email rwright@nubiandirections.org.