| Statement from Councilmember Garcia on the Killing of James Garcia by Phoenix Police | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-8/1384 | | City Council District 8 | 7/7/2020 7:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1384/Newsroom_Council_Statement_08.jpg | | Statement from Councilmember Garcia on the Killing of James Garcia by Phoenix Police | <div class="ExternalClass28CCEFD6C9104602ACD77E6348F3C4E2"><html>“We send our condolences to the family of James “Jay" Garcia who was shot and killed by the Phoenix Police Department. We want to acknowledge the pain this has caused in the Phoenix community that is mourning his sudden death. We are with you.<br><br>Despite the calls from the community to end police brutality and killings, Phoenix PD continues to respond to calls with violence. We demand a full, independent, and transparent investigation of the case, including the release of all footage unedited. Phoenix PD cannot continue to investigate itself in officer-involved shootings and police misconduct. Community members fought for and won the Civilian Review Board and the Office of Accountability and Transparency for this reason. Our office will stand with communities directly impacted by police violence and continue to demand accountability and transparency, so we can have a safer Phoenix for all residents."<br></html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district8 | News | district-8 |
| Councilmember Garcia’s Statement on Today’s Vote to Require Face Masks | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-8/1351 | | City Council District 8 | 6/19/2020 7:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1351/Newsroom_Council_Statement_08.jpg | | Councilmember Garcia’s Statement on Today’s Vote to Require Face Masks | <div class="ExternalClassD3923A416EF943649792CA0E6CD6AB85"><html>
<p><span id="ms-rterangepaste-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangepaste-start"></span>“COVID-19 is affecting our community at an alarming rate. The declaration from the City of Phoenix to require face coverings is a response to the lack of accountability our state has taken to protect us from the rapid spread. We want to acknowledge that not everyone has access to face coverings and we believe in the civil liberties of our residents of Phoenix. We are paying close attention to how this declaration will be enforced. As a city we should avoid criminalizing people who do not have access or are in situations that prevent them from wearing a face covering. City of Phoenix staff who interact with the public such as our bus drivers and park rangers are exposed daily and are vulnerable to the spread. We want to encourage those who use public transit and our public spaces to use care and wear a face covering if possible when using these services. Now is a time to take care of one another as a community by each of us doing our part by wearing a face covering when in public when possible. We have the opportunity to stop the spread. If we can each try our best to minimize our exposure, we can save lives."<span id="ms-rterangepaste-end"></span><br></p>
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| Councilmember Garcia’s Statement on Today’s Vote to Fully Fund the Office of Accountability and Transparency | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-8/1322 | | City Council District 8 | 6/8/2020 8:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1322/Newsroom_Council_Statement_08.jpg | | Councilmember Garcia’s Statement on Today’s Vote to Fully Fund the Office of Accountability and Transparency | <div class="ExternalClass55D75B3C60D64E6D8272713FB0EC0889"><html>
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<span style="font-size:13.3333px;">“Today is a first step in a process of creating a safer community for Phoenix. While we continue to pass a budget that disproportionately funds our police department, fully-funding the Civilian Review Board and the Office of Accountability and Transparency is an acknowledgement to our community that we hear them. Hundreds have attended Council meetings, we have received thousands of emails and comments demanding to hold the Phoenix Police Department accountable. Funding these programs will not solve all the issues our community faces with police, including police brutality or institutionalized racism, but hopefully it will start a conversation on how we as a community envision a different future—a future where public safety isn’t defined as police, but as a community where all residents have their basic needs met. This new future requires that we rethink how we invest in community. It doesn’t stop here. As we move forward, our office makes a commitment to our community to push to include them in the process of developing OAT and CRB and to push our city to think differently in how we spend our money. This includes looking for ways to reduce policing budgets, so that we can reinvest in the services that matter most to Phoenicians.”</span><span id="ms-rterangepaste-end"></span><br></p>
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| Statement from Councilmember Garcia on Yesterday’s Failed Budget Vote | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-8/1314 | | City Council District 8 | 6/4/2020 6:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1314/Newsroom_Council_Statement_08.jpg | | Statement from Councilmember Garcia on Yesterday’s Failed Budget Vote | <div class="ExternalClassB3BE60F3DDC94BFBA6AA812AA9533BFA"><html>
<p><span id="ms-rterangepaste-start"></span>“We failed you. Yesterday at Phoenix City Council we heard over 600 protesters through the walls of the council chambers demanding change to how we invest in our community. In addition, Council received over 2,000 public comments, 500 additional comments that didn't make the public record, thousands of emails and dozens of calls demanding change. With all of this, Council failed to address the concerns of the public. Police violence has been an issue across the country and in Phoenix for too long and historically has affected Black people the most. Postponing on this issue ignores the needs of our community. Time is of the essence, we need the public's continued support now more than ever. We ask you to show up, submit your comments, call, email us. Put pressure on the council, especially on those who lack the courage to do what's right. We have an opportunity to stand with the community who is asking us to lead on this issue. Let's hold our Phoenix Police Department accountable and transparent so we can have safer communities for all residents of Phoenix."<span id="ms-rterangepaste-end"></span><br></p>
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| Statement from Councilmember Garcia on George Floyd’s Death by Police | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-8/1292 | | City Council District 8 | 5/29/2020 8:30:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1292/Newsroom_Council_Statement_08.jpg | | Statement from Councilmember Garcia on George Floyd’s Death by Police | <div class="ExternalClass72029315E6B94B8DA4A1DAE18B29ADBE"><html>“We want to acknowledge the pain and suffering of the people in Minneapolis who lost George Floyd, murdered by police this week. All of us across the country feel the pain, this isn't new for Black people, who have historically experienced institutionalized racism and police violence around the country and in Phoenix. We are with you. <br><br>We must hold the police accountable and continue to push for transparency to assure police violence and misconduct are no more. Police unions and ideologies such as “police can do no wrong" or “bad apple" have protected police for too long. It doesn't matter if you are suffocated at the neck or if you are shot, murder is murder and murderers should be charged as such. <br><br>As we saw last night, Phoenix Police continue to use excessive force, chemical weapons and surveillance against people exercising their first amendment right. This is unacceptable. <br><br>We need your voices to amplify what COVID-19 has taught us- that black and brown bodies hurt the most from systematic racism and that those that have kept us safe are our janitors, our grocery store workers, our nurses, and everyone who feeds us and keeps us healthy every single day. <br><br>We will continue to push for accountability and transparency in Phoenix, but we know policing won't bring us safety. There is not one answer on how to fix this, but not doing anything will lead to more death and us becoming accomplices to it."<br></html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district8 | News | district-8 |
