[imc-st.louis] [Fwd: [Confluence] Local Control--State Senate Hearing]

[ben]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Confluence] Local Control--State Senate Hearing
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:03:33 +0000
From: Civilian Oversight Board Campaign <capcr_cob at hotmail.com>

Our bill for Local Control of the St. Louis Police Department gets its 
State Senate committee hearing on Wednesday, January 30. The hearing is 
at 2 p.m. in Jefferson City. The Coalition Against Police Crimes and 
Repression is sending a delegation to testify, as is the Aldermanic 
Black Caucus. We also expect the ACLU lobbyist to testify in favor.

You can help us out by calling the Chair of the committee to let him 
know that you support SB 785. Senator John Griesheimer is chair of the 
Economic Development, Tourism, and Local Government Committee. His phone 
number is (573) 751-3678. Sen. Griesheimer is personally on the fence on 
SB 785, so your voice can make a difference.

Let him know that St. Louis should not be one of only two cities in the 
country which do not control their own police. Why should one third of 
the St. Louis City budget go to a police department over which we have 
no say? We want a police department which is responsive to its citizens, 
not one which is accountable to a governor and legislature in Jefferson 
City which is too far removed from the issues which affect St. Louis.

Please make this call in the next couple days. But if you miss the 
Wednesday deadline your voice will still have an effect for the next 
couple weeks, before the bill is voted on. You can also email the 
senator, and others on the committee. Just go to the Missouri government 
website. Select State Senate. Select Committees. Select Standing. Select 
Economic Development, Tourism and Local Government. Select the Senator 
of your choice. Select Email Senator. Simple, isn't it?!?

Thanks for your help.
_________________________________________________________________

-- 
Ben West
westbywest at riseup.net
http://savetheinternet.org