Waltham City Council Eyes Black Lives Matter Resolution

WALTHAM, MA — A city councilor Monday brought a Black Lives Matter resolution to the council to consider throwing its collective voice to stand with the Waltham Police Department in denouncing actions taken by four members of the Minneapolis Police Department during the murder of George Floyd on May 25.

On June 1, the Waltham Police Chief joined other police departments across the state and the country issuing a statement against the death of Floyd, who died in police custody after an officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes.

As is often the case with resolutions, the council voted send the resolution to a committee for discussion and approval before bringing it back to the full council or committee of the whole. Only Mackin of Ward 7 and Councilor Jonathan Paz, Ward 9, voted in favor of fast tracking it to discuss and approve it during the council meeting. Councilor Joey LaCava is a cosponsor.

The council decided not to do that, which concerned Councilor Kristine Mackin, who wrote the resolution.

"The resolution has been sent to the Public Works and Public Safety committee for our June 15th meeting," Mackin posted to Facebook. "These meetings are not routinely broadcast or recorded, making this the perfect opportunity for the council to sweep this under the rug."

Mackin, who sits on the committee said her first motion next week will be to affirm that Black Lives Matter and to send the statement back to the full council for approval at the June 22 meeting, which is the last before the summer recess.

Resolutions are nonbinding, meaning they don't change law, but are often used to issue an expression of opinion. Resolutions tend to have a temporary effect in an effort to emphasize a timely issue.

Mackin's resolution comes after multiple demonstrations on the Waltham Common in support of the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement. The latest, this past weekend drew more than a hundred to the Waltham Common. Another demonstration is planned for June 13 at the high school.

In nearby Arlington, the select board there adopted a Black Lives Matter proclamation and raised a banner to support the civil rights movement at its town hall.

The Waltham police union contract is one of eight union contracts currently being renegotiated in the city. The mayor negotiates and it is subject to council approval, but the council only has power to approve or deny it, but can not modify it.

Read the full resolution proposed by Mackin:

Resolution concerning policing and our community

June 8, 2020

WHEREAS, Black Lives Matter, and

WHEREAS, the Waltham Police Department has denounced the actions taken by four members of the Minneapolis Police Department during the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 and

WHEREAS, the City of Waltham strives to be a welcoming city, where all people can feel protected, included, secure and safe,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

That the Council joins the Police Department in denouncing police violence and brutality against Black people, and affirms that Black Lives Matter, and reaffirms that Waltham is a Welcoming Community, and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the City Council work with the Police Department alongside community leaders and advocates to understand the steps the Police Department has taken and can take to provide effective public safety, while ensuring accountability not only to the City Council and Mayor’s Office, but to the public as a whole and the community of Waltham.

Read more:

• Waltham Residents Hold Silent Black Lives Matter ...

• Black Lives Matter Protest Draws Crowd To Waltham Common ...
• State Rep Tom Stanley: Speaking Out Together To End Racism
• Waltham Police Chief Speaks Out Against Death Of George Floyd
• June 13 | Black Lives Matter March and Rally | Waltham

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).Have a press release you'd like posted on the Waltham Patch? Here's how to post a press release, opinion piece.