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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes <br />August 23, 2016 <br />Page 6 <br />Mr. Jacob Latter, 1811 14`s Avenue South, stated this is a metaphor when Mayor Faust and <br />Councilmember Stille said they were standing in water five years ago. People should take care of <br />each other and the Council is appointed to represent this town. He felt there is one murderer that <br />is getting paid right now, which is disrespectful and unacceptable. He wants the Council to make <br />it right. <br />7 Mr. Jud Larson, 2800 31" Avenue NE, stated he lived in the village for five years. He grew up in <br />8 a very small community that was not diverse and is not an expert on race relations. He is deeply <br />9 concerned that an officer has taken a life because he was scared, as it is not okay to kill someone <br />10 because you are scared. He is concerned Yanez is being paid currently, felt this is a miscarriage <br />11 of justice and a miscarriage of justice could happen to anyone. <br />12 <br />13 Mr. Curtis (Unknown last name) stated 49% of budget goes to contract policing, this is a large <br />14 amount, and asked how much of that money is going for Yanez's defense. He stated he walks in <br />15 fear of his life every day and it would not be excusable for him to kill an officer because he is <br />16 afraid of them. Body language tells more than actual words. He felt Yanez has been put back in a <br />17 position of power, the investigation is not complete, and the City is backing Yanez. He asked if <br />18 the Council heard what the children that Philandro worked with have said, thinking it would be <br />19 nice to bring the children to a meeting so the Council can hear how they felt about Philandro. He <br />20 asked what kind of message are the children hearing, noting the world is watching St. Anthony, <br />21 there were foreign reporters here, but the Police Chief nor Yanez were here. He stated he will <br />22 continue protesting and the Council needs to answer questions. <br />23 <br />24 Mr. Ted Owens stated he is 16 years old and afraid he will lose his life every time he sees the <br />25 police. He felt that was murder and it makes no sense to let Yanez come back to work. He is tired <br />26 of protesting and the Council is not listening when black youth come to protest every day. He has <br />27 lost his job and his house due to protesting and will continue to protest for justice. He asked <br />28 Council to put themselves in "our shoes." <br />29 <br />30 Mr. Emmanuel, St. Paul, stated the Council doesn't care, Yanez had been put back to work, <br />31 which is unacceptable. He stated lives don't have a dollar amount and for Council to accept the <br />32 actions of the Police Department is nonsense. He stated Philandro was shot in front of his <br />33 girlfriend and his child. He suggested Council get to know people of color within the <br />34 community, noting people are getting mad and a dangerous situation is being created. <br />35 <br />36 Mr. Nathan Eyasu, 2912 31" Avenue NE, stated he is resident of St. Anthony for 21 years and <br />37 was racially profiled by police a couple years ago. He shared his story about being pulled over. <br />38 He was told the car was loud by the police and that was the only excuse the police gave for <br />39 pulling him over. He believes the officer was Asian. He stated as a resident of St. Anthony, racial <br />40 profiling needs to change and Yanez needs to be taken off duty. <br />41 <br />42 Ms. Tonya Sturm, St. Paul, stated she has children who attend the Montessori School and she is <br />43 also a member of a Black Moms Group. She felt the officer who killed a black man being <br />44 reinstated is a horror, has degraded the trust of the public, and Yanez should be removed <br />45 immediately. <br />46 <br />