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<br /> <br />Councilmember Allen thanked Ramsey County Attorney Choi for his efforts. He stated so many of the <br />challenges the community was facing was with the policies that were in place and if they produced equitable <br />outcomes for all. He indicated there was a great deal of societal imbalance when it came to wealth, and other <br />areas and trying to find fairness was a challenge. Ramsey County Attorney Choi agreed this was a challenge. <br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle thanked Ramsey County Attorney Choi for his presentation stating it was very <br />informative. He indicated he appreciated the efforts he was taking to focus his attention on violent crime while <br />still making sure his office was not perpetuating historical harms and racial disparities in the way law <br />enforcement is approached. He understood there were communities of color that have been harmed by policies <br />and he was reassured that Ramsey County Attorney Choi was reconsidering these policies. He requested <br />further information regarding the JDIA including prevention and diversion options. Ramsey County Attorney <br />Choi stated he would follow up with the Council on this topic. He reported there were things the County had to <br />improve on such as the placement of violent youth in secure institutions. He indicated special accommodations <br />or variances were needed such as a MIF program and noted funds were being requested for this type of <br />program. He believed that a one-size fits all correction system was not serving society well. He supported <br />society having better rehabilitation and correctional institutions. He believed more had to be done after a <br />person served their sentence in order to help people heal. <br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle thanked Ramsey County Attorney Choi for his thorough response. He agreed that the <br />public tended to think once a person serves their time they will be better off and this was not always the case, <br />but rather people may need additional help in order to get out of the vicious circle of crime. He stated he really <br />appreciated all of the efforts from Ramsey County Attorney Choi and thanked him for taking the time to meet <br />with the New Brighton City Council. <br /> <br />Ramsey County Attorney Choi spoke to the need to support local and state police agencies. He reported <br />officers were leaving in masses and there was a real difficulty to recruit at this time. He believed that police <br />were a part of the solution. He needed to remain grounded in the community, along with Police Chief <br />Paetznick. He stated through this better trust and support would be built for the police and a better version of <br />justice would also be built. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dunsworth thanked Ramsey County Attorney Choi for attending this worksession meeting. <br />She stated this was a very heavy topic but it was uplifting to hear about the reform and other efforts that were <br />in place at the County level. She encouraged Ramsey County Attorney Choi to come back to a future meeting <br />in order to provide an update on what impacts his efforts were having on the community. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Ramsey County Attorney Choi again for attending this meeting and for his <br />presentation. She also thanked Public Safety Director Paetznick for his ongoing efforts on behalf of the <br />community. <br /> <br /> <br />Worksession adjourned at 6:27 pm <br /> <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Terri Spangrud <br />City Clerk