The reforms to police and court systems were unveiled during an at times tense city council meeting Tuesday night.
Larry Miller at a city council meeting Tuesday in Ferguson, Missouri.
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
The meeting, which was held in a church and attended by about 200 people, ended when the city council moved forward with two significant reforms:
1. The city will create a citizen review board to oversee the police department.
2. Court fines and fees will only be able to make up 15% of Ferguson's budget.
The two reforms are significant because they aim to address some of the most prevalent complaints Ferguson residents raised during nearly two weeks of unrest in Ferguson: namely, that the overwhelming police department had little oversight in the mostly black community, and that black residents are routinely hit with excessive fines and fees by an out of control court system that funds the city coffers.
Among other things, the city also will abolish some court fees and try to revamp W. Florissant, the bleak road where much of the protesting took place. In a statement, Council member Mark Byrne said "the overall goal of these changes is to improve trust within the community and increase transparency, particularly within Ferguson's courts and police department."
People criticized the handling of the Michael Brown case — officer Darren Wilson's whereabouts are still unknown and he has not been charged — racial disparities in the community, policing and many other things.
from BuzzFeed - Breaking http://ift.tt/1qgiuvj
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