Statement from Tamala Takahashi for City Council

These past days have been a testimony to the distress and pain in our communities, brought to the forefront by the senseless, public murder of George Floyd.

Peaceful protesters, including here in Burbank, are shining a light on this tragedy, crying out together, pleading for change, and for those in authority to pay attention. At the same time, our community is anxious we might potentially be the target of opportunistic havoc. It is my deep hope that the peaceful protests for justice are not overshadowed by unacceptable violence. It is my hope that we listen to the voices of those suffering above the noise of the detractors. And that we turn this pain into meaningful change.
We’re seeing Police Departments across the country take a formal stand against dangerous physical restraints, by showcasing policies that ensure fair policing. It’s our city leaders’ responsibility to stand side by side with those who uphold fairness and equity. This is an important step towards national de-escalation and building and reinforcing local community trust that our police will protect every single one of us.
We may be a small, quiet community, but we can address the inequality, intolerance, and racism that tenaciously hides in the fabric of our culture. We can do this by coming together and listening, even if that means having tough conversations when we would rather look the other way. Even if it means bringing up topics that might be uncomfortable to get to the truth of what can be done better.
To achieve this, one lesson we can take away from the past few challenging months, is the importance of having competent, honest, compassionate, effective leaders in elected office. From the White House to the County Board of Supervisors to City Hall, if we want a healthier, more just, more prosperous society for every one of our neighbors, we must invest our time and energy in a government that will work to create that future.
We can begin here, in our city, by joining governments across the country in assuring we demonstrate collaborative policing (Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights - https://civilrights.org/wp-conte…/…/Policing_Full_Report.pdf) and by forming an independent coalition, to find ways to guarantee fair treatment, inclusion, equity, and equality in our community. This is how we truly become the World Class City we aspire to be.
We are resilient, we are capable, we will get through this. I believe in our community, and in our world, as frustratingly flawed it can be at times, that we can work together, and create a better future for us all.
Please connect with me anytime with your experiences, ideas, questions, concerns, and stories.
In kindness and unity, 
Tamala Takahashi
tamala4burbank@gmail.com