We're live-tweeting the @bergencountynj commissioners' meeting tonight. Time to let them know that they need to take a public stand against the Bergen ICE contract! 🧵 https://twitter.com/ChangeValley/status/1351003726715236355
1/ From 6pm to 7pm, the commission will be in work session. Starting at 7pm, the meeting is open to public comment.

#shutdownBergen
2/ @SteveTanelli proposes a five minute break before the general public meeting. It passes. Meeting to resume at 7:10 pm.
3/ @SteveTanelli calls the meeting to order. Tanelli then asks for an invocation to begin the meeting in light of recent events and the presidential inauguration tomorrow. Marilyn Harris delivers the invocational prayer.
4/ Harris prays to God that the commissioners know that words matter and that the commissioners' policies be ones of justice. Harris then asks that space will be made for marginalized people "at the table"
5/ @SteveTanelli reads an announcement marking the passing of a resident, followed by a moment of silence, and a round of applause for health care works
6/ The commission moves to introduce two resolutions. The first reaffirms the safety and fairness of the 2020 November election. Resolution is passed unanimously
7/ The second resolution honors MLK day. Tracy Zur remarks that the meaning of remembrance is to ask "what are you doing for others"
8/ Zur calls on the commission to be the light in the darkness and take care of all Bergen residents. Resolution is approved unanimously.
9/ @SteveTanelli moves to open the meeting to the public. A member begins by saying that the county's cooperation with ICE is contradictory to quoting MLK.
10/ @SteveTanelli claims that the only people charged with crimes are being detained, not people who are undocumented.
11/ Another public member says that what the Commissioners are saying is deeply inaccurate and asks why the commission blocks people on social media.
12/ @SteveTanelli claims that he does not block people despite photographic evidence to the contrary. Says he has already given an answer to this question. No other commissioners want to answer the public's questions.
13/ Another public member says that they would like a deadline for when the commission will end the contract.
14/ No commissioners answer
15/ Another resident asks: "where are your spines?" Singles out Tom Sullivan and Amoroso for not taking a tougher stances against the Bergen-ICE contract. Says that it is hypocrisy to say hate has no home here when people are terrified of ICE
16/ A resident asks how the commissioners would feel if their families had been locked in ICE detention.
17/ @SteveTanelli says that the commission hasn't defended the ICE contract, but also says that the commission has hope that the Biden administration will bring some positive change to ICE.
18/ A resident says they are disappointed with the undemocratic nature of the meeting and says that the county is profiting off of trauma
19/ Another resident points out that the status quo will probably not change under the Biden administration. Says that action on the local level cannot wait for action on the national level. Asks that the commission work with @BergenCountySo to make this an ICE-free county
20/Another resident asks, "Who is even in favor of the ICE contract?" Says that most people are opposed to it, yet still it exists. Questions why the county denounced Trump but worked with his ICE
21/ Another resident says that the commissioners are responsible for the racist carceral system. Says that there is a new COVID outbreak in the jail.
22/ @SteveTanelli now makes a motion to close the meeting to the public. Also makes a last-minute claim that a plaintiff in a wrongful termination suit against the county —who claimed that the jail was being mismanaged — is under investigation for fraud.
23/ Commissioner Amoroso now reads a resolution thanking three NJ congresspeople and talking about Black Lives Matter, but no mention of the public comments. Claims that Biden will roll out new sweeping immigration laws.
24/ Amoroso continues to talk about the lack of available vaccines in Bergen County. Says that people are frantic to get vaccinated and that people need to keep their ears open.
25/ Commissioners give updates about duckponds and offer congratulations to Asian Youth Conference.
26/ Commissioner Voss says the state bureaucracy is slowing the distribution of vaccine. Says that if Amazon was paid to distribute it people would already have it.
27/ Commissioner Zur disagrees and says that people are doing it as fast as possible. Says that hopefully change in Washington will improve the situation.
28/ The meeting has ended. No commissioners responded to any of the questions presented by the public about the ICE contract. But @SteveTanelli did make the board's position slightly clearer. They believe :
29/
The people in the jail are “criminals”
They don’t defend ICE, but won’t criticize it
Biden is coming in, so things will be better

#ShutdownBergen
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