Transcript: Dover Human Relations Committee Meeting

Chair

Welcome us this evening to the city of Dover, Delaware, Dover Human Relations Commission, Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 meeting. Our first 10 minutes we will have an open forum starting at this moment. We do have a open link for the public who might be virtual as well as we have some guests this evening. Do we have anybody in the public who wants to make some statements?

Omari Muhammad

That would be us. That's us.

Chair

Yes sir. I believe we have the Coalition of Dover?

Omari Muhammad

That's right.

Chair

Just state your name and-

Omari Muhammad

Omari Muhammad, in name of God, the beneficent, the merciful. First and foremost, I'm trying to get a comprehensive understanding of the human relations. And when I say that, I'm saying, I believe it might have been 2001, 2002, it's been a long time, when Reggie Hanna got killed by the police—I mean, murdered by the police. And out of that, I believe the Human Relations was birthed to my knowledge. So I'm looking at the agenda, I don't see nothing necessarily coincide with the incident that took place based upon Reggie Hanna. So I'm trying to find out who is Ms. Mullen, who is Ms. Brinkley, and Dr. Mishoe-Sudler for one. Then I looked on the back of the agenda, community programs. Again, Mr. Fauss, Mr. Fleming, Dr. Mishoe-Sudler, school program, bylaws, finance. Now, I could be wrong, this might not be the right human relations if it was not given birth through the murder of Reggie Hanna through police officers who never was charged. They never was charged for this. If this is where this program has come, then it might not be the right program, or I could, once again, I might be in the wrong place. So I'm trying to figure out and understand the Dover Human Relations Commission: what is its purpose and its aim and its goal, and what was it based upon? And how can we help to make it a better situation? Cuz I don't see school programs dealing with somebody murder. I don't see community programs, unless it's dealing with education of how to deal with cops that kill you. I don't understand that, and I don't understand the finance. So hopefully y'all can enlighten me the aim and purpose of here. And I definitely don't see nobody back here but a few of us that we came here, so it seems like it's not even an important situation, or it have not been structured to draw people to the aim and purpose of human relations.

Chair

Thank you for your comment.

Omari Muhammad

Uh-huh.

Chair

Let me start with the members of the Dover Human Relations Commission. The ones who are present, you have Ms. White, you have Ms. Brinkley,

Roy Sudler, Jr.

You have Mr. Faust, and you have myself, Dr. Mashue Sudler. Um you also have who is not with us, uh Bishop um Lott, Marion Lott, Paul Fleming, and Wanda Mullins. Those are the empty seats that you see. So, like you stated, the Human Relations Commission, the idea of the Commission was established during that time and because in a response to what you mentioned. Yes, that is true.

Audience Member

Praise the Lord.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Um the You mentioned the incident with Reginald Hannah uh and the murder, the murder of Reginald Hannah. And I understand that. Um at that time, when the Dover Human Relations Commission was um established, you had um Roy Sudler, uh who who is who is my brother. Uh you also had Miss Faye White, um and some others who advocated for this commission. Um they did a lot of outreaching uh to communities, and they did a lot of um activities with the constituents and the citizens in the community. Uh since then, I just came aboard uh in 2024. Um when we had COVID coming through, the Commission was disbanded at that time, so it was absence during that time. Before then, um you did have activity taking place um through the the Commissioners who were on at that time. Um but tonight, and I'm glad you're here, um because we are going to talk about the purpose and the direction that the Commission is going in and what we have been doing lately, okay? But I'm going to also I'm not going to um put aside what is out there in the public that's stating what the Commission does. I want to read to you. The establishment, purpose, powers, and duties of the City of Dover Dover Human Relations Commission, hereafter the Commission, are provided for in Part II of the Dover Delaware Code of Ordinances, Chapter 58, Human Relations, Article II, Human Relations Commission. Broadly representative of racial, religious, gender, and ethnic groups residing in Dover, the nine volunteer members of the Commission are all residents of the City of Dover. They're appointed by the President of the Dover City Council, based upon recommendations from and subject to confirmation by this council. Commission began its strategic plan process to define its strategy, focus, and direction for the years 2020 through 2023. So what I'm reading to you is a revised strategic plan. This has evolved into a revised strategic plan for the years 2020 20 through 2023. In developing this phase of the planning process, the Commission, based upon the first phase, has organized its objectives around the components of its mission, its component its its commitment to competency, transparency, public accountability,

Committee Member

and in accordance with the aforementioned ordinance. That's just what the introduction to the commission is, and what is out there for the public to see. So, the mission of the commission: The commission is committed to a philosophy of inclusion, intergroup cooperation, and fair treatment. It works to ensure that the city of Dover has and utilizes policies, programs, ordinances, organizational practices, specialized resources, and appropriately trained employees to support diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency. By involving all segments of the community, the commission promotes an understanding of and an appreciation of the benefits of diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, and positive intergroup relations among the city's diverse residents. It also advocates for an environment of fairness and respect. The commission works with the city council, the city administration, and community organizations to enhance intergroup relations, to eliminate discrimination, and to anticipate, prepare for, and resolve incidents of intergroup conflicts and disputes within the city. So, the vision, the commission's vision is a city whose government, organizations, groups, and individual citizens value diversity, inclusion, respect, and trust. So, let's talk about, without the paperwork, what the commission really does. Me just coming on here, the commission is a listening ear to the community and a body that is in touch with the city council. We are limited. When they make ordinances and policies, this commission is responsible to research the policy, ordinance, whatever they come up with, to make sure that it is fair, to make sure that if we see any discriminatory practices or policies that are made up through the city, that we bring it to the attention. When the city has meetings and the public is aware of the meetings and they listen to the city, for example, we have an ordinance that the city is is concerned about now. So, what the city, what the citizens of the city should do is come to the Human Relations, express their concern. We have dialogue so that we can express what the citizens are wishing instead of all of the citizens of City of Dover coming to City Council and then City Council listening for two, three hours, and then not being able to get any work done. So, the commission really needs to take on what the citizens' concerns are, which is why we have our open meetings, and we're glad you all have come so that we can have dialogue and see what the citizens' requests are for the city. And we advocate for the citizens to see if that ordinance that they're trying to put on the

Committee Member

back to the citizens is fair. Now we have an ordinance to talk about tonight, which is Ordinance 2025-21.

Committee Member

We won't get to that and talk about that ordinance, however, going back to what we do. Just recently, I'm sure you've heard about the murders out of Barrister's Place, Cherry Hill, right?

Committee Member

So those those murders, um the citizens out there at Cherry Hill, in Barrister's Place, uh we've had several dialogues with some of the residencies out there. After the things that have taken place, they wanted things to to be done by the city. The city came out, they took some action plans, put up some cameras, put up some lighting, um and and and did some more surveillancing, right?

Committee Member

Citizens, we continue to have dialogue with the Barrister Place residencies residences, and I just talked to one today. She came and told me that they're glad that they had the cameras up, she saw the cameras and, and some things have calmed down a little bit. So what we do is we research, and we have to dialogue with the citizens. We have to talk with you all to make sure that you're being treated fairly, that the policies and the procedures that they're going by and the programs that they're making to put out here into the public is fair.

Committee Member

Now, we also from, this commission has was created and and and devised based in the response from the murder of Mr. Hannah.

Committee Member

And the things and the things that still happen in the city of Dover, they still have to be answered to and accounted for. We have wrongdoings that take place, we have unfair treatments that still take place, and and we can't just make up policies based off of our feelings. You see you understand what I mean? So what I'm saying is

Committee Member

if the city has to make ordinances and policies and procedures, then the citizens can come to the Dover Human Relations Commission meetings that we have and voice their opinion on these ordinances, and then we go advocate for the people to City Council.

Committee Member

So, um we're missing some folks. Our City Council, um it's supposed to appoint some some other uh members for us. We're a little short, but we're supposed to be out in the community helping to ease tension amongst uh the city and its citizens. If things aren't fair, we're here to listen to it, not to run from it.

Committee Member

We're here to help out, help bring resolution in a positive way, and that has to be a collective, which is the reason why I'm glad you're here, because I don't know all the answers and and I'm not the closest person to every situation.

Public Commenter

Now, I mean you really you really, and probably all y'all, confirm that situation. Situation is that the Human Relations was based upon Reggie Hannah murder while uh James Hutchison was the mayor. While James Hutchi-

Speaker 1

...at that time, see, and the mayor is the boss of the city of the police. So you could say about Banes Place or Cherry Hill. However, that was more of gang-related crime committed when they killed Guzman.

Speaker 1

And you can go out there, you can put cameras, but they got cameras right down here at Irish Mike's, and that's only a block away from City Hall that stuff is not being done. They will post that on Facebook, people black people fighting each other till they tired because no police will come. So you can put cameras anywhere,

Speaker 1

but this is based upon the actions of the police and how they conduct their self when it comes to a citizen, how they handcuff you, and you got marks on your arm because the handcuff is too tight, or they'll assault you.

Speaker 1

In my incident, a couple months ago when the officer pulled me over by Dunkin' Donuts, he told me to throw my keys out the car. What? I thought I was in LA somewhere. This is not that type of city.

Speaker 1

But I gently laid them on the ground. And I filed a citizen complaint, and of course, the Internal Affairs said that the officer didn't do nothing wrong. But I have never heard of a officer say, 'Throw your keys out the car' for a traffic stop.

Speaker 1

So we're dealing with Reggie Hannah and the murder of Reggie Hannah, and how that impact need to be addressed when it comes to police brutality, police misconduct. So when you say once again about Cherry Hill and cameras, they got cameras, they'll shoot you right in front of a camera.

Speaker 1

I don't know what y'all doing for the community. I ain't see nobody out there in the community. I got a store right down there on 329 West Loockerman Street. I'm in the community, and the Coalition of Dover is in the community doing something, but I haven't seen the Human Relations in no community trying to reach the people to converse with them. That's why you don't have nobody here.

Speaker 1

You got to be out there in the community because things are happening to the people in the community by the police officers. Now, when the police chief was here when I came here a couple weeks ago for the City Hall, the mayor and them was here, and the one sister said her son was murdered at Guinness Pub,

Speaker 1

and she keep coming down here and she going to continue to keep coming down here on a complaint because they know who murdered him, and they know one of them is supposed to be in jail with a gun charge, this is what she's saying at the podium, and there's nothing being done.

Speaker 1

Then you got another brother that I know and grew up with, I'm born and raised in Dover, Delaware. Claude Tolson's son got murdered out there by Woodcrest on the west side of Dover, and that no arrests in that. So I'm trying to figure out what is it that

Speaker 1

Now this is more black-on-black crime. Is it black-on-black crime that y'all do, or is it police misconduct on the citizens of Dover? Because right here it got like so much stuff. It don't really have a agenda where it

Public Commenter

did, cuz you said it was revised, of course. Why would you revise something for its aim and its purpose and then reach out to city councilmen, which I don't see them out in the community neither. I don't see Brother Roy Sudler. I don't see Donyale Hall. I don't see Boggerty. I don't see Anderson. None of them out there. So even if you reach back to them, it's going to be a watered-down version of what I'm hearing from y'all, from you right now. The agenda need to be focused on, and I want to become a part of this because I need to, that's somebody I grew up with, Reggie Handy. So I can get out there and make sure the police ain't killing everybody or anybody, let alone Black people, when they want to kill. I'll get out there and do something about it. I'm not going to sit here, I only I never seen you before in my life and I'm born and raised in Dover. But now I know you're related to Brother Roy Sudler, Dr. Roy Sudler. I ain't never seen Reverend Lockett, he over there on New Street, but he don't get out much no more neither. I know he was a correctional officer. I don't see none of these people. And that's what we going to do as the Dover Coalition, we going to change all of this. Because people that's not in the capacity and have power and authority that's not doing their job, we want y'all out of those situations. The purpose is you killed Reggie Handy, none of them officers was arrested. Are you going to reopen that? Then we got, we got still brothers that was hung out there in Silver Lake. Dave Clark and all of them. We need to know is the prosecutor going to get in there and open that? One brother said the dude that so-called hung Brother Dave and somebody else out there got arrested for another charge in another state. We're trying to reopen that, so you if that's true through investigations, that we need to bring him on charges of hanging Black people out there in Silver Lake and throwing them in the water. These issues here is superficial when you come to dealing with community programs, school programs, and bylaws finance. That's not what this, how this got started. And I'm disturbed by it, but I'm tell guarantee you, by the will and power of God, I'mma rectify it through the people that's going to support me to rectify it, cuz I'm here to stand up for Reggie Handy, Dave Clark, all them brothers that got killed out there in Silver Lake by them white boys that said they was KKK or whatever it was. That's the focus y'all need to be focused on, cuz if not, we going to want y'all out the way while we split the Red Sea so we can walk on dry land like Moses did. So if y'all want to get this stuff together, cuz I'mma be here. Every meeting that y'all here, I'm going to be here. I'm going to get the coalition to be here. We're not going to be shucking and jiving, coming here, I don't know if y'all get paid for being up here or whatever, we're not going to do that. We're not going to scratch where we don't itch. We're not going to laugh if the joke ain't funny. We're not going to bend, we're not going to bow. We going to get justice for Reggie Handy. Since then, his mom done passed. Since then, his sister done passed. No justice. So now I got to stand in their place to get justice for Reggie Handy, when them cops um probably went on with their career, became whatever, mayor, city council, wherever they at. Same way with that white boy that killed them brothers out there. Everybody's going on with their life. Stick to the gen-

Public Commenter

agenda and stick to the plan of the birth of human relations. If it's for Reggie Hannah and for disrespect of the police and the murder of police how they treat black people in the hood or any citizen in Dover in the hood, then stick to that. If it's not, get out the way, put somebody up there that's going to stick to the agenda because it's still the same situation around here.

Public Commenter

Whether we agree with it or not, cameras don't do jack. Irish Mike's, they fight all day. And no and I asked the mayor, I asked the police chief, why y'all can't be down there between 12:00 and 1:00 to deter black on black violence. Ain't no white people down there fighting and shooting and killing each other. It's black people. So maybe the human relations can do something in that capacity to stop that down there.

Public Commenter

If you can't, once again, I guarantee you we coming after you, your position, and your reputation, whatever that is, and we going we want y'all out the way because you're in the way for freedom, justice, and equality, and liberty for the people in the city of Dover. That's all I got to say.

Committee Member

Can I answer some of his questions?

Committee Chair

Thank you. Thank you for your comments. We will move on with our agenda now. Okay, we are now we need adoption of the agenda.

Paul Faust

I'll make the motion to accept the agenda as written.

Committee Member

Frankly second.

Committee Chair

It's been properly moved and seconded that we accept the agenda as written. Um, any questions on the motion? Any questions on the motion? Any questions on the motion? No questions on the motion. All those in favor?

Committee Member

Aye.

Committee Chair

Aye.

Paul Faust

Aye.

Committee Chair

All those opposed have the same right. Motion carried. Okay, so when it comes to our assessment, um last meeting we I gave the assessment uh layout format. Um hopefully you had a chance to look at it. And our mission and our vision that should be inputted into the uh into that assessment. We will have to make sure that it is the correct one. So, um as we go over, I did give you the strategic plan, the bylaws. Um they're also online. Please be sure to review those fully in its entirety, uh and send your corrections if you need to. Um if not, just send your approval, okay? Remember, just send your corrections or approval on the mission and the vision, the mission and the vision, okay?

Paul Faust

When do you need that by?

Committee Chair

Before we meet next.

Paul Faust

Okay. Thank you.

Committee Chair

So, thank you. Um our community programs, Mr. Faust, do you have an update?

Paul Faust

The only thing I have to report is I did reach out to United Way to get more 2-1-1 cards. Uh it was hard to get ahold of them through the holiday season, so I finally got ahold of the supervisor. She's supposed to be mailing me out the cards that have one side in English, one side in Spanish. So once I get them, I will email everyone so we can divvy them up. And uh if we have any leftover, we can give them to City Council if they need some. And the director said she appreciates us uh from the United Way uh asking for the cards, so if we need any more additional cards to

Speaker 1

to, uh, reach out for them. And I think we discussed the last meeting that, you correct me if I'm wrong, we already discussed that we cannot do any fundraising because of the, uh, city con- because the attorney said it was a conflict of interest. So, uh, that's where we stand right now.

Speaker 2

Okay. Um, also for those who are interested, um, Councilman Sudler has been speaking with a couple of business owners, um, in the, on the Forest Avenue, uh, Forest Avenue and Salisbury Road intersection. Um, there will be having, um, a project going on, um, that will address, uh, some of the, um, some of the constituents who are in the middle of the road, in the median, uh, with the panhandling. Uh, I believe it is Councilman Sudler and Councilman Lewis who will be initiating, uh, some of those activities that will be taking place. They will be sending us, uh, schedule time, uh, for us to be involved with so that we can, um, make sure that we are there to help them. Now, this activity will involve, um, I believe some of the mental health crisis units from the, the Division of Health and Social Services. Uh, they'll be assisting as well. So it will be, I believe, about four hours of activity, of some research and, and, uh, going on at that particular intersection. Um, I will send you more details, information on the details. Um, also, just recently, um, we had our, we had a first, um, we initiated some time with, um, Commissioner Brinkley's district, where we, uh, set out and we talked a little bit about, uh, some of the ordinance and some of the things that are taking place in the city of Dover, uh, getting ready to make some plans for some particular activities, uh, to take place with the mental health and, um, some other things that this city is trying to bring here to address, uh, the homelessness and things like that. So, uh, we will be involved with that activity as well. They will be sending us, uh, some of the, um, detailed plans, and I will get make sure that you all get it as well from the city clerk's office. All right? Mr. Lott, do you have anything, um, regarding our school programs?

Mr. Lott

Not at this time regarding the school program activity...

Speaker 2

Um, so of course, um, I'm not sure if you know, um, Chaundra Jackson, she's the Capital School District, uh, school board president, I believe. So she's the school board president, and, um, there's going to be some involvement with, um, I believe, um, um, the Opioid Task Force that has been, uh, created with the city of Dover. They have a, a particular, uh, I believe the Opioid Task Force that they've devised,

Committee Member 1

And there's going to be some things taking place with the school. We've been asked to be a part of the dialogue with the Capital School District being involved with the city and bringing the services.

Committee Member 1

Of course you know, we have a big foster care population, and it attends the Capital School District schools. They age out at 18.

Committee Member 1

Now, when they age out at 18, they have an opportunity to go to school at Delaware State University for— I'll say for free, but really it's not for free, it's on the backs of the citizens and taxpayers.

Committee Member 1

However, they are allowed to stay there all year round and, you know, be able to receive education.

Committee Member 1

Now, when they graduate, they're on their own. If they graduate. Sometimes we have the foster care students have issues that they take with them to the institution, and sometimes it prohibits them from being able to learn.

Committee Member 1

So you're looking at a possible situation where students, when they age out at 18, coming out of high school and they have nowhere to go, will they be homeless? Is a question.

Committee Member 1

How long will they have in a shelter? Is a question. You see You understand? So, our strategic plan says we are to work with organizations and other institutions

Committee Member 1

and community organizations to ensure the the fairness, the good health, and, you know, better humanity for our citizens.

Committee Member 1

So that's why I was saying, that's why I had passed out the bylaws and the strategic plan, and was like, you know, we need to really look and make sure that we're operating according to what they have put out here for us to do, okay? So, I know it's a lot, and I do plan to to actually try and talk with City Council to to get a hold of, you know, exactly

Committee Member 1

all of these things they put here, because they task us to do a lot, but they don't have we don't have all the bodies. We're not able to operate in full capacity.

Committee Member 1

So some districts don't get what other districts get, and here we go with fairness. You see there?

Committee Member 1

So, I know the 4th District is is is at capacity. The 2nd District is at capacity, but our our 3rd and our our 1st District,

Committee Member 1

sometimes it gets a little it gets a little shaky, and we're missing some folks, and we need an at-large person. So we're supposed to have nine.

Committee Member 1

We you see what I mean? We're supposed to have nine, and right now we're sitting with five, okay?

Committee Member 2

Of course, how many commissioner are part of that task force?

Committee Member 1

None that I'm that I'm aware of. See, these are the these are the things I have to

Committee Chair

bring to City Council. And and I'm and we're supposed to have a council person here right now, and our liaison is is uh Donyale Hall. And for some reason, um, you know, we just haven't been able to either get her here or or communicate with her.

Committee Member

Okay, I would like to be a a part of that task force. Uh, I did foster care for 20 years. I'm I'm familiar with uh everything that you just made mention of, and so I would like to be a part of of that task force.

Committee Chair

Okay. I'll definitely I'll I'll make mention, and and see if we can make sure you get on there. Okay.

Committee Chair

Also, it says um, the City of Dover's code of ordinances. The The ordinance starts with the commission. So, they made this ordinance 2025-21, have you all read it? Are you familiar with it? Do you have a copy? Right? Do you have a copy?

Committee Chair

This came from District 1, ordinance 2025-20 21. If this is what you gave, this is the summary. So, um, can we pull the Can we pull a copy of that ordinance up? Commissioner Brinkley, you want to read your summary?

Wanda Brinkley

Thank you. So, the summary of the meeting that I had on January 14th: the meeting focused on addressing the concerns in Dover, particularly regarding pedestrian behavior and median usage, with discussions centered on potential solutions like installing fences, exploring state-funded options. The group explored various approaches to address homelessness and economic challenges in the city, including community outreach efforts, coalition building, and potential expansion of services and resources. The conversation ended with discussions about funding distributions, particularly regarding opioid-related funds, and the importance of forming partnerships and coalitions to address ongoing social and economic challenges in Dover. Um, I will add that we had individuals from the ACLU, which was Ms. Mack; um community members, uh some from um House Not Housing Alliance Delaware, but uh a few not-for-profit individuals uh at the meeting. And it was also uh Mr. Councilman Rocha that was there. The meeting was great. We had some great ideas that came from it. Um, and I'm looking forward to pulling more individuals into you know, trying to address the ordinance uh

Wanda Brinkley

because, as a lot of people noted, most of the issues that District 1 is having is at the corner of Forest Avenue, Forest Street, and Salisbury Road. Um, there are safety concerns there, and even after the meeting, discussions had been had uh with constituents who state that, you know, they're for the ordinance. It's just the wording in the ordinance that's a violation of uh individuals' First Amendment rights.

Committee Chair

So, um if you can you zoom that zoom in a little bit? The ordinance is Now, if you haven't had a copy of this ordinance, I advise you to have a copy of the ordinance so you can um really look at it

Committee Member

review it because there's some verbiage in here that I think needs to be changed. And the Commission is tasked to, um, we do have to make a stand, a comment on how if it's fair or not. And which is the reason why we've been, and we were asking for you all as well to talk to, uh, citizens to see how they feel and how we can rewrite this ordinance because I don't think it's a good one. That's my personal opinion. I cannot speak for the whole. If they ask me to make a comment, uh uh, for the Commission, I cannot do that because we have not, this is our first time meeting regarding this ordinance. And you know, it's I'm fine with officially saying that I don't agree with it as is written right now.

Committee Member

I second that.

Committee Member

So, um, you know, I have some choice words for Council. Um, hopefully we can get some get our liaison in here, and, um, we can be able to, um, communicate the way that they ask us to. If not, you know, I can make my visits. That's not a problem, okay? Miss White, your district will be next. You and Commissioner Faust. Um, and you're prepared for the Luther Towers conference room?

Faye White

Luther Towers, yes.

Committee Member

Like we like we usually do it.

Public Commenter

Wait a minute. That's an issue. When you can't meet here, uh, in the chambers here, I welcome you all so we can at least communicate and listen and Oh, damn. I'm tired. I just listened to the young man that came up, and it's very helpful hurtful to have to to Can I can I speak?

Committee Member

Mhm.

Public Commenter

And going back when he spoke about Reggie Hamilton, I just came here, and then we uh we had the young two young men in Silver Lake that were hung. Why is it that we we talk about solutions and solving, but we don't hear? I hear very clearly what the young man was saying, and each event that he spoke about, I was there. So a lot of times when people are participating in the community, you can't see nor do you know people that have your back. And I've been here, and I've walked Loockerman Street. I've walked Kirkwood Street. I remember, if the young man, I think it was a shoe store there on the corner of Loockerman and New Street if I'm not mistaken. I went there in the community, not being fearful and afraid because they're my people. And I asked them, "Who do they want? I'm here to listen." And I wasn't fearful or afraid because first of all, a lot of people there only want you to listen at what they're what what they what they what they're going through. You can't continue to

Public Commenter

put a Band-Aid on a open wound. And with that said, I was working in the midnight hour, my son and I used to ride up and down the road during the domestic violence and the crime. And we helped a lot of people and I mention, I heard a young man when he said Hutchinson. When Hutchinson was the police department was a police chief, if I'm not mistaken, and also the mayor. You had I've watched them come and go the 20-some-odd years that I've been here, and like the young man said, nothing has been done. You can't keep on talking and saying to people,

Public Commenter

but they are our people. They are our children, so we have to be held accountable also for what goes on the geographic area in which we live in, block by block, community by community. We can sit and we can talk and say what we're going to do this and do that, but listen at what they're saying and what they I I just ask, "What do you want me to do?" And they'll talk to you, but you have to be willing to listen. And I uh, you know, being advocated on behalf of domestic violence, community, crime. I've seen it. I've walked and lived in some of the areas in Philadelphia, North, South, East, and West, in some of the tough neighborhoods, and all anyone want to do is for you to listen at them. And and I think once we get to the point going in the community and asking them, "What do you want?" you have to It's just like a child. You're raising a child. You can't always give orders to a child without listening what they what they have to say also. Dover can be cleaned up, lock by block, if you'll stop allowing the activities to come and accept it. Like on Loockerman Street you have that what uh what uh what do you call y'all young people call that drug uh You you buy you get you get you get you get your drugs and stuff. What is it?

Audience Member

Toussaint? Drug Alley?

Public Commenter

No. You It's It's you get your marijuana there.

Audience Member

Dispensary stores.

Public Commenter

Yeah, you allowed that to come. So how can you have that on Loockerman Street and then it's surrounding areas. You're going to tell you're going to lock them up. You want to approve of them to purchase the marijuana. Big businesses are coming in getting the grant money, a lot of vacant buildings. They've tore down so many houses down in that area of where David and Sudler is at. It's almost like a I don't know. Thank you for listening.

Public Commenter

Well see, let me let me just say if if it's okay. Let me just say the 25-some years I've been here when you spoke to Reggie, okay? You remember when they had the attorney that came who had lost his life? You remember? So you for you you know we're just not going back and forth, but for you to say that no one was doing anything,

Public Commenter

while a lot of people were sleeping, I was helping walking

Brian E. Lewis

Excuse me, ma'am, can you use the microphone so people can hear if they're listening from from

Public Commenter

I did. I think I did push it.

Brian E. Lewis

I can hardly hear you over here, ma'am, no disrespect.

Public Commenter

No, I I apologize. Can I speak?

Brian E. Lewis

I just want the public to hear if they are listening in, that's all, ma'am.

Unknown Speaker

is your speaking some good words.

Faye White

Um and even uh with the hanging in Silver Lake, I extended an invitation. When they couldn't meet here, when they were walking, when they were sitting, and they had undercover back there waiting to arrest. So we left from here, and I prepared a place for them to go. You had the say this is the second hanging. Okay. I advocated on that. So, I understood how you feel about Dover Human Relations. But Commissioner Sudler and I, we worked real hard. And the thing is we never gave up. You may not you may not see a lot of people that are advocating on your behalf, but there are people that are out there doing it. And so with that said, when you spoke about um what is that, Banneker St- Banneker, is my correct for that? With that, we're working we're working on that, too. And so we don't, and when you mentioned we we don't get paid. I'm 80 I'll be 84 July, and let me just say this here. Uh, we when you don't see us here, and you say you see a few and you're going to come and you're going to take over, where were you when I needed you? When I needed someone to watch my back. And let's work together. Therefore, every good beginning, it takes we- let's that's just get to work together. Start from this moment on to get together to work on behalf of togetherness. Together we stand and divided you fall. So give us an opportunity to be able to help. And I've seen Loockerman Street, all the businesses come and go, but you have a whole lot of activity in on there that we have created. We put our foot on our own soul, not no one else. So we need to-

Andre M. Boggerty

Is is it Mr. Muhammad? So you um you was interested in in being a part of we have some open seats and and um I have your name. Do you want me to have some more information where we can reach out and and uh possibly get you up here if you want to be on here? Okay. Uh Miss White, um can we make sure uh we have his name, we we just probably need your address and a and a contact information.

Faye White

Okay, thank you.

Andre M. Boggerty

So I will tell you the process. You can go online, um they have um a application for commissioners, for folks who want to for public who wants people who want to join um commissions, um um volunteer with departments and other city areas. You can go right on and fill out that app since we got your name and and you're adamant. You're adamant, you're persistent, and you and you have some backing, you're a coalition, and I think it would do well. Okay?

Commissioner

Can I piggyback off of Miss White and get other thing? The uh commissioners here, we've go to any place we're needed. I've gone to a couple things for uh playground questions or, you know, disputes. If there's a need in the public, it doesn't matter 2nd District or 3rd District or 1st District. If we're asked to be there, we come. You know, if we don't know about it, we can't come, but we try making a lot of things like-

Alan Gaddis

We don't advertise it. We go out to the ACLU meetings. Dr. Travis and myself have gone to quite a few of them to hear what the public's saying. So we just just don't meet just once a month here. If we're asked to come, or there's something that's important, we go out to the public as needed, and we don't waste time. There's times that we've gone in there and we're giving up our own time for a couple hours. So we don't say we're going to be here only 15 minutes. We go out to the public, we stay there from the beginning to the end. And if we got to come out for a second or third meeting, we do the same thing. So if people in the Second District need us, because Travis and I are there, we're there. Dr. Travis, he's in oversees us. He participates. Commissioner Brinkley had a televised, I don't know the proper wording, for their constituents. I was involved in that to listen to hear. We help each other out. We come out to the community. But if we don't know there's a situation or a need, we can't be there. But if that you want us there, we'll try our best to get there.

Theodore Henderson

Um, for the, uh, for the finance update, there hasn't been any transactions. We haven't bought anything, have we?

Theodore Henderson

Miss Brinkley?

Rita Mishoe Brinkley

[inaudible]

Theodore Henderson

Okay.

Theodore Henderson

So, um... Okay.

Theodore Henderson

So, um, other than that transaction, we haven't had any others. So you can, you know, that the amount was 3,000, just subtract the $25 and some change. However, um, I don't have any new business. Just make sure, uh, you look over that strategic plan. Make sure you look over the strategic plan. I had a I had a big concern in the strategic plan, um, where they say the Dover Code of Ordinances centralizes decision-making at the Commission level. So that's why I'm ready to say I have an issue with the ordinance, and it should not be passed. Not the way that it's written. That's That's my official stance. Okay? Um, you all do please review it and and send me, um, your corrections and things like that. We We're going to I want um I want to allow There was a young man, he had another question. I want to close out and and allow him to, um, you know, speak to us. Okay? I don't have any new business. Anybody have any anything old business?

Alan Gaddis

Nothing, no.

Theodore Henderson

Commissioner White, did you have anything?

Faye White

Can we extend an invitation to the, um, Attorney General? I did speak on having her come in because with all the...

Female Committee Member

um issues and things that are going on law-fully?

Male Committee Member

I think that'd be good.

Male Committee Member

I think um you know you wouldn't be out of order to um invite her to come in.

Male Committee Member

Yeah. They mentioned some things um that I would recommend the Attorney General hear as well. I did.

George King

Good evening. My name is George King. I'm also a native of of Dover, Delaware. I'm familiar with Bridgette Johanna, you know, the murders out at Silver Lake. You know, I'm 64. I think I moved from one um I moved from uh Milford, Delaware to Dover in '69, I believe it was, you know. But anyway,

George King

um I heard the gentleman was saying that, you know, if there's uh meetings that um he know about uh he would attend if you know. Well anyway, I'm a part of the Dover Coalition up on uh 329 West Loockerman Street. We having another meeting um uh February 19th, 6:00 to you know usually an hour, but sometimes it extends over um to about 7:30. So I'm just saying anybody up here, if you're saying that you want to hear what the city has to say, you can um you're welcome to attend the meeting from 6:00 to 7:00, 7:30.

Female Committee Member

Where's the address or location?

George King

329 West Loockerman Street right on the corner of Queen and Loockerman.

Female Committee Member

Is that the Al Noor shop?

George King

Yes, Al Noor 35.

Female Committee Member

Where Jericho is?

Female Committee Member

Where Al Noor?

George King

Yes.

Female Committee Member

It's a a store.

George King

Yes.

Female Committee Member

It's a nice

Female Committee Member

I got you.

George King

All right. That's all I have to say. God bless you.

Male Committee Member

Are you are y'all familiar with the um the NeighborGood Partner building?

George King

Yes.

Male Committee Member

Do you all ever um plan to um have some communications with someone with the NeighborGood Partners?

George King

I talked to brother Ken Anderson of the Downtown Dover Partnership who hooked me up with a pastor over there, but he's on vacation, I think last week, and I don't know if he's still on vacation. And I'm trying to get a small business loan to keep the business in existence, so he referred me to him at the NeighborGood uh watch with me uh business uh what they do over there. Plus I think Janet teaches business classes over there. Janet got the barber shop on Queen Street. So we're reaching out to them, yes.

Male Committee Member

Okay.

George King

Well we want y'all to come and give us support. As sister said, where was I at at the time? Probably was locked up, but I'm out here now. But you know we need backing. So we need y'all input as well as the coalition of Dover, cuz we trying to make this bigger than ourself. We trying to bring our vision mission statement is make our community a safe and decent place to live.

Male Committee Member

So we need to come to your meeting.

George King

Yes, and give us input, support,

Public Commenter

...mentally, spiritually, physically, economically, where we can become one and move on one accord to change Dover, safe and decent place to live.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

So, uh, think about this, something to think about. Um, we can't fundraise, right? Um, but I'm sure we can get together and utilize a resource that we already have. Maybe like a venue or something like that, to where we can have more, um, community awareness. Cuz that's what we're tasked. And I can't wait to get you up here.

Public Commenter

Right. Okay. You got the sister Pastor, you know, Barlow that had the thing up Capital Green. And had we been united like this and trying to become united, that young brother would have never got killed like that so easily out there. We have to make our community safe and decent place to live. And protect our community, protect our elders, and protect the children. That's what we going to do is going forward. So we need you there, and I need to be up there. He need whoever we need, we here.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

We need each other.

Public Commenter

Yes, sir.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

So, um, I think that I think we going to be doing some good work, uh, more sooner than later.

Public Commenter

Yes, sir.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

And I remember your face. I'm younger than you, but you know what I'm saying. I remember. It's all good. We want to, um, can we make a motion to adjourn?

Committee Member

I'll make that motion for adjournment.

Wanda Brinkley

I second. Brinkley second.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

It's been properly moved and second that we adjourn. 7:03. Any Any Any question on the motion? Question on the motion. Any question on the motion? All those in favor, vote.

Committee Members

Aye.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Aye. All those opposed have the same right. Motion carried.