Just five days after peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters were met by excessive force used by the Saratoga Springs Police Department and Sheriff’s Department, the Skidmore community showed up and did not back down from questioning local council members and city officials. On Tuesday, August 4th at 7pm, the Saratoga Springs City Council met over Zoom to discuss the week’s matters. The council members were: Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton, Mayor Meg Kelly, Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan, and Supervisors Matthew Veitch and Tara Gaston. Typically, fifteen minutes of the meeting are reserved for public comment, with each comment limited to one minute. This was altered for this meeting; one hour was allotted for public commentary with two minutes for each comment, and the first 30 people who requested to comment were allowed into the Zoom meeting to do so.
Twelve Skidmore students and alumni, as well as three non-Skidmore affiliated Saratoga Springs residents spoke. All fifteen comments made at this meeting expressed dismay regarding the police reaction to the July 30th counter-protest against the “Back the Blue” rally.
Before the public comment section began, at the very start of the meeting, Mayor Kelly made a point to remind those present, and those watching via the livestream on www.saratoga-springs.org, that this was not a dialogue. This was a platform for community members to share their thoughts and comments with no response from the council.
In the week prior, Skidmore students quickly circulated that this meeting was occurring via social media, and many registered online to participate. Pass the Mic used their platform on Instagram to encourage students that had registered for this meeting to ask questions for those who could not attend or could not reserve their own spots in time.
During the meeting, the Saratoga Springs Police Department was called out for their racist behavior on the night of July 30th, including their unnecessary use of force against peaceful protestors. The racist history of Saratoga Springs was discussed, especially by permanent residents who have been a part of this community for years. Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton was questioned for her statement in support of the actions by the SSPD and Sheriffs Department, with some even urging her to resign from her position. Individuals critiqued the town’s previous Zoom dialogue with the Saratoga Springs Police Department, in which Black voices, especially those of the organizers of these protests, were muted by admins of the Zoom.* Participants raised concerns about what the SSPD will do moving forward to protect Black lives and protesters. Additionally, it was brought to the attention of the council that many SSPD officers were not wearing masks or proper PPE during this protest, as well as during past protests and on the job in general. The comment period ended 27 minutes in, when all present had spoken.
Immediately after, the Council transitioned into their planned agenda for that night’s meeting. It began with Commissioner Dalton reading and discussing her most recent press release regarding the events of July 30th. She openly defended “Back the Blue’s” demonstration and condemned the Black Lives Matter protesters for blocking traffic. She reiterated, as her press release stated, that three BLM protesters, aged 16, 17, and 19, were arrested that night. She claimed that all groups have a right to peacefully protest, as long as proper communication with the city and SSPD occurs prior to said protest. If this does not occur, protesters would be arrested “for their own safety.”** She ended her commentary by reminding viewers that she has hosted many peaceful protests, but that her job is to “protect all lives.”***
Commissioner Madigan responded to Commissioner Dalton’s words, emphasizing that the community must come together to use less force, aggression, and violence, and temper police aggression as well as personal aggression.****
Mayor Kelly then discussed how Saratoga Springs would implement New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 203 for Police Reform and Reinvention, which was issued statewide on May 25th, 2020. A task force has been formed, which includes Saratoga community leaders, notably Professor Winston Grady-Willis, the new director of Skidmore’s Black Studies Department. Their first meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 19th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Saratoga Springs City Center. All of their meetings will be open to the public and will include allotted time for public commentary. Mayor Kelly also mentioned that she is in conversation with Skidmore College President Marc C. Conner.
The meeting continued with the other planned topics of discussion, including Saratoga Hospital’s 125th anniversary, a Covid-19 emergency housing assistance program, and the 2021-2026 Capital Budget. All of these motions were unanimously passed by the council.
The Skidmore community has been persistent about showing up and speaking out at community events. Participating in local politics is one of the most effective ways to implement change, no matter how small. Skidmore College is a part of Saratoga Springs, and our voices are worthy of being heard. Because these community meetings are open to the public, Skidmore News encourages students to advocate for their beliefs and their fellow community members. It is crucial in these dialogues to continue centering BIPOC (especially Black) voices, consider ones’ positionality, and learn through listening critically.
* Important to note this was a Zoom call with the SSPD.
** This is a direct quote from Commissioner Dalton.
*** Again, another direct quote from Commissioner Dalton.
**** This is a paraphrased quote.