CTCAV Newsletter

Welcome to the Cancel the Contract Newsletter for October Updates and upcoming events in the AV. The next CTC Coalition Meeting will be Monday November 27, stay tuned for registration and agenda. 

CTC Steering Committee

This month, CTC said goodbye to long-time and original Steering Committee member Cortez Chandler of Timelist Inc., we thank him for his 3 years of service and look forward to ongoing partnership in community. 

CTC is excited to welcome two new Steering Committee members:

Dennis Moore is a resident of Lancaster, and the former President of the Chicago Chapter of Blacks In Government. Mr. Moore also served as the former President of Bethel A.M.E. Prison Ministry in San Diego, ministering to inmates at the George Bailey Center Jail and Donovan Prison, along with being a member of the San Diego County Reentry Roundtable.

VaJezatha Payne is a resident of Palmdale, where she is a healer and advocate. Ms. Payne is a licensed psychotherapist by profession and a fighter for the people by design.

Reflections on Recent Events 

CTC Youth Squad

On Friday Sept. 29th, 2023 The Youth Squad hosted its first Game Night for the youth of antelope valley. The event was a success leading to the planning and development of two more meetings scheduled on the 20th and 27th of october.

Angela Davis visits the AV

On Thursday Oct. 5th, 2023 The Social Equity Speaking Series presented Dr. Angela Davis at AVC Performing Art Theatre in Lancaster California. Davis is an American revolutionary Marxist and feminist political activist, philosopher, academic, and author; she is a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who emerged as the leader of Communist Party USA in the 1960s and had close ties to the Black Panther Party. She has advocated for the abolishment of prisons and the prison-industrial complex. She has been a leading voice and a symbol of the Black liberation in the US and around the world. Dr. Davis spoke and answered questions followed by a book signing afterwards. It was an honor to have such an icon here in the AV.

Fix School Discipline (October 6, 2023) – Cancel the Contract attended the Fix School Discipline Coalition’s Annual Convening at Loyola Law School. We and our fellow panelists  Black Parallel School Board and Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles had the opportunity to discuss our vision of police free schools. It was inspiring to be with other organizations who are doing the work of reimaging school safety and student wellness.

Education Justice 

Discrimination in Discipline Town Hall October 18    

Join CTC and Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County as we discuss the results of a two-year investigation into the Antelope Valley Union High School District by Dr. Jaime Hernandez. We will review the first chapter of a comprehensive report documenting the District’s discriminatory discipline practices. Register here. 

AVUHSD Board Meeting October 19

Join CTC and have your voice heard by addressing the School Board during public comment. This is our opportunity to speak out against the over policing and discrimination in discipline happening to our Black and Brown students in schools.

IEP Legal Consultations November 15

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles is providing free IEP consultations for AV families, meet at CTC Offices and please email [email protected] to make an appointment.

Criminal Justice Accountability 

City of Lancaster Launches New Police Department 

As we shared in the last newsletter, the City of Lancaster has launched a new City Police Department with an initial $10 million of city funds. See here for CTC’s letter to the Department of Justice Monitors, County Supervisors, US Senator Alex Padilla, and Mayor Parris asking for immediate clarification on the role of the new police and whether they are accountable to the 2015 Settlement Agreement for racist and unconstitutional policing in the AV. 

New Law: Ebony Alert!

On Oct 8th, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 673, a new law establishing an Ebony Alert system. This new California law will create an emergency alert system to help find missing Black youth and women between the ages of 12 and 25.

CTC Criminal Justice Accountability Committee October 23, 2023 (in person and online)

Please join the next CTC Criminal Justice Accountability Committee meeting on Monday October 23rd at 1pm. In this monthly meeting we discuss Sacramento justice legislation, the Sheriff Department, Lancaster’s new police department, the AV Settlement Agreement, police brutality in the AV, and so much more. Meet at CTC offices, 44728 Sierra Highway, Lancaster CA and confirm your attendance with [email protected].

CAC Palmdale Town Hall 10/16/23, 6pm

The next Palmdale CAC (SA Community Advisory Committee) meeting will be held on October 16th at 6pm, at the Pearblossom Town Council Building, 34004 128th St. E.Pearblossom

Los Angeles Civilian Oversight Committee Upcoming Meetings

• Monthly Meeting Thur. Oct. 19, 2023 @ 9:30am
• Community Policing Conference: Building Community to Advance Public Safety, Fri. Oct 27, 2023 from 9am-4pm 
• Nov. 9th, 2023 @ 9am Commission Meeting

Civic Engagement:

Show up, speak out, listen to your elected leaders and neighbors:

• Palmdale City Council Meeting 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month @ 5pm
• Lancaster City Council Meeting 2nd and 4th Tuesday @ 5pm 
• Board of Supervisor Regular Board meeting Tuesdays @ 9am, next 10/17/23

Reports and Information

Closing Section

Please share this newsletter with your networks and follow us on socials. We hope to see you at an upcoming event, and please reach out with any concerns. 

Yours in CommUNITY,

 The CTCAV Team