Dear Novato Community,
It has been a long 10 weeks of seemingly one crisis after another. The Council and I are sad to see what’s happening across the Bay Area, as well as throughout our Country. Of course, at the center of this we are grieving: our hearts are heavy and we join the community and George Floyd’s family in amplifying his memory and ensuring justice is brought forward after his cruel death.
We understand that our duty as leaders means leading our community in a just and equitable way. We cannot ignore nor deny the injustice and discrimination people of color in our communities have suffered and continue to suffer—as leaders we recognize that we can, and must, do more.
We are confident in the professionalism and compassion of our police department and city staff as they are closely monitoring and collaborating with local, state and federal partners to stay informed on potential issues that could impact Novato. At this time, there are no known threats to downtown or Novato. We are aware of peaceful protests planned over the next few days and are confident that these protests will remain peaceful. We’re committed to working together with the community to ensure a safe environment for all.
Novatans pride ourselves in taking a stand against violence and discrimination with initiatives like Not In Our Town and with groups like our Multicultural Commission to help us encourage respect, understanding and inclusion of all within our community. Marin and Novato have a long-standing history of participating in the democratic process and driving social change peacefully and we respect the community’s right to protest.
As we move forward, please know that we will continue to strive to build a safer and stronger community together. The City Council and I hope you will continue to support your neighbors, friends and fellow community members during this difficult time.
Denise Athas
Mayor, City of Novato
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