After multiple accidents occurred in the Civic Center parking lot in downtown Brentwood, Brentwood City Councillor Susanna Meyer asked staff to investigate safety issues.
When the request was made, the city council meeting on Tuesday produced 11 public comments sent via e-mail, and a teacher described what was happening inside the parking structure. Meyer confirmed that she met with teachers and the police department on this issue.
Concerns about loitering, theft, vandalism, people having sex in the car, drugs and even air gun incidents are all shared. Another written comment pointed out that the student tried/considered suicide from the top story but was told from the ledge by the school staff.
On Tuesday, Jonathan Dorr, a car teacher at Liberty High School, emphasized that when the structure was built, the problem still existed. He expressed concern about this and urged the beginning of safety precautions.
"Since the parking lot was built, there have been some problems, including people throwing garage fire extinguishers behind the school store area, and during the pandemic last year they broke concrete floors and threw them on store windows and other classroom windows. Students every morning Will pass through the fire lane area, constantly passing through the broken beer bottles, glasses and trash that piled up on the side of the parking lot the night before. When my students were working in the store, I had to face countless numbers coming to the edge of the parking lot. A community member who yelled at my students. I had to call the police many times. I called the city, school, and campus supervisors. They couldn’t do anything outside the campus. The acceleration of the car disrupted the learning environment. The most relevant thing It happened on October 18th. A student and his friend made a series of wrong decisions. They ran to the top of the parking lot, yelled at my student, took out an air gun and fired several shots. No one was injured, but the incident showed that there is no barrier between the garage and the school, and more things may happen...I know it needs to be resolved, so please consider adding it to the strategic planning meeting in order to find a solution "
According to the service log of the Brentwood Police Department, no incident involving the firing of air guns from the parking lot was listed on October 18.
In the council’s information report, Susannah Meyer stated that she met with Liberty High School teachers and union representatives and Brentwood Police Department Acting Chief Silva about safety complaints.
In a request for future agenda items, Meyer asked her to hope that the city government would create a list of options to address the concerns of Liberty High School teachers, students, and staff about the parking structure.
She said that this is not an isolated incident, but a series of unsafe practices that put residents at risk as things become more and more serious.
"I think we need to focus on short-term and long-term solutions to this problem so that we can guarantee the safety of our residents," Meyer said. "I think this is a problem that we need to study as soon as possible based on the way things are developing and the fact that we have received more reports about it."
No timetable was provided as to when the project will return to the board for discussion.
Acting police chief Silva said that the police department is cooperating with school staff to regularly inspect the parking structure and determine the students who should be in the school; and then involve parents in the conversation.
"We are working with public works to determine who is responsible for littering and vandalism. Public works maintain the structure and often find evidence necessary for the police to initiate investigations," Silva said. "We are arranging regular patrols of the structure to increase the presence of the police."
He added that Congressman Meyer and him met with school staff, listened to their concerns and shared some thoughts.
"As a result of that meeting, the safety and security of the structure will be included on the council's agenda for further discussion," Silva said. "We are communicating with public works on the possibility/feasibility of adding physical improvements to reduce vehicle traffic and pedestrian-related roof risks. We will work with schools to push parents information about student behavior in this structure."
He added that this will continue to be an ongoing discussion and effort by all stakeholders until we can implement some permanent long-term solutions.
I am writing to let the City of Brentwood know that since the parking lot was built in 2012, LHS has had negative issues. As a staff member, as long as I show my LHS parking permit, I can park in the building. This has a targeted impact on teachers. The students and other unwelcome people realized that the owner of the car was not the sitting duck waiting to be robbed/vandalized, because the school was in class from 8 am to at least 3/3:15. We cannot leave our class unattended because our car alarm went off.
I don't think this is acceptable because the city government does not allow teachers to park on the street for more than 2 hours at a time. Although we all believe that the LHS staff parking lot is large enough to accommodate all +125 teachers and support staff, this is not the case. If you don’t have a city parking permit or an LHS parking permit, you can still park there. It’s no secret. Some students have been boasting that they have always parked their cars on the upper floors of the building and have never issued a ticket; then, if the city government does not strengthen the permit, then what is the point of requiring a permit? !
Not only do people without parking permits park in buildings, but students and non[1] students often occupy the top of the parking floor and throw things at all times of the day. My child’s team used to rent old LHS swimming facilities. The coach always showed up one hour before practice to look for broken bottles, needles and other dangerous items, but sometimes the situation was so bad that they had to cancel the practice at the last minute because It cannot be cleaned up. (This is after the caretaker of LUHSD cleaned up the day before/earlier in the day or even a few hours ago.) And it doesn’t matter how many angry emails and phone calls parents send to the city.
I don't think the city government "shrugged" and said, because technically, the chaos is not on their side, and they can't do anything about it. The problems all stem from the city’s property. Since the city has not taken any measures to strengthen its own rules, the city is essentially harbouring criminal activities. Do you really want to make Brentwood famous?
I am a citizen who cares about this matter, and I am writing to reiterate other people's views on the evil incidents in the city garage. At any time throughout the work week, you can go to the city garage and witness teenagers and young people using the parking lot as a place for drug abuse, drug use, drinking, having sex in the car, destroying property, and doing burnout. The list goes on.
Without witnessing these things in person, one can see evidence in the surrounding ground and structures, from the burnt tire traces of beer bottles on the top floor to Ally Road and the LHS roof to a large amount of broken glass. Traces of paintball shooting damaged the next door Walls and buildings.
The students have tried/considered suicide from the top story, but fortunately they were told from the windowsill by the school staff.
Recently, a minor pulled and fired imitation weapons at an educator from the top of the garage during school hours. So far, in the last case, despite violations of multiple criminal laws, no charges have been brought against the perpetrators.
The private security guards hired by the municipal government to guard the garage are ineffective in preventing the above-mentioned situation from happening, and not many people are wearing uniforms but do not have the authority/legal capacity to do so. For people who wish to use the area as a place for illegal and/or disruptive activities, the information seems clear; even if it is captured by a camera, no measures will be taken to hinder the behavior because it is accessible and no impact has been reported .
What can be done to help LHS and the community ensure the safety of urban parking lots?
Possible solution: Reallocate private security funds to the BPD and have a staff member write a subpoena during peak usage hours or make arrests if necessary. Overwhelming law enforcement will send a message that it will have an impact, so that to some people the area is no longer a good place to cause chaos. It might be possible to discuss physical barriers restricting access to the top floor or glass or metal structures blocking the sides of the building facing the school.
Although major actions will not happen overnight, and most solutions require financial means, this is a problem that the council and the community need to solve, because failure to do so may have greater financial and emotional impact.
As a council, I hope to discuss and implement short-term direct solutions while drafting and investing in long-term plans.
thank you for your time,
Dear City Council Members and Mayor,
My name is John Dodson; I am making a comment today as a teacher at the High School of Citizenship and Freedom of Concern. As a resident, it makes me worry that our urban structure is relatively speaking. I am patrolling. As we all know, students and non-students regularly cause "nuisances" to urban property.
As a teacher whose classroom is less than 30 yards from the parking structure, I have greater concerns. Every day, when I teach in the classroom, I hear very loud music, engine speeds and tire piercing noises, and people often yell. I believe that this situation needs to be resolved as soon as possible on many levels.
I hope I can create a solution to solve these problems
As a staff member of Liberty High School, I am concerned about the recent threats to a staff member in the City parking lot near our site. The staff come from all over the county and use their life experience to enrich Liberty.
As Liberty is under construction, we are critical to the need for safe parking and entering/exiting the workplace. Especially in an era when teachers become the targets of community members, parents and students and are blamed for countless social problems.
The city police must take action to ensure that all employees want to protect the parking structure in a safe manner. If our city does not have basic security, we will see people leave the area to go to other communities. Before making any other demands on them, we need to ensure the safety of our dedicated teachers and staff.
Kyle Anthony Roman MAT, M.Ed. (him/them) Liberty High Theatre Arts/Stagecraft/PADA Playmakers Consultant/Director PAC Coordinator
thank you for your time. I am a resident of Brentwood (since 1999) and a science teacher at Liberty High School (since 2000), and I am writing to worry about the hazards of the urban parking structure that looms over schools and downtown. I opposed the construction of this structure. It was originally proposed and participated in a meeting (with many others) at the time to persuade the committee at that time not to build a large parking lot near the high school. The reason is that I am addressing it now. Although it is valuable, it is also an annoying place to hang out for those with specific and non-specific purposes. I have seen many people use this structure for multiple purposes, and people are harmed and threatened in this structure. A few years ago, I came to campus and found a girl standing on top of a building threatening to jump off. Broken glass, shards, objects and paint balls thrown from the building were scattered on the roofs of recent buildings. When leaving campus on an evening around August, I even heard the sound of a bottle falling behind me from the top or third floor (I didn't see it falling). I haven't come close enough to think that someone is trying to hit me with a bottle, but it is very scary to realize that someone can hit me.
Soon after the structure was completed, I climbed to the top to enjoy the scenery and from there to see what my classroom looked like. Seeing my classroom and many other classrooms was very obvious from there, I was very scared. At this time, when we are more vigilant about school shootings and training to prepare for it, it is obvious to me that we need to do something to simplify the use of parking structures for such attacks. When a student did prove that shooters could easily shoot people, our concerns were confirmed.
Please carefully consider adding measures to protect our students and safety, as well as young children playing in the area, employees of cities and schools parked there, and community members, because we all use this space from time to time. We require some physical measures to prevent people from entering certain parts of the garage when there is no need to open the entire garage. It's impossible to shut out very determined people, but it can make it very difficult and not worth the effort. I want you to consider all reasonable options. Maybe consider placing a shield on top. Even the top glass panel can still be seen, but it will prevent things from being thrown from the top and prevent people from sitting or standing on top of the edge. Additional policing may be required, but physical barriers will be very helpful. Thanks again for your time.
Poppy Sherlock Holmes Anatomy and Life Earth Teacher Liberty High School
to whom It May Concern,
I am the mother of a high school student in Liberty High School. I am very worried about the safety of my children and all Liberty students. Please help us find a way to provide a safe environment for students. I trust you because I believe you can do something for the safety of our community, especially the safety of our students at Liberty HS.
Thank you for what you do.
I am very concerned about the safety of everyone in the Liberty League High School District. A key issue now is that student staff and the public are walking near buildings near Liberty Heights. Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical security issue. Local student contract teacher
Regarding the city’s multi-storey parking structure:
Dear Brentwood City Council members,
As a teacher at Liberty High School (LHS), I am very grateful for being able to park the car in the multi-storey parking lot that borders and overlooks the southeast part of the LHS campus. Unfortunately, it has become a magnet for wandering teenagers and young people.
Regarding the "bird's eye view" of the parking lot structure, you can overlook the campus: "Children" like to throw things, especially from high places. Usually they don't really think about what they are doing or the possible consequences of their actions; they are just children. However, recent events have clearly shown that more sinister and terrifying things may happen, which cannot be ignored and should not be minimized; whether this is done, it will lead to a preventable tragedy.
In addition, although I have never personally felt threatened or unsafe, I have experienced countless "dangerous situations" in which a young man rushed down a slope on a bicycle or skateboard, but seldom considered that the driver saw them while pulling. Difficulty out of a parking space. This is an accident waiting to happen.
I don't know what is practical in terms of security in the parking lot itself, but I believe it is easy to block the bird's eye view of the garage overlooking the LHS campus. This can be as simple as modifying a dense fine-mesh metal screen. I am sure that such a screen can be designed to minimize any negative aesthetics, while allowing natural light to pass through, and also prevent even very small objects (including barrels) from slipping through.
I believe the board of directors will properly resolve this issue.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely, Mr. Frank Pappas-Liberty High School
Dear City Council, good morning.
I just wanted to reach out and share my concerns about the parking structure near Liberty High School. I parked my car in that structure a few years ago. However, after seeing and hearing various events, I chose to park the car elsewhere. In the past, I have noticed (especially before and after school) young people recklessly skateboarding in the garage. I noticed that adults and young people just sit in the car and listen to music or smoke for a long time. Is there any way in the city to pay for the security station (small shed or other things), there is a guarded parking lot at the entrance, MF, 7:30-4pm? This person can check parking permits or parking signs, and does not allow students to park in the parking lot, monitor who gets in and out, etc. Maybe parking sign fees help pay for the security at the entrance and the station? Thank you for your consideration.
Jennifer Koett LHS Art Teacher
I think part of the problem with the parking structure and the surrounding area is that Liberty claims to be a closed campus, but if it really is, it will be fenced around the entire campus with minimal entrances/exits to prevent students from wandering outside the campus. I have seen this situation in many high schools in my life, and it has been very effective.
Perhaps restricting access to parking structures in city offices would also help.
My other idea is to establish a city-based security presence in city parks and parking lots.
Last but not least, it may be a misdemeanor, such as picking up rubbish in a park around the city or helping landscaping personnel. Of course, the premise is that you can catch the perpetrators in the action. I hope these are useful suggestions.
Dear Brentwood City Council Member,
Since 2003, I have been fortunate enough to teach on the campus of Liberty High School. In 2005, I also moved my family to the Discovery Bay area because we saw the development potential of the area and believed that Brentwood is a beautiful community that can be cultivated. Our children have graduated from this school district. .
For the past 2020-21 school year, I have been teaching in the classroom located in the J5 classroom. I have attached a photo of my door.
As a local taxpayer, it took 8 years for my house in Discovery Bay to reach its value when we bought it in 2003. I don’t want to hear about the citizens of Brentwood moving because they think our school district is not safe and moving to Tracy is simply because the city of Brentwood lacks security and protection of their most precious asset, their children.
Having said that, I just want to come to work and teach the children in our area without worrying about gunmen in the campus or parking lot.
If you are looking for a solution? In the short term, a rolling metal garage door may be installed during school hours. Increase the presence of the police. Maybe in the long run, put a permanent brick on the wall facing the school
In any case, as a committee, I ask you to do something for the safety of our school children before it is too late. Perhaps as a committee, together with school district officials, you can visit our free campus when students are present, so you also know the real situation on campus at the beginning, end, and past periods of the school.
Mrs. Ghannadan Liberty High School CTE Lecturer
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