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June 21, 2010 (Regular Meeting) Page 2 Bella in our family, we have never had a single incident. When we returned that night, it was clear from a break in the wood, that the hole was created from the outside. What is even more disturbing however, is what began with a simple question, why, has revealed a pattern of deliberate indifference inside the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Department. I say that not to engage in adversarial speech. I say that in hopes that the pattern of deliberate indifference ends here. It is my highest hope that the Board of Commissioners will support Chairman White and stand true to his words. In an email last month, Chairman White stated, and I quote, "The bottom line, as I am concerned, is to get as best of an understanding that I can about what happened and what can be done to eliminate or reduce the likelihood of this occurring in the future. If I am not willing to review and access situations or occurrences, then we are not getting better." I am pleased to hear, that you are committed to reviewing, .assessing, eliminating or reducing the likelihood of this occurring in the future. That is something Mr. Chairman reaffirmed during the press conference. However, this is not an isolated incident and a review must include independent outside experts. During the press conference last month, Mr. Chairman began by stating "We are very sorry for what took place that night ". However, the press conference did more to raise questions than it did to answer them. Many of the responses to questions included statements like "I cannot comment on that at this time. ", "I do not know the answer to that question right off hand. ", "That is something that we really have not discussed. ", "We tried to get that information, we do not have it at this time. ". In fact, Chairman White spoke on behalf of the Board of Commissioners and told the media that the Board will continue the investigation and continue to verify information. We have not been contacted to discuss these issues. The media has not been contacted with answers to their questions. The taxpayers of Cabarrus County have not seen further action. In response, we have formed and organized a group of concerned voters. In just five short weeks we attracted approximately one thousand local members. JusticeforBella.org is a grassroots organization dedicated to reforming animal care and control in Cabarrus County through the use of empirically proven cost effective methods that have already ended shelter killing and reformed animal control operations in other cities. Our goal is simple, stop the taxpayer funded killing of eighty percent of Cabarrus County's animals and reform animal control operations through new policies and procedures and mandatory training in animal behavior and nonlethal methods of capture. We will not go away quietly. We will only become stronger and louder. We will be back and we will be heard. Respectfully, we will see you next month Commissioners. Jessica Juba, resident of 2875 Eagle View Place in Concord, read the following statement: What happened to Bella is tragic enough, but now she has become a symbol of something even bigger. This was not an isolated incident. What Bella did was bring attention to an animal control department that is broken and a sheriff's department that lacks leadership and compassion. What Bella did for this county in death, we will equal by honoring her life and the lives of every animal that has fallen before her and after her. My question to you this evening is, will you stay true to your words and join the ranks of other progressive communities accomplishing great reforms, some of which are right here in North Carolina. This is something to be proud of. And of that, it is something to campaign for this November, or will you just go back to business as usual. We will be updating the public on these very questions and keep score cards for every elected official and public servant and where they stand on these very issues. With the committed support of national advocacy groups across North Carolina and across this country, we will continue to expose the flaws in the system. It is our sincere desire however, that we can work together with the Board of Commissioners to make the necessary changes. I know deep down in your hearts that you want what is best for this county as well. Nobody likes the image of our county right now. That is not a perception or a reality to be proud of. Let us get past pointing fingers and bring the community together to solve these issues. In five short weeks we