City of Oklahoma City Videos, 2 Mar 2015

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From YouTube: Mayor's Magazine - March 2015

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00:00 Kim Garrett and Capt. Juan Balderrama discuss the Oklahoma City Police Department's "Start by Believing" campaign. More information at peptalkok.com/sbb on Facebook at www.facebook.com/startbybelievingoklahoma

10:20 Tim Rogers, the new Director of the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma City.

19:40 Mollie Bennett discusses the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.

A

Hello there and welcome once again to the mayor's magazine, I'm Mick Cornett, the mayor of Oklahoma City, and this is our program for March 2015 in this first segment, we're going to learn about a new program being launched by the Oklahoma City Police Department. It's called start by believing and to tell us more about it.

A

First of all, we have Kim Garrett she's, the victims, services coordinator for the Oklahoma City Police, Department, Kim, hello, thank you and Paco Balderrama, his a captain with the Oklahoma City Police Department and is a frequent visitor to the microphone and the cameras. He is often that the face behind the scenes when the police department is is explaining what it is they're trying to do in a public service effort, so Kim. Why don't you tell us a little bit about this specific program? What are we trying to accomplish absolutely.

B

And the start by believing campaign is actually a national program that was launched by in violence against women international in 2011, and what they've done is shared collaborated with agencies and developed the start by believing campaign and made it available and accessible for agencies and states to use for free and so Oklahoma.

B

Our goal is to be a start by believing state by April, 2015 and, what's really exciting, is entities from across Oklahoma of all come together about a dozen agencies have come across the state and all been working together to launch this, and it's really exciting, because it's a great example of collaboration and partnership and how much more you can do by working together. Well,.

A

Talk all exactly: how is this going to work? Well,.

C

Basically, you know in the main, the planning meetings it's a very appropriate time, because April is Sexual, Assault Awareness Month, so we want to people, make people aware of the victims that they go through this. This problem, this issue, you know it's very important, interesting to me that the person who originally started in violence against women international was a police sergeant from San Diego.

C

You know somebody who first hand saw the needs of the victims in this community, so we were going to start, kicked us off in April and basically put it by showing her on facebook by having posters by having flyers, we've already developed a brochure for victims and officers, so everybody can be aware of just what we're doing this month and it's it's really an educational campaign to teach people what to expect what you know how to support victims of sexual assaults because a lot of times we don't respond in the best ways, and you know in Oklahoma only about forty percent of the victims actually report.

C

So there's another sixty percent out there that never come forward, never tell police and.

A

When those crimes are not reported, there's a high likelihood that that person is is going to assault. Someone else. Isn't that safe to say well,.

C

You know, and not only that mayor, but also you know that victim never heals. They never go through the process of receiving the services, the education and just they never go through that closure and healing process. That's.

A

Right I imagine there's some people out there that are, you know that are saying well, but they have not been a victim, but they probably know someone and I would think part of this messaging is is to be a support group for people to our victims in that right, camp. Absolutely.

B

The goal is public awareness and the reality is that most crime victims will first tell a family member or friend, and that their response will really dictate what they do next, if they get a positive response and they're more likely to move forward with getting support services from like a rape crisis line, calling law enforcement making a report. However, if they receive a negative response which oftentimes crime victims do there blamed for what happened, then they decide that they don't want to move forward. They don't want to.

B

You know, get services and it can be really hindering and go back to what you were just saying a minute ago. Research shows that sex offenders will repeat their violence and there's an average of about six victims so that a rapist will rape six women, and so, if we don't help the first one, it becomes then a public safety issue, because they're going to repeat and reoffend other women children, it's very dangerous Kim.

A

I've had people tell me well, I, didn't report it at the time or the next day, and now it's been a week or two weeks, and so the police aren't going to be interested now. What's your response to someone who who might think they didn't report it immediately that the crime can no longer be investigated? Well,.

B

Time can be helpful, certainly for investigative process and Paco can speak to that.

B

But police are always interested and I in identifying trends and reaching out to victims in stopping sex offenders, and things like that, and so if a few weeks have gone by you're still obviously able to come forward and report it, and we encourage that and just so, they can at least learn about their rights, the resources that are available to them, and things like that and I can think of several cases that we've had where there was delayed, reporting and there's still been a positive outcome. What.

A

What about the resources that are available for a victim? You know we talked about that. You know the criminal process or the criminal penalties for a person who's the assailant, but what about a person? Is a victim what's available for them through this program and through this thing, kind of the normal of the healing process. Okay,.

B

And there's actually a lot of resources in our community and one obviously the YWCA and there's a statewide safe line which victims can call and learn about what their resources are, what their rights are. Maybe what they should do things like that and which can be really empowered powering for them to learn about the resources and they have the option to go forward and get a forensics examination, a sane exam and to collect evidence if they decide they want. You know to file police report if they don't want our bio police report.

B

There's national hotlines available for people there's like internet chat groups, I mean victim. Resources are getting very creative, there's even I've seen iphone apps things like that, and so social media is kind of catching up to what victims need and identifying what their needs are and trying to best respond to how they want to receive those services. Mm-Hmm.

A

What I'm sensing here is is that this program is really almost victim-centered. It's you know we we already have certain. You know, procedures in place with the district attorney's office and through the police and through detectives about investigating crimes, but victims are often overlooked and and I think, by providing a more helpful support group and reminding people that they have a role you, knowing your friend and your family's lives. There's there's, there's still a lot of good that can come out of the healing process.

A

Do you have any any mad anecdotes or have people told you personally about stories and things that that that allow them to help them get closer to some sort of closure and understanding of a crime that took place well.

B

I know that support can be instrumental for people, whether it from law enforcement from advocates from family members that can make such a huge difference for crime victims as they move forward. Crime victims are have a high percentage of if they don't get any type of positive intervention, getting post-traumatic stress, disorder, anxiety and developing depression and substance, abuse, suicidal ideation, and things like that, and so research has shown time and time again that that intervention, a positive intervention, can be crucial in helping victims to move forward and heal.

A

Paco, what else can you add well.

C

You know I just wanted to stress that it's definitely an educational campaign. We want the public to know what resources are out. There. That's going to be listed on the Facebook page on the brochure that we're going to give out to victims and officers alike, but you know it's. It really is, as you put it victim, centered start by believing start by believing the victim. That's what we can do for right, starting right now, this very days we can start by believing that victim they walks into the police station.

C

It may have a kind of a crazy or Outlander story, but you know once we get down to the to the center of what actually happened. They were the victim of a crime and it's very important to focus on the victim because they're, the ones who were trying to protect you know we want justice for the victim. So so that's you know it's in the phrase of the campaign. It's what we're focused on. You know. We are officers, deal with a lot of people who who are victims and occasionally we do get the story.

C

That is, it turns out to be false, but you know statistics show the data, that's actually very low. You know five to eight percent of the sexual assault. Reports are actually Falls. Well, there's still another. Ninety two percent that are that are that actually did happen. So we have to focus on that and just I believe the victim give them the services that they deserve and also do our best to catch the person that did it. You know earlier. You guys discuss about reporting quickly.

C

Well, yeah, that's always to our to our advantage to get the information as quickly as possible. So we can gather that evidence, but also you know if that victim decides to wait a couple of days. Look as long as you still have the clothes that they wore. You know we can still gather a lot of good evidence from from that DNA evidence, but you know we want them to come forward, but they're not going to come forward unless they feel supported and embraced by law enforcement, but also by the community.

C

You know a sexual assault is one of the unique types of crimes where you know. If somebody suffers a loss from traffic accident, you don't you don't ask them what they did to contribute to that traffic accent well, for whatever reason, rape and sexual assault. You know what did you do is sometimes the response, the incorrect response. Well, we want to remove that and say: look. We can help you, it's not your fault, let's call the police, that's, let's get some services. Let's get you some help and that's what we want the attitude to be.

C

A

Is called the start by believing campaign Paco balderama Kim Garrett, with the Oklahoma City Police Department, thanks so much for coming on the show and reminding us the importance of being a part of a support group for women who have been the victim of sexual violence and getting them to report these crimes thanks very much. Thank you. Thank you. I'll have more on the mayor's magazine right after this hello.

D

I'm sergeant tompa kiani laws about the illegal parking handicapped spaces have become a lot tougher. Your car can be told if you're parking in a handicapped parking zone without a permit on display, plus the new law, allows a two hundred fifty dollar fine, ever notice the stripe lines next to some handicap spaces. It's illegal to park there too that's basis, so my friend mark and others who use a wheelchair can get in and out.

D

So if you don't have a permit don't park in a handicap area, it's the law and it's just the right thing to do. Welcome.

A

Back to the mayor's magazine in this segment, we're going to meet someone who's fairly new to the Oklahoma City area, but he's taking out a very important role in our community. It's tim, rogers and tim is the director of the metro library system, Tim. Welcome to the mayor's magazine, Thank You, mr. mayor, whenever we have someone who's kind of new to the program are new to them to kind of the city leadership I always like to let them know let the audience know a little bit more about them.

A

So where is where did Tim Rogers grow up? What's your story? Well,.

E

I've been all around but I started off.

E

I grew up in upstate, New York right around the Buffalo area and after going to college there, I went to Indiana for graduate school and that prepared me for a life of libraries where and I went back to New York for a few years, but then eventually ended up in Kansas for about 15 years and then most wearing Kansas I was in Johnson County, which is suburban, Kansas City area up an Overland Park work there for, like I, said 10-15 years and then went to North Carolina where I was ran a library consortium that served two hundred libraries across the state of oh, my good with Carolina.

E

It was telling.

A

Time rule then, with it, it was a to the we.

E

Of course, it included all of the public libraries, but also the University, so it included even Charlotte and Raleigh libraries, but then also University of North, Carolina, Duke, University and all of those libraries. We served every library in North, Carolina yeah. How.

A

Was that library system funded it.

E

Was actually funded through contributions from the individual communities of interest, the constituent groups, and so everybody paid a portion of they paid their own way. I guess you would say right and because of that, what we were able to do. We provided digital content and services. So with more on the digital library side of things.

E

In fact, it was entirely on the Digital side of things that we worked, so this has actually been sort of interesting stepping back into a public library where I have to worry about the the roofs and the air conditioning and the heating of buildings, and, of course, lately the snow removal and that sort of thing well.

A

It- and you know this job opened up against a year or two ago, and what what what made you want to get more involved and find out more about it. Oh.

E

My my daughter lives up in Topeka Kansas, and so my wife and I had been thinking about moving back to the Midwest wanting to be closer to her family. My wife's family lives also up in Topeka and, and so we had the interest of coming back. This job metropolitan library system is well known across the United.

E

States is one of the best library systems, and so, when I heard that Donna Morris was was retiring, I thought this might be a really good opportunity and the more I learned about the library, the more the more convinced I was it was. It was a great opportunity for me as well. Well.

A

Let's talk about the ways that libraries are evolving, we all know that a lot of people are reading books now on their on their iPad or some sort of notebook and that fewer people might be holding a book, and we hear about kids going to school and they're, not even issued books, anymore, they're, just downloaded onto their to their laptop or or their their notebook. That's a vastly different world than books had existed for you know over a hundred years. So how is Howard libraries adapting to the digital age? That's.

E

A great question: I do think that libraries are struggling more so than schools have been primarily because of the way the publishing industry works. But I can say here at Metro we have. We have really worked toward incorporating the digital content into the regular flow. Seventy percent of our collection is still print based and about sixty percent of the circulation or the checkouts are those physical books.

E

Eleven percent of our collection is, is digital and excuse me, eleven percent of the uses is from the digital collection, and- and so we have seen just in the last few years- and that is really shooting up quite a bit, and it's not a lot of people think that it's just the kids, but it's not just the kids.

E

More and more baby boomers senior citizens are getting iPads and tablets and other readers and and so we're seeing that that is really crossing all demographics now I think that I mentioned the publishing industry being sort of the inhibitor to this right now in the past, libraries have always been able to buy print books with some of the digital content. It's actually very difficult for libraries to buy it it's available in kindle, but it may not be available in a way that a library can purchase it.

E

Some publishers have actually, over the last three years, have said we're not going to sell to libraries which, which means that that continuum of knowledge that we've built in our communities with libraries is not actually able to benefit from from material. That's being published every day are.

A

We going to reach a point where books and periodicals that have been stored in libraries for four decades: are they going to be digitized and and and you'll when you go to a library, it'll be all digital I think.

E

That there are some libraries that have tried to go that way already bear County down in San. Antonio area in Texas has actually tried to incorporate a digital digital, only branches, where they really focus more on, like a almost like a lab environment, and it's usually when that's most successful is when the community does not the the people in the community don't have access to the devices or the the material itself.

E

Otherwise, so the library provides it I think for for Metro, I, wouldn't say that any time in the in the the near future we'll get to that I do think that obviously more and more content is available online. But I think that there's still a compelling reason for a lot of folks to have books and and the physical medium it it's it may not be.

E

It may not be commercially feasible to digitize everything in every library, but there have been major universities that gone on digitization bends with Dooku was actually one in University of North Carolina. Even here in this state, oklahoma, state and university of oklahoma have digitized good portions of their collections, but there's a lot that it costs a lot of money to do that and there's a lot that still is unknown, say undo ties but still in print.

E

Only so I think that they'll still there always be that that component, but I think we're going to see, I think, we'll see more of a more of a convergence toward additional digital content as we go forward. Let's.

A

Talk about the library system in the greater metro areas in oklahoma county tell us them how many libraries you have how many employees give us all those number great.

E

You bet we have 19 libraries across the county and those 19 libraries are served by 550 employees that that sort of the 750,000 people that live in and work across the county. Of course, we have large ones, we have smaller ones, but what we we work with each of the communities each of the cities. Oklahoma city is, of course, our biggest partner in in that delivery of service, but we also work with cities like jones and Luther and nicoma park and others Edmond to provide services across all of the borders of Oklahoma County, good I.

A

Was got kind of wrap it up better Tim Rogers is the director of the Oklahoma City metro library, give us a in the few seconds we have left who's going to the libraries at skewing younger, older I, actually.

E

Trends, I actually think that what we're seeing now is the straight across the board. I think that a lot of folks think that it's it's all little kids or senior citizens, and it really is everyone and part of that, is because the libraries provide not just books anymore.

E

It is both the digital content, but we also provide programs and services that that everyone needs, whether it's job creation type things trying to figure out how to start your own business, whether it's student learning or even something as simple as going to a musical program that is presented to the library or at the library. People want to go to a place, that's in their community, where they can really interact with each other and the library is that that living room of the community Tim.

A

Rogers is the executive director of the Oklahoma City metro library, thanks so much for coming on the mayor's magazine, Thank.

E

You mr. Randall welcome to Oklahoma. Thank you so much.

A

We'll have more after this.

F

You may think your bed will never get lost. How.

C

It seemed like at.

G

No I'm, sorry, but.

F

25,000 pets are separated from their owners in oklahoma city every year.

D

Sorry, have you seen my cat.

G

F

Fellas should have it a pet ID tag can help us find you if we find your pet tag, your pet, before it's too late,.

A

Welcome back to the mayor's magazine in this segment, we're going to learn more about the upcoming Oklahoma City memorial marathon and molly bennett is here Molly welcome to the show. Thank you yeah. This is your fourth year, I guess in yeah kind of overseeing the race. Let's talk about how this race has grown from gosh I when it started with 15.

G

Years ago this will be the 15th annual and we started with a couple of thousand participants, and last year we had twenty 5959.

A

G

A

Is so amazing, yes,.

G

So we're hoping you know to top that this year, so.

A

That's one of the largest races in the country. Yes,.

G

Yes, we're pretty comparable with some of our regional races, but even Chicago, and even you know, Boston. There were right there with them. So yeah.

A

Now, when you had 2000 that probably seemed like a lot and then I know you weren't.

G

In this capacity, but.

A

You know how do you, how do you handle an event where 25,000 people are going to be there in a few hours later, they're all going home, I mean it's like you're, creating a stadium, yeah.

G

A

Just a few hours well.

G

Luckily, we actually have amazing volunteers and people that return every year we have about 4,000 each year that are just volunteers for actual race day. That.

A

G

We really couldn't do it without this, be.

A

And how many of them are along the route.

G

Well, I would say: there's about 350 that are called course marshals, that line the entire course making sure of it. You know, there's no cars that come in or random runners jump in on the course, but.

A

G

But we also have 16 medical stations and those are all volunteers as well working those so first about 500 I would say along with horse, but everybody else is kind of finish line and other places. Anything.

A

Unique about this year's race- oh you're, trying anything for the first time well,.

G

We, um this is the 15th anniversary, but it's also the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, so we will have we've invited you, no survivors and rescue workers and family members to take part, and we hope see them at a reunion on the finish line, and so that's special, that's something we haven't done before, but other than that. There's not a lot of changes same course, so we're just hoping to get some more participants well.

A

This show is running throughout the month of March, so I assume it's not too late. No.

G

No, it is not. We will have registration going until a week before the race and the sunday prior and then we also will have it at the expo. So prices do increase at the expo, but we will be registering all the way till then you.

A

Know a lot of people think well, I can't run a marathon, but there's a lot of shorter races that are incorporated into this event, so encourage people to come on down and just be a part of it, even if they they aren't a world-class out. If.

G

They're, not we have a 5k and people walk that all the time people bring strollers and we have a kid's race. That's 1.2 miles and people do that. We also have a really a five person relay with 2 5 k's, 2, 10 KS and a 12 gauge. So some people, you know, sign up a lot of businesses and companies sign up for that with their co-workers. So we do have a lot for everybody. Question.

A

It just came to me off the top of my head. So if you don't know the answer, don't don't fit, okay, don't fill inferior. Has anybody run them all as anybody.

G

Around 15 years, yes, we have about 43 right now, whoever in every single race, goodness, yes, so.

E

Within, like a little.

G

Club, we call them the random all club and.

A

They're about the.

G

Same same ones, every single year, Wow.

A

Mm-Hmm, that's encouraged, it is and the route goes through. The northwest part of Oklahoma City kind.

G

A

Take us generally were on the route you're.

G

Going to start at the memorial and then we go kind of by the capital and then you'll go up to Lake Hefner turn around you'll come back through nichols hills and heritage, hills and.

A

You go around Lake Hefner, just to like it.

G

You go to Lake, Hefner and kind of around the park, and then you come back down grand nichols hills. Okay, then run through. There are all the way back to downtown and.

A

And you've had all sorts of weather, oh yeah, every bit of weather. Of course it's April in Oklahoma, so you're gonna have all but you've had yummy had rain. You've had cold you've had your pet, it too hot. Yes, we have, and- and so if, if you, the race director, we're going to give an exact temperature, the race that you would like it to be, what would it be? What would be the optimal.

G

We would that a perfect day would start in the 40s and then cool off to maybe the high beast 70. That would be a perfect race day, but we've we've had some. You know. Last year we had a two hour rain delay because of lightning so, and we've had sleet one year and hail we're hoping this year for just a pleasant cool morning. So and.

A

So the race begins at what time 630.

G

Am for all races other than the kids, the kids will start at eight now.

A

When I go out to and I have never participated, but I have been out for the count down to get people started before and people when I get there, you know six or 615 I mean there's already thousands people there. What time do people start showing it well.

G

We do have first church, that's right across the street from the memorial does a blessing of the shoes and thousand people come thousands of people come for that and they get their shoes blessed, and then they walk on over to the finish line. So there's people there starting around five and they just kind of linger around the memorial, some go to visit the chairs and the survivor tree because a lot of people aren't from the city. So they like to go. You know, pay their respects. A lot of people run an honor right.

A

At someone well- and you bring up a point that you know I remember when that when the bombing occurred you know as a city, we were struggling to figure out how we reflect on the concept that the rest of the world was exposed to it. They saw it. People were getting off the interstate and wanted to go, see the bombing side.

A

This is before the memorial and it wasn't like we had signs pointing to where a bomb went off, and so we had to kind of come to grips with the fact that there was you know there was a there was visitation interest and, to some extent, that was going to focus into some sort of tourism opportunity in a way that nobody was really comfortable with, but this race is an example of economic development that has that has become the result of the of the terrorist attack that took place 20 years ago, and so it with that in mind.

A

When you talk about this race, where are people coming from how many people can you say that are coming from outside of this region? We.

G

Have nine cut? We have nine countries and we have 50. No, we have 48 states. So even if there's just one or two from a couple states, we get a lot from Texas in Kansas. Regionally we get a lot from Colorado and Illinois and I.

A

G

So lots regionally, but we do get one or two from every other state and.

A

So, are we talking hundreds of more than a thousand coming from out on drugs.

G

From the region- and then maybe you know 20 to 30 everywhere else, right.

A

And when those hundreds come in I mean because of when the race is run, you're going to spend the night in Oklahoma, City, you're, probably going to end up spending the weekend yeah here so I mean you know. One night is X amount of dollars. Two nights is X amount of dollars when you start to compound that into over 20,000 runners, I mean that this is a tremendous impact on our city. Yes,.

G

We had all of bricktown booked last year in downtown and then all of Meridian and all of cool springs in northwest expressway, so we're kind of covering the city as far as where people can stay so we're.

A

Everywhere all right remind us when the race is going to be April.

G

26 and the health and fitness expo is the friday and saturday before through.

A

G

24Th and 25th alright.

A

So the 20th anniversary of the bombing is on the 19th. Yes, is that so that's also a Sunday? Yes, that.

E

Is well then, the.

A

The race is on the 26 yeah and we talked about the adults when's. The kid run. What time does at.

G

8Am on the 26, okay,.

A

And if you want to sign up a kid you.

G

Go to okc marathon calm and it has all the prices and all the registrations for every race. All.

A

Right, molly bennett works, 24, 7 and 12 months a year of Lemuria marathon, so I know you'll be a little nervous as race tickets. Here our fingers across you have good weather and thanks for everything you do to represent.

G

Oakland City.

A

So well, thank you all right! That's going to do it for this edition of the mayor's magazine, I'm Mick, Cornett I'll be back next month with another show we'll see you.