THE EDITOR'S BOX
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
GTV NEWS: GRPD... BODY CAMERAS
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — President Obama announced Monday a proposal for a $263 million spending package to increase body cameras and expand training for law enforcement officials.
Of that $263 million, $75 million would go to purchasing 50,000 police body cameras.
A group plans to go in front of the Grand Rapids City Commission Tuesday to push for body cameras on Grand Rapids police officers.
“Overwhelmingly we are hearing support for body cameras. We’re also hearing that it’s just part of the solution. So once again we know at its core it’s the trust it’s the trust that the police department has to build with certain populations,” The Co-Executive Director of LINC Darel Ross said.
Ross says the group they are bringing to the city commission meeting would like to see body cameras on all GRPD officers or at the very least patrol officers.
>>Inside woodtv.com: Local company supplies body cameras to police worldwide
“We know it’s ambitious and will have to be rolled out in phases,” said Ross. “We just want to start some conversations and we truly believe residents in the community have a right to speak to how they are policed.”
But they might have an uphill battle. The Grand Rapids police chief told 24 Hour News 8 in an interview last month he sees issues with body cams.
“I have concerns more that people who have issues in their neighborhood and may want to share those concerns would be reluctant to do so,” said Grand Rapids Police Chief David Rahinsky
Rahinsky said if people know they are being recorded they won’t be willing share information needed to solve a case.
He’s also worried about recording children, sexual assault and domestic violence victims.
“I’m not comfortable with officers having the ability to activate those cameras in private residences,” said Chief Rahinsky.
“I think he raises some legitimate concerns and once again I think that’s why it’s thoughtful policy. I don’t think anybody is saying if you are working with police we are going to record you or the instance of domestic violence is going to of on film,” Ross said.
A study done on the Rialto, California Police Department after their officers started wearing body cameras found there was a 60 percent reduction in officer use of force incidents and an 88 percent decrease in the number of citizen complaints.
“We don’t want it to come down to a he said she said, and in today’s world we don’t have to there is technology,” said Ross.
Ross also said many realize body cameras are not the end all, they would also like to see community policing and a more diverse police force.
“I think America has a lot of healing to do,” said Ross. “And I think that the criminal justice system has its own issues and I think this is an easy way to make the criminal justice system a little better while also breeding accountability to those who are paid to protect and serve.”
LINC is serving a dinner at 5:30 before Tuesday night’s city commission meeting at its headquarters located at 1167 Madison SE in Grand Rapids. A bus will leave for those needing transportation to the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
SOURCE: WOODTV8
INTERVIEW: PUSHA T SITS DOWN WITH CAMERON WOLF
Pusha T is in a black Uber car wearing a black Play Cloths hat backwards, a gray Play Cloths T-shirt, and faded, distressed jeans. He's on his way to a meet and greet in South L.A. to promote the new collection of Play Cloths, the brand he started in 2008 with his brother No Malice. On the way there, a friend and business partner points out local sites to Push, including the Angelus Funeral Home and it's drive-thru wakes. It's not the rapper's first time in the neighborhood—we drive by the same area where the video for the Kendrick Lamar-assisted song "Nosetalgia" was filmed—but he expresses the same curiosity and respect that surrounds any of his projects, be it music or Play Cloths.
Many of Pusha T's decisions have been influenced by a reverence for his surroundings, for fashion, and for those who came before him. He specifically mentions BAPE's Nigo, Pharrell, and Kanye West. He hasn't modeled his own clothing line for the brand's lookbooks because he says he'd rather focus on quality and good design than use his fame to push the brand. He also initially turned down a collaboration with adidas because, as he says, he didn't want to add anything to what are already classic silhouettes just for the sake of it.
But he's ready to take things to the next level—starting with Play Cloths. We talked to Pusha T about the brand's new collection and where he sees the line going. The rapper also shared his 10 favorite brands, more on his upcoming adidas collaboration, and how being around guys like Pharrell and Kanye West has helped him.
Interview by Cameron Wolf
What was your inspiration for the new Play Cloths collection, Curse Your Luxury?
It's about putting Play Cloths in a particular space. I feel like, as far as streetwear goes, man, Play Cloths sits at a top-tier of quality, and your idea of luxury should not stop where you feel like you’re at the obvious. You have to look at [Play Cloths] in a certain light, I believe. And I just think that the whole title and the term is about being looked at in a certain light. Like, yo, Play Clothes is one of those brands.
It's about putting Play Cloths in a particular space. I feel like, as far as streetwear goes, man, Play Cloths sits at a top-tier of quality, and your idea of luxury should not stop where you feel like you’re at the obvious. You have to look at [Play Cloths] in a certain light, I believe. And I just think that the whole title and the term is about being looked at in a certain light. Like, yo, Play Clothes is one of those brands.
Can you explain the meaning behind that name?
Curse Your Luxury was Smurf [Play Cloths’ head designer]. Smurf presented the title to me and I feel like the line, being based loosely on my looks, and so on and so forth, is a play on that. I’m known for a lot of high-end shit, and I feel like Curse Your Luxury is a play off of what I’m about and my love for streetwear.
Curse Your Luxury was Smurf [Play Cloths’ head designer]. Smurf presented the title to me and I feel like the line, being based loosely on my looks, and so on and so forth, is a play on that. I’m known for a lot of high-end shit, and I feel like Curse Your Luxury is a play off of what I’m about and my love for streetwear.
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