Sign To Support The DESI ACT

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The Issue

During the early morning hours of June 22, 2019, Desiyunna Hill was fatally shot outside of a teen party being held at a multi-purpose building in Valdosta, GA. There were no adult chaperones at this party, no security inside, and no onsite police officers outside. There weren't any security measures in place to ensure the safety of the children inside or outside of the establishment. This proposed initiative will show the community that the local government in the city of Valdosta is serious about protecting its citizens by ensuring accountability across the board. In the same manner that we hold the criminal who commits the act, we must also hold private commercial properties and management entities to that same standard. The "DESI ACT" is a PRO-ACTIVE approach to preventing tragedies like this from reoccurring in the future. If you rent a club/venue i.e. the Patterson downtown or Dejavu Nightclub, you are mandated to have police and security if there is the potential of a large crowd. If you rent a facility or park from Valdosta Lowndes Parks & Recreational Authority (VLPRA), you must have police security as well as a million-dollar liability insurance policy. These mandated policies are in place to ensure the security and safety of anyone who may attend. With the support of the family of Ms. Desiyunna Hill, we are advocating for a policy in her honor that will be presented to the city council and citizens of Valdosta. This measure will mandate that all property owners, property management, and contractual agreements ensure that adequate security and/or police enforcement are present at the property if there will be a large amount of people expected. Property managers and property owners should be knowledgeable of the type of events taking place at their buildings, and in the event of a large crowd, police and security must be mandated in all contractual agreements. It is the property managers responsibility to make sure these requirements are met, and in the case that someone is injured because of the lack of security and safety measures, it is the property manager and property owner that should also be held accountable. This policy will help to prevent the same type of tragedy from occurring again in our community. Mandated requirements in rental agreements will not only protect the citizens, but the property owners as well. 

The Decision Makers

Valdosta City Council
Valdosta City Council

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Petition created on September 18, 2019