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Marlin Appoints Retired Cop to Handle Public Records Requests

After nearly two months of complaints from residents about the Urbana Police Department, two weeks after the killing of George Floyd, and one week after marching in the streets with thousands of people concerned with police violence, Mayor Diane Marlin decided that Urbana’s public records requests would be best handled…

Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin Limits Public Input, Violates Open Meetings Act

In an effort to manipulate the conversation on police misconduct, Urbana Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin violated the Illinois Open Meetings act by limiting the public input session of the June 8, 2020 City Council meeting. Among the items on the agenda for the June 8, 2020 City Council meeting was…

Urbana City Staff Directly Lie to Council about Police Complaint Notary Requirement

When the issue of submission requirements for police complaints arose during the June 3rd, 2020 Urbana City Council meeting, City staff demonstrated just how far they are willing to go to deceive the public and protect their friends. Wednesday’s meeting served as a “continuance” of Monday’s meeting. After nearly 3.5…

Urbana Police Review Board Chair Still Confused about the Basics of Taser Review Ordinance

On June 3rd, 2020, the Chair of the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) gave residents good reason to further question his ability to serve in his newly assigned position. When questioned about the board’s decision to stop reviewing all Taser usages, Chair Mikhail Lyubansky gave an incoherent explanation that,…

Founding Member of Urbana Police Review Board Blames Human Relations Officer Vacellia Clark for Failures

At the June 1st, 2020 Urbana City Council meeting, the Council and the public spent hours speaking about local police misconduct issues. Most commentary focused on the violent arrest of Urbana resident Aleyah Lewis in April, and on the broken status of the Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) which is…

Urbana Police Review Board Ignores Mandate for Six Years, Elizabeth Hannan Advises Council Take “No Action”

At the May 18th, 2020 Urbana City Council meeting, Bill Brown finally called for some governmental review of the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) after more than a month of complaints from engaged residents. Criticisms of the CPRB have been nearly endless, but Brown focused in on the claim…

Attorney General Investigates Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin for Open Meetings Act Violations

On May 27th, 2020, Assistant Illinois Attorney General Matt Hartman issued a letter to Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin requesting information about alleged Open Meetings Act violations that occurred on March 23rd (CU-Underground first covered this incident in an article here). Hartman determined that an investigation was warranted after an Urbana…

Bill Brown Calls for Review of Urbana Police Review Board Reporting Requirements

After concerned residents issued complaints and concerns about Urbana Police Department misconduct for the sixth City Council meeting in a row, Council members are finally show some movement, if only an inch. At the May 18th, 2020 Urbana City Council meeting , Council member Bill Brown called for a review…

Residents Launch Urbana Illinois Police Resources Website

In the wake of public outrage over a recent violent arrest video, a group of Urbana residents have accomplished in a weekend what police oversight advocates and police review boards have failed to do for decades: public outreach. The website www.UrbanaPolice.com was launched on May 17, 2020 as a civilian…

City Attorney Claims Urbana Employees are Free to Discriminate Against Residents Who Seek City Services

In a remarkable determination letter issued on May 13th, 2020, Urbana City Attorney James Simon has declared that City employees are not bound by Urbana’s own anti-discrimination laws. Simon issued the letter in response to a complaint submitted to the Urbana Human Relations Commission which alleged that the a City…

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