By Jason Crane
Forty Civilian Review Board semifinalists were announced at the Aurora city government City Council meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conference platform.
Communications director Clayton Muhammad presented a Civilian Review Board update.
The establishment of the City of Aurora’s Civilian Review Board (CRB) is a result of the City’s CHANGE Reform Initiative, launched by mayor Richard Irvin in June 2020 following the local, national and global civil unrest and calls for systemic police reform and unprecedented racial reckoning.
One hundred thirty-four applications have been narrowed to 40 that will be reviewed by the African American Heritage Advisory Board, Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board, Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board, and the Human Relations Commision.
The 40 semifinalists in alphabetical order are: Peter Aguilera, Laura Arredondo Felix, Matthew Baaske, Christopher Bennett, Kim Bright, Timothy Brown, Rajesh Char, Rey Cruz, Casildo Cuevas, Dawn DeSart, Scott Diehl, Ella Fahlstrom, Mary Fultz, Vincent Gaddis, Jacqueline Gibson, Theodia Gillespie, Alphonso Gwin, Kate Hall, Ginger Ingram, Noel Jackson, Deanna Kariotakis, Ryan Maley, Angela Massey, Denise Matuzak, Andrea McMillian, Brian Moreno, Sumeet Nirula, Ricardo Quintero, Marcy Reimer, Manuel Rivera Velez, Lily Rocha, Melody Rodriguez, Griselda Salmeron, Anthony Stanford, Pierre Stephens, Yolanda Stovall, Mary Taylor, Scott Voris, Luma Webster, and Curtis Wilson.
The 40 semifinalists eventually will be narrowed down to nine members scheduled to serve three years with a two-term limit.
More information can be found at: www.aurora-il.org/CRB
Appreciation was given by the mayor to Aurora residents who volunteer to be on the City’s Planning and Zoning commissioners for their service: Lynn Head, 3 years; Kathy Duncan, 5 years; Kenneth Cameron, 17 years; and Patrick Divine, 21 years.
Mayor Richard Irvin said, “All the development that comes through our City, residential, commercial, has to first stop at the Aurora Planning Commission.
“Everything we’ve seen over the last four years, the new residences downtown, the development on the far East Side, the development on the far West Side, all starts with these folks.”
Mayor Irvin added they have been a part of the fabric of our City and helped create the foundation.
• Mayor Irvin honored the Realtor Association of the Fox Valley (RAFR) for its 100th Anniversary.
RAFR president Lucas Albright, a realtor with RE/MAX Town & Country in Aurora said, “I have the honor and privilege of serving as the president of the Realtor Association of the Fox Valley in this, our 100th year.
“We are very proud of our history with the City. In fact, our association actually began right here, in Aurora 100 years ago on January 13th 1921.
“We look forward to continuing to work together with the City to protect private property rights for the citizens of Aurora and the entire Fox Valley area for the next 100 years and beyond.”
• The Pledge of Allegiance was led by lifelong Auroran and Rush-Copley R.N. Julio Flores.
Flores was presented with the mayor’s Healthcare Hero Award.
• The invocation was led by Pastor Jesse Hawkins from Cathedral of Grace – St. John Church in Aurora.