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Mediator Dianne Finnegan Rejects Vidal Request To Join CYDP
posted (July 20, 2017)
Yesterday, Southside commander Marco Vidal caught us off guard when he suggested that the Southside mediators, namely Dianne Finnegan, Chester Williams and Nuri Mohammed should join the CYDP meditation effort, or step aside. Vidal suggested that as individuals, not representing an institution - they may be pursuing their own personal agenda.

An hour ago, we caught up with Dianne Finnegan and she told us she doesn't know what Vidal is talking about - but she is talking about peace:...

Dianne Finnegan - Citizen Mediator
"I was taken aback because of the fact that both Nuri and myself made it our business to meet with Mr. Vidal so that he could understand what our purpose is and what we have been doing with these young men. My personal agenda is country first. I have nothing against Mr. Vidal, I don't know what his agenda is. I have nothing against him. We met with the intention that we will be able to work together."

Jules Vasquez
"Where do you fall in with the CYDP, will brother Nuri, will Mr. Williams - will you all join the CYDP effort as Mr. Vidal has told you all to do?"

Dianne Finnegan - Citizen Mediator
"He can't tell us what to do. The retreat back in December, I personally went into both Majestic Alley and Jungle to get those guys together, so that we could have done the retreat and we did that intervention at CYDP in their conference room and not one of their staff was present during that intervention. Not one of their entire staff participated in that entire one week retreat."

Tomorrow, we'll have part 2 of Dianne Finnegan's very candid interview calling out Vidal and the CYDP.

And some measure of candor also came from Vidal's predecessor, Senior Superintendent Chester Williams who posted the definition of institution on Facebook last night. He argues that the police department is an institution and as mediators they are already lined up with that institution. He adds, quote, "I respect and appreciate the work of CYDP Youths but the truth is they can't handle the work load and we do work with them sometimes. Furthermore when it comes to intervention and mediation it should be done with whoever the parties are comfortable with if not it will be fruitless."

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