ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) — Public safety in Ithaca will see progressive change.

Common Council is adopting several recommendations from the Special Committee for Public Safety. The city will engage officers in anti-racism training, expand resources for the Community Police Board, and establish a peer response team for non-violent calls.

Alderperson Cynthia Brock says the response team is not specifically a mental health unit, but it will help connect people to services.

The various recommendations were developed with help from marginalized groups, says Alderperson George McGonigal.

“We looked very hard at what they had to say about public safety,” he says.

City officials interviewed Black, Indian American, and Asian people during the process, among other groups.