Care Not Cops: Mental Health Care Not Policing Rejects the Portland Police Bureau Requested Budget
Read and share the full statement from the Care Not Cops: Mental Health Care Not Policing Coalition
On January 29th 2018, City of Portland Police Bureau released their requested budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year to the Mayor, City Council, and the public. From here, the Mayor and City Council will decide not only the funding for the Portland Police Bureau, but they will set the agenda for policing and its grave consequences for Portlanders over the course of the next year.
A Proposal We Need to Fight: The 2018-2019 Police Bureau BudgetRead and share the full statement from the Care Not Cops: Mental Health Care Not Policing Coalition
- Increase in Police Bureau budget of $12,699,674
- More so-called community policing which protects property over preventing individual harm, and brings cops closer into our communities, increasing arrests and targeting.
- More cops on the streets, making us less safe, especially Black and Brown communities and people with mental health needs
- Ongoing Membership in Regional Surveillance and Data Sharing Programs
- Prioritizing Policing Over Health Care
This is unacceptable! We demand that the Mayor and City Council actively work on and set forth a plan for divesting from policing and investing in community care, alternative ways to address harm, and life-affirming and sustaining services.
It is for these reasons that we firmly and urgently oppose the proposed $12.7 million increase to the Portland Police Bureau budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Further, we reject the funding request allocated for an increase in 93 sworn and 9 unsworn new police hires within this budget.