Hello All,
Thank you to everyone who attended the People's Budget Forum this past Wednesday. We heard and learned a lot of really great information together about the proposed county budget, the process for making public comment, money that's going to police and a number of alternative programs that could better use those funds to actually promote public safety and a better community. For anyone who wasn't able to make the training, or just wants a refresh of what was presented, you can find a recording on Engage Miami's Facebook page (Slide presentation begins at 45min mark - Link to recording).
The actual county commission meetings where we will have the opportunity to affect the budget will take place Thursday September 3rd at 5pm. This is our best opportunity to make public comment and really alter the budget, so we NEED to show up in force. For anyone unfamiliar with the process, there will be a preparation session this Tuesday Sept. 2nd at 6:30pm (register at bit.ly/dadebudgetprep). This one will also have translation services for anyone needing the training in Spanish.
The link to register to make a public comment at the budget hearing should be posted on the county website (here), however they do not yet have the correct link posted. To receive an email with instructions on how to register and the correct link once it is posted, fill out the form at bit.ly/miami4all.
Remember when you make your public comment you will only have one minute to talk. We want to focus on personal stories about how we have been impacted by police and prisons, or other community concerns that need funding that could/should come from diversions away from the police budget. We need to change hearts and minds to help our county reimagine what public safety really means. I am including some ideas of statements to make or things to talk about, but please be as personal as possible, as we don't want it to sound like repeated "scripted" statements. Here is a link to more research about MDPD misconduct and lack of COVID-related resources
Statement Ideas:
1) [Related to police misconduct] I have heard commissioners on this board say that the issue of racialized police violence is something that happened in Minnesota, why should we have to deal with it here? Because this fight is far too close to home for our own residence. We have our own George Floyds and their names include Hector Echevarria, Anothony Ford, Deandre Charles, and Israel Hernandez. The list goes on. SAY THEIR NAMES. But MORE than saying their names, let's see you enact a budget that ensures we don't keep adding names to this list.
2) [Related to overfunding of the police] Year after year the county has dumped more money and resources into the police department and prison system without seeing any benefit to the residents you supposedly serve. Our communities do not need police with helicopters, or social media analytics software. We have seen during the protests that the militarization of our police has gone way too far, with armoured vehicles and rubber bullets being deployed against peaceful citizens. You may deny it, but we have seen it first hand. More state sanctioned physical and economic violence is not what we need. Investment in our communities is.
3) [Related to underfunding of COVID relief] Our city is dealing with an affordable house and homelessness crisis. In the midsts of a global pandemic and economic depression, our citizens are lacking basic needs for stable shelter, proper nutrition, stability, and community support. Yet rather than using the county budget (OUR Money) to provide the community with its needs, or paying essential workers a reasonable hazard pay as their risk their lives to keep our society functioning, this board would rather INCREASE the number of police, and invest in a $400 million NEW jail, which in turn only serves to exacerbate the spread of COVID 19 throughout our county.
4) [Related to alternatives to policing and prisons] When we say "defund the police" we are not advocating for lawlessness or societal collapse. We are saying that we have seen the result of bloated police budgets and it does NOT result in safety or security. We KNOW the alternative that allow our communities to thrive, prison diversion programs, sobering centers, conflict resolution and mediation. Community organizations like Circle of Brotherhood have proved themselves far more effective in creating peaceful and stable communities. Fund THEM, fund the homeless trust, fund community wifi to assure that poor students forced into virtual learning by this pandemic actually have access to their classes. Invest in helping us grow, not keeping us pinned by the neck with police violence in our communities.
We look forward to hearing ALL of you speak at the budget hearing on Sept. 3rd starting at 5:00pm.
Feel free to email us back if you have any questions.
In solidarity,
Miami DSA
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