Hi everyone,

During this year's summer of uprisings, a rallying cry rang out across the country: Defund the Police! As a city and a society, we spend so much money on the police while underfunding our important social services (like the library!).  Right now, the City Council is discussing next year's city budget, and despite widespread calls to move money away from police and towards social services, the City Council is likely to cut many departments by 40% while only cutting the police budget by 8%.

The City Council will hold NOPD's budget hearing tomorrow on Thursday at 9:30 AM. Can you submit a public comment demanding that the City Council prioritizes true public safety instead of over-policing residents?

Not sure what to say? Feel free to pull from the following example, but don't copy and paste it word for word. Remember, public comments are only impactful when you customize it to frame your own personal argument.

More information about submitting a public comment here!

Solidarity,

DSA New Orleans Local Council

"My name is ___, and I am a resident of District ___.

I urge you to prioritize the funding of community programs and services that will strengthen our communities and contribute to the safety of ALL New Orleanians. As our city faces a budget deficit due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is more urgent than ever to fund our community needs like ________ (healthcare/schools/jobs/arts/etc.). Over-funding the police department has never worked as a means to prevent crime. We urge you to do what's morally right and pass a budget that reflects the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors."
Action Network
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