There is a billboard now up in the heart of Times Square. Directly across from the NYPD station. With this message: “Hey NYPD. It’s us. NYC residents. The ones who pay your salary. “We paid $300 million to settle your lawsuits. You paid nothing. We need to talk.” Watch:

The $300 million to settle NYPD lawsuits over the last five years could instead fund proven non-police violence interruption programs and summer youth employment in every neighborhood in NYC for the next 5 years.

The $327 million per year that NYC residents pay for police in schools with no impact on public safety, could instead fund full four-year scholarships for over 4000 students to attend NY state colleges.

The $635 million NYC residents pay in just overtime for NYPD officers could instead house every single one of the 14,000 homeless families now living in NYC. And then pay a year’s worth of rent for 7,000 families out of work and at risk of eviction because of the pandemic.

The billboard directs people to http://Need-To-Talk.com , a simple, yet powerful site that asks people to imagine a better way to prevent violence, support our youth, and remedy homelessness.

Take Action: Visit Times Square, film the billboard, & then share on social media with your take on the issue. Here is detailed information on where to go and what to do. The billboard is up through the end of September. Instructions: http://Need-To-Talk.com/act