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whatever article about the EPC meeting or city budget that will quote detractors saying defunders/abolitionists didnt provide council alternatives. 2 things: 1 yes they can and already have. many ppl have shown up to meetings, been organizing, writing and demonstrating...
Long before this meeting, for months, years, on city budgets that defund community services and increase police budget. They provided nothing but alternatives based on research and expertise today. As they have day after day.
2) it is not the job of citizens to offer models and alternatives, based on their unpaid labour and research, on a budget they had only 17 days to look at. It’s councils job to do meaningful consultation with experts
Yet what we saw today were experts graciously taking their time to do this research and present to the council. I will not stand idly by and hear people reduce that down to petty grievances with no meaningful solutions when council is actively not listening or supporting...
Actual and already established alternatives in their community who are running on volunteer labour for support through reallocation.
Community showed up today, it looked a tired and uninspired council pushing a dangerously out of touch budget in the face, and demanded they display the leadership they were elected to display, or get out of our way.
council decides what side of history they will be on, what they will support. Not whether or not bold leadership into a sustainable and safe future will come. If the power of today’s delegates says anything it is that we are already creating this future with or without council
