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Public input session on the budget is happening now. You can watch it here. #RegionalCouncil https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regional-government/live-webcast.aspx
Cllr Strickland reminds attendees that no decisions will be made tonight - all budget decisions will be made at the budget meeting on Jan 20th.
First delegation is Beisan Zubi and she supports the work of #ReallocateWR. She says that as we consider police funding, we must consider where money is going, but also where it's not. Who is included in these decisions and who is not. And who is most impacted by them.
She says, "This ultimately comes down to the priorities of our leadership."
Next we hear from Lori Campbell. She notes how racialized & Indigenous people are most impacted by 'improvements' to policing. "We know what we need best." Shares example of the Bear Clan model, CAHOOTS model from Oregon, and several other examples of diverting calls from police.
She continues, "If the ultimate goal is community safety", then now is the time for police to step back, and reinvest in other community-led initiatives.
Next delegation is Mike Morrice notes that Larkin has himself noted that the police are called to be all things to everyone and its not sustainable. Morrice asks Council to send this proposed budget back with a request for 0% increase, with more funds going to community-led work.
Next is Rebecca Warren. She shares her experience in working with folks in supportive/community housing and what she's heard from residents in their interactions with police. She supports a Housing First approach and notes issues with criminalizing homelessness.
She says these asks are, "not anti-policing, it's pro-community."
Next up was me :) - on behalf of Waterloo Region Yes |In My Backyard speaking in support of #ReallocateWR.
We hear now from Jessica Hutchison in support of #ReallocateWR. She says that police only keep some people safe and in fact, Black people suffer harm at the hands of the police at a disproportionate rate, as do those experiencing homelessness.
She says that she used to think that putting 'community' in front of 'policing' improved the situation. That's not the case any more as research shows community policing may actually cause more harm. "Community policing is not the same as community-led initiatives."
Laura Coakley is next and also wants to see a 0% increase and increased funding to community-led upstream services. The system is built against racialized people - we don't need a new plan from the police, we need to properly fund community-led work.
Next is Elaha Musakheel wants to see the most qualified individuals respond to circumstances in our community and that means services, other than policing, need to be better funded.
Daniel Thompson is up next, says things that work in theory, don't actually work in reality. For some folks in our community, the police will never be safe for them. Policing and mental health are inextricable - we can't talk about one without the other.
Daniel continues, "Funding must go towards vital and life-giving initiatives." Supports #ReallocateWR calls for 0% increase with additional funding to community-led work.
Carolyn Ferguson is speaking now. Says that police services already dominates the budget, leaving many other community upstream services to remain underfunded, or even defunded. Uses example of closing reg. child care centres while police ask for increased funding.
And Carolyn continues, "Please support what your community is telling you it needs - increased funding in community services."
Next delegation, Peter Eglin, says calls to defund the police are not going to come from the police themselves, or likely even from council, or the larger white, middle-class population - "We prefer to leave the use of force to the police, that's what they are there for."
Cllr Strickland makes a call for any delegations who registered but did not get a chance to speak...there are no others. He mentions the 'large amount of correspondence' council has received on this issue.
Strickland lets residents know about the creation of the Anti-Racism working group, funding for additional anti-racism work, and funds dedicated to housing. He says this to show that "we are listening and adapting." We are taking all of this into consideration.
And that concludes tonight's public input session. Thanks to all of you who spoke as a delegation and/or sent messages to council in support of @ReallocateW
The final budget discussion happens Jan 20th, so there's still time to reach out to councillors to provide your input. Here's information about how to contact Regional councillors. https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regional-council-members.aspx
