Defund This — Fund That
Priority areas to fund (FUND THIS)
- A defunding transition process that includes the voice and vote of directly impacted people to ensure that new approaches are not veiled in policing mentality.
- Reparations for the continued harm (including to families of people killed/injured that comes directly out of police pensions) and divestment from discrimination toward and exploitation of our community in the form of a guaranteed livable income and healthcare for all Black people, including those who have been forcibly displaced by gentrification and racist policies and practices.
- Increase funding for mental health and substance abuse programs
- Sufficient space in safe shelters with transitional wrap-around social services for people without homes and those who experience domestic violence
- EMS mental health crisis intervention team staffed by psychologists trained in deescalation for individuals with mental health needs
- Unarmed meditation and trained individuals from the community to patrol the neighborhood. First person called to de escalate any situation without calling the police
- City road assistance department to respond to traffic safety issues – do not give out fines or carry weapons.
- Community Cop-Watch program
- Increase the funding of the Equity office and Austin Public Health
- Temporarily increase the funding of the Office of Police Oversight until the APD is disbanded
- Increase funding of Public Defender’s office through an IGSA
- Fund universal representation for all undocumented people in Austin
- Healing circles and practices for communities of color
- Affordable housing
- Austin Schools and Afterschool Programs
- The RISE Fund
- Parks and Recreation for green spaces and programs in East Austin
A. Priority areas to defund (DEFUND THIS)
- Defund the racist APD gang suppression unit
- Defund the Driver License Plate readers program
- Defund the AISD-APD school-to-prison pipeline connection, including the juvenile gang taskforce
- Defund the surveillance-based ARIC – Fusion Center
- Defund all future Cadet Classes indefinitely
- Defund and vanish all currently open vacancies
- Commit to reduction of current body and implement a transition plan for disbandment within 5 years
- Defund and disband APD’s military equipment supply, including the Department of Defense Program 1033 or any similar programs
- Defund and scrap all military equipment designed for crowd control and remove APD’s responsibility for crowd control
- Defund and ban all facial recognition software
- Decriminalize nonviolent cases
- Stop the new Women’s jail
- Separate the 911 system from APD
- Defund AISD-APD collaboration