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