Voicing our concerns over the FY21 Budget in Lawrence, MA

AKA DEFUND THE POLICE, FUND OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES

Table of contents:

What we know about the budget

  • FY20 Budget can be viewed here ; FY21 is here

  •  Marc Ianello did a FB Live to discuss “Lawrence Budget 101” on Facebook here 

Education makes up 70% of the FY21 proposed budget, mainly due to the Student Opportunity Act. That’s amazing. We didn’t include it in the graph to highlight some other sections that we felt needed more attention.

The Dept of Human Services, the Library, and Greater Lawrence Technical Highschool are three parts of the budget that we would like to see balanced better.

Community Dev & Economic Dev need more attention as well -- but this is complicated by the ways that money is currently being allocated. We’re still learning and appreciate any feedback and ideas about how to impact our city’s funds in a way that’s equitable and centers those most impacted by racial and economic injustice. (Comment on @Elevated_Thought’s recent posts to continue the conversation!!!)

Contact Information

Address the email to your city councilor (Who is my City Councilor? Precinct Map here)

District A: mdelacruz@cityoflawrence.com , Maria De La Cruz

District B: ereyes@cityoflawrence.com , Estela Reyes - 978-620-3213

District C: kvasquez@cityoflawrence.com , Kendrys Vasquez, President - 978-620-3214

District D: JRodriguez@cityoflawrence.com , Jeovanny A. Rodriguez - 978-620-3215

District E: DAbdoo@cityoflawrence.com , David C. Abdoo - 978-620-3216

District F: mlaplante@cityoflawrence.com , Marc Laplante, Vice-President - 978-376-6702

...and CC our At-Large Councilors, the President, and VP

alevy@cityoflawrence.com, ppayano@cityoflawrence.com, JRodriguez@cityoflawrence.com, creyes@cityoflawrence.com, kvasquez@cityoflawrence.com

Send a separate email to the Budget and Finance Committee (and call too!)

mianello@cityoflawrence.com, rceballos@cityoflawrence.com, LTran@cityoflawrence.com, MJimenez@cityoflawrence.com

Sample script and help with writing

Here’s an example script to get you started. It’s totally ok to keep it short and somewhat vague. We don’t have to be #s people -- we just have to identify the failings of the ones getting paid to be numbers people. Remember to insert a unique subject line to avoid emails being labeled as spam.

Short Script: (Edit this before sending)

“Hello, my name is ___ and I live in ____. I’m writing with concern about the FY21 budget proposal, specifically the nearly $1m increase in Lawrence Police Dept. funding. I believe that this money would be better used to enrich our community through economic development, education, and truly affordable housing. It is alarming to me that while the police budget rises above $15 million, Community and Economic Development COMBINED does not even amount to ½ of one million dollars. How can you justify the continued over-policing of our community while neglecting basic needs?

Please reconsider the ways that this money could be spent to keep our community safe and healthy.

Thank you.”

Longer Script: (Edit this before sending)

My name is __, and I am a resident of Lawrence. I am writing about Mayor Dan Rivera’s FY21 budget proposal.

Earlier this month, our Black youth and multi-racial allies powerfully demonstrated their demands to defund the Lawrence police and invest in our community. This protest reflected the efforts of people all over the country who are calling for a rapid and meaningful reconsideration of the role of policing in communities as well as an end to racism and anti-Blackness in America.

Our 2019-2020 budget allocated $14 million to law enforcement and only $150,278 to community development. The proposed 2020-2021 budget calls for a 6.77% increase in police funding and a 0% percent increase in community development. The recent approval of an additional $300,000 (taken from the city budget reserve fund) for de-escalation, implicit bias, and diversity awareness training for police will not address the systemic racism of policing at its core. Police brutality isn’t a problem of “bad apple” cops; it’s systemic. This is why police “reform” will never be enough.

"Crime" is not random. "Crime" usually happens when someone’s basic needs have been unmet. Investing in our public education, our library, community centers, mental health resources, and opportunities for community-driven problem solving have proven to be much more effective at promoting community safety than policing (Source: Popular Democracy). This is a long transition process but change starts with reallocating this funding!

As such, I call on you to defund the Lawrence Police Department budget and instead meaningfully reallocate funds towards:

  • Community-based public safety approaches, including non-carceral violence prevention and intervention programs and skills-based education on bystander intervention, consent and boundaries, and healthy relationships.
  • Healthcare infrastructure (including non-coercive mental healthcare), wellness resources, neighborhood-based trauma centers, non-coercive drug, and alcohol treatment programming, peer support networks, and training for healthcare professionals. Make these services available for free to low-income residents.
  • Providing non-coercive housing options for young people experiencing abuse or family rejection of their queer or trans identities.
  • Free, extensive, and accessible public transit.
  • Community-based food banks, grocery cooperatives, gardens, and farms.

As well as other critical community needs that facilitate the dismantling of racial and class inequality. I demand a budget that invests in care and not cops.

The criminalization of our Black, Brown, and undocumented community members must stop. As a concerned community, we will continue rejecting proposed expansions to police budgets. No more money, and more importantly, no more lives must be lost to police. Can I count on you, our elected officials, to lead our nation by example in this fight against police brutality and racial discrimination?

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME][YOUR ADDRESS]

[YOUR EMAIL][YOUR PHONE NUMBER]

When writing, some helpful things to include:

⦿How policing has affected you or your family (if you’re comfortable sharing)

⦿What the words “community policing” mean to you.

  • Do cops serving ice cream make you feel safer?
  • Where do you see LPD focusing their efforts?

⦿What needs do you see in Lawrence not being met?

⦿Challenges specific to our city:

  • Gas fire disaster
  • Higher rates of COVID-19
  • Policing of mask-wearing via economic penalties
  • $39k median household income
  • 22% poverty rate
  • Internet and computer access (especially for youth while schools have been closed)
  • Language access

Social media:

Share this document! For ease of sharing, you can use the url: http://tinyurl.com/defundLPD

Don’t forget to boost your demands on Twitter. Tag #mapoli to reach a wider audience. Tag your city councilor or Mayor Rivera too!

Mayor Rivera:

@DanRivera01843

City Councilors on Twitter:

@KendrysVasquez1

@LaplanteMarc

@Payano

@Jeorod

@dave4districte

Sample tweets:

I just emailed my city councilor @_____ to let them know that the people of Lawrence need housing, healthcare, and jobs -- not more funding for police. Join me at the mtg tonight at 7!

I just emailed my city councilor @ to demand they reallocate funds towards critical community needs. Join me at the meeting on 6/23 @ 7pm!  

Join me in emailing our city councilors to demand they invest in housing, healthcare, & jobs! Let's show up at the meeting on 6/23 @ 7pm!

I just emailed my city councilor @ to demand they reallocate funds to invest in care, not cops. Join me at the meeting on 6/23 @ 7pm!  

Investing in community centers and health resources has proven to be much more effective at promoting safety than policing. #mapoli

Upcoming City Council Meetings   (Will be updated as they are announced)

Tuesday, 6/23 at 7pm 

+ Agenda HERE

How to join:

- Facebook: fb.com/TheLawrencecitycouncil/

Massachusetts State Budget

Once we’ve taken a look at Lawrence’s budget, we can look at what is happening state-wide.

  1. *Urgent Action*

Senate Bill 2759, if passed, would hand over:

        

  • $20 million for police body cameras -  (Strike 8000-2026)
  • $31 million for the DOC and police cars – (Strike 8000-0703)
  • $92.5 million for state police cruisers – (Strike 8000-2024)
  • $150 million for “public safety and security facilities” which could include a $50 million “renovation” of the DOC Bay State Property to make it a women’s prison. (Strike the entire 8000-2025 section)

If you would like to voice your opposition to increased spending on police and prisons in our state, check out this guide made by the Building up People Not Prisons Coalition: http://tinyurl.com/peoplenotprisons

  1. *More State Budget Actions*

This action guide, also put together by People not Prisons, has some information on how you can impact the state’s budget. It includes contact information and scripts for voicing your concerns to the governor and other state electeds. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/maactnow 

WHY SHOULD WE DEFUND THE POLICE? + Additional Resources

More Ways to Get Involved

  • Sign this petition to hold Lawrence Police Officers accountable for their abuse of power.
  • Follow @BLACLawrence on Twitter and Instagram for upcoming calls to action.
  • Follow & Support @Elevated_Thought! They are a Lawrence-based art and social justice org working towards racial and queer justice through youth development, beautification, and paid opportunities for BIPOC creatives. They have helped to provide many of the graphics and language on this document!
  • Talk to your friends and neighbors about policing and anti-Blackness in Lawrence, what needs to be done, and how they can get involved.