WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
One way to fight police brutality and reimagine public safety is to move money away from the police force and into other areas that focus on education, affordable housing, economic security, and mental health. Many social service agencies and community organizations can serve as alternatives to policing.
The Asheville City Council is scheduled to vote on the 2021 Budget on Tuesday, June 23rd and the public hearing for the budget is NEXT WEEK – Tuesday, June 9th.
The 2021 Budget includes $30,057,325 for the Asheville Police Department–the single largest expenditure and a 4% increase from last year (despite cuts to other areas due to COVID-19).
Here are the general fund budgets for a few other areas for comparison:
- Equity & Inclusion: $454,999
- Parks & Recreation: $10,665,622
- Sustainability: $769,193
- Planning & Urban Design: $1,272,206
You can find the Asheville City Budget here.
And here is a synthesized version.
You can help #DefundAPD by sending emails to and calling the Asheville City Council, Asheville’s Mayor, or leaving a comment for the June 9th public hearing on the FY 2020-21 Budget.
EMAIL SCRIPT #1 - ASHEVILLE COUNCIL
Direct contact page: https://tinyurl.com/ybfcmcdb
SUBJECT: Defund the APD in the 2021 Budget
TO: ashevillenccouncil@ashevillenc.gov
Dear Asheville City Councilmembers,
My name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a resident of Asheville. I am writing about Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal.
I am asking that the Asheville City Council make a more overt and visible commitment to racial justice. I demand that the budget vote be delayed so that Council may find ways to redirect money away from Asheville Police Department’s overinflated budget. I urge you to pressure the City Manager’s Office towards an ethical and equal reallocation of the city’s expenditures, away from APD, and towards sectors that facilitate the dismantling of racial and class inequality.
Research shows that a living wage, access to holistic health services and treatment, educational opportunity, and stable housing are far more successful at reducing crime than police or prisons (Source: Popular Democracy). As such, I demand more aggressive financial support be directed to those areas.
Do not forget our poor communities and communities of color who are disproportionate targets of police violence. Justice will only be served when the police are reformed, and this will not be possible until we defund them.
Can I count on you to consider an alternative budget that puts a focus on social service programs?
Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
EMAIL SCRIPT #2 - MAYOR ESTHER E. MANHEIMER
Direct contact page: https://tinyurl.com/y9m22to8
SUBJECT: 2021 Budget
TO: esthermanheimer@avlcouncil.com
Mayor Manheimer,
My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am an Asheville resident writing to express my outrage at the proposed 2021 budget.
Asheville is suffering and needs community investment more than ever. It is unacceptable to put most of the general fund budget into the Asheville Police Department while so many people don’t have affordable housing, aren’t making a living wage, and struggle to access transit options.
Research shows that a living wage, access to holistic health services and treatment, educational opportunity, and stable housing are far more successful at reducing crime than police or prisons (Source: Popular Democracy).
I am asking that the Asheville City Council make a more overt and visible commitment to racial justice. I demand that the budget vote be delayed so that Council may find ways to redirect money away from Asheville Police Department’s overinflated budget. I urge you to pressure the City Manager’s Office towards an ethical and equal reallocation of the city’s expenditures, away from APD, and towards sectors that facilitate the dismantling of racial and class inequality.
Do not forget our poor communities and communities of color who are disproportionate targets of police violence. Justice will only be served when the police are reformed, and this will not be possible until we defund them.
Can I count on you to consider an alternative budget that puts a focus on social service programs?
Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
EMAIL SCRIPT #3 - 6/9 COUNCIL MEETING: PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY2021 BUDGET
Direct contact page: https://tinyurl.com/ycd9lqjs
SUBJECT: FY2020-21 Budget: Defund the APD
TO: AshevilleCityCouncilJune92020@PublicInput.com
Dear Asheville City Councilmembers,
My name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a resident of Asheville. I am writing about Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal.
I am asking that the Asheville City Council make a more overt and visible commitment to racial justice. I demand that the budget vote be delayed so that Council may find ways to redirect money away from Asheville Police Department’s overinflated budget. I urge you to pressure the City Manager’s Office towards an ethical and equal reallocation of the city’s expenditures, away from APD, and towards sectors that facilitate the dismantling of racial and class inequality.
Research shows that a living wage, access to holistic health services and treatment, educational opportunity, and stable housing are far more successful at reducing crime than police or prisons (Source: Popular Democracy). As such, I demand more aggressive financial support be directed to those areas.
Do not forget our poor communities and communities of color who are disproportionate targets of police violence. Justice will only be served when the police are reformed, and this will not be possible until we defund them.
Can I count on you to consider an alternative budget that puts a focus on social service programs?
Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
CALL SCRIPT #1 - INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS
Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a resident of Asheville. I’m calling about Asheville Mayor’s Esther Manheimer’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal.
I’m asking that the Asheville City Council make a more overt and visible commitment to racial justice. I demand that the budget vote be delayed so that Council may find ways to redirect money away from Asheville Police Department’s overinflated budget. I urge you to pressure the City Manager’s Office towards an ethical and equal reallocation of the city’s expenditures, away from APD, and towards sectors that facilitate the dismantling of racial and class inequality.
Research shows that a living wage, access to holistic health services and treatment, educational opportunity, and stable housing are far more successful at reducing crime than police or prisons.
Do not forget our poor and communities of color. Justice will only be served when the police are reformed, and this will not be possible until we defund them.
Can I count on you to consider an alternative budget that puts a focus on social service programs?
CALL SCRIPT #2 - ASHEVILLE COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC HEARING AT 5PM ON TUESDAY, JUNE 9TH
855-925-2801 (code: 8958)
You must leave a voicemail by 5pm on Monday, June 8th and limit the message to three minutes.
You also have the option to dial-in live; calls will be played in the order they are received.
Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a resident of Asheville. I’d like to leave a comment about the proposed 2020-2021 budget.
In the wake of the police’s killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and countless Black Americans before him, I’m asking that the Asheville City Council make a commitment to racial justice by delaying the budget vote, and using this time to find ways to redirect money away from Asheville Police Department’s overinflated budget into [THESE PROGRAMS].
Do not forget our poor and communities of color. Can I count on you to consider an alternate budget proposal that puts a priority on social programs?