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Dear #HamOnt: we know that Councillor Chad Collins’ staff report will be discussed this Thursday at the next Hamilton Police Service Board meeting. His goal is to illustrate why he thinks it is impossible to reduce the police budget.
Here’s what we have to say (THREAD):
Here’s what we have to say (THREAD):
First, we have questions. Why has the police service budget gone up almost 50% in 5 years? Calls to defund HPS/ reallocate funding aren’t new. In fact, multiple Councillors have called for this over the years! https://www.chch.com/councillors-want-hamilton-police-to-arrest-spending/
In 2012, Ward 14 Councillor Whitehead said of the HPS budget, “It’s eating up the capacity for cities to continue providing the programming in other areas. Every year it’s well above the cost of inflation. That’s not sustainable.” He was right! https://www.chch.com/councillors-want-hamilton-police-to-arrest-spending/
We spend $171 million on policing but only $158 million on social services here in Hamilton.
There are 675 police officers on the sunshine list. That equates to 36.51% of city employees on the sunshine list employed by the police. The percentage of all Hamilton Police on the sunshine list is 61%.
Enough beating around the bush. We’re calling for an immediate 20% reduction to the police budget, which amounts to $35 million dollars.
We want a $30 million cut from HPS salaries, specifically from Divisions 1, 2, and 3, community mobilization (mounted unit (horses), ACTION team, victim services) and support services (mounted services/horses).
$2.5 million should be cut from HPS materials and supplies in order to demilitarize the police force. $2 million should be cut from overtime and part time pay to HPS staff.
We have a series of things planned to keep pressure up. In the meantime, email your elected officials to let them know you want a motion moved. You can also call and leave a voicemail Please CC: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
