WHY ATTEND?
Last year, many Amherst Town Councilors said they were unwilling to defund the police department without having a feasible alternative in place for people to turn to for help.
They tasked the Town Manager with coming up with a report on potential alternatives to policing that the town could pilot. The working group (CSWG) the Town Manager put together to help create this report has proposed a new program (CRESS) that would be an independent town office of civilian staff to respond to non-violent and non-criminal calls.
THIS BUDGET HEARING IS OUR CHANCE to tell the Amherst Town Council to make good on their promise from last summer to re-allocate funds from the Amherst Police Department to an alternative program.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Ahead of the event, Defund413 Amherst will share a guide for public comment that includes our budget demands and helpful talking points. You can use this document to shape your statement.
SHOW UP, AND TELL THE COUNCIL THAT WE TAKE CARE OF US!