Protesters call to disappoint police as Phoenix City Council discusses budget proposal, Arizona News
PHOENIX, AZ (3TV / CBS 5) – The calls to defuse the police are back as the Phoenix City Council discusses the next proposed budget, which will increase the budget by $ 43 million for the Phoenix Police Department and $ 3.7 million for civil accountability and positions Includes transparency.
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There are two very different sides to the $ 43 million proposal. The city said it needs to pay and hire more officers and civilian positions. Even so, protesters outside the council chambers think the money is better suited for the community. They shouted the names of the councilors in front of the council chambers and sang the names of people who had died by the police. “I used to see all the hashtags, but it wasn’t until it got to my home that I really got out of here,” said Anna Hernandez. Her brother Alejandro died after he was shot dead by officers in April 2019 when police said he was in breach of a protection order while holding a replica rifle and refused to listen to officers’ orders. Now she wants tens of millions of dollars to be invested in the community, not the police.
Protesters would rather use the money on services such as mental health resources, affordable housing, and drug rehabilitation.
“We have to put human life and people’s needs above occupation. That means we have to give the people of Phoenix a chance to be successful,” said Hernandez. The city administrator’s proposal calls for an increase of $ 43 million in police force in Phoenix and an increase of $ 3.7 million in civilian positions for accountability and transparency. Protesters would rather use the money on services such as mental health resources, affordable housing, and drug rehabilitation. “There is no reason why there should be so many unprotected people in our city,” said Hernandez.
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At Tuesday’s session, Phoenix deputy manager Jeff Barton said the police department was already defused. “From a sworn perspective, they’re down about 400 positions. On the civilian side, they’re down about 300 positions. In fact, they have largely been defused as our population continues to grow,” Barton said.
People are asking for change.
Even so, people like Hernandez are demanding change. “I have to keep sharing my brother’s name because, in the end, it will keep bringing about change one way or another,” said Hernandez. Councilor Carlos Garcia told Arizona’s family that he was uncomfortable with the increase in the police budget proposal. The city administrator’s office is pushing for allegations that they are not listening to the public by stating that it has made accountability proposals and strengthened a behavioral health resource. The final vote on the budget will take place in mid-June.
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