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Last night, council voted on the police budget. We approved it. This one action has been the focus of much advocacy and handwringing. I voted against approving the budget and would have preferred to see it go to the province for a decision. 1/
This is because, in my opinion, much of the services we need are the jurisdiction of the province. Housing, health care - including mental health care - are provincial. I don’t think cities should be providing these services, nor do we have sufficient budget to do so. 2/
We also have to find different ways to provide these services.
Our entire system has been built under a specific worldview and that needs to shift. We need to address systemic injustices and inequities- not punish people for being traumatized and negatively impacted 3/
Our entire system has been built under a specific worldview and that needs to shift. We need to address systemic injustices and inequities- not punish people for being traumatized and negatively impacted 3/
By a system that is designed to punish. We need all levels of government on board with this - enthusiastically, not half-heartedly. We need community members who understand these systems to be engaged in this work. We need the people involved in the systems 4/
- health care workers, police officers, teachers, etc- to be enthusiastically invested in a better system. And we need policy makers to not only be brave but to know that the solutions already exist if only we look in the right places and ask the right questions 5/
It is often said that budgets reveal priorities. I aim to prioritize the people who are marginalized and made vulnerable by the systems our society has set up. But I’m one person within a system that is old, deep, and resilient. Change is always too slow. 6/
And justice always seems to have to wait. So many people will be disappointed by this vote. I know you’re tired. Please keep pushing. This behemoth system is moving, however slowly. The language is changing. Awareness is rising. You’re making a difference. Change is possible. 7/
Because of the ongoing work- teach ins and advocacy and speaking truth to power- I believe we are at 4 AM. The sunrise nears. End/
