Like all of the others on my site, this platform plank will be added to and revised as I continue to listen to more people, do more research, and learn.   But for now, let's start with this "radical" idea: police do not create public safety.  When you look at the research, this idea is not really radical at all.  I know, we've all been trained to make the assumption that the more police there are the more safe we will be, but nothing could be further from the truth.  What will make us safer is making sure that everyone in our community has their basic needs met.  The other planks of my platform addresses how to take care of those basic needs, but for now, let's look at this idea that more police does not make us more safe.

To what end do we want to "ensure" our safety?  Do we want armed guards on every corner?  Is that the kind of life we deserve for ourselves and our children?  Should we presenting out "papers" every time we leave our houses?  That sounds like an exaggeration, but it is the slope we start going down when we bring in more and more armed militia members with badges.  

Kia Boys: Probably the one thing that everyone is talking about are the kids who have been stealing cars.  Have you talked to any of these kids?  I have.  The discussions were very candid.  Most of them assume they're either going to end up in jail or be killed at an early age.  If that is their assumption, why should they care if there are police or prisons?

This is why I call for more library and recreation center hours. The increased cost of this will be taken care of by the lessening of costs for the Rochester Police Department. (I will have an entire platform plank on how to pay for things later.)

Also, making sure these kids’ home lives are more stable, particularly with housing, a universal basic income, universal child care, and more will reduce their need to distract themselves from the hopelessness of racialized capitalism with inappropriate behaviors.

Violence: Almost every night we can watch the local news and the top story will be about a new incident of violence in the City. But if you pay attention, almost every instance involves people who know each other. You and I are generally safe. We have mechanisms in place to handle such situations before they turn violent, but the problem is they are woefully underfunded and not utilized appropriately. That is why I am calling for a doubling of budgets for both Pathways to Peace and the Person in Crisis Team (PIC).

I also want to stabilize funding for the newly created Neighborhood Ambassador Program, which employs those who are dealing with opioid addiction in helping in the community. If you haven’t heard of NAP yet, I highly suggest you check it out.

Other platform planks that will increase public safety: 

• housing
• universal child care
• a public utility
• a public bank (coming soon)
• a Rochester Green New Deal  (coming soon)

Additional links:

How Recreation Programs Can be Used to Mitigate Youth Gang Involvement and Violence

The Benefits of Youth Sports in Child Development