Defund the police. Reimagine public safety through community care.

I have written to the mayor and my councilor to express my support for working towards defunding the police and increasing support for community care and wellfare.

Mayor Watson's form response included the following remark: "I am surprised by the inconsistency of some who regularly demand a greater police presence in their communities and then turn around to support deep cuts to the police service. It would, for example, be very difficult for the Ottawa Police Service to increase its investments in community-based policing, while having to reduce its operating budget significantly."

To this, I respond: People evolving and reevaluating their position is not "inconsistency." People who have in the past asked for more community-based policing and realize these reforms do not work is not "inconsistency." Furthermore, defund the police is not asking for increase "investments in community-based policing." We are asking for an increase in community-based CARE.

Much of what we as a city —our elected officials and residents— have come to define and expect of public safety centers white comfort and privilege. We must disentangle safety requests that are based in discomfort and fear and question who is vulnerable and in need of help in these situations and what is the most CARE-ORIENTED form of help we can offer.

Criminalizing and policing are not forms of care. Criminalizing and policing are not means for public safety and instead only provide a sense of safety, not to mention superiority, often to those least at risk.