Guided by focused conversations between councilmembers, activists, experts, and community members, Columbus City Council has made several necessary revisions to the proposed 2021 operating budget, including the creation of a $10 million reimagining public safety fund. Some key changes:

• Funding for the training and aid kits needed to implement Andre’s Law
• An additional $1.5 million for violence intervention
• Employment opportunities for at-risk youth
• Sports programming for young people in the Wedgewood neighborhood
• $50,000 to support domestic violence survivors
• Seed funding for alternative crisis response

These reforms are just the beginning of our push to tackle the violence in our city. Make no mistake — we still have a long way to go, but these first steps are crucial.

City Council will vote on the revised budget TODAY, Monday, February 22. Help us sustain the momentum behind this push for police reform by adding your name now.