Dear Council Member [Insert Name],

As a resident of Cleveland, I am writing to express strong support for Tanisha’s Law (Ordinance 1198-2024) and to urge your vote in favor of its passage.

This legislation honors the life of Tanisha Anderson, a 37-year-old mother and daughter who lost her life on November 12, 2014, while in the custody of the Cleveland Division of Police during a mental-health crisis. Her death was a preventable tragedy that revealed the urgent need for a compassionate, community-based response to mental-health emergencies.

Tanisha’s Law would establish a Department of Community Crisis Response, ensuring that mental-health crises are met with care, expertise, and dignity—not criminalization. The ordinance defines both co-response (mental-health professionals responding alongside police when necessary) and alternative-response (mental-health experts or peer specialists responding without police when appropriate). It also requires training for first responders and mandates data collection and public reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.

This legislation is a critical step toward transforming how Cleveland responds to people in crisis. Tanisha’s Law creates a sustainable, citywide framework that prioritizes care over enforcement and ensures that those experiencing mental-health emergencies receive the help they need from trained professionals.

While the Administration has expressed support for the spirit of Tanisha’s Law, delaying its passage until after additional studies are completed would only prolong the harm that this legislation seeks to prevent. Cleveland cannot afford to wait. The time to act is now.

Passing Tanisha’s Law is both a moral and practical imperative. It will save lives, strengthen community trust, and move our city closer to a system of public safety rooted in compassion, equity, and justice.

I urge you to stand with the community, with Tanisha Anderson’s family, and with all Clevelanders who believe in care, accountability, and dignity for every resident. Please vote YES on Tanisha’s Law (Ordinance 1198-2024).

Sincerely,
[Full Name]
[Address]
[Ward or Neighborhood]
[Email or Phone Number, optional]