Fund Services First

rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/fund-services-first?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-fund-services-first' style='width: 100%'></div> CTS Whatcom https://actionnetwork.org/groups/cts-whatcom-2 Fund Services First https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/751/730/normal/IMG_4429.jpeg Dear Whatcom County Councilmembers and Deputy Executive, In light of the anticipated Whatcom County budget vote on this month, we, the undersigned Whatcom County residents and organizations, urge the Whatcom County Council and County Deputy Executive to prioritize full funding for behavioral care and services before moving forward with any construction plans for a new jail. After rejecting similar tax levy proposals for a new jail twice in the past decade (2015 and 2017), the ambiguously renamed “Public Health, Safety, and Justice Sales and Use Tax” passed in 2023. The initiative promised that 50% of the revenue would finance services including a behavioral health facility. However, on March 19 at the second Community Engagement Workshop for the Justice Project, the Deputy County Executive shared four scenarios for the plans, all of which overspend on incarceration and not enough on care and services. The community feedback was clear: half of the tax is supposed to fund services outside of incarceration. Now, Whatcom is at a crossroads. How the tax money is spent will define the future of the county between one that prioritizes the expansion of punishment and mass incarceration or one that provides for the needs of every resident in our community. We urge the Deputy Executive and planning committees to come back to the drawing board and work on a proposal that reflects their promises and community values. We firmly believe that investing in community services, mental health, prevention, and housing before building a new jail is the right path for our future and we’ll hold the County Council accountable for its promises in 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/fund-services-first