Reform the Academy

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/reform-the-academy?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-reform-the-academy' style='width: 100%'></div> Colorado Springs DSA https://actionnetwork.org/groups/colorado-socialists-2 Reform the Academy https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/442/489/normal/R-_Reform_T-The_A-_Academy.png After Mayor Yemi Mobolade assumed office in June 2023, he brought a proposal to Colorado Springs City Council with CSPD Chief Vasquez to include an initiative on the ballot this November. The initiative would take $20-$30 dollars out of everyone’s TABOR refund, and it would be put into a fund to invest in a new police academy. This equates to $5 million dollars from your TABOR refund, which is a fraction of the unknown total needed for this project. We at RTA believe this is morally wrong and fiscally unsound. This approach is not in the interest of our community's needs for health and safety. Instead we should be looking to address root causes of crime by investing in long-term housing, job initiatives to fix our infrastructure, and increasing our workforce. We demand that the requested $5 million be allocated to housing for long-term transition, with wrap-around support services to ensure needs are met. The housing crisis is one of the most dire concerns facing residents of Colorado Springs. Studies have shown that providing stable housing for people who are experiencing homelessness is more cost-effective, as well as being the kind, humane solution. Many people are struggling with price-gouged rents and skyrocketing living costs, making them vulnerable to homelessness. Providing $5 million in funding towards either retrofitting or building stable housing for those experiencing homelessness and including wrap-around services, would have a far better impact on community safety than a police academy. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/reform-the-academy