I am a resident of Dane County, and I believe that healthcare is a universal human right. I find it unacceptable that the health disparities in our County between rich and poor, and whites and people of color, continue to grow.

In our local criminal justice system, these inequities are particularly visible. In Dane County, 22% percent are in jail only because of unpaid bail, and 40% of people in jail have mental health and/or substance use issues. In the meanwhile, Dane County's public and community health funds are insufficient, and many local organizations providing essential mental and other health care assistance are receiving no County funds at all.

For these reasons, I oppose the Dane County Sheriff’s request to earmark $76M in the County Budget towards the construction of new jail facilities -- a proposal which ignores detailed and well-researched plans put together by local advocacy groups for expanded community and public healthcare, and in particular for a Crisis Restoration Center, which would give County residents experiencing mental health and/or substance use crises a space to heal, rather than time behind bars.

By adding my signature to this petition, I join community leaders, OWR-Dane, Progressive Dane, Freedom Inc., YGB, and other allied organizations in asking the Dane County Board to vote “no” to any new jail construction proposal and instead earmark sufficient funds for public and community healthcare, for affordable housing, and for the construction of a Crisis Restoration Center, which would provide an alternative to incarceration for those experiencing mental health and/or substance use issues in our community.