Letter: Defund The Police. Support Amherst Schools And CSWG

At Monday’s (5/17) Town Council/Finance Committee Public Hearing on the FY22 budget, over two hours of public comment were delivered by residents concerned about the lack of funding to be allocated toward the recommendations of the Community Safety Working Group (CSWG) and toward eliminating the one million dollar budget cut to the Amherst Regional Public School District (ARPS). It is abundantly clear that residents are extremely concerned about these budget cuts and the impact they would have on students’ education.

Sunrise Amherst, in partnership with Defund413 Amherst, has launched a campaign challenging these budget cuts with the aim of  pressuring Town Council and Town Manager Paul Bockelman to cut from the inflated Police Department budget instead of the schools. It is appalling that despite so much resident support this year, and last year,  toward defunding the Amherst police, Town Councilors refuse to listen to the very people who elected them and instead cater to institutions with a racist history. Last year, Town Council claimed that there was a lack of knowledge needed to defund the Amherst Police Department (APD) , and with this claim came the creation of the Community Safety Working Group (CSWG). This year, the CSWG delivered an abundance of information  to the Council and yet, despite the CSWG’s well-researched recommendations, the Town Council is only providing six percent of what the working group requested, and this, without cutting anything from the police budget. Amherst claims to embrace democratic values with progressive stances and policies, but when it comes down to it, the only ones elected officials will listen to are those in positions of power.

A considerable  number of Amherst residents have shared vulnerable stories about how the police have failed them, and yet,  the Town Council still ignores their concerns and demands. Town Council. Town Manager Paul Bockelman.  Do better!  Fully fund the CRESS program, cut 45 percent  from the APD budget, restore funding to the ARPS District, and listen to the residents of this town. Education, safety, and the well-being  of my generation are on the line. 

Marisol Pierce Bonifaz

Marisol Pierce Bonifaz is a resident of District 1,  a. student at the Pioneer Valley Preforming Arts School, and  the project lead for Amherst Sunrise’s Defund the Police