Local budget alert - take action now

There are two public online meetings scheduled for today (Thursday) to discuss the budget cuts and ways to effectively lobby the council to rethink them and be more transparent and inclusive when decidung them. From the organizer:

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We are reaching out to those interested in seeing a more fair distribution of budget cuts. Let's be transparent and inclusive.

Agenda for 6/11 @ 4 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Review: 2020 Budget Reduction Plan (5 minutes)

• Executive Budget Team Members
• Timeline

Library (5 minutes)

• Budget Cuts and Outlook (as it stands)
• EveryLibrary Meeting Update from 6/11 @ 9am with Political Director: https://www.everylibrary.org/

Parks & Rec (5 minutes)

• Budget Cuts and Outlook (as it stands)
• Awaiting written update from Jay Odegaard, Director

Police (5 minutes)

• What is #defundthepolice
• Transparency in Policing: https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/departments/police-parking/transparency-in-policing

Other Budget Cut Decision Concerns (5 minutes)

• Categories of Safety versus Quality of Life (as defined by the EBT)
• Implications for future budgets (2020-2021 and 2021-2022)

Individual Actions (5 minutes)

• Call, email, write a letter to elected officials (Common Council, Mayor, EBT Members, etc) (templates)
• Write a Letter to the Editor (templates)
• Contact friends and neighbors
• Join a team or org already doing the work (org list)

Collective Action Ideas: How does this group want to respond collectively? (10 minutes)

• Brief Brainstorm
• Follow-up: Email me with your ideas for action. I'll create a survey based on recommendations and we'll proceed based on results.

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To include as many as possible, there are two meeting choices. Please email us to receive the access information. Meetings at 4 p.m. and at 8 p.m. Please share info widely across the community.

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GETTING ORGANIZED:

ALL LINKS: Find them at https://linktr.ee/heathertalbot

SHARED DOCUMENTS: Shared folder has been created. Find link to folder at above link.

BRAINSTORMING VIRTUALLY: https://ideaboardz.com/for/Fair%20Budget%20Cuts/3227151 (Also on linktr.ee)