Issue 9: #FreePB
Our mission is to support each other and collaborate towards the abolition of policing and incarceration in our community. Read our organizing principles here. We publish every two weeks, on Tuesday mornings. Submissions welcome.
Council Bill 119981 (SPD funding)
The bill that was introduced in December to hold SPD accountable for its excess overtime use last summer has been amended to the point where it now provides more money to SPD instead of less. This effectively rewards the department for last year’s violence. It’s bananas. Two weeks ago, we encouraged readers to show their non-support for the bill. This week, because of yet another unfavorable amendment, the bill is even worse (by $2.5M), and our position stays the same.
On May 11, CB 119981 moved out of committee with a recommendation to not pass the bill at full council (González, Sawant, and Morales recommended no; Lewis and Herbold, yes). In the absence of a significant late-breaking amendment, we will be working to ensure it stays dead when it is voted on at full council on Monday, May 24 at 2pm. (Mark your calendars for public comment!)
Hiding behind the Consent Decree
A key factor cited by CMs Herbold and Lewis when they voted in support of CB 119981 was their belief that changes to SPD’s budget fall under the jurisdiction of the ongoing federal consent decree and is therefore subject to the opinions of Judge Robart and the court-appointed Monitor. The original intent of the consent decree was to address patterns of violence and racial bias. It does not dictate how large or well-funded SPD must be. The consent decree should not be used to stop efforts to defund SPD. Here are more reasons why:
Shrinking the scope of the police dept alleviates all the things the consent decree is focused on and is the best way to be in compliance. Since entering into the consent decree, SPD’s budget has grown by over $150M, but use of force incidents persist.
Federal oversight without budget reductions constitutes business as usual, absolving the department from the need to take accountability for their violence. We have ample evidence from last summer of the consent decree failing to prevent police violence. The web-page http://www.spdviolence2020.com/ provides first-person accounts of violence since late May, 2020. The testimonies are part of an ACLU lawsuit.
More recently, Interim Police Chief Diaz made it startlingly clear that Office of Police Accountability (OPA; whose funding is held within SPD) does not provide police accountability. He overturned the OPA’s sustained findings in the pink umbrella incident. The Monitor’s silence in the face of this news reinforces his complicity in the status quo.
A number of us are already working to debunk the claims related to Consent Decree obligations. Please reach out to Peter (shellito@gmail.com) if you would like to be involved.
Participatory Budgeting
Defund Calculator
The PB Creators team is working on an online interactive fun/educational *Defund Calculator*. Our goal is to link in people’s imaginations defunding SPD with the funding of community-led, equity-focused initiatives for true public safety. You’ll be able to take money away from SPD, add it to participatory budgeting, and “vote” for where PB funds should go. In the process, you’ll learn facts and figures about the harm perpetuated by the current city budget and imagine alternatives, creating an image of a city that flourishes for everyone.
Join our listserv and hop into our next meeting. We could use your help!
#FreePB
Several news articles were published this week on what is happening (or rather, what is not happening) with participatory budgeting. While Council and the Mayor stall on this effort, our communities continue to struggle from the impacts of racial injustice, a pandemic, and economic crisis.
We need to push City Council to move forward with a community-led process that addresses the root causes of harm and is informed by communities most impacted by police violence and incarceration. Give public comment today (May 18) during the Community Economic Development meeting at 2 pm, where they will discuss lifting the proviso on participatory budgeting. The official vote will be in June, so stay tuned for more actions!
Education
Free Palestine
Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ) is holding an event on Palestinian liberation.
“To understand how we got here, what is currently happening, and how Palestinian liberation is a racial justice issue that ties into the broader vision for collective liberation, we are hosting a webinar next Thursday, May 20th at 8pmET/5pmPT. Register here to learn from leaders from AROC, FOSNA, and Catalyst Project, and SURJ-Faith.”
Decolonize Palestine is “a collection of resources for organizers and anyone who wants to learn more about Palestine.”
SAS Book Club
We will be holding our 3rd book club discussion on Mariame Kaba’s We Do This ‘Til We Free Us on May 20th from 7-8:30pm. Everyone is welcome! Contact Renee (renee.lamberjack@gmail.com) for zoom details.
Our next book is Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown and the first discussion will be held sometime in June. Stay tuned!
Building Solidarity
Project Nia published a Restorative Conversation Toolkit.
“This toolkit is for anyone who wants to practice talking about conflict, things that are hard to talk about, things that hurt, in an attempt to: 1. understand the person in front of you; 2. address the impacts of harm, mutual harms, conflicts and more; 3. support those impacted in getting what they need to move forward in a way that supports their healing.”
Covid19 Mutual Aid is looking for volunteers to purchase and deliver groceries for their community pantry in Burien on May 30th. Sign up at tinyurl.com/MayPantry2021. Follow Covid19 Mutual Aid on instagram and facebook for more opportunities to support.
No New Washington Prisons is organizing against the Western State Hospital expansion:
“Washington State wants to spend $640 million on the expansion of Western State Hospital. The expansion project will create a brand new 350-bed forensic hospital. We say no to this project! We don't need another way to imprison people masquerading as a place where people get treatment.”
Learn more here: https://www.nonewwaprisons.com/western-state
Sign onto the NNWP letter as an individual opposing Gov. Inslee’s Western State Hospital expansion: bit.ly/STOPWSH
Traditional news
A number of stories relevant to policing and abolition have been published in the last couple of weeks:
Seattle Times: Text messages are missing from the phones of Mayor Durkan, former police Chief Carmen Best, and fire Chief Harold Scoggins, as reported on May 6, May 7, and May 12. Durkan’s office, in particular, violated the Public Records Act in trying to cover up the missing text messages. The text messages of all three public officials are missing from last June when police used tear gas on protestors at the CHOP and the east precinct was abandoned.
Seattle Times: Thanks to work from some abolitionists (see “collaborator highlights” below), this article about SPD response times didn’t end up being a one-sided pro-police piece.
Seattle Times: Seattle police officers are allowed to form businesses outside of the SPD that profit from their badged credentials. Seattle City Light has a contract with one such company and pays them well above what even SPD does. This article from April 11 elaborates. Anyone want to take the lead on putting a stop to this?
The New Yorker: This article features the ideas and writings of Mariame Kaba. It’s good! Read and share!
Crosscut: Tensions rise as Seattle City Hall seeks alternatives to police
PubliCola: Participatory Budgeting "Clearly Delayed Until Next Year," Councilmember Confirms
Collaborator Highlights
Renee, BJ, and Alice created this great summary of SPD’s staffing levels and their 911 response times. Because (thankfully) police have been responding to fewer non-emergency calls recently, SPD can still be expected to respond to emergencies in a timely manner. In fact, the data show that they have been doing this for years already, despite last summer’s large-scale pullback effort of abandoning the East Precinct.
QoQo created this amazing resource to educate ourselves on Early Intervention Systems.
“For over a decade, Early Intervention Systems (EIS) have become a go-to for cities seeking a quick fix for the problem of police violence on civilians and targeted communities. The potential promise they make to flag and reform officers before they can hurt civilians provides the optics of reform and safety, when in reality, EIS programs have broadly been debunked as ineffective. The continuance of officer violence in Seattle, among other factors, proves Seattle’s EIS program is no exception to the broadly proven fact of Early Intervention Systems Inefficacy.”
Becca is gathering a group of planners, enablers, and facilitators for an upcoming (date TBD) deep dive session for fall budget season dreaming. Get in touch with Becca (beccarmiller@gmail.com) if you would like to take part!
Artwork
A little gorgeous inspiration to keep on keeping on: Imagination Cards — Interrupting Criminalization.
Some artwork found in Brooklyn subways:
Join us
We intend to provide:
Space for collective action among people who are already involved or want to be involved in abolition work.
Structure to share useful information, educate ourselves, and hold ourselves accountable.
A jumping-off point to support the work of BIPOC researchers and creators through (among other initiatives) BBR, PB, and Defend the Defund.
You can contribute to this newsletter or take part in efforts similar to those highlighted here by reaching out to any of us. Or read our organizing principles and join our google group here.