While multiple Norman residents raised other concerns with the city’s FY2022 budget at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, the overwhelming majority of attendees gave their input on the Norman Police
The Norman City Council voted Tuesday evening to postpone the allocation of $9.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds and held its second public hearing for the fiscal year-end 2022
Allison Williams, the co-founder of the Social Injustice League of Norman, stood on a patch of grass in silence. She called crowd members to reflect on the meaning behind May 25, as the day marks the anniversary of George Floydâs death. Â
âFor almost a year, (Floydâs) family and the people that loved him were ignored. Their words and their feelings were put aside because a police officer didn t want his position taken away, and it s ridiculous that it took almost a year for his voice to be heard.â Â
As Norman grassroots community groups gathered during this Tuesday evening rally, Williams expressed how she has felt similarly ignored by Normanâs city council. She said, time after time, she has seen community members ask for resources âwhere people who are having mental breakdowns donât have to come in contact with intimidating people, such as the police,â without success.Â
Norman grassroots community groups announced their demands surrounding the cityâs fall year end 2022 proposed budget in a Tuesday press release.Â
The involved community groups include the Red Dirt Collective, Social Injustice League and Norman Collective for Racial Justice, which formed the âPeopleâs Budget Coalition.â The coalition held a series of workshops in April and May to discuss the cityâs budget, according to the release, and declared three demands for the fall year end 2022 budget as the city council continues budget discussions during its Tuesday meeting.Â
In the release, the coalition first called for mobile crisis teams to handle mental health, substance use calls and homeless outreach. The Social Injustice League wrote in the release that, because of the pandemic, the city should set aside money for increasing housing security, homeless services and an accessible homeless shelter.Â
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Diana Frost holds a sign June 9 during a protest before a Norman City Council meeting.Kyle Phillips / The Transcript
Multiple Norman community groups and local businesses have issued demands about how police should be funded in the cityâs FY22 budget ahead of Tuesday nightâs budget hearing.
The city council is slated to meet virtually at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, and will hold public comment on the budget at the meetingâs end. Registration for public comment is open on the cityâs website.
A partnership between Norman Collective for Racial Justice, Red Dirt Collective and Social Injustice League of Norman joined together to create the âPeopleâs Budget Coalition,â a group calling for numerous demands regarding this yearâs final budget.