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Residents press council for participatory budgeting and transit protections as police funding debate continues
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the council to adopt a participatory budget and to redirect money from policing to services such as housing, transit, parks and mental-health response. Riders and advocates also raised specific concerns about proposed changes to Route 19 and asked staff to preserve access while the city explores microtransit options.
A broad group of residents, organized in part through the People's Budget Coalition, used the council meeting public-comment period to press for a participatory budgeting process and to urge councilmembers to redirect portions of city funding from policing into services such as affordable housing, transportation, parks and non-police crisis response.
Speakers described lived needs across neighborhoods and ages: advocates asked for more investment in after-school programs, bus service to isolated neighborhoods, shade and trees in hot neighborhoods, and permanent supportive housing. Multiple speakers told council they do not feel safer when police…
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