The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is currently funded by a whopping $5.6 billion, our Youth and Community development funding? $750 million. It has become undoubtedly evident that NYC's local government cares more about law and order than beneficial public service initiatives. New Yorkers: we CAN defund the police, and we HAVE to do it soon. I’m writing this petition to propose a NYPD budget cut by $500 million. That money would then be redistributed into other pillars of NYC public service such as health, homeless and shelter initiatives, and youth & community development. $500 million is less than 10% of current NYPD funding, and the amount of dedicated public service this money could contribute to the rest of NYC would be unbelievable. I know it seems as though we’ve been aimlessly signing petitions with no real change, but if enough New Yorkers demand change, we CAN get this done. I will not stop until our local government hears about this. I will write redistribution plans, and work my way up until I see a budget cut in our police force. But to do this, I need support from fellow New Yorkers! If you believe this city could benefit from funding in other pillars of NYC public service, please sign this petition and share it with everyone you know. New York City is a city that gets stuff done, and we do not need law enforcement to have this much control. We will make this happen.

- Sophie L. Ming