ATTENTION: In August, New Orleans advocates, communities, & defenders, won for justice. City council mandated public defender funding be commensurate w/ DAs. Now: The Mayor is ignoring it. Proposes no change. In fact, *PD budget is getting slashed.* More: thelensnola.org/2020/10/26/may…
As the Mayor proposed, New Orleans will spend more than $240,000,000 in 2021 to arrest, prosecute and incarcerate its citizens, and just $1,626,442 to protect innocence, fight against wrongful arrest, protect against wrongful convictions, and to hold power accountable.
Despite a massive win in August for budget parity, under the Mayor's plan, the Orleans Public Defenders appropriation went from 85% (proportion of number of people they represent) of the DA to just ONE-THIRD. This is not what ensures a fair, equitable, and just legal system.
From Orleans Public Defenders: "Defenders are essential to the health & success of our community. We protect innocence, hold powerful actors accountable, & fight by connecting clients to critical social services & treatment, housing, education & employment, & reentry services."
"These continued funding inequities threaten justice, dismantle families and harm communities. The prolonged gap between OPD and the district attorney remains too great to ensure anything more than a crisis in justice." Tomorrow is a key day to fight back. More:
The City Council has the opportunity to uphold the historic action in August. Voting & approval on the budget is set to happen TOMORROW. A budget amendment must be proposed. They previously committed to creating a fair and equitable legal system. We must hold them to it.
Tell them justice cant wait: Mayor Cantrell (@mayorcantrell). City council: Jason Williams(@RunWithJason)Helena Moreno (@HelenaMorenoLA)Joe Giarrusso(@jigiarrusso)Jay Banks (@cmjayhbanks) Kristin Palmer (@kgislesonpalmer)Jared Brossett (@JaredCBrossett)Cyndi Nguyen(@Vote4Cyndi)
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