In honor of the lives of those stolen by police and state-sanctioned violence—Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Natasha McKenna, George Floyd, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Elijah McClain, Pearlie Golden, Kayla Moore, Trayvon Martin, Freddie Gray, Atatiana Jefferson, Oscar Grant, Daniel Prude and far too many more—we the people are proposing a new local law:
The Hudson BREATHE Act of 2020
This visionary bill reinvests our taxpayer dollars in a new vision of public safety—a vision that allows all communities to finally breathe free. The Hudson BREATHE Act is co-authored by members of the Hudson-Catskill Housing Coalition and Citizens of Hudson.
Tiffany Garriga, 2nd Ward Alderwoman, Introduced the Hudson Breathe Act of 2020 During the Common Council Legal Committee Meeting (September 23, 2020)
“The underlying problem of police brutality is not only related to individual police officers, but is a societal problem that centers on an American overdependence on an armed police, and the lasting influence of the institution’s origins as an all-white force for the express purpose of enforcing slavery. The residents of Hudson have elected a City Council and Mayor that is diverse and progressive for this very reason, that we should lead our county, state, and country in the adoption of best practices. These practices include but are not limited to a greater investment in community programs, a ban on no knock warrants, a non-emergency phone number, the development of a Citizen Response Team, data mapping and transparency, and police members that reside within the community they police.”
UNDERSTANDING THE HUDSON BREATHE ACT OF 2020
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Original Artwork: James Klynn
THE HUDSON BREATHE ACT OF 2020
Press Updates
"Council revives Breathe Act"
Hudson Valley 360 (OCT 14, 2020)
Common Council President Thomas DePietro, 4th Ward Alderman John Rosenthal and 1st Ward Alderwoman and Minority Leader Rebecca Wolff worked with writers of the Hudson Breathe Act to create the resolution.
The resolution calls for the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to cut the 2020 police budget by 13% in the 2021 budget and direct about $300,000 of the savings into a budget line for alternative public safety initiatives.
The resolution is the first of more to come that stem from the Breathe Act, DePietro said.
“Common Council member introduces Breathe Act during legal committee meeting”
News 10 (SEPT 24, 2020)
During Wednesday night’s meeting of the City of Hudson Legal Committee, the Alderman for the second ward Tiffany Garriga introduced the Hudson Breathe Act. Garriga read the opening two sections of the proposed new law before asking to go through the other units with the council members and the public.
The Hudson Breathe Act section four seeks three main goals, a residency requirement for Hudson police officers, a reduction in the number of police officers, and Breonna’s law, a ban on no-knock warrants.
Garriga’s goal was to get the new proposed law put together by Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition (HCHC) and Citizens of Hudson before the October informal Common Council meeting.
“Common Council at odds over resolution supporting ‘Hudson Breathes Act’“
WNYT (SEPT 23, 2020)
The City of Hudson Common Council discussed passing a resolution in support of reforming police policies. Several members debated over whether or not a resolution in support of the "Hudson Breathe Act" should be passed and on what date. Third Ward representative Tiffany Garriga said not passing the resolution in support of police reform [today] just shows that it isn't a priority. Garriga said that's especially painful to hear in the wake of Louisville Police officers not being charged in the killing of Breonna Taylor earlier in the afternoon [on September 23, 2020].
“Citizens group unveils police plan”
Hudson Valley 360
The proposal, called the Hudson Breathe Act, was conceived by the Hudson-Catskill Housing Coalition and Citizens of Hudson, and was presented by Tiffany Garriga.
“Breathe Act faces revisions”
Hudson Valley 360
Citizens of Hudson and Hudson-Catskill Housing Coalition introduced the Hudson Breathe Act and submitted it to the city's Legal Committee last week.
“Police cut, reform budget proposed”
Hudson Valley 360
The Hudson Breathe Act was proposed by Citizens of Hudson and the Hudson-Catskill Housing Coalition and was not considered because of structural issues.
