Last week, Queen’s committed to giving the city of Kingston $350,000 to “help cover the costs of responding to partying in the University District”. If this donation is meant to help alleviate the strains put on Kingston emergency services, this money should go to harm reduction measures and emergency services instead law enforcement.  

The city is now deciding how to allocate the large donation Queen’s gave them, and we call on them to allocate this money to Kingston's health care services, fighting the Kingston housing crisis, supporting those experiencing homelessness, non-law enforcement services like the fire department and harm reduction strategies like water stations and food trucks. The Kingston Police are an overfunded service that represent an institution rooted in oppression and bias. Over the past few months we have seen increased surveillance, enforcement and aggression towards students.  

• While in September they spent $124, 443 on overtime pay, they have enforced fines that much exceed that (in one evening alone, bylaw officers laid over $118, 500 in fines). Even with overtime pay, they are essentially making a profit from fines. 
• The police budget makes up almost 11% of the city budget, compared to the 4.3% that all of Housing and Social Services get.

Kingston police do not need our money, and do not make many Queen’s students feel safe or protected. The effects of increased policing are even greater for marginalized students who already experience heightened police scrutiny and violence. We are against the over policing of Queen’s students, and want Queen's funds to go to city services that actually support Queen's students. 

Sources:

• https://www.kingstonist.com/news/kingston-police-chief-responds-to-calls-to-defund-at-city-council-meeting/ 
• https://www.thewhig.com/news/local-news/wrangling-university-district-partiers-costs-kingston-police-124443-in-overtime
• https://globalnews.ca/news/8265314/queens-pay-city-of-kingston-pandemic-enforcement-costs/