My name is Je’Jae Mizrahi and I am a survivor of hate crimes, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse spanning many years right here in New York City. Despite these harrowing experiences, I have never felt truly safe in the presence of police officers, and my encounters with them have only deepened my sense of insecurity. My statements about the traumas I have endured—rape, drug-induced assaults, harassment—have repeatedly been downplayed or disregarded entirely, often labeled merely as 'harassment.' This leaves victims like myself feeling caught in a cycle of self-doubt and despair, questioning the validity of our own experiences. The recent ordeal I faced, where I spent over five exhausting hours at a police precinct in Flushing, Queens, pleading for protection against an ongoing assailant, underscores the dire need for change. As a queer person, I was misgendered, isolated, and misunderstood by officers—a group of macho men who seemed oblivious to the grave nature of hate crimes and sexual violence. That night, it was far too late to seek assistance from support organizations like Safe Horizon, and I was left feeling triggered, broken down, and criminalized rather than supported as a victim. The NYPD consumes a $6 billion budget, a staggering amount of our tax dollars that are predominantly directed towards traditional policing measures. Yet, these practices often fail to address the deep-rooted issues of violence and inequality faced by our city's most vulnerable residents: women, LGBTQ+ community members, immigrants, and more. To foster meaningful change and offer real support to those in crisis, I am calling for 1/6th of the NYPD's budget—$1 billion—to be reinvested into crisis care initiatives. Every police precinct across New York City should have immediate access to social workers, case managers, and resources that connect people to essential services such as food, shelter, hospice care, and domestic violence support groups. Furthermore, accurate statistics and reports on violence within our communities need to be collected and presented to public officials to ensure an informed, district-specific approach to combating such issues. By shifting this portion of the budget, not only do we aim to de-escalate harmful situations more effectively, but we also reduce the barriers that prevent marginalized groups from seeking police assistance. This reinvestment can transform the NYPD from a force that targets marginalized individuals into one that victims feel safe approaching. Your support is crucial in urging our officials to take this vital step forward in ensuring genuine safety and justice for all New Yorkers. Please sign this petition to make New York City a safer, more inclusive place for everyone.