Citizens for Mental Health & Public Safety

Our Objective

 

Our actions are focused on advocacy for City Council Members to adopt programs and a budget that lead to improvement of the lives of Ann Arbor residents living with a mental health condition — either personally or in their household.  The specific funding recommendations are here.  The necessary funding exists.  Now is the time to get this done.

 

Influence Elected Officials and Others

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Contact Elected Officials:  Express your support for substantial funding for improved mental health services. Our Summary of Our Position, plus the linked materials, provides information you may wish to include.

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• Contact Mayor Taylor and the other Council Members, especially the two members from your ward. Including a personal reason for your support will have a greater impact.  Use these links for their contact information and a ward map.

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• Sign up for public commentary (3 minute limit) at a City Council General Meeting.  You will have the choice of addressing Council members by telephone or in person in the Council Chambers (2nd Floor) of City Hall, 301 E. Huron St..  Sign up promptly at 8 am on the day of the meeting (typically Monday) by calling the Office of the City Clerk at 734-794-6140.  The first ten people to call will be the only ones permitted to speak at the outset of the meeting; many people will be trying for these ten spots.  You can find the schedule of Council meetings here.

 

• Speak during public commentary (3 minute limit) at the end of City Council Work Sessions on the budget.  You do not need to sign up in advance.  You will have the choice of addressing Council members by telephone or in person in the Council Chambers (2nd Floor) of City Hall, 301 E. Huron St..  The Work Sessions will occur on February 14 and 28 and March 14 and 28; click here for details.

 

• Be aware of the following timeline in order to as effective as possible.

- Prior To April 12:  The City Administrator will present his recommended budget to City Council on April 18.  Advocacy on what should be included in the budget is is more effective if it occurs before the City Administrator has made his final decisions on recommendations.​

- April 18 - May 9:  The attention shifts to the City Administrator's Recommended Budget.  The most effective comments and feedback will be those focused on support or opposition to components of the recommended budget.

- May 5:  City Council will hold a public hearing on the budget at its regular meeting.  Speakers do not need to sign up in advance.  The number of speakers is not limited.  Speakers are limited to 3 minutes.

- May 13 - 15 (Friday - Sunday):  Look for proposed budget amendments submitted by Council Members and published as an attachment to the agenda for the Council meeting on May 16 (find the agenda here).  Contact the Mayor and Council Members to register your support or opposition for amendments important to you.

- May 16 (Monday):  The City Council in its regular meeting will adopt a budget after consideration of proposed budget amendments.  The most effective public comments will be those focused on support or opposition to amendments to the recommended budget.

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Talk with Friends and Acquaintances 

• Become familiar with the material in "Summary of Our Position" and raise the issues in conversations with friends, family, and colleagues.

• Tell your friends and acquaintances that now is a critical time to express support for adopting polices and funding programs that will improve the lives of those living with a mental health condition.  Suggest they visit this website for information on needed policies and programs and on actions that will influence decisions.

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Stay Informed

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• Sign up for our action alerts emails.

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