Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) Sep 9, 2026

The Town of Amherst's Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) held a remote meeting on September 9, 2026, focusing on community safety, social justice initiatives, and related updates. Key procurement-related discussions included the need for increased budget allocations for the Crest program, which provides alternative nonviolent emergency response services. Committee members expressed concern over the low number of dispatch calls to Crest and emphasized the necessity of securing additional funding to expand staffing and operational hours. They planned to engage with town council members and budget officials to advocate for these increases. Additionally, the committee discussed the upcoming retreat agenda, emphasizing budget advocacy for Crest, the Youth Empowerment Center, and the establishment of a Resident Oversight Board with investigatory powers. There was also mention of collaboration on updating immigration resource web pages and coordination with other town commissions. No specific contract awards or vendor selections were reported, but budget advocacy and resource allocation were prominent themes. The committee also addressed community concerns about hate graffiti and the need for stronger town communication and unified statements against hate acts.