State & Local Meeting
Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) Mar 11, 2026
March 13, 2026
The Town of Amherst's Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) convened on March 11, 2026, focusing on community safety initiatives, social justice issues, and budget considerations. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the Crest program, an alternative public safety response team, including its current staffing challenges, funding needs, and efforts to increase community awareness and operational hours. Committee members deliberated on drafting a letter to the town manager advocating for increased funding for Crest, emphasizing cost savings and public safety benefits, with plans to finalize and submit the letter before the May 1 budget deadline. The committee also addressed the potential use of the Wildwood site for a Youth Empowerment Center and the importance of earmarking $450,000 in funds for this purpose. Additionally, discussions included concerns about police cooperation with ICE, the need for greater transparency and equity in the police department budget, and committee membership diversity and term limits. The meeting concluded with plans to coordinate with the Human Rights Commission on ICE-related issues and to continue advocacy for community safety and social justice funding.
Sources
- Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) Mar 11, 2026 · Town of Amherst, MA · Mar 13