Public Testimonies
In this section, you'll learn why public testimonies are an effective way to get the attention of your local officials. It also includes a Breathing Room “Public Testimony template" to get you started.
WHY PUBLIC TESTIMONIES WORK
A public statement is a powerful way to explain your position on an issue, how it impacts you, and what you think needs to change. It’s an individual statement to your mayor or city council explaining your stance on an issue to influence law making. You can email your statement to an elected official or deliver it in-person at a local hearing.
This can be an effective tool to utilize when a topic or policy proposal related to police brutality is on the agenda for your local city council. Agenda item topics can range from reviewing and approving a specific proposal like a police budget to discussing and considering a recent case of police injustice.
Creating space for public comment on an issue is an essential part of the local government process when developing a new policy, voting it into law, and deciding how it is implemented or enforced. It helps policymakers understand how an issue or policy impacts their constituents.
The responsibility of your city council is to make this legislative process accessible and transparent to the public. But there’s no requirement for them to create awareness and educate the public. As a local resident, you’ve got to keep up with what issues are being discussed and when meetings are taking place. You can usually find this information on your local city website or you can call your city hall for a schedule.
Public testimony is a pretty inclusive tool. You don’t have to be a citizen or eligible to vote to participate in the process. (Although elected officials are more likely to prioritize your point of view if you are one of their constituents.)
Local officials are required to listen
Once your local council and mayor decide to move forward with a new regulation (or reject a proposed one) they have to explain their rationale to the community. This includes referencing the public statements they received, responding to questions and criticisms from their constituents, and explaining why they rejected or accepted other changes or proposals from local residents.
Although you can email your public statement, delivering it in person can be even more impactful. The pandemic has evolved the accessibility of legislative hearings. The process of public testimony is now easier and more inclusive. Today, many cities like Oakland and Berkeley have introduced virtual city council meetings that make it easier to engage from the comfort and safety of your home
HOW TO GET STARTED
1. Research the issue, the facts that support your argument, and your city council member’s position on it. Police budgets are a great place to start. You can examine the budget and recommend reinvesting in other critical community services that reduce the need for policing. (Since the mayor is responsible for proposing a budget and the city council handles approvals, understanding where your issue is on the legislative timeline will help you target the right policy maker when the time comes.)
2. Next, save Breathing Room’s custom public testimony template. This guide will make it easy for you to generate a public comment for future engagements.
3. Head over to your local city website or call your city clerk to find out the schedule for upcoming hearings in your city.
What’s the time commitment?
It can vary from low to high investment, depending on the complexity of the issue and how long it takes you to prepare your perspective. Most of the time invested will go towards gathering insights on the issue and crafting your testimony.
