title
FROM THE PEACE COMMISSION, A RESOLUTION CALLING ON CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO PREPARE FOR HEALTH AND CLIMATE CRISES BY TRANSFERRING FUNDS FROM THE MILITARY BUDGET TO CITIES AND STATES FOR HUMAN NEEDS, JOBS, AND AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND PLACING A NON-BINDING ADVISORY REFERENDUM TO THAT EFFECT ON THE NOVEMBER 3, 2020 NEW HAVEN MUNICIPAL BALLOT.
body
WHEREAS: the severity of the U.S. economic crisis, compounded by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, has caused severe budget shortfalls at all levels of government, necessitating a re-examination of national spending priorities; and
WHEREAS: every dollar spent on the military produces fewer jobs than spending the same dollar on education, healthcare, clean energy and other beneficial programs; and
WHEREAS: U.S. military spending has ballooned to more than half of federal discretionary - more than during the Cold War, the Vietnam conflict, or the Korean War; and
WHEREAS: the United States trails many other nations in life expectancy, infant mortality, education, housing, and environmental sustainability; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Alders of the City of New Haven, Connecticut calls on the U.S. Congress and the U.S. President to end foreign ground and air wars; refrain from new military ventures; work toward an end to all nuclear weapons; reduce military spending in order to meet human needs; promote job creation; re-train and re-employ those losing jobs in the process of conversion to non-military industries; rebuild infrastructure; assist municipal and state governments; and develop a new economy based on renewable energy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the most honorable City Clerk of New Haven is hereby directed to accomplish any and all actions necessary to place the following non-binding advisory referendum on the November 3, 2020 municipal ballot: "Shall Congress prepare for health and climate crises by transferring funds from the military budget to cities for human needs, jobs and an environmentally sustainable economy?".