{ANALYSIS} California's fight against AAPI violence, remedied by money.
A long fight for the safety of a highly AAPI populated state has been raging and continues to rage on. California, with 16% of its state population representing Asian Americans, attempts to combat the violence targeting 16% of their population. Traditional ways would be to increase law enforcement, given that the influence by the government on these issues are not much otherwise. This is a problem of the anti-AAPI sentiment in the community, which the community must deal with due to delayed and indirect control of the government. Though, the governor of California approved another solution. Money.
On the day of July 12, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signs a $100 billion spending bill, with a shocking $156 million for "noncarceral alternatives to combat violence against Asian Americans [and Pacific Islanders]", according to NBC News. Not the first to spend money on the issue, but yet the largest amount of money. Nearly 15 times the amount spent by New York on the issue, an outrageous amount that leaves a question - will it be worth it?
The budget allocates a lot of money - and in a risky way. What are those ways?
A three-year spending plan on the "root causes of anti-[AAPI] racism." Deal with hate and the victims, less of the perpetrators filled with hate. $110 million allocated to this. A more education-centered approach to the issue, to allow people to realize that hate is not right. If gone well, the prevention of many incidents will be praised and credited to this action. If gone bad, a horrific spread of more incidents including those who use the education-centered approach as another reason for hate. A dangerous decision, but worth decision for the good that it can bring.
But with the terms of the $110 million, this job is allocated to the community once again. The funds do not go to governmental effort, but yet to the community and funding, thus, proving the intention of the government to solve with money. Legal services. Health care. Mental health. Outreach. Public safety. And finally, civilian patrols. Of the $110 million, $25 million for school safety and mental care for AAPI hate in schools. Many are self explanatory, but some aren't.
Public safety and civilian patrols. One that has not been recently discussed much or known about much. The idea that brings the community to defend the community. One to defend another. Protection for others and yourself. Now, encouraged, with the rise of such groups to help those seniors of the AAPI population get home safe in troubled neighborhoods. One such group and a great example naming themselves Asians with Attitudes (A.W.A.), providing civilian patrols around the most troubled California neighborhoods with spikes in crime. An attempt to prevent incidents from happening. But not any patrol like a police patrol. A patrol that connects with the community. Members of their own kind. So many feel safe and friendly to them. Truly a way to make an impact and protect dire areas of needed protection, such as San Francisco's Chinatown and Oakland's Chinatown.
$10 million more to the widely known organization Stop AAPI Hate, recording more than 6,600 COVID-related incidents, with 40% in California. $30 million for a hate crimes hotline. Overall, a revolutionary amount of spending and an outcome many are waiting to see hopefully make change. Though it will be hard to combat the current sentiment, there will be an effort, and the effort shall not be in vain.
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