Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Declaring Intent
Purpose: Requesting the U.S. President and the U.S. Congress to redirect military spending to domestic priorities.
Additional Information:
Sponsor: Council Member Baraka
body
Whereas, the severity of the ongoing economic crisis has created budget shortfalls at all levels of government and requires us to re-examine our national priorities; and
Whereas, every dollar spent on the military produces fewer jobs than spending the same dollar on education, healthcare, clean energy or even tax cuts for household consumption; and
Whereas, U.S. Military spending has approximately doubled in the past decade, in real dollars and as a percentage of federal discretionary spending is now spent on the military and we are spending more money on the military now than during the Cold War, the Vietnam War or the Korean War; and
Whereas, the U.S. Military budget could be cut by 80% and remain the largest in the world; and
Whereas, the National Commission of Fiscal Responsibility and Reform proposed major reductions in military spending in both its co-chairs' proposal in November, 2010 and its final report in December, 2010; and
Whereas, the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution in June, 2011 calling on Congress to redirect spending to domestic priorities and withdrawing the U.S. Military from Afghanistan; and
Whereas, the United States has armed forces stationed at approximately 1,000 foreign bases in approximately 150 foreign countries; and
Whereas, the United States is the wealthiest nation on earth but trails many other nations in the life expectancy infant mortality, education level, housing and environmental sustainability, as well as, nonmilitary aid to foreign nations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
The Council calls on the President of the United States and the United States. Congress to end foreign ground and drone wars, refrain from entering new military ventures in Iran and reduce base military spending in order to meet vital human needs, promote job creation, retrain and reemploy those losing jobs in the process of conversion to non military industries, rebuild our infrastructure, aid municipal and state governments and develop a new economy based upon renewable, sustainable energy.
Statement
This resolution calls on the U.S. Government to end U.S. Military involvement in foreign wars and redirect spending to domestic purposes.