COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Community Crisis Response Amendment has been submitted to the Columbus city clerk for review by the Columbus Safety Collective Campaign, who would like to see it on the municipal election ballot on Nov. 4 this year.

The charter amendment would see the establishment of a division of community crisis response.

What You Need To Know

  • The Columbus Safety Collective Campaign submitted a proposed amendment to the city charter to establish a division of community crisis response

  • The amendment would put the power in the hands of the Department of Public Safety to establish the department

  • The safety collective wants to see this on the Nov. 4 municipal election ballot

“Columbus lacks a fully resourced, alternative crisis response program to meet the mental health and safety needs of our community,” said Patrick Higgins, Policy Counsel for the ACLU of Ohio, in a press release from the safety collective. “Our campaign seeks to reduce the over-reliance on law enforcement for crisis response needs, including, but not limited to, calls involving mental and behavioral health crises, substance use, wellness checks, issues related to homelessness and voluntary connection to services for situations that do not involve imminent danger. The people deserve a voice about decisions related to community safety, and that’s why we’re putting this issue on the ballot.”

Here's the full charter amendment petition:

According to the release, the amendment would put the power in the hands of the Department of Public Safety to establish the division.

This division would oversee training, management and administration; respond to “appropriate” 911 calls, handle community outreach and establish an advisory board “to make recommendations to the Department of Public Safety regarding the implementation of this amendment and provision of its services and funds the division.”

"Under the laws that govern Columbus charter amendments, the clerk will forward the pre-circulation certified petition to the city attorney and the members of city council," the release said. "The city attorney determines if the petition complies with the single subject rule and meets other requirements. The Columbus Safety Collective Campaign must collect and submit 24,913 valid signatures by July 7, 2025."

Aleena Starks, state director of the Ohio Working Families Party, said the initiative gives voters the power to reimagine public safety.

“We will not be the first city to advance a policy like this, and we will not be the last," Starks said. "We are energized and eager to see the ballot amendment through to victory."