Don’t Define Cop City
“To define is to limit.” - Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Notifications are regularly sent to Is Your Life Better (IYLB) when the Cop Cities, USA map is posted, shared and/or talked about, etc. on various social media accounts and YouTube spaces. Most people credit the IYLB website, but there are more than a few who do not. As “getting credit” was never the goal for IYLB, this normally is not an issue. The sole intent and purpose of the map was to educate the general public about something that, in all likelihood, most people simply do not have the time to research. The said, the map itself is the visual representation of an entire database of information, which includes sources. The map was never intended to be a standalone graphic, to be viewed without the accompanying dataset for context.
According to Wikipedia, there are over 900,000 law enforcement officers in the United States, with about 15.2% of those working for federal agencies. These agents present differently depending on which precinct, city, county, etc. they work in. However, according to an article on policing and democracy, the data shows that areas with higher populations of minority residents also have higher numbers of police officers. Obviously, these agents of the state are also found in other communities, but disturbingly, their numbers are increasing. A recent survey shows that law enforcement hiring had its largest growth within the last year.
A small research group has been looking more deeply at cop city projects, starting from the database created by IYLB. The goal for their work is to provide expanded information about these projects to any interested organizers. The datasets are not yet publicly available, but according to one of the members, the group was able to confirm a whopping $3.35 Billion price tag spent on these projects since 2020. It is hoped this information, which includes an updated map, will soon be available publicly.
Until the new datasets are available, and possibly even after, the IYLB map will continue to be shared in multiple spaces. It is the way this information is presented, that is the actual focus of this piece.
The most commonly asked question, is to define the term “Cop City”. In fact, the question has been asked so often, the decision was made to edit the webpage to include an answer. Currently, on the webpage, readers will see the following:
Defining a Cop City
Given the widespread usage of the Cop Cities USA map, it has become necessary to explain why the vast range of projects was included in the database used in its creation. The term “cop city” has been questioned by multiple outlets since it was published. However, Is Your Life Better will stand by this title for the webpage and the map. As the police state in this country continues to expand, as funding for policing under the guise of “training” and “recruitment” increases, and the number of people killed by police rises annually (see mappingpoliceviolence.org) it is necessary not to dismiss any facility – no matter the size, shape, cost or excuse – as insignificant. As such, there is an intentionality in not providing a definition. That intention is to NOT place any limits regarding which facilities and/or projects were added to the map, or considered problematic. This leaves the decision regarding an appropriate response to the residents of the surrounding community(ies).
This update became necessary because coverage of the Cop Cities USA map, at times, has included questioning the sites listed. This skepticism is often presented by creators who may not have taken the necessary time to review the webpage, or the database. The most recent mention (which admittedly was the catalyst for writing this) is by Leeja Miller, who used a cropped screenshot of the webpage, showing only the map. There are a couple of issues with this choice. First, the cropping results in a failure to accurately credit where the information comes from. Note: this could have been easily rectified by simply crediting the screenshot within the show notes, but the creator failed to do this as well. Second, and most concerning, is the creator may not have actually taken the time to track down the origin of the map prior to using the screenshot.
The second issue is noted as “most concerning” due to the creator’s choices regarding the map in this video. The creator specifically mentions the project in Ellsworth, ME, which opened in September, 2023. This is done in an effort to explain why the map title may be “misleading” and how “the term cop city is getting thrown around.” (19:12-19:17). The creator then proceeds to use the Ellsworth project as evidence of those statements. The creator notes it was the first upgrade in 90 years, and adds it was a renovation of an “existing structure”. The creator then uses the term, "outlandish amenities" when listing the project renovations - which admittedly would be common in any police station - in order to affirm the project should not be on the map. Although all of these facts are technically correct, the key issues with the project, that could explain its relevance to residents of Ellsworth, or its surrounding communities, are overlooked.
The creator failed to mention the “existing structure” was not actually a police station, but a hardware store with office space. The new station boasts a 700% increase in the space (1,200 to 8,400 square feet) from the old station, which was located in the City Hall. The creator does not question why an expansion of this size is necessary in Ellsworth. A city with a recorded population of 8,478 people in 2022, which employs 15 law enforcement agents. The creator also failed to note the majority of the reason for the $4.4 million price tag, which was not the renovation, but the leasing of the building - a cost likely being covered by residents.
“The rent on the building will start at $113,400 per year with a lease period of 20 years, with a 3 percent increase in rent each year. Over the 20-year term of the lease, annual rent would increase to $198,848 per year, resulting in an overall cumulative payment of $3,047,104 to the building’s owner, Gurney Investment Properties, by 2042.” - Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News
Also missed was the fact that surveillance in the state of Maine has expanded greatly since 2021, with the majority of the technology being body worn cameras. All of these facts are public, and easily determined. As such, rather than mocking the inclusion of this project, the focus could have remained on the larger issues which accompany the expansion of the police state.
The expansion of the police state, via any means and any project, should be of interest not just to "abolitionists" but to everyone. The current police state has resulted in:
Swift and harsh response from law enforcement (and prosecutors) to protests against racist police violence, and more recently, protests against occupation of Palestine and genocide of the Palestinian people.
Continued danger to community members, especially those who are Black, Brown, Indigenous, and/or poor.
Militarization of police departments nationally, with a current equipment transfer worth total of $6.8 Billion.
Increased “training” propaganda, with studies showing the alarming realities of what these programs actually entail.
739 people killed by police thus far this year, and an expectation to again surpass the total number of people killed in previous years.
Given these facts, this author vehemently disagrees with the video’s subtle implication there should not be contemplation of projects which are not of a similar size, price and/or scope to that of the Cop City in Atlanta.
As previously stated, the IYLB map was never created with the anticipation of credit or capital. It was a pursuit of truth regarding the police state in this country, which is wildly obscured by propaganda, and fueled by capitalism. Creators should be more cautious with how they use the work of others. Especially when the intention of that work is to provide information to communities seeking to organize against a system designed to oppress any who do not have the means, resources and wealth to control it. It is crucial, with these works, to maintain the framing, interpretation and politics of the original iteration. Creators fail at this specifically, when they choose not to give credit, or cite their sources.
IYLB did attempt to contact Leeja Miller directly via email (contact is provided in the show notes) with these concerns on August 5. There was no response to that communication.
Leeja Miller is a Vassar graduate and lawyer from Minneapolis who is very active in the pro-Kamala Harris social astroturfing campaign. It’s interesting she’s attacking the idea of opposing Cop Cities.