HomeMy WebLinkAboutSan Luis Obispo Budget 20-21
Christian, Kevin
From:Olivia Williams <owilli01@calpoly.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, June 2, 2020 1:04 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:San Luis Obispo Budget 20-21
Dear SLO City Council,
My name is Olivia Williams and I am a part-time resident of San Luis Obispo and a proud student at Cal Poly.
As you know, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and so many unnamed others have been
killed because of our country’s systematically racist criminal justice system.
In light of these events, we ask that in today’s review of the 2020-21 budget, you reallocate some of the funds currently
directed towards the police department to other programs and alternative forms of policing, such as community
policing, community development, or even a specific diversity, equity, and inclusion line item.
We believe that this is a small request to begin to address the massive inequities and systems of oppression that have
been perpetuated by governmental inaction. Though this will not fix the problem, it will move our city in a positive
direction and demonstrate a tangible commitment to addressing systematic racism. This is a commitment that is, and
has historically been, missing from this community. Even as a first year student, I have witnessed acts of hate and racism
on Cal Poly’s campus as well as in the city of San Luis Obispo, and I believe that the city must take a firm stance to
demonstrate that hate has no place in our beautiful city.
Thank you for all you do for the City of San Luis Obispo and for your consideration of what I have said today.
Best,
Olivia Williams
1