HomeMy WebLinkAboutSLO Resident Demanding You Defund SLOPDDear Mayor Harmon and San Luis Obispo City Council,
My name is Trey Young and I am a resident of San Luis Obispo. I am writing to demand that the San Luis Obispo City Council adopt a city budget that slashes funding to SLOPD by 50% and
prioritizes social services and community well-being.
In 2019, the City of San Luis Obispo allocated 36.3 million dollars to our police system, an inordinate 27.5% of our total budget. This is compared to just 7.3% of the budget, $9.7 million,
allocated towards community development, with only $1.4 million towards housing development. Next year, the city estimates that there will be an $8.6 million deficit as a result of
the pandemic. The city may recoup these funds by decreasing the police budget.
I demand that the City Council decrease funding to the San Luis Obispo Police Department by 50% and re-allocate those funds to programs proven to more effectively promote a safe and
equitable community. We need funding for community-based mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, and affordable housing programs, not the police. I demand a budget
that reflects the actual needs of San Luis Obispo residents.
History has shown that police "reform" is not enough. No more money, and more importantly, no more lives must be lost to police. We must take a hard look at the way the current system
fails to serve, and actively harms-our community. We must come together to reimagine what a community police force should look like in our city.
I am urging you to completely revise the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year and to invest in the people, not the police.
Thank you for your time,
Trey Young
261 Craig Way, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
treydyoung@gmail.com <mailto:treydyoung@gmail.com>