HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlease Consider Police Defunding!Dear Mayor Harmon and San Luis Obispo City Council,
My name is Monica Rochte and I live in SLO currently and am a central coast native. I am writing to ask that the San Luis Obispo City Council adopt a city budget that prioritizes community
well-being, and redirects funding away from the police. Mayor Harmon has already started work on this for which we’re all immensely grateful! I’ve also exchanged DMs with her and feel
she is on the right track for change! You know the stats, but I’ll leave them for the visual:
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 a $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 begin meaningfully defunding the San Luis Obispo Police Department 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, affordable housing programs, not police. I demand a budget that
reflects the actual needs of San Luis Obispo residents.
Me again: I’m hoping to make this my future and am starting by simply educating myself, and this is something I feel all should become educated on and have an opinion towards. I don’t
think the complete abolishment of police depts is realistic, but defunding is necessary. The money can be put to much better use to start reshaping our entire system!
Thank you for your time,
Monica Rochte
Mrochte11@gmail.com
8053057123