HomeMy WebLinkAboutDEFUND NOW! BLM (2)
Christian, Kevin
From:Ryan Gelston <fablespartan@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, June 9, 2020 3:14 PM
To:E-mail Council Website; Harmon, Heidi; Gomez, Aaron; Christianson, Carlyn; Pease,
Andy; Stewart, Erica A
Subject:Reallocate funds from policing to social services!!!
Dear Mayor Harmon and San Luis Obispo City Council,
My name is Ryan Gelston and I was a resident of San Luis Obispo, now living in Atascadero due to
not being able to afford rent in SLO. I am writing to demand that the San Luis Obispo City Council
adopt a city budget that prioritizes community well-being, and redirects funding away from the police.
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.
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 in place fails to
serve-and in fact actively harms-our community, and come together to reimagine the role of police 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,
Ryan Gelston
fablespartan@gmail.com
(805) 602-6566
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