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Christian, Kevin
From:Madelyn Ore <madelynore@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, June 10, 2020 11:44 AM
To:E-mail Council Website; Harmon, Heidi; Gomez, Aaron; Christianson, Carlyn; Pease,
Andy; Stewart, Erica A
Dear Mayor Harmon and San Luis Obispo City Council,
My name is Madelyn Ore 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 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,
Madelyn Ore
312 Church St, San Luis Obispo, CA
madelynore@gmail.com
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Madelyn Ore
madelynore@gmail.com
pronouns: she/her
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