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Christian, Kevin
From:Jennifer Shellhorn <jennifershellhorn@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, June 10, 2020 11:42 AM
To:E-mail Council Website; Harmon, Heidi; Gomez, Aaron; Christianson, Carlyn; Pease,
Andy; Stewart, Erica A
Subject:PLEASE defund the police and relate
Dear Mayor Harmon and San Luis Obispo City Council,
My name is Jennifer Shellhorn and though I am a resident of Atascadero, I work in the city of San Luis Obispo as
educator. 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 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 COVID-19 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.
As an educator in San Luis Obispo, this will immediately have a positive impact on students and their families that I
serve.
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,
Jennifer Shellhorn
jennifershellhorn@gmail.com
Bocina Ln, Atascadero, CA
7818541588
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