HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/12/2021 Item 08, Savelson
From:Deanna Savelson <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Harmon, Heidi
Subject:SLO City 2021-23 Financial Plan
Dear San Luis Obispo City Council, Mayor Heidi Harmon, City Manager Derek Johnson, and everyone with
the ability to make acute, political change in SLO,
My name is Deanna Savelson, I am a third-year student at Cal Poly SLO and a resident of San Luis
Obispo. Over the past year, it has become horribly apparent that San Luis Obispo does not care for all of its
community members in the way that it cares for white people, and it has become uncomfortably obvious that
the government of San Luis Obispo does not care to prioritize the wellbeing and safety of all human lives over
profit, popularity, and moderation. This is a direct consequence of government investment in and endorsement
of racism, which is directly carried out and inflicted on specific community members by SLO police. It is the
duty of both the SLO police, and the SLO governing body to protect and ensure the safety and flourishing of
every single member of our community. Because of the harm the police continually inflict on invaluable BIPOC
members of our community, and the incompetence the police continue to demonstrate, it is necessary for safety
reasons, and for competency reasons, that the city of San Luis Obispo divest funds from its police force
immediately and invest in the broader community. The current San Luis Obispo governing bodies cannot
continue to financially and socially support material conditions that allow for police brutality, and more broadly
systemic racism, to thrive. To take an actual stand against these conditions, here are six suggested actions to
take to adequately divest and reinvest:
1. Halt all plans to build a new police station, and instead conservatively update the current police
station so that it is up to code. There is no need for an entirely new station if the current one is brought
up to code.
2. Divert 3% at least of the sheriff coroner budget to cover all demands from Black Lives Matter
Community Action - SLO.
3. Allocate money for helping houseless members of our community - affordable housing, public
sanitation rooms, public housing that does not discriminate on job status or relationship to drugs and
alcohol, and job search programs to name a few.
4. Invest in local healthcare - community centers for mental and physical well-being.
5. Invest in local community programs and organizations, such as a community/public garden network,
after school childcare, libraries, etc.
6. Provide funds for small businesses and workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Consider
cancelling/suspending rent for further support.
I have taken the liberty to elaborate on these demands:
1. An overfunded police department is not the answer to the problems in our community. If anything,
more police would only add to the problems of houselessness, systemic racism, and a lack of funds to help
underprivileged community members amidst the pandemic. The roughly $50.5 million dollars planned for the
new police station would be much better used investing in community programs that actually address the root
causes of the problems, rather than criminalizing the problems themselves and fumbling around with inadequate
solutions.
2. BLMCA-SLO has analyzed the city budget proposal and created their own budget recommendation.
On their Instagram (@blmcaslo), they have a story highlight which states every single direct action they
recommend for the SLO county budget. This organization is doing amazing work, and their recommendations
are much more thorough and concrete than mine, so please give them your consideration. I would also
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recommend familiarizing yourselves with the demands outlined on AACCS’ (Abolitionist Action Central Coast
and SLO) website at www.aaccslo.org/policy/demands, for a comprehensive list of needs compiled by the most
underserved in our community.
3. It is our duty as people to extend a helping hand to those who need it. Everyone has a right to life,
regardless of their choices and actions. It is criminal to willingly deprive and deter people from having access to
basic human rights and needs. Houseless members of our community are consistently underserved by the
systems in place, and they are deserving of the same compassion, support, and care that is unquestionably given
to housed people.
4. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed deep flaws in our public health care system. Until something is
done at the federal level, it’s up to local communities to invest more in mental health services and affordable
public health distributors like public clinics. Healthcare is a human right, and needs to be accessible for
everyone.
5. A community garden network would do wonders in helping to rebuild our local soil and the
plant/animal life that it supports, while simultaneously beautifying our city with the natural wonder of plant life.
It would also help to provide food for our houseless population in SLO. After school childcare would help
parents who have to work many hours to feed and support their children while providing another outlet for
children to learn and grow. Local libraries are centers for community interaction and learning and play an
essential role in allowing our citizens access to the knowledge necessary for making them productive citizens.
6. The law of supply and demand work at all times and all around us, and often in ways we don’t expect.
For instance, people don’t always anticipate how their decision to save money due to an economic recession can
actually make the recession even worse. When they decide to save money, they don’t end up buying from
businesses that need their sales to stay afloat and pay for their workers. This leads firms to shut down and send
their former workers into unemployment, and the cycle continues. Inability to work and earn money due to
health concerns or things shutting down again is debilitating to more than just the economy; people are also
unable to pay rent and afford life-preserving medications. Some form of direct payment or other services to
cover the economic disparities caused by the COVID-19 crisis is a necessity.
Thus far, the city of San Luis Obispo has failed its inhabitants. SLO is not a safe place for many of our
community members. We cannot tolerate a government that does not support everyone it is supposed to support,
represent, and protect. Diverting money planned for the new police station and the sheriff-coroner's office, and
instead investing that money into programs which will address the root causes of issues of racism and classism
will ensure that San Luis Obispo can become a safe place for all who call it home. Your community is counting
on you.
Sincerely,
Deanna Savelson
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