HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/16/2021 Item 7, Savelson
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Deanna Savelson <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:After Action Report and City Goals
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SLO City Council,
My name is Deanna Savelson and I am a student at Cal Poly and a resident of SLO.
As I have written a few times to you now, it is common knowledge that police are not a means of safety or protection,
especially for BIPOC, but rather a means of controlling and punishing certain bodies. The racism inherent in American
policing cannot be trained or equipped away, it is the function of police to protect racist institutions and enforce racist
laws.
After careful consideration of the After-Action review, it is incredibly disappointing to see the suggestions consist of
more funding and equipment to SLOPD. Reforming and giving the police more materials and means to inflict harm will
not protect us. SLO must divest from the police and invest into the community, it is the only way for the violence and
fear to cease.
People are scared because they are in need. People are angry because they are in need. The police are incapable of
providing what this community needs and has been asking you for. COVID has greatly and disproportionately weakened
our BIPOC community. Putting the money that would be used for police towards policies like rent relief is crucial to
ensure people's safety. Additionally, using that money to provide low or no income housing would be extremely helpful,
and would actually be able to address the issues that police think they need to address.
Divestment from police and reinvestment in the form of rent relief and low/no income housing is a human rights
measure, and a failure to do this is a failure to protect and ensure many of our community member's human rights. The
people need you. We are counting on you. We cannot stop until we get justice. Please do not continue to disappoint and
further endanger us.
Sincerely,
Deanna Savelson
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