HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/1/2021 Item 6a, Avendaño
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Maya Avendano <
To:Harmon, Heidi; Stewart, Erica A; Marx, Jan; Christianson, Carlyn; Pease, Andy; E-mail
Council Website
Subject:Public Coment + Investing in the Community
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Hi all,
My name is Maya and I am a third year Cal Poly student and member of the San Luis Obispo community. I am an
organizer for the People's Revolutionary Garden Network, which is a subproject of the Abolitionist Action Central
Coast/SLO organization. I am writing to you all, and submitting my public comment for the next city council meeting,
with deep concern for the decisions being made about my community that do not align with what would be best for us
all.
I am really disappointed to hear that after an intense year of public unrest and protest, even in your city, you are
choosing actions that continue to harm your people and go against what we have all been fighting for for so long.
Your people are basically crying for you to help us. This budget is unfair. For the improvement and growth of this
community, do not increase the SLOPD budget. The SLOPD should be defunded by at least $5 million and allocated
elsewhere in this community that has deep housing issues and a lack of accessible resources. Shift that $5 million to rent
and expense relief for the bottom 10% of income residents in SLO. Invest in affordable housing. Invest in the
community.
It makes no sense that the SLOPD makes up 25% of the SLO budget, leaving people in need with no investment and
support. Those needs for resources should be met before anything else, especially increased policing. The city is not
"locked" into funding increases given the police union contract negotiations are happening now. You have the time.
I have never, here, experienced an instance where police were not able to get to an issue fast enough. I leave my house
and see at least one police car every time. What other and more resources could the SLOPD possibly need MORE than
your people that are unhoused or struggling deeply to get survival resources and housing? We don't need "diversity
training." Before anything else, you need to invest in your community first.
Many say that rent relief to get this community going and healed from a year, and more, of struggle and lack of
investment is not feasible. However, this is wildly untrue. $5 million, or ideally $10 million for rent relief and other
sources of investment and support for the community can happen with a combination of shifting LRM allocations, state
funds and American Rescue Plan funds. This can all happen if the care and investment in the COMMUNITY, YOUR
community, was there.
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Please shift your priorities to align with the best interest of the people in your community. Given that this is a matter of
life and death for a lot of your citizens, many of us will not stop pleading to you to make these changes until they occur.
--
Maya Avendaño (she/her/hers)
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Environmental Management & Protection Major
Land Restoration and Rehabilitation Ecology Minor/Wildlife Biology Concentration
maya.raziel6@gmail.com
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