HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/1/2021 Item 6a, Garrido
Wilbanks, Megan
From:aspen garrido <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Public comment for agenda item 6 a
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Dear San Luis Obispo City Council,
My name is Aspen Garrido and I am a student at California Polytechnic State University and a member of Abolitionist
Action Central Coast. I am contacting the city council to provide a public comment for agenda item 6. a. I am asking that
the council DOES NOT PASS THIS BUDGET AS-IS. DON'T increase the SLO-PD budget. Instead, defund the SLO-PD by $5
million dollars and utilize these funds to invest in additional rent and other expense relief for the bottom 10% income
residents in San Luis Obispo.
SLO-PD’s budget is ~25% of the city’s operating expenses! They’re the single biggest expense for the city;
there is NO excuse for that when that money should be going to making sure people’s basic needs are met,
and other things that are actually effective at ensuring public safety! The city and some city staff have said the
city is “locked in” to these funding increases for SLO-PD. But the police union contract negotiations are
happening right now. The city is absolutely NOT locked in; they can reduce budget + officer headcount as part
of this round of contract negotiations this year if they listen to their constituents.
SLOPD is NOT less violent than any other police department. We need to be safe from them, so we need to
cut their bloated budgets and reduce more officer positions than just the one position (cannabis officer) the
budget cuts! Cutting one position is not meaningfully divesting from police! We don’t want money for de-
escalation & diversity trainings for police. Trainings are not the problem. The problem is relying on police to
solve these social problems, and trying to make police about safety when they’re really about control.
The people have been told that full rent relief for all is not feasible. But looking at the budget, $5 Million or even
$10 Million for rent & other expense relief seems Very feasible through a combination of shifting LRM
allocations, using state funds and American Rescue Plan funds, and private donors. Especially if it’s pursued in
partnership with other sources of funding as well. $10 Million in direct relief for the bottom 10% of incomes in
SLO would come out to about $2,000 per person. That would be HUGE for me / other people that I know who
have been hit hard during this pandemic.
Sincerely,
1
Aspen Garrido
2