HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/1/2021 Item 6a, Frye
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Sloane <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Please Listen
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Hello SLO City Council,
My name is Sloane and I am a student at Cal Poly.
I am concerned about the city's plan to increase the budget for SLO's police department. This decision is not
one that serves the people -- rather, this money (as well as the large sum of money already delegated to SLO-
PD) should be used to make sure that everyone in our community's basic needs are met. I am asking that you
instead decrease SLO-PD's budget by $5 million and put this money into rent and expense relief for the
residents of SLO. For too long, these members of our community have been ignored. They deserve to have
shelter, food, and -- again -- all their basic needs met. Not to mention, there are hundreds of thousands of
dollars being put into the downtown bike police. Why are we punishing these people who we should be
assisting?
SLO needs actual low-income housing. The current "low-income" housing that exists is inaccessible for many
people still. I am asking that you put funding towards 100% no-income or very-low-income housing. These are
long-term solutions that serve our community.
Investing money into de-escalation and diversity training for police is not an investment but rather a blatant
misuse of our city's money. The police cannot solve the social problems within San Luis Obispo.
We have been told that full rent relief is not feasible. This is a false statement, as reallocating the current
money in the budget is very much possible. Through a combination of shifting LRM allocations, using state
funds and American Rescue Plan funds, and private donors, $10 Million in direct relief for the bottom 10% of
incomes in SLO would come out to about $2,000 per person. This would make an incredible difference in the
lives of people who have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Please listen to me, as a member of San Luis Obispo's community. Please know that I am not alone in my
desire for a reconsideration of this budget. Please look out for the San Luis Obispo community -- including
those who need kindness and compassion, not punishment.
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Sincerely,
Sloane Frye
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