HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/14/2020 Item 3, Stan
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Ethan Stan <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:In support of divestment from industries of death
Hello SLO City Council,
Despite the incredible strain put on our city government by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has
never been a better time to affirm our core values.
As a constituent committed to building an equitable and sustainable city, I want to voice my
support for Mayor Heidi Harmon and the City Council in divesting the City of San Luis Obispo
from weapons manufacturers. We can be leaders in climate justice and set a national example
by rejecting the influence of the war economy and investing our money in socially responsible,
green, and life-affirming alternatives. We can grow a local peace economy right here in San Luis
Obispo.
In countless ways, the City of San Luis Obispo has proven its deep commitment to sustainability,
peace, social justice, and community health. Our city government has already shown immense
leadership on addressing climate change by divesting from fossil fuels. As a city committed to
sustainability and peace, however, we must also recognize tackling climate change requires
cutting our financial ties to war. By doing so we can continue to lead and demonstrate the power
of aligning our investment practices with our values of sustainability and social justice.
If we move our investments away from weapons companies which are not only responsible for
death and destruction but also environmental degradation, we can reinvest our money into
sustainability, food, housing, education, community health, and other basic needs. We can invest
locally to combat gender, race, sexuality, and disability based discrimination, domestic violence,
sexual assault, and other public health issues our community faces. We can create jobs by
transitioning to clean energy and rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Our city’s
funding does not need to rely on investments in companies whose profits depend on killing,
destruction, and environmental degradation.
Thank you,
Ethan Stan
San Luis Obispo, CA
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