HomeMy WebLinkAboutREBUDGET
Christian, Kevin
From:Sarah Nicole Choy <snchoy@calpoly.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, June 2, 2020 2:36 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:REBUDGET
Dear City Coundil,
My name is Sarah Choy and I am a resident of San Luis Obispo and a student at Cal Poly.
As you know, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and countless others have been
killed because of our country's arming of institutionalized systemic racism in the form of our criminal "justice"
system.
In light of these events, not to mention the last 400 years of injustice and inequality that still inexcusably and
inexplicably plague our communities and Black communities to this day, we ask that in today's review of the
2020-21 budget, you reallocate funds currently directed towards the police department to other programs
and alternative forms of policing, such as community policing, community development, or even a specific
diversity, equity, and inclusion line item. The system that was never built to protect us can not fail to do so,
and it is YOUR responsibility in this region to uphold courageous values and morals that truly serve to protect
the people.
We do not need the police force of an entire county armed in riot gear advancing on peaceful protestors,
setting off fireworks, throwing tear gas, and shooting rubber bullets not at the floor as they are meant to be,
but directly at us. We do not need more policing of other minorities and the disadvantaged - too many times
have we witnessed the homeless, with nowhere to go, being told to relocate off the streets that don't belong
to anybody. The "happiest city in America" should not be reinforcing policies that directly infringe on the
rights of its people.
We NEED voices. We need for our voices to be heard and listened to, for our struggles to be validated in this
system that has so far discounted them. Our communities need empowering - our minorities, our
unemployed and homeless, our poor, our sexual assault and domestic violence victims need avenues and
resources to turn to when the world seems as if it isn't listening.
We believe this is a small request, a step in the right direction, to begin to address the massive inequities and
systems of oppression that have been perpetuated by governmental inaction and apathy. Though this
certainly will not fix the problem, it will move our city in a positive direction and demonstrate a tangible
commitment to addressing systematic racism and inequality.
Thank you for all you do for the City of San Luis Obispo and for your consideration.
Make the right decision for the people,
Sarah Choy
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