HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLEASE Redirect Police Funds in 2020-2021 budget
Christian, Kevin
From:Serena Garcia <serenatgarcia@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, June 2, 2020 2:16 PM
To:E-mail Council Website; Council_All
Subject:PLEASE Redirect Police Funds in 2020-2021 budget
Dear City Council,
My name is Serena 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 so many unnamed others
have been killed because of our country’s systemically racist criminal justice system.
I believe that the original purpose of law enforcement has been lost. I am currently out of town for pandemic
reasons, but the videos of yesterday’s protest deeply saddened me. Peaceful protesters should not have been tear
gassed and dispersed. We have the right to speak up especially when it can prevent the loss of human lives in
the future. As a tax payer, I no longer want to fund police efforts to intimidate and hurt my community. We
want justice for Black America and we want it now.
In light of these events, we ask that in today’s review of the 2020-21 budget, you reallocate some of the funds
currently directed toward 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.
We believe this is a small request to begin to address the massive inequities and systems of oppression that have
been perpetuated by governmental inaction. Though this will not fix the problem, it will move our city in a
positive direction and demonstrate a tangible commitment to addressing systematic racism.
Thank you for all you do for the City of San Luis Obispo and for your consideration.
All the best,
Serena Garcia
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