As a social worker in the local area, I feel compelled to speak up and make my voice heard for those who are not able to voice theirs. Reform needs to occur, and it is evident by the masses demanding it that it needs to come soon. Mayor Brand and the City Council have the power to reform the city and change the way the city is policed and the way that residents are cared for. Money needs to be allotted to more programs that are benefiting those in need- not half the budget going to police alone. Many speculate that it is a crazy idea to defund the police, but services for child welfare programs in the state were cut by $90 million this year, and schools in the local area lose funding for art, music, and extracurricular programs yearly.
Fresno has seemed peaceful for the most part in regards to protests and rioting, but the racial divide has been long existent. Having police in power, not only mentally, physically, and now fiscally, only encourages this long standing abuse of power in multiple ways. Please take into consideration the comments and concerns put forth by the city and county residents. Thank you, A Concerned Social Worker.
Mayor Brand and City Council, I urge you to follow the lead of respected community leaders and use this catalytic moment of 2020 to turn the tide of "traditional" City of Fresno budget decisions. I speak as a resident of Fresno's District 3 in the Lowell neighborhood, a person of faith as an evangelical Christian, and a faith leader in my community.
There is no more time to waste on policing practices that do not protect, serve, or aid the welfare of our city. There is no more time to waste on slow-moving reform and promises of community policing left unfulfilled. The time to act is now, as our nation and globe is speaking out loudly to elected officials that we need immediate change in our policing systems. You have the ability to engender trust and respect with the residents of Fresno by responding to the calls set forth globally, and the demands set forth locally by the Fresno State NAACP last week, an organization that has the backing of thousands of residents.
We need you to make immediate change and ensure that 2021 looks different than 2020 for our community. We do not need over half of our city budget invested in policing. We need Fresno PD defunded and we need funds allocated elsewhere for the good of our community. Otherwise, the residents of Fresno will continue demanding change and justice until we see it. You have the ability to listen and change course NOW before our community gets impatient.
I struggle to see why the mayor elect would need a padded budget at all. If he truly cares about what happens to this city he’ll direct the majority of his funds to the programs he keeps ignoring and actually implement them in our community so we can thrive instead of become yet another fallen city that could have been doing its best for the citizens. Time to trim the fat and start putting your money where it belongs. Too may people have asked for you to do better and we have waited too long. Defund the mayoral and police budget and start doing what the people want. You work for us.
I would just like to echo with what Mr. Kreins has to say. I was deeply disheartend and disappointed in the Major Elect Dyer choosing to focus on "black on black crime" instead or taking responsibility and accountability force its Police force who are city employees. Just as within business the employer, the public, are responsible for the conduct of our employees first. We have the capability to create the mechanisms that will ultimately create environments where we can eliminate human to human crimes, that exist all over the city including those in affluent neighborhoods that go under reported or policed, in partnership with our Black and people of color community leaders. I urge that the governing body take the ACLU reports recommendation and start the Advance Peace Fund. I would also urge that the governing body reach out to our community leaders to have more studies & reports done to see the areas we can improve and lift our communities and than enact those changes.
According to an ACLU report published in 2017, the city of Fresno spent more than $5.3 million defending and settling lawsuits related to officer-involved shootings from 2008 through 2016. In 2020, the city of Fresno had a budget of approximately $1.187 billion, which I'm sure you're well aware of. Last year this council authorized $200,000 to fund Advance Peace, a program dedicated to ending cyclical and retaliatory gun violence in American urban neighborhoods. However, this proposal was vetoed by Mayor Brand, and our incoming Mayor (Dyer) described the program as "providing money to gang members" — despite the fact that early research points towards its success in preventing gun violence. After last Sunday's demonstration, city leaders said that they were willing to work with us. We are tired of millions and millions of dollars needlessly going to police brutality in our city. How is it that we have areas of extreme wealth while other parts of our community have the highest concentrations of poverty in California. Think about it. A $1.187 billion budget and we couldn't fund a studied $200K program. It's time to invest in our communities, and that doesn't just mean North Fresno. I urge you to listen to your community. It's hurting, and it wants change.
As a social worker in the local area, I feel compelled to speak up and make my voice heard for those who are not able to voice theirs. Reform needs to occur, and it is evident by the masses demanding it that it needs to come soon. Mayor Brand and the City Council have the power to reform the city and change the way the city is policed and the way that residents are cared for. Money needs to be allotted to more programs that are benefiting those in need- not half the budget going to police alone. Many speculate that it is a crazy idea to defund the police, but services for child welfare programs in the state were cut by $90 million this year, and schools in the local area lose funding for art, music, and extracurricular programs yearly.
Fresno has seemed peaceful for the most part in regards to protests and rioting, but the racial divide has been long existent. Having police in power, not only mentally, physically, and now fiscally, only encourages this long standing abuse of power in multiple ways. Please take into consideration the comments and concerns put forth by the city and county residents. Thank you, A Concerned Social Worker.
Mayor Brand and City Council, I urge you to follow the lead of respected community leaders and use this catalytic moment of 2020 to turn the tide of "traditional" City of Fresno budget decisions. I speak as a resident of Fresno's District 3 in the Lowell neighborhood, a person of faith as an evangelical Christian, and a faith leader in my community.
There is no more time to waste on policing practices that do not protect, serve, or aid the welfare of our city. There is no more time to waste on slow-moving reform and promises of community policing left unfulfilled. The time to act is now, as our nation and globe is speaking out loudly to elected officials that we need immediate change in our policing systems. You have the ability to engender trust and respect with the residents of Fresno by responding to the calls set forth globally, and the demands set forth locally by the Fresno State NAACP last week, an organization that has the backing of thousands of residents.
We need you to make immediate change and ensure that 2021 looks different than 2020 for our community. We do not need over half of our city budget invested in policing. We need Fresno PD defunded and we need funds allocated elsewhere for the good of our community. Otherwise, the residents of Fresno will continue demanding change and justice until we see it. You have the ability to listen and change course NOW before our community gets impatient.
I struggle to see why the mayor elect would need a padded budget at all. If he truly cares about what happens to this city he’ll direct the majority of his funds to the programs he keeps ignoring and actually implement them in our community so we can thrive instead of become yet another fallen city that could have been doing its best for the citizens. Time to trim the fat and start putting your money where it belongs. Too may people have asked for you to do better and we have waited too long. Defund the mayoral and police budget and start doing what the people want. You work for us.
I would just like to echo with what Mr. Kreins has to say. I was deeply disheartend and disappointed in the Major Elect Dyer choosing to focus on "black on black crime" instead or taking responsibility and accountability force its Police force who are city employees. Just as within business the employer, the public, are responsible for the conduct of our employees first. We have the capability to create the mechanisms that will ultimately create environments where we can eliminate human to human crimes, that exist all over the city including those in affluent neighborhoods that go under reported or policed, in partnership with our Black and people of color community leaders. I urge that the governing body take the ACLU reports recommendation and start the Advance Peace Fund. I would also urge that the governing body reach out to our community leaders to have more studies & reports done to see the areas we can improve and lift our communities and than enact those changes.
According to an ACLU report published in 2017, the city of Fresno spent more than $5.3 million defending and settling lawsuits related to officer-involved shootings from 2008 through 2016. In 2020, the city of Fresno had a budget of approximately $1.187 billion, which I'm sure you're well aware of. Last year this council authorized $200,000 to fund Advance Peace, a program dedicated to ending cyclical and retaliatory gun violence in American urban neighborhoods. However, this proposal was vetoed by Mayor Brand, and our incoming Mayor (Dyer) described the program as "providing money to gang members" — despite the fact that early research points towards its success in preventing gun violence. After last Sunday's demonstration, city leaders said that they were willing to work with us. We are tired of millions and millions of dollars needlessly going to police brutality in our city. How is it that we have areas of extreme wealth while other parts of our community have the highest concentrations of poverty in California. Think about it. A $1.187 billion budget and we couldn't fund a studied $200K program. It's time to invest in our communities, and that doesn't just mean North Fresno. I urge you to listen to your community. It's hurting, and it wants change.