As a constituent in District 6, I urge you to defund the police department and allocate these funds to community oriented programs. The police do not need military weapons and tactics to continue their abuse of force. We do not need police in our schools and our streets! We need change by uplifting our community through affordable housing, employment, education and more support for our youth. Community development is a needed for change, not the police.
We demand the FPD budget get slashed & funds get relocated towards social programs & resources that support housing, jobs, education, health care, child care, & other critical community needs. We demand a budget that supports community wellbeing.
As a District 3 resident, I call on the council members to begin the process of defunding the police within the City of Fresno. This includes reducing funding to police, at over 50% of the Fresno budget this is a crucial step. Reduce the use of technology, tools, and tactics that the Fresno PD uses disproportionately in Southwest and Southeast Fresno. This includes the software Beware, funded by the police budget used in the Real Time Crime Center, and advocated for by Jerry Dwyer in a gross overreach of mass surveillance in our city. The city should prioritize spending on community health, education, and affordable housing. Should invest in Southwest Fresno. Cap overtime pay, put an end to military exercises, and withdraw participation in police militarization programs. Require cops to be held liable for misconduct settlements, suspend the use of paid administrative leave for cops under investigation, and withhold pensions and rehiring for cops involved in excessive force.
Fresno PD has never been pleasant to work with or call. In fact, I have no trust or faith that they ever protected me since I was young. The attitudes seen on the force are those that are demeaning and dehumanizing. Me and my love ones should be able to claim Fresno as a home but really it just feels like a jungle. I have never seen police come around to show their faces and address us as people and a community. The police force here is sorry. In times of need in our communities there have been accusations and assumption thrown our way instead of aid. Yes, you guys try to teach us about good people here to protect but they have never protected me, or my mother, or my father, or anyone I know that "fits a description". So to hear that we spend 160 million on a force that has never done its job in my community is sickening. I live on the Southside of Fresno and have also lived on the Westside of Fresno. Some of the poorest communities I've lived in and to think I actually felt better when police weren't there. Not because I or anyone I knew was up to no good, but because I didn't want to see the violence, the antagonizing, and the profiling. Someone could have been minding their business and when police decide to stroll in they are left off of assumption. Why? Because they aren't being members of our community! How can we be treated as an equal when we aren't seen as people? The force here says an their oath in vain.
To the members of the Fresno City Council,
I strongly believe that to better our Fresno community and increase the overall safety of the city, funding to the Fresno Police Department (FPD) should be reallocated towards resources to try and prevent crime before it begins rather than after. Education should be at the forefront of financial concern, followed by addressing the housing crisis, unemployment, and drug use within the city. By funding resources for these four issues instead of FPD, you insure a lower crime rate to follow.
Funds that do go towards FPD should focus on police training and testing. Psychological screenings should be done to address any biases that may reap consequences on the field. In addition, anger and stress management courses should be given to officers as well as de-escalation training to ensure public safety.
Keep in mind, failure to address these issues in our community will be seen by the people of Fresno and may be perceived as unresponsive to the needs of your constituents.
And with that, good luck with your re-elections.
Our community does not need more money to be allocated to law enforcement. What the community needs is more investment in services! We need to address the housing crisis, substance dependency services, education, parks and recs, small businesses, and so much more. Please think critically about how our money can best support the most vulnerable in our community.
Hello Fresno City Councilmembers,
As you consider the budget, please consider the voice of the people. All around the country, we are asking for less money to be spent on police department budgets and for that money to be divested into community actions and programs that will better support the people who need it most. Our Black community here in Fresno is in need of our support in a variety of ways and it is time for us to deeply consider their needs and take action to make change.
In your considerations, please reflect on the demands set forth by the Fresno State chapter of the NAACP and outline steps that can be taken to meet those demands. We need to do better because Black Lives Matter.
2020 is a pivotal moment. Now is not the time to continue with the status quo when it comes to the city's budget. As a resident of Fresno's District 5 and as a Christian, I implore you to make change.
People globally, nationally, and locally are calling for immediate change! Fresno State NAACP has made specific demands that should be heeded. We do not need such a large portion of the city budget invested in the highly militarized police presence we see in Fresno. I want to see those funds shifted elsewhere to programs that will help the community. Please, act, NOW!
So much of our precious resources goes towards our police, which at best are ineffective at what they are meant to do and at worst are harmful to our most vulnerable populations. Is it too much to ask for us to start being creative with how we approach community safety rather than doing the same thing we’ve been doing and has not worked? Not another penny should go to police and instead should go to better our community. Community development will reduce crime and make ALL of us safer, not just the white people.
The police departments budget needs less funding for militarization and more towards training, particularly in diversity training, de escalation tactics, and use of force as a last resort. There is too much of the city’s funding going towards policing the city and not enough towards community programs and education.
After recent demonstrations, 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.
Reduce the funding of the FPD, and spend the leftover money on community programs that will reduce crime before it occurs, as well as better our communities and the lives of the people in them. Put money into South West Fresno, and FUSD. Hold mayor-elect Jerry Dyer accountable for the crimes committed under his leadership of the FPD, and hold him accountable for the murder of Isiah Murrietta-Golding.
We should start the process to defund the police. Police brutality should never be okay in this community. The police have too many responsibilities and there is not enough training to take the implicit biases that come from the individuals that use the badge as means to act on them. How can a community prosper if their basic needs and resources are stripped from them? The budget for the police can be better used to address the issues we have in Fresno. The lack of proper healthcare and grocery stores in West Fresno restricts their ability to grow, and therefore hinders the whole community's ability to prosper. The reality in Fresno is tragic for those disenfranchised; for example, Fresno's black birth morality rate is among the highest in the country (https://www.kvpr.org/post/why-do-african-american-infants-die-more-often-others-fresno-county) and lack of educational funds for proper training and resources limits how many students that graduate are even CSU eligible. Funding for police does not solve these problems, thus the defunding transition should begin and the allocation of those funds to increase funding in social services, mental health care, and education. The budget should reflect the best way to tackle these real problems in Fresno and they currently don't.
The time is now that Fresno invests in our police officers, to invest in our community, to invest in resources that will keep my city safe. Please defund the police and distribute those funds for education, mental health, and housing programs. I love my city and believe in Fresno to do this for the betterment of its people.
Over a week ago we had one of the largest peaceful protests in Downtown Fresno while the rest of the country was dealing with a variation of peaceful protests and riots. You have an opportunity to avoid the destruction of property(regardless if you believe it's necessary) we saw in other cities and you can prevent another unarmed human being from being killed.
Why waste this chance?
Fresno NAACP's demands seemed really reasonable, I'd be surprised if they were all nonstarters.
Defunding the police is critical due to the harsh conditions they bring upon minorities due to the implicit biases they have. That money could be allocated into our education system in order to provide overall wealth of knowledge and information to the future generations of Fresno. This money could also be used for furthering the betterment of not just future generations but the people currently being impacted by these decisions by providing additional assistance resources whether it be more accessible housing, mental health programs or programs to help those who have been in prison become accustomed to life outside of prison. Investing in the general population brings prosperity to all of Fresno not just a select few.
Police funding needs to be reduced. Funds need to redirected towards the community instead so that Fresno can improve the quality of education, mental health services, housing and further developing our community as a whole.
Funds from the police should be reduced. Fresno invests too much money on policing our citizens rather than bettering our community. Funds should be allocated to invest in education, mental health, rehabilitation and housing programs - invest in our people so we can have a safer community.
Fresno spends far too much money on policing our citizens than investing in them. Reduce police funding and allocate that money to better our community. Invest that money in education, mental health and housing. Invest in community programs. Invest in the people! Educate your people, house your people, provide rehabilitation for your people, and we will have a safer community.
Drastically reduce police funding! Fresno police have more misdemeanor arrests than 70% of precincts in CA, have solved less homicides, and are almost 2 times as likely to use deadly force against Black and Latinx people than white. Give funding to community programs instead.
Dear City Council Members,
As a constituent in District 6, I urge you to defund the police department and allocate these funds to community oriented programs. The police do not need military weapons and tactics to continue their abuse of force. We do not need police in our schools and our streets! We need change by uplifting our community through affordable housing, employment, education and more support for our youth. Community development is a needed for change, not the police.
Regards,
Simara
We demand the FPD budget get slashed & funds get relocated towards social programs & resources that support housing, jobs, education, health care, child care, & other critical community needs. We demand a budget that supports community wellbeing.
Thank you for your time,
Kara
Dear City Council Members,
As a District 3 resident, I call on the council members to begin the process of defunding the police within the City of Fresno. This includes reducing funding to police, at over 50% of the Fresno budget this is a crucial step. Reduce the use of technology, tools, and tactics that the Fresno PD uses disproportionately in Southwest and Southeast Fresno. This includes the software Beware, funded by the police budget used in the Real Time Crime Center, and advocated for by Jerry Dwyer in a gross overreach of mass surveillance in our city. The city should prioritize spending on community health, education, and affordable housing. Should invest in Southwest Fresno. Cap overtime pay, put an end to military exercises, and withdraw participation in police militarization programs. Require cops to be held liable for misconduct settlements, suspend the use of paid administrative leave for cops under investigation, and withhold pensions and rehiring for cops involved in excessive force.
Fresno PD has never been pleasant to work with or call. In fact, I have no trust or faith that they ever protected me since I was young. The attitudes seen on the force are those that are demeaning and dehumanizing. Me and my love ones should be able to claim Fresno as a home but really it just feels like a jungle. I have never seen police come around to show their faces and address us as people and a community. The police force here is sorry. In times of need in our communities there have been accusations and assumption thrown our way instead of aid. Yes, you guys try to teach us about good people here to protect but they have never protected me, or my mother, or my father, or anyone I know that "fits a description". So to hear that we spend 160 million on a force that has never done its job in my community is sickening. I live on the Southside of Fresno and have also lived on the Westside of Fresno. Some of the poorest communities I've lived in and to think I actually felt better when police weren't there. Not because I or anyone I knew was up to no good, but because I didn't want to see the violence, the antagonizing, and the profiling. Someone could have been minding their business and when police decide to stroll in they are left off of assumption. Why? Because they aren't being members of our community! How can we be treated as an equal when we aren't seen as people? The force here says an their oath in vain.
To the members of the Fresno City Council,
I strongly believe that to better our Fresno community and increase the overall safety of the city, funding to the Fresno Police Department (FPD) should be reallocated towards resources to try and prevent crime before it begins rather than after. Education should be at the forefront of financial concern, followed by addressing the housing crisis, unemployment, and drug use within the city. By funding resources for these four issues instead of FPD, you insure a lower crime rate to follow.
Funds that do go towards FPD should focus on police training and testing. Psychological screenings should be done to address any biases that may reap consequences on the field. In addition, anger and stress management courses should be given to officers as well as de-escalation training to ensure public safety.
Keep in mind, failure to address these issues in our community will be seen by the people of Fresno and may be perceived as unresponsive to the needs of your constituents.
And with that, good luck with your re-elections.
Our community does not need more money to be allocated to law enforcement. What the community needs is more investment in services! We need to address the housing crisis, substance dependency services, education, parks and recs, small businesses, and so much more. Please think critically about how our money can best support the most vulnerable in our community.
Hello Fresno City Councilmembers,
As you consider the budget, please consider the voice of the people. All around the country, we are asking for less money to be spent on police department budgets and for that money to be divested into community actions and programs that will better support the people who need it most. Our Black community here in Fresno is in need of our support in a variety of ways and it is time for us to deeply consider their needs and take action to make change.
In your considerations, please reflect on the demands set forth by the Fresno State chapter of the NAACP and outline steps that can be taken to meet those demands. We need to do better because Black Lives Matter.
Regards,
Karen
2020 is a pivotal moment. Now is not the time to continue with the status quo when it comes to the city's budget. As a resident of Fresno's District 5 and as a Christian, I implore you to make change.
People globally, nationally, and locally are calling for immediate change! Fresno State NAACP has made specific demands that should be heeded. We do not need such a large portion of the city budget invested in the highly militarized police presence we see in Fresno. I want to see those funds shifted elsewhere to programs that will help the community. Please, act, NOW!
So much of our precious resources goes towards our police, which at best are ineffective at what they are meant to do and at worst are harmful to our most vulnerable populations. Is it too much to ask for us to start being creative with how we approach community safety rather than doing the same thing we’ve been doing and has not worked? Not another penny should go to police and instead should go to better our community. Community development will reduce crime and make ALL of us safer, not just the white people.
The police departments budget needs less funding for militarization and more towards training, particularly in diversity training, de escalation tactics, and use of force as a last resort. There is too much of the city’s funding going towards policing the city and not enough towards community programs and education.
After recent demonstrations, 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.
Reduce the funding of the FPD, and spend the leftover money on community programs that will reduce crime before it occurs, as well as better our communities and the lives of the people in them. Put money into South West Fresno, and FUSD. Hold mayor-elect Jerry Dyer accountable for the crimes committed under his leadership of the FPD, and hold him accountable for the murder of Isiah Murrietta-Golding.
We should start the process to defund the police. Police brutality should never be okay in this community. The police have too many responsibilities and there is not enough training to take the implicit biases that come from the individuals that use the badge as means to act on them. How can a community prosper if their basic needs and resources are stripped from them? The budget for the police can be better used to address the issues we have in Fresno. The lack of proper healthcare and grocery stores in West Fresno restricts their ability to grow, and therefore hinders the whole community's ability to prosper. The reality in Fresno is tragic for those disenfranchised; for example, Fresno's black birth morality rate is among the highest in the country (https://www.kvpr.org/post/why-do-african-american-infants-die-more-often-others-fresno-county) and lack of educational funds for proper training and resources limits how many students that graduate are even CSU eligible. Funding for police does not solve these problems, thus the defunding transition should begin and the allocation of those funds to increase funding in social services, mental health care, and education. The budget should reflect the best way to tackle these real problems in Fresno and they currently don't.
The time is now that Fresno invests in our police officers, to invest in our community, to invest in resources that will keep my city safe. Please defund the police and distribute those funds for education, mental health, and housing programs. I love my city and believe in Fresno to do this for the betterment of its people.
Over a week ago we had one of the largest peaceful protests in Downtown Fresno while the rest of the country was dealing with a variation of peaceful protests and riots. You have an opportunity to avoid the destruction of property(regardless if you believe it's necessary) we saw in other cities and you can prevent another unarmed human being from being killed.
Why waste this chance?
Fresno NAACP's demands seemed really reasonable, I'd be surprised if they were all nonstarters.
If not one of them gets implemented, then...
...what kind of a city council is this?
Defunding the police is critical due to the harsh conditions they bring upon minorities due to the implicit biases they have. That money could be allocated into our education system in order to provide overall wealth of knowledge and information to the future generations of Fresno. This money could also be used for furthering the betterment of not just future generations but the people currently being impacted by these decisions by providing additional assistance resources whether it be more accessible housing, mental health programs or programs to help those who have been in prison become accustomed to life outside of prison. Investing in the general population brings prosperity to all of Fresno not just a select few.
Police funding needs to be reduced. Funds need to redirected towards the community instead so that Fresno can improve the quality of education, mental health services, housing and further developing our community as a whole.
Funds from the police should be reduced. Fresno invests too much money on policing our citizens rather than bettering our community. Funds should be allocated to invest in education, mental health, rehabilitation and housing programs - invest in our people so we can have a safer community.
Fresno spends far too much money on policing our citizens than investing in them. Reduce police funding and allocate that money to better our community. Invest that money in education, mental health and housing. Invest in community programs. Invest in the people! Educate your people, house your people, provide rehabilitation for your people, and we will have a safer community.
Drastically reduce police funding! Fresno police have more misdemeanor arrests than 70% of precincts in CA, have solved less homicides, and are almost 2 times as likely to use deadly force against Black and Latinx people than white. Give funding to community programs instead.