The Los Angeles City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee is having a meeting today to discuss the Mayor's Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 Budget for the City of Los Angeles.

The audio for this meeting is broadcast live on the internet:

https://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=103&event_id=13623

Agenda link: https://ens.lacity.org/clk/committeeagend/clkcommitteeagend18141143_06152020.html

The live audio can also be heard at:

(213) 621-CITY (Metro)

(818) 904-9450 (Valley)

(310) 471-CITY (Westside)

(310) 547-CITY (San Pedro Area).

Members of the public who would like to offer public comment on the items listed on the agenda should call (669) 254-5252 and use Meeting ID No. 161 829 4030 and then press #. Press # again when prompted for participant ID. Once admitted into the meeting, press *9 to request to speak.

WRITTEN COMMENT TEMPLATE

Council File Number: 20-0600

I am an Angeleno and I live in District [Fill in Your District Number]. I am writing to demand you consider the People’s Budget LA for the 2020-2021 fiscal year and revise the current budget accordingly. We must defund the police. Cutting it by $150M is not nearly enough. (LAPD budget this year is $3.1B)

Unlike the Mayor’s budget, which — even with cuts and proposed reapportionments — gives more than half of unrestricted funds to the LAPD, the Peoples Budget LA gives only 5.7% to the police. Survey takers determined that the city should prioritize universal needs (such as housing, childcare, healthy food, clear air, and water), pandemic recovery, built environment, and reimagined public safety over the police department. You need to engage directly with communities, especially Black and Indigenous communities — the most at risk of police brutality and murder — to create a budget that serves ALL Angelenos. 

Over the past two weeks, our city has shown its overwhelming support for defunding the LAPD. It has made clear — through both physical and digital actions— that LA must not use its money to fund the murderous LAPD. 

Throughout this time of mass protest, the police have reacted with extreme violence and unwarranted escalation towards peaceful protestors and our unhoused neighbors. LAPD Commander Cory Palka flashed a White Power signal on television. Chief Moore blamed the police murder of George Floyd on LA protestors. Many police officers have hurt, abused, and maimed. 

This is unacceptable and LAPD must be defunded, now. I urge you to support the People’s Budget LA. 

Thank you for your time.

SOURCE: https://peoplesbudgetla.com/toolkit/