CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Gainesville and Alachua County Commissions,
I DEMAND THAT YOU, MY LOCAL OFFICIALS, WILL: Vote no on all increases to police budgets, Vote yes to decrease police spending and budgets, Vote yes to increase spending on health care, education and community programs that keep us safe. In 2020, the City of Gainesville has allocated $42.25 million to the police department, and $59.66 million to law enforcement in general. Housing and Urban Planning-- something residents everywhere but especially on the Eastside need-- was allocated 6.06 million. Similarly, Alachua county has allocated almost $100m to the Sheriff's department, while the community support services receive only 1/5 of this total, or less than 5% of the county budget. People of color in American, specifically Black people, know that the police do not keep neighborhoods and communities safe. Police presence leads to brutality and criminalization, which is why we are demanding a defunding of police and a reallocation of resources towards community investment. Black people like Tony McDade (Tallahassee), Trayvon Martin (Orlando), and Jamee Johnson (Jacksonville) cannot keep dying at the hands of police and white actors emboldened by the state. During the time of COVID-19, which disproportionately affects communities of color, there is no excuse for the increases in funds to law enforcement proposed for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. I urge you to advocate for a defunding of police and requisite funding of actual community needs.
Best Regards,
Valeria Limonio
Orlando, FL
########################################################################
To unsubscribe from the KEN-CORNELL list, click the following link:
http://listserv.alachuacounty.us/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=KEN-CORNELL
|