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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5 - Public Presentation - MartinezFUND OUR COMMUNITY INSTEAD! ALTERNATIVES TO FUNDING SURVEILLANCE On April 28th 2021, the city of Chula Vista will be hosting a virtual budget workshop on the 2022 fiscal budget! ► The fiscal year 2021 Adopted General Fund revenue budget is $206.7 million ► CVPD is the highest funded dept in the city (28% of general funds). “Public safety” (Fire and Police) take up to 45% of our community's general funds 3 BUDGET BREAKDOWN Financial: On December 17, 2020 community members submitted a Public Records Act Request to the City Community members still do not have a complete picture of the total cost of sustaining the ALPR program here in the neighborhood BUT residents did find that on Dec 28, 2017 CVPD purchased ALPR cameras for $79,579 ► Cost not included in this figure is the maintenance every year, the cost of staffing to supervise the technology and other hidden costs 4 ALPR COST Social: • Targeting vulnerable communities • Bypassing community input • Lack of police accountability • Lack of Transparency in police purchases • Loss of community trust 5 WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS Repurpose Funds to Increase Civic Engagement "Civic Engagement” is a stated priority in a number of action plans created by the City - including but not limited to- the Welcoming City designation and our designation as an 'Age Friendly Community'. It's time for us to live up to these designations! ► City Council meetings have not been accessible (senior adults, differently abled, working parents) ► Invest in technologies that make it easier for community members to provide input ► Purchase a call-in e-comment system that allows for easy participation ► Language access should be a priority. Public e-comments should be translated as well! 6 General upgrades that will benefit the communities most impacted by police surveillance ► Parks and Rec Recreation- $10.9 million ► $920,000, or 8 percent of its budget was cut ò Studies have shown that structured recreation focused on youth reduce juvenile delinquency. ò Students who reported spending no time in afterschool extracurricular activities were 57 percent more likely to drop out of high school, 49 percent more likely to use drugs and 27 percent more likely to have been arrested than students who spend as much as four hours in structured activities. ► House the Homeless ò Studies show that even those homeless individuals with severe mental illness or suffering from addiction have lower rates of criminal behavior once they have a roof over their head. Building shelters and housing will deter crime and protect lives. 7 $53.8 million for CVPD Fund our Libraries! Between fiscal years 2009-2021 the library’s budget shrunk by 67% Only $4 million of the City of Chula Vista’s budget goes towards public libraries! ò The social role of the library Pew Research Institute studies show the American public today relies on libraries to teach digital skills, provide working spaces and address the disparity among citizens who have or don't have broadband internet services at home. ò Libraries support the literacy of the homeless ò Libraries help revitalize struggling or depressed neighborhoods and downtowns. ò Libraries provide immigrants with helpful information about, and opportunities to connect with, their new communities. ò Libraries are important partners in child development. Smart City Upgrades –> Close the Digital Divide! Invest in Technology that will help our community thrive ► Provide secure WiFi in Public Spaces ► Provide Free Internet service for low-income residents ► Create a Free Computer Giveaway Program 9 STOP ALPR! USE FUNDS TO INVEST IN IMPROVING THE MATERIAL CONDITIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS! 10