My name is Brynne O'Neal and I am a District 2 resident.

I support Nikki Fortunato Bas's proposal "to reallocate (from the police budget) at least $25 million towards improving safety and providing the services our residents really need," but you can, and must, go further to direct funding away from police and toward the urgent needs of our community.

I support the demand that you take immediate action to:
1. Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million)
2. Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD
3. Discontinue use of general fund dollars to pay for settlements due to police murder, misconduct, and negligence
4. Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, and mental health workers to keep the community safe.

My name is Chris Ahlbach, I’m a medical student at UCSF, a public health researcher, and a resident of district 3. I emphatically support cutting OPD’s budget by 50% or $150 million. Defunding police is a public health intervention and moral imperative-the effects of which will be felt for generations. There is not a single thing you can do with more dramatic impacts on public health. In addition to decreasing the incredible threat to all of our health that is the police, that money can be used to support community healing initiatives and support housing and restorative justice.
The existence of police has always been a nidus for racist violence, brutality, and illness. We have failed, as a medical community, to protect and heal our patients from this racist violence that is baked into the foundation of policing. Reform is not possible. Please, I implore you, defund OPD by 50%

My name is Alice, I am an Oakland resident in the 3rd district writing to urge you to defund OPD. Your continued support for policing in its current form will be understood by the people of this city as an allegiance made with the worst elements among today's law enforcement – the state-sanctioned killers – the men and women who get paid overtime to brutalize and gas our communities. If you fail to act decisively at this moment, Oakland will remember the side you have chosen.

I'm writing today to ask that the city council act on the following proposals put forward to defund the Oakland PD:

Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million)

Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD,

Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, and mental health workers to keep the community safe.

Oakland can not wait any longer for a budget that meets the needs of its residents. The only way to achieve this is to take immediate steps to Defund OPD.

Hello,
This is now my second time commenting on this Agenda Item as my other comment has disappeared. Hello, my name is Sarah Danley, and I live in District 3. I urge you to reject this budget as too much money is being spent on OPD. OPD currently receives 44% of the city budget while Housing & Community Development receive 0% of the budget.Since 2015, $19.3 million dollars has been spent settling 31 lawsuits against the police department. OPD reform has failed and the independent monitor costs the city almost $1 million annually. OPD funding could be spent building affordable housing. The housing cost burden falls disproptionately on Black and Latino households. Currently, there are 1,698 units of affordable housing in the approval process but the project needs $58 million dollars in funding to get off the ground. Defund OPD and use that funding to house our black and brown community!

My name is Grace Harvey. I am a resident of District 1, and I urge you to pass a budget that cuts OPD's share by at least half. It is unconscionable that taxpayer money goes to subsidize this out-of-control department that brutalizes black and brown people, a department that uses absurd amounts of overtime no matter how much the city allocates, a department that actively harms our community. We must fund housing, mental health services, and invest those dollars in Oakland's black and brown communities. Defund OPD.

My name is Cameron Trentalange, and I'm a resident of Oakland's District 3. I oppose the proposed budget and I am in favor of defunding the OPD. We need to allocate 50% of their budget to housing, mental health workers, and other underfunded areas that will benefit the people of this community.

I am a resident of District 2 and I stand with black leaders in demanding that Oakland City Council:

- Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million).

- Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD.

- Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, mental health workers and other services that actually keep the community safe.

The emergency eviction moratoriums will expire soon. We are approaching a tidal wave of evictions, which will disproportionately harm Black and Latinx tenants in Oakland. We must fund shelters, permanent housing, and nonmarket-based homes instead of funding the police to evict and harass our existing unhoused population.

I am a resident of District 3 and oppose this item. OPD funding can and must be reduced by 50% to reduce previous overfunding and encourage more judicious use of police funds. The money saved from the OPD budget can be then re-invested into the community, in critical areas such as housing, homelessness, youth programs, public parks, education, and social work. Investing in these areas has proven to reduce crime!

I am a former Oakland resident and am currently a family therapist (MA, AMFT) working with youth and families impacted by police violence. Policing is traumatizing and harmful to the mental, emotional, and physical health of Black and Brown Residents. Policing negatively impacts the healthy development of Black and Brown children and families. Please defund the police NOW and invest in resources that truly keep Black communities, and all of us, safe, and that help Black children thrive.

I ask that you implement the demands from black community members and leaders:
1.Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million)
2. Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD
3. Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, and mental health workers to keep the community safe.

Please use your power to protect Black Lives in Oakland and immediately defund the police. We must invest in a new model of safety that truly protects all residents.

I stand with black leaders in demanding that Oakland City Council:

- Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million).

- Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD.

- Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, mental health workers and other services that actually keep the community safe.

We need to invest in living wage jobs, housing for all, youth programs, health care and other essential community services.
Instead of police we should be hiring social workers, mental health workers, EMTs, teachers, and other civilian positions that can better keep our community safe.

( IMPORTANT NOTE:
There were over 500+ comments here on the ecomment site that have seem to have been deleted in the last few minutes. Now there are only 5 comments as I am typing this. Why are you deleting them? )

I support Council Member Nikki Fortunato Bas' Budget Proposal for non-police 911 responders pilot to be funded by transferring funds from the OPD overtime budget - i.e. defunding OPD in favor of more positive strategies. MACRO is a concrete plan for interrupting and diverting armed police from taking 911 calls that aren't for serious or violent crimes - the strategy brings trained, community-based crisis intervention responders to the scene, with no weapons, no power to arrest - only to assist, de-escalate, bring mental health or other social services to bear to resolve the issue. CAHOOTS, based in Eugene/Springfield OR, diverts nearly 20% of 911 calls from the police to trained crisis intervention workers. MACRO is adapting this model to Oakland, using a helping model rather than a policing model for all 911 calls that don't require an armed response.

This is a pragmatic but revolutionary program.

My name is Sophie Lyons and I am a lifetime resident of Oakland (currently District 1, previously 3 and 5). I am joining with Black Leadership in urging you to commit to defunding OPD. We need to reinvest in the community so that residents can not only be safe from police brutality, but grow and thrive. It is long past time that this is done. Specifically, I ask you to
1. Reduce OPD's general fund budget by at least 50% ($150 Million)
2. No unauthorized overtime for OPD
3. Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, and mental health workers to keep the community safe.

My name is Jackie von Treskow, and a resident of Oakland's District 1. I stand in solidarity with the Anti-Police Terror Project in opposing this budget and urging you to defund OPD by at least 50%.

OPD takes more than 40% of the Oakland's General Fund, and what do we have to show for this investment? A police force that perpetually and with impunity violates the civil and human rights of Oakland's black and brown communities, and is an ongoing, active threat to BIPOC lives. Would you say this has been a good investment, council members?

The time to defund OPD is now. I support and echo APTP's call to:

1. Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million)
2. Discontinue use of general fund dollars to pay for settlements due to police murder, misconduct, and negligence
3. Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, and mental health workers to keep the community safe.
4. Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD

My name is Claire Urbanski and I am an Oakland resident writing to urge you to defund OPD and invest in Black life.

I support the spirit of the proposal by Nikki Fortunato Bas: "to reallocate (from the police budget) at least $25 million towards improving safety and providing the services our residents really need," but this proposal does NOT go far enough!

As Oakland residents, we, therefore, demand that you take immediate action to ensure the following:

1. Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million)
2. Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD
3. Discontinue use of general fund dollars to pay for settlements due to police murder, misconduct, and negligence
4. Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, and mental health workers to keep the community safe.

I am an Oakland resident of District 2 and I wholeheartedly oppose this budget for its excessive and grossly irresponsible funding of OPD. Black leadership in Oakland has been calling to defund police for years and I stand with my community in demanding that City Council:

1. Reduce OPD's allocation from the General Fund by at least 50%
2. Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD
3. Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, mental health workers, and other services that actually keep the community safe.

Nearly half of Oakland's general fund has gone to OPD in previous years, an act of looting against Oakland's Black and Brown communities who deserve funding for resources that feed them, house them, and provide healing and opportunity for them. When we prioritize bringing equity to our most marginalized and vulnerable people, we create conditions in which we all thrive. There were 500+ comments here minutes ago - where have they gone? Why are they no longer visible?

I agree with the comment made by Georgia Valentine. I am Kimberly Mark, and I live in District 2.
Simiarly, I oppose the proposed budget, and would like to see changes, particularly in light of recent events. Oakland must do better. I call on the city council to:
- Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million)
- Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD
- Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, and mental health workers to keep the community safe.
Let us stop pouring money into the militarization of the police (which ends up criminalizing poverty and our black and brown citizens) and invest in things that actually make our communities safer.

I'm a resident of Disctrict 3. I support Councilmember Bas' budget proposal, especially the 2 that address COVID and homelessness: 1) take the $905,000 of Measure Q (homelessness/park maintenance) that the Mayor proposes to spend on 3 OPD officers to police the homeless and INSTEAD use those funds for Re-entry & Fair Chance housing; and 2) use general funds from Oakland Police Department for $2.5 million for motel vouchers for unhoused residents AND other critical alternative community services to OPD. Without jeopardizing the use of Measure Z for violence prevention, the City can cut the OPD budget from the budgeted 792 officers down to the current level of 741 officers--more than $12 million. This is the time for the Council to budget according to its and Oakland values. Thank you!

My name is Aislinn Sterling; I live in District 1. I love this city and I am deeply concerned and appalled at the way our budget is being distributed and the values such distribution reflects. We must defund the OPD immediately.

Please:
- Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million).
- Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD.
- Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, mental health workers and other services that actually keep the community safe.

We can best keep our community safe by investing in living wage jobs, housing for all, youth programs, health care and other essential community services. Instead of police, please reallocate this money toward more social workers, mental health workers, EMTs, teachers, and other civilian positions that truly promote community safety. Thank you.

My name is Adrien Colon and I am a District 3 Oakland resident adding my voice to urge you to defund OPD.

The budget clearly shows that the city of Oakland prioritizes the OPD above the wellbeing and success of Oakland residents. This is NOT acceptable. We have a chance now to reverse course and divert funds AWAY from surveillance, criminalization, and violence and TOWARD the wellness and resilience of our communities. I stand with the Anti Police-Terror Project and other Black Oakland leadership calling for change NOW.

I urge you to be bold and take immediate action to ensure the following:

1. Reduce OPD’s allocation from the General Fund by 50% (roughly $150 Million)
2. Disallow unauthorized overtime by OPD
3. Discontinue use of general fund dollars to pay for settlements due to police murder, misconduct, and negligence
4. Invest in housing, jobs, youth programs, restorative justice, and mental health workers to keep the community safe.

My name is Jacob Kahn and I'm a resident of District 5 (previously of 1 and 3), urging you to commit to begin defunding the Oakland Police Department. Honestly, how much more testimony do we need to hear from our Black and Brown community members about this department and its legacy? It is unaccountable, obstinate, unfathomably wasteful, and does not keep our communities safe—it terrorizes them. We've seen this in the inflammatory, arbitrary, and violent response to recent protests, and we see this every day in the way the police act with impunity to systematically target, endanger, and harm communities and persons of color.

The answers may not yet be fully clear, but the problem is so simple, and this process begins by defunding OPD's general fund budget by at least 50% and committing that $150 million to community services (health, housing, work, environmental justice, and schools) in Black and Brown communities. Now is (y)our chance to strive toward true transformative justice.