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<br />Salas, Diana <br />From:Hastin Zylstra <hastin@gmail.com> <br />Sent:Tuesday, June 16, 2020 10:35 AM <br />To:eComment <br />Subject:Public Comment for tonight's City Council meeting <br />Hello! My name is Hastin Zylstra, and I'm a homeowner in Santa Ana, Ward 7. I've lived in Santa Ana for 6 <br />years. <br /> <br />I am stating my opinion in support of the police oversight committee, and adjusting the budget of the police <br />department in Santa Ana. <br /> <br />In regards to the budget, I understand that Police are expensive and that we need to ensure that our city is safe. <br />But I do not believe that we need to devote so much of the budget (42% of the FY 2019-2020 budget) to the <br />police force. Instead, I would like to see more of that budget be devoted to community outreach, or specific <br />specialised response units (such as for homelessness, mental health, or non-violent crimes). Too often as a city, <br />we dispatch armed police officers to handle these issues. As a small business owner in Orange County who has <br />to deal with homelessness issues, I would rather know that the person I am calling is going to provide actual <br />solutions for the individual rather than just arresting them - or possibly injuring them. <br /> <br />In regards to the police oversight committee, it would be a fantastic first step into more transparency for our <br />police department. As an important part of our community, we need to ensure that our police are held <br />accountable by its citizens and city. Transparent reports and details on police mishandling will ensure that our <br />citizens (POC especially) get a full insight into positive and poor handling of policing issues. <br /> <br />Thank you. <br />1 <br />