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Salas, Diana From:Berenise Lopez <thisisberelopez@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, June 16, 2020 4:10 PM To:eComment Subject:Item #85 - City Council Good Evening. My name is Berenise- I live in Wilshire Square and have lived in Santa Ana for 27 years. I’m sure you’re aware of the current protests and call to action over the past couple weeks. I’m writing to show my support for the Black Lives Matter movement and to implore City Council to officially and unequivocally publicly condemn police brutality. While the most recent murders by police have taken place miles from Santa Ana, the city is well acquainted with police violence. Most recently, a Hispanic older man was working on his daughter’s car when SAPD physically assaulted him. We have yet to hear an explanation on the issue. While city council has added information on a measure for an Oversight Committee, the strategic plan is the same from 2014-2019 and therefore needs to be updated with the proposed changes city council suggests. Simply wishing to collaborate with the community and have coffee talks with police will not ensure a level of trust - there needs to be actual systemic change for the good of Santa Ana. I am calling to defund the police department. Many of you consider yourselves to still being Santaneros but I would like you to tell us why the PD gets 144 Million Dollars, when the library has had the same tables since the first time I went in there in 2001. I want you to tell me why I rented a book on photography and the most recent one was from 2008. Why the PD get $144 Million but the schools near my house ask parents for donations like napkins, Kleenex, colored pencils, or erasers. Why does PD get $144 Million when some kids cannot get lunch if they still owe on the previous days lunch. Why did city council support $25 Million dollars? Why is the PD asking for 13.5 Mil more when we’re in the middle of a global pandemic? You say you want to help Santa Ana for the better then city council must ensure the police oversight committee has members from the community rather than people the police department gets to pick. You say you want to help Santa Ana then start with defunding the police and investing in education, in social programs to help combat addiction and teen homelessness. Fund the library and adult voting centers to learn about props and motions, fund classes for small business owners so that we can make sure they know what’s best for them. And for those you of still upset about the looting and rioting, Smart & Final will be fine and if you really cared about the small business affected then in addition to picking up a broom for a photo op, you should defund the police department and start by handing those small business a check. - Santa Ana Resident 1