From: Carol Ciavonne
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] re Measure O/ 15.2 Public Hearing on AB 481 Military Equipment Ordinance Date: Monday, July 25, 2022 2:35:56 PM
Dear Members of Santa Rosa City Council,
I am writing to ask that you reconsider Measure O’s allocation formula. Please take into consideration that we probably need to give more to firefighters and more to the InResponse emergency mental health services, and less to law enforcement, which already has a more than adequate budget. In terms of the mental health funding, city after city that has adopted and adequately funded these kinds of programs has seen a decrease in the necessity for law enforcement. A healthier population leads to more responsible citizens, and fewer confrontations by law enforcement.
Especially important, in my view, is the need for citizen input before making a decision on AB 481’s Military Equipment Ordinance. The community has a right to make their opinions known… my own is that we absolutely do not need any more military weapons in our community, and that no law enforcement agency needs them to police the citizens of this city. In any case, the right thing to do is to invite and carefully consider community input.
Thanks for your time,
Carol Ciavonne
51 W. 7th St.
Santa Rosa, 95401