San Diego’s City Council responded to calls across the country to defund police departments by expanding its police budget.
The San Diego City Council voted almost unanimously, 8–1, on Monday to increase its police budget by $27 million, pushing the total budget to $566 million, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The move to expand the budget comes as the city reportedly received more than 4,000 phone calls and emails calling for the budget to be decreased as a response to the growing protests over police brutality following the death of George Floyd.
“Defund this city-sanctioned militia that is terrorizing black people,” resident Breana Clark said to the council before the vote. “We need resources in our communities, not these thugs wearing a badge. You have blood on your hands. Get busy.”
“The police do not need more funding,” another resident, Adam Woodnut, argued. “These funds should instead be reallocated to addressing issues such as poverty, homelessness, mental health, and the well-being of our communities of color.”
Some residents did defend police funding, arguing that most police officers do a good job.
“Please do not listen to the minority who feel the police do more harm to our citizens than good,” resident Audrey Churchward said. “Better screening, better training — but don’t defund them. I am thankful for our police. A majority of them have done more good than evil.”
A little more than 100 residents took part in a peaceful protest following the news of the vote, marching about 2.5 miles through the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego.
About 120 miles to the north of San Diego, the city council of Los Angeles introduced a bill to slash police funding in response to Floyd’s death, cutting up to $150 million. In Minneapolis, where Floyd died, the city council voted to disband the police force entirely.
