HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-14-20 Public Comments - BudgetFrom:Ryan Garnsey
To:Agenda
Subject:Please do not finalise the budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 11:11:42 PM
To whom it may concern,
It has recently come to my attention that close to 1/3 of Bozeman's budget will be allocated to police procurement.
As a concerned Bozeman constituent, I urge you to hold off on passing this budget and to consider reallocating these
funds toward things that actually end “crime” (i.e., mental health resources, poverty resources, drug addiction
resources). Recent events have only been conspicuous episodes of our deeply rooted and concealed system of
institutionalised oppression. The police both play a major role in this system, and have their roots in it. Let’s
reconsider and pave the path for a brighter future.
Please delay passing the budget tomorrow.
Thanks for your consideration.
Ryan Garnsey
From:agenda@bozeman.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Thank you for your public comment.
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:54:46 PM
A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted.
Form Name:Public Comment Form
Date & Time:06/14/2020 10:54 PM
Response #:425
Submitter ID:27609
IP address:35.133.25.233
Time to complete:15 min. , 2 sec.
Survey Details
Page 1
Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options.
Public comment may also be given at any public meeting.
Email:
agenda@bozeman.net
Mail to:
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
In-person delivery to:
Due to City Hall's closure in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person delivery of comments is not
available until further notice.
First Name Patti
Last Name Steinmuller
Email Address psteinmul@msn.com
Phone Number 4062192315
Comments
I urge you to take more time to develop the city's budget to consider the requests of those organizing the
recent racial justice rallies regarding funding for police. Consider redistributing some of those funds to
programs that address homelessness, domestic violence, discrimination, addiction, and lack of opportunity
for people of color and indigenous people.It may take longer than June 22 to carefully consider the
distribution of funds that would best serve people living in Bozeman. This opportunity to reconsider the
budget comes at just the right time.
If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt)
along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure
receipt of all information.
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. Please do not reply
directly to this email.
From:Alexander Newby
To:Agenda
Subject:Budget for Policing or Housing Crisis?
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:49:20 PM
To whom it may concern:
As a lifelong resident of this valley, I cannot remember any positive interaction with anofficer of the Bozeman PD. I do not know any of the officers that serve on the force. I
couldn’t name a single one, nor could I recognize any of them on sight. So, when I find out
that the budget for Bozeman PD is 1/3 of the city’s proposal, I am dismayed. It makes me
wonder if the City Commission has it’s priorities right. For instance, there is a rash of high
end apartments going up all over town. The city is making sure there is housing for wealthy
out of staters to get a 2nd, 3rd or 4th domicile, meanwhile, I see more and more homelesson the street. I appreciate the work HRDC does in our community, but there is not near
enough affordably priced housing for local people. How would the housing crisis inBozeman change if the city put 10% or 15% of it’s budget toward QUALITY affordable
housing? That is just one example of community building the city commission could see to.Policing does have value. But it isn’t going to solve our housing crisis, so put money where
it really needs to go. Getting people into good housing will reduce crime, and build good willtoward the city.
Further . . .
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money forpolicing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across thiscountry in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communitiesfrom crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the UnitedStates are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, adrug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PDsolves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safefrom crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attackthe underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, andadequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much liketo see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so thatthis city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Sincerely,
Alex Newby
Graduate StudentNative American Studies DeptMontana State University
From:Brandon Whitehead
To:Agenda
Subject:Public Comments, Bozeman Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:43:46 PM
Mayor Chris Mehl and the Bozeman City Commission,
In light of recent events around the country and world, I would like to ask the Council to take
a very critical look at how the Bozeman city budget is allocated to support economicallydisadvantaged, vulnerable, and racial minority groups in Bozeman, with an emphasis on
community development, prevention, non-police emergency response, and practices thatpromote equal treatment of all who live in and visit Bozeman.
I sincerely believe that the Commission is interested in supporting these types of investments,
such as the current but very modest investment the city has made in support of non-policemental health crisis responses, as one example. I encourage the Commission and city to
consciously and deliberately create an equitable community so that all feel welcome and begiven opportunities to prosper. Together, we can make Bozeman an example of inclusivity for
other communities to follow.
Respectfully,
Brandon Whitehead304 S. 3rd Ave.
Bozeman, MT
From:Nolan Robbins
To:Agenda
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:32:14 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much
money for policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community.
As you are probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the
Police” all across this country in response to the murders of George Floyd and
Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted
upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath. These calls are not, and should not be,
confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our
communities from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested
every year in the United States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of
drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or
tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage of violent crimes. The most
recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% of violent crimes in
our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their investments
in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes of
crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to
low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-
health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like to see the
Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Sincerely,
Nolan Robbins
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Olivia Hogan
To:Agenda
Subject:Budget 2020
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:20:24 PM
whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money forpolicing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across thiscountry in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the UnitedStates are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, adrug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve asmall percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safefrom crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attackthe underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack ofopportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much liketo see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so thatthis city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).Thank youOlivia Hogan
Sent from my iPhone
From:Ryan Trefethen
To:Agenda
Subject:Upcoming budget decisions
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:01:42 PM
Dear City Council Members,
I appreciate the work you put in to keep our exceptional town running, thank you for all of the
time and effort you put into the job.
I am concerned about some information that came to my attention today. That information wasthat the city council intended to increase the amount budgeted for our police department. I
don't believe that that would be a good use of our community's dollars, which could be betterspent on other community centered programs, such as: low-income housing, retraining for
displaced workers, mental health support, addiction counseling, et al.
This is Bozeman, our town. It is a good place, filled with good people from all walks of lifeand sides of the political spectrum. We don't need a police force equipped with military grade
weapons, armor, and vehicles. Those would, in my opinion, bring the town down severalnotches in it's appeal, both for natives/locals and for the tourist population that floods through
in the summers.
Please do not increase the police budget. Please instead, lower the amount we're using to fundour police department and use those dollars to effect positive changes in this town rather than
paying for the ability to 'cope with problems' that arise.
Again, thank you for your time and support.
Sincerely, Ryan Trefethen
From:Claire Kaveney
To:Agenda
Subject:Police funding
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:57:34 PM
Hello,
My name is Claire Kaveney, and I stand with the Black Lives Matter movement. It is my
opinion, along with many, many, others, that the police should receive less funding so thatthese funds can be allocated to preventative services. The punishment that policing provides is
not prevention. In order to make sure Bozeman is safe and equal, and promoting justice for all,we must change the way the police force acts in our community. Bozeman is not immune to
the racial challenges of big cities. As Bozeman continues to grow and become more and morediverse, we need to look to the future and take action NOW. Please use your power to make
decisions that benefit the lives of the BIPOC community within Bozeman. Decrease policefunding. Put those funds towards services that will prevent crime and unfortunate
circumstances. Prevent injustice.
- Claire Kaveney
From:Victor OrtizTo:AgendaSubject:Concerns regarding proposed budgetDate:Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:53:00 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are probably aware, there has been atidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peacefulprotestors in the aftermath. These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United States are arrested on drugcharges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tellsus that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack theunderlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-health services are whatkeep a community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Citationshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-you-can-find-outhttps://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
Reply Forward
From:Sue Loewen
To:Agenda
Subject:Defunding police
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:35:02 PM
We need our police. Dont do something as stupid as defunding them as a knee jerk reaction to
whats going on. We need to quit bowing down to the "politically correct" and actually dowhats right for our citizens. Whos going to keep us safe from criminals if we have no police?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
From:Gabriel Oppler
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:29:07 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across thiscountry in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the UnitedStates are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, adrug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve asmall percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safefrom crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attackthe underlying causes of crime: homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack ofopportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much liketo see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so thatthis city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Sincerely,Gabriel Oppler
Bozeman, MT 59718
Citations
1. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.html
2. https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-you-can-find-out
3. https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=1035610356
From:Maya Gotzsche
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns/Request to Extend Comment Period for Proposed Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:28:56 PM
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to you with major concerns for the proposed municipal budget for 2021. First, I urgently request you to
extend the public comment period beyond Monday, 6/14. I believe there are still Bozeman residents who have not
had the opportunity to make their thoughts and concerns regarding the budget known to the city. It is critical for the
city to listen to the priorities of its residents, in order to allocate the city budget in a manner that reflects these
values.
My primary concern about the proposed budget is the third of the budget allotted to policing. I believe that as a city,
we should be investing in social services that strengthen our community, rather than police it. Many of the
underlying causes of crime could be solved through adequate funding towards social services that combat
homelessness, addiction, discrimination, lack of education, and more. Police enforce the criminalization of people
who lack these services. Why continue to invest in punitive measures rather than address social inequity at its
roots? I believe that Bozeman should be allocating money towards low-income housing, quality education, mental
health and addiction services, rather than policing. For example, Bozeman should work towards having a year
round homeless shelter. These services would keep Bozemanites safer and allow us to grow into a more vibrant and
equitable community.
With recent police killings and police backlash against protests, we can see clearer than ever that police cause more
harm than safety to communities across the U.S. Bozeman is no exception. We ask too much of our police
department by requiring they attend to all the unsolved issues in our community like homelessness and drug
addiction. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if the person responding to a mental health crisis had more specialized
training and did not carry a gun? I think this would be a relief for police officers, too, since they would not be
forced to handle problems that they are ill-equipped to deal with.
Going forward, I implore you to reconsider the large percentage of the budget that is currently put towards the BPD.
Invest in the long term health of our community, not the flawed system of policing!
With respect,
Maya Gotzsche
Bozeman Resident
Educator
From:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: Defunding Police Department
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:07:42 PM
Chris Mehl
Mayor, City of Bozemancmehl@bozeman.net406.581.4992________________________________________From: Margie Kankrlik [margie.kankrlik@gmail.com]Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:06 PMTo: Chris Mehl; Cyndy Andrus; Michael Wallner; Terry Cunningham; I-Ho Pomeroy; Steve CrawfordSubject: Defunding Police Department
The Bozeman Police Department does an excellent job of positively interacting with citizens. They are trained todefuse potentially violent situations without using violence, recognize and assist mentally ill individuals as well asindividuals who may have an addiction. Officers work with a wide variety of agencies who offer specializedtreatments in various areas in order to assist those in need. A request to defund the police department which hasproven time and again to be very successful in dealing with all citizens should not be considered. Please supportour very professional police department and give them the money they need to continue their tremendous work.
Margie Kankrlik406-920-0245
From:Kaidan McNamee
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns about proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 8:52:43 PM
To whom it may concern,
I am a Bozeman resident of more than six years and instructor at Montana State University
writing to articulate my concerns about the proposed municipal budget for 2021, specificallyregarding the increased budget allocation to the Bozeman police department.
The calls resounding across the nation from activists and politicians alike to "Defund the
Police" are not particular to large urban areas. Even departments like the Bozeman PD, whichgenuinely strive to maintain positive community relationships and are infrequently accused of
excessive use of force, can represent a threat to the lives and well-being of marginalizedcommunities generally, but especially of Black and Indigenous communities.
As a proud Bozemanite, I would like to see my city commissioners acknowledge the reality
that large police budgets do not necessarily result in a reduction of crime. The allocation ofmore funds to the police does not necessarily make for a safer Bozeman or for safer
Bozemanites. I would like to see my city commissioners commit more of the city's budgetto solutions that actually create safer communities - providing more affordable housing,addressing food insecurity, and providing more community and municipal resources fordrug addiction and recovery (including alcohol addiction). Additionally, I would like to
see municipal representatives and community activists work together to combat the pervasiveforces of racial discrimination in Bozeman. We may like to think of Bozeman as an equal-
opportunity utopia where everyone gets along. This is simply not the lived reality for people ofcolor in our communities, especially Black and Indigenous people, and we owe them a
Bozeman that is as much home for them as it is for us.
I entreat the city commissioners to move city funds, both proposed and extant, from theBozeman Police Department and into city resources that can help Bozeman better battle
homelessness, addition, and discrimination. I recognize that this may be a painful request formany, and I want to recognize that most of Bozeman's police serve respectfully and without
incident. However, solutions that take care of people's most basic needs can stop crime beforeit manifests. We can offer care instead of arrests. I urge the Bozeman city commission to
commit to a future where every Bozemanite has what they need to thrive and prosper, and thatdoes not include a larger budget for community policing.
Sincerely,
Kaidan McNamee
From:Nicholas Tenney
To:Agenda
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 8:46:58 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots FAR TOO MUCHmoney for policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As youare probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all acrossthis country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the handsof the police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the
aftermath. These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the UnitedStates are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, adrug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve asmall percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safefrom crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attackthe underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack ofopportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much liketo see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so thatthis city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
From:Regan Fruh
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns Regarding Proposed Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 8:44:42 PM
To whom it may concern:
As you are probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police,
and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath. These calls are
not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing, and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities from
crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United States are
arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is less
dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage of violent
crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% of violent crimes in
our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their investments in police, but
their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction,
discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable
employment, and adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very
much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Please, please consider redistributing the proposed Bozeman PD’s budget into other social
programs.
Thank you,
Regan Fruh
Citations
1. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.html
2. https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-you-can-find-out
3. https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Lisa Trankley
To:Agenda
Subject:police department funding
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 8:38:46 PM
City Commissioners:
It is not clear to me when the Commission intends to adopt the budget for the
Bozeman Police Department, but it appears you are considering the budget at
your meeting of June 15. In light of recent events and discussions about police
department funding, I urge you to allow yourselves time to consider whether the
Commission should redirect any funding from policing to prevention, and to allow
the public time to provide input. It is very important for the police funding
process to be transparent and accessible. Please consider separating it from the
rest of the budget for special attention and hearings.
Thank you-
Lisa Trankley
1748 Medicine Wheel Lane
Bozeman
From:Samuel Robinson
To:Agenda
Subject:Defund the Police
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 8:21:50 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities from
crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United States
are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is
less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage
of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% of
violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their
investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes of
crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income
housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-health services are what
keep a community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes
up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly invest in other
necessary services(3).
Sincerely,
Samuel Robinson
Citations
1. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-
say-no.html
2. https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3. https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Lillian Ball
To:Agenda
Subject:Municipal Budget for 2021
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 7:56:10 PM
Dear Bozeman City Counsel,
Thank you for your time and consideration. I am grateful that I live in a community where I feel
that my voice will be listened to.
As a taxpayer and registered voter in Bozeman, I have concerns about the municipal budget for
2021. I agree with Lynda Garcia, policing campaign director at the Leadership Conference on Civil
and Human Rights that "A budget is a moral document, and where cities invest their money
speaks to their values." I am concerned the largest portion of the expenditure budget (27%) is
allocated to the police.
What I would like to see is a prioritization in programs that actually prevent crimes. I do applaud
the FY20 accomplishment of implementing a Community-Based Crisis Response Program that
utilizes a co-responder model with a therapist that responds to mental health calls with law
enforcement but I think we can do more. I would like the police force to be able to focus on violent
crimes as is their intended purpose however I believe that they are being called to too many
situations that are beyond their scope.
In order to focus on violent crimes, I propose that some of the police funds are redirected to
programs that will prevent these crimes in the first place (violence prevention programs, the
HRDC, the Help Center) and to programs that would be better suited to deal with non-violent
crimes (opioid task force and mental health response team).
Sincerely,
Lillian Ball
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/defund-the-police-1007254/
From:Bo McDaniel
To:Agenda
Subject:Defunding the Police
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 7:54:19 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Sincerely,
Robert McDaniel
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Hayden Moran
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget.
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 7:50:20 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for policing and far too little for funds that actually
strengthen our community. As you are probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this country in
response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and many others at the hands of the police, and the acts of police brutality
inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath. These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas. Change needs to
begin nationwide.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of
people arrested every year in the United States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is
less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us
that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their
investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination,
and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-health services are what
keep a community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this
city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Sincerely,
Hayden Moran
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Jamie Reeves
To:Agenda
Subject:[SENDER UNVERIFIED]Rethink Police Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 7:02:01 PM
Hello Local Officials,
I am asking for the complete and total defunding of the police. I am asking for you to halt using taxpayer dollars,
provided by me and my neighbors, to sponsor a force that makes my Black neighbors live in fear.
I want our city to adopt a new model of public safety- one that serves not only our white populations, but our black
and POC communities as well. Please care for our Black communities, and do your part! Speak up! Make change!
Do anything!
Signed,
Jamie Reeves
From:Verena Lawrence
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:43:36 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money forpolicing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communitiesfrom crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the UnitedStates are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve asmall percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PDsolves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safefrom crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack ofopportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, andadequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much liketo see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so thatthis city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Citationshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-you-can-find-out
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Claire Tolliver
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns about proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:38:27 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across thiscountry in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others atthe hands of the police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in
the aftermath. These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the UnitedStates are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, adrug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco. Additionally, police solve a smallpercentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves
less than 30% of violent crimes in our community. What keeps communities safe fromcrime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack theunderlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack ofopportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much liketo see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so thatthis city can more properly invest in other necessary services.
Please consider reallocating these funds toward education, social services, and ourhomeless population! Thank you for taking the time to read.
Sincerely,
Claire Tolliver
Citationshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-
From:Carter Evans
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:28:53 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Sincerely,
Carter Evans
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Jonas Cawley
To:Agenda
Subject:Proposed Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:28:07 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much
money for policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community.
As you are probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the
Police” all across this country in response to the murders of George Floyd and
Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted
upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath. These calls are not, and should not be,
confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our
communities from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested
every year in the United States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of
drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or
tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage of violent crimes. The most
recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% of violent crimes in
our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their investments
in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes of
crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to
low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-
health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like to see the
Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Sincerely,
Jonas Cawley
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:agenda@bozeman.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Thank you for your public comment.
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:23:40 PM
A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted.
Form Name:Public Comment Form
Date & Time:06/14/2020 6:23 PM
Response #:424
Submitter ID:27606
IP address:208.83.47.254
Time to complete:10 min. , 3 sec.
Survey Details
Page 1
Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options.
Public comment may also be given at any public meeting.
Email:
agenda@bozeman.net
Mail to:
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
In-person delivery to:
Due to City Hall's closure in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person delivery of comments is not
available until further notice.
First Name Jenn
Last Name Bernard
Email Address Jennsteingruber@hotmail.com
Phone Number 4062247377
Comments
I am in opposition, along with many, many others, that the proposed cutting of police department funding
for Bozeman is not in our best interests as a community.
I am a firm believer in good training. It encourages moral and a healthy state of being for those who are
putting their lives at risk every day. When you are encouraged and have healthy moral and support, you do
well. When you have no support or backing, a person is put in a state of stress and any duress they
experience while on the job is compounded seven fold. Please do not cut the funding and consider the
ramifications of the big picture and long-term effects!
Thank you for your careful consideration,
A concerned citizen, formerly served in corrections, and wife of a law enforcement officer.
If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt)
along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure
receipt of all information.
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. Please do not reply
directly to this email.
From:Ray Wilson
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:12:23 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Sincerely,
Ray Wilson
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Melissa DiGiovine
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:05:52 PM
To whom it may concern,
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities fromcrime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United States
are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that isless dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco. Additionally, police solve a small percentage of
violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% ofviolent crimes in our community. What keeps communities safe from crime is not their
investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes ofcrime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income
housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-health services are whatkeep a community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes
up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly invest in othernecessary services.
Best,
Melissa DiGiovine
8 year Bozeman Resident
From:Murph Murphy
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding the proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:00:41 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities fromcrime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United States
are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that isless dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage
of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% ofviolent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their
investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes ofcrime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income
housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-health services are whatkeep a community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes
up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly invest in othernecessary services(3).
Citations
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.html
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-you-can-find-out
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
Ryan Murphy4066249332
From:Rodney Wilson
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 5:58:32 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Erin Tope
To:Agenda
Cc:Bethany.caball@gmail.com
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 5:32:23 PM
Hello, I would like the budget committee to reallocate more of the 2021 budget to services that
strengthen our community like services for: homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lackof opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
-- Erin Tope
From:Patrick Leonard
To:Agenda
Subject:In regards to the budget. (Resident of 406 W. Mendenhall)
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 5:29:10 PM
Hi! My name is Patrick Leonard. I live at 406 W. Mendenhall. I'm writing in regards to the
proposed budget increase for the police force. Sorry, not a fan. I know y'all are getting tons ofemails about this and I share probably most of the reasoning in those, so pretend that's in here
as well. Here is my more specific, personal reason.
The police are often used as the treatment to a problem. Those problems are often varied andnot necessarily something that the police are trained in treating, but we use them anyway. This
is unfair to the community and also unfair to the police. They can't be everything. And theyshouldn't have to be. Otherwise we might as well roll being fire fighters into their job
description as well.
If the funding goes towards community programs that are aimed at success in the community(which I'm going go call prevention in this case), we won't need the treatment (the police).
And I would much rather have a successful community. Wouldn't you? Police don't createsuccessful communities, they're just bandages.
Anyway, that's my thoughts on it. I think I'm supposed to ask for a delay in the budget
proposal. Just think of someone who said it in the most eloquent manner. Thinking of them?Good. Ditto to what they said.
Thank you for your time,
Patrick Leonard
From:Kelsey Clark
To:Agenda
Subject:budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 5:19:42 PM
I am concerned with the proposed increase in police funding. Recent events around the
country have drawn attention to the issues with expecting increased policing to solve all of oursocietal problems, and I would rather see funds directed towards housing, mental health care
and crisis response, addiction treatment, education, etc. Police departments can forever absorbmore resources without making us any safer- and in fact while having a negative impact on the
community. I encourage the city to reduce the police budget and redirect resources to addressthe root cause of problems, and remove responsibilities from the police to agencies and
programs better suited to dealing with them in a productive rather than punitive framework.
Kelsey Clark, Bozeman resident
From:Ellie Polk
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 5:18:08 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities fromcrime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United States
are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that isless dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage
of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% ofviolent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their
investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes ofcrime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income
housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-health services are whatkeep a community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes
up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly invest in othernecessary services(3).
Citations
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.html
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-you-can-find-out
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
Sent from my iPhone
From:Kathryn Schmidt
To:Agenda
Subject:My Concerns with Bozeman"s Proposed City Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 5:14:12 PM
To whom it may concern,
After reading through Bozeman's recommended budget for 2021, I feel that the city is
allotting far too many funds for the police and not nearly enough on funds that wouldstrengthen our community.
Nearly a third of the proposed city budget is going to the police. This is in spite of the fact that
the crime rate in Bozeman is projected to decrease and is already significantly lower than thatof other similar communities in Montana.
While I appreciate that the police department is utilizing a co-responder model with a therapist
for mental health calls, it would be much more effective to re-allocate the funds provided tothe police to programs that would make mental health services available and affordable to the
entire community.
I am demanding that the city reconsider the proposed budget to redistribute funds from thepolice budget, and to put those funds towards programs that will better our community. These
programs include, but are not limited to:
Increased access to and opportunities for affordable housing.
More programs that address homelessness, substance abuse, and domestic violence, andthat are led by qualified and trained social workers.
Legislature that directly addresses discrimination based on race.Affordable, and therefore accessible, mental health services for everyone.
Quality community education.
It is not only impossible for the police to address all of the issues in the community, but alsounfair. By redistributing the police budget to other programs, we can take the pressure off of
the police to solve every problem in the community and also ensure that the people who aremost qualified to be addressing these problems (ie. social workers, therapists, etc.) are the ones
being given the adequate funds to solve the problems.
Investing in our community and providing access to these incredibly important social servicesis what will protect our community from crime.
Again, I am demanding that the city reconsider the proposed budget. One-third of the general
fund should not be given to the police. Instead, that money should be redistributed to invest inour community and to implement programs that will address the underlying causes of crime.
Thank you,
Kathryn Schmidt
From:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: Next Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 4:34:53 PM
Importance:Low
Chris Mehl
Mayor, City of Bozeman
cmehl@bozeman.net
406.581.4992
________________________________________
From: Elaine SAMUELSON [sammotox@msn.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2020 4:16 PM
To: Chris Mehl; Cyndy Andrus; Michael Wallner; Terry Cunningham; I-Ho Pomeroy
Cc: Steve Crawford; brian.gootkin@gallatin.mt.gov; joe.skinner@gallatin.mt.gov; scott.mcfarlane@gallatin.mt.net;
don.seifert@gallatin.mt.gov
Subject: Next Budget
I have never written to the Bozeman City Commission before, but feel compelled to express my opinion and
concern about the recent comments from minority groups in the city whose “main goal”, as stated in the June 14,
2020 Bozeman Daily Chronicle, is to delay the ”budget’s timeline”. They are also “exploring options for
developing an alternative budget that redistributes police funding to social services”.
While I agree that there is a real need for funding for social services, I do not agree that redistributing funds for the
police department is the correct road to take. If anything, our police department could use more funding to continue
the fine job they are doing to keep crime numbers low and protect the people of all diversities safe. There needs to
be adequate funds for personnel, equipment and yes, training for these fine individuals to be able to handle all
situations that arise which they are called upon to respond to. All citizens want to continue to feel safe in this
wonderful community as I do now. What do theses groups really want? If police iare funded less and there are
fewer officers, who do we call if someone is breaking into our homes—a social worker? Don’t think that would
work so well. But social programs do have a very important role, but not at the expense of our fine police.
I have attended the Civilian Police Academies provided by both the city and county and see what all our law
enforcement is called upon to do. Perhaps these special interest groups should attend these educational
opportunities and they would learn that our police take diversity very seriously and all act according.
Please leave the proposed amount of approximately 30% of the budget for the police as is and DO NOT redistribute
these funds. We must be able to maintain law and order from those that wish to disrupt our community.
Thank you for your vote against redistributing police funds.
Elaine Samuelson
262 S Hanley Ave
Bozeman, MT 59718
406-284-2579
From:Justin Dhein
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 4:33:58 PM
To whom it may concern:
After watching 13th (documentary on Netflix) and reading more about the history and
modern impacts of policing, I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021
allots far too much money for policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our
community. As you are probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the
Police” all across this country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna
Taylor at the hands of the police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful
protestors in the aftermath. These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban
areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Thanks,
Justin
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Adam Chenoweth
To:Agenda
Subject:Extend Comment Period/Defund Police
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 4:22:41 PM
Dear Bozeman City Commission,
As a resident of Bozeman I feel we should be on the progressive side of history, working for
equity in our community rather than the status quo. The current budget proposal provides toomuch money for police, and institution that perpetuates systemic racism. I would like to see
that money invested in a homeless shelter, and affordable housing instead. Additionally pleaseextend the comment period to allow more public input, and a more specific proposal for
reallocating those funds. For additional information I echo the statements of Bozeman Unitedfor Racial Justice below:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities fromcrime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United States
are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that isless dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage
of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% ofviolent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their
investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes ofcrime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income
housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-health services are whatkeep a community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes
up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly invest in othernecessary services(3).
Sincerely,
Adam Chenoweth
Citationshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-
no.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-
you-can-find-outhttps://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Cyndy Andrus
To:Agenda
Subject:Fwd: JJSHERMANMD@YAHOO.COM
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 4:20:52 PM
Cynthia Andrus|Deputy Mayor
City of BozemanP:406.582.2383|E:candrus@bozeman.net|W: www.bozeman.net
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Bozeman, MT" <webadmin@bozeman.net>Date: June 13, 2020 at 9:28:05 AM MDTTo: Cyndy Andrus <CAndrus@BOZEMAN.NET>Subject: JJSHERMANMD@YAHOO.COMReply-To: JERALD SHERMAN <JJSHERMANMD@YAHOO.COM>
Message submitted from the <City Of Bozeman> website.
Site Visitor Name: JERALD SHERMANSite Visitor Email: JJSHERMANMD@YAHOO.COM
I have lived in Bozeman for 20 years. I have nothing but praise for our law
enforcement.The recent suggestion of defunding is rediculous. The reality is that Bozeman has
had a steady increse in crime over the past 20 years, and the police budget shouldbe increased to accomidate for this situation.
If any action is needed , it should be to institute more training in proper use offorce and race relations.
From:Cyndy Andrus
To:Agenda
Subject:Fwd: Paint and police
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 4:20:25 PM
Cynthia Andrus|Deputy Mayor
City of BozemanP:406.582.2383|E:candrus@bozeman.net|W: www.bozeman.net
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Bozeman, MT" <webadmin@bozeman.net>Date: June 14, 2020 at 9:52:51 AM MDTTo: Cyndy Andrus <CAndrus@BOZEMAN.NET>Subject: Paint and policeReply-To: C A Barrios <Eastern1723@yahoo.com>
Message submitted from the <City Of Bozeman> website.
Site Visitor Name: C A BarriosSite Visitor Email: Eastern1723@yahoo.com
I am against painting anything on any street in the city limits of bozeman. No
authorization should be given to do so and/or cleanup expenses paid. If it is doneillegally, the act should be prosecuted. They are not above the law in regard to
defacing our public property.
Police are needed in our city for safety. I request no major defunding. I have readthe budget and submitted my suggestions. Do not be swayed by angry unhappy
people. Many residents want a safe secure place for themselves and their families.This one reason we why we live in Montana. We need law and order in some
form for the protection of all citizens.
Please act responsibly.
From:Cyndy Andrus
To:Agenda
Subject:Fwd: 2021 Budget...
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 4:20:07 PM
Cynthia Andrus|Deputy Mayor
City of BozemanP:406.582.2383|E:candrus@bozeman.net|W: www.bozeman.net
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Bozeman, MT" <webadmin@bozeman.net>Date: June 14, 2020 at 2:06:13 PM MDTTo: Cyndy Andrus <CAndrus@BOZEMAN.NET>Subject: 2021 Budget...Reply-To: Wilma Toth <rosetoth@gmail.com>
Message submitted from the <City Of Bozeman> website.
Site Visitor Name: Wilma TothSite Visitor Email: rosetoth@gmail.com
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much
money for policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen ourcommunity. As you are probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to
“Defund the Police” all across this country in response to the murders of GeorgeFloyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police, and the acts of police
brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath. These calls are not,and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our
communities from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrestedevery year in the United States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of
drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol ortobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage of violent crimes. The
most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% of violentcrimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their
investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlyingcauses of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity.
Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, andadequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very
much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s
proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly invest in other necessaryservices(3).
Thank you, Rose Toth
From:Cyndy Andrus
To:Agenda; Jeff Mihelich
Subject:Fwd: Next Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 4:19:50 PM
Cynthia Andrus|Deputy Mayor
City of BozemanP:406.582.2383|E:candrus@bozeman.net|W: www.bozeman.net
Begin forwarded message:
From: Elaine SAMUELSON <sammotox@msn.com>Date: June 14, 2020 at 4:16:30 PM MDTTo: Chris Mehl <CMehl@BOZEMAN.NET>, Cyndy Andrus<CAndrus@BOZEMAN.NET>, Michael Wallner
<mwallner@BOZEMAN.NET>, Terry Cunningham<TCunningham@BOZEMAN.NET>, I-Ho Pomeroy
<IPomeroy@BOZEMAN.NET>Cc: Steve Crawford <SCrawford@BOZEMAN.NET>,
"brian.gootkin@gallatin.mt.gov" <brian.gootkin@gallatin.mt.gov>,"joe.skinner@gallatin.mt.gov" <joe.skinner@gallatin.mt.gov>,
"scott.mcfarlane@gallatin.mt.net" <scott.mcfarlane@gallatin.mt.net>,"don.seifert@gallatin.mt.gov" <don.seifert@gallatin.mt.gov>Subject: Next Budget
I have never written to the Bozeman City Commission before, but feel compelled to
express my opinion and concern about the recent comments from minority groups in
the city whose “main goal”, as stated in the June 14, 2020 Bozeman Daily Chronicle, is
to delay the ”budget’s timeline”. They are also “exploring options for developing an
alternative budget that redistributes police funding to social services”.
While I agree that there is a real need for funding for social services, I do not agree that
redistributing funds for the police department is the correct road to take. If anything,
our police department could use more funding to continue the fine job they are doing
to keep crime numbers low and protect the people of all diversities safe. There needs
to be adequate funds for personnel, equipment and yes, training for these fine
individuals to be able to handle all situations that arise which they are called upon to
respond to. All citizens want to continue to feel safe in this wonderful community as I
do now. What do theses groups really want? If police iare funded less and there are
fewer officers, who do we call if someone is breaking into our homes—a social
worker? Don’t think that would work so well. But social programs do have a very
important role, but not at the expense of our fine police.
I have attended the Civilian Police Academies provided by both the city and county and
see what all our law enforcement is called upon to do. Perhaps these special interest
groups should attend these educational opportunities and they would learn that our
police take diversity very seriously and all act according.
Please leave the proposed amount of approximately 30% of the budget for the police
as is and DO NOT redistribute these funds. We must be able to maintain law and order
from those that wish to disrupt our community.
Thank you for your vote against redistributing police funds.
Elaine Samuelson
262 S Hanley Ave
Bozeman, MT 59718
406-284-2579
From:Katrina Eller
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 3:34:09 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds better designed to strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police and to the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tell us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime: homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. Bozeman PD’s budget
takes up a third of the city’s proposal(3). I would very much like to see this budget
reevaluated so that this city can invest more fully in other necessary services.
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Kimberly Korzym
To:Agenda
Subject:Proposed Budget Concerns
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 3:21:42 PM
Hello,
I am concerned about the proposed municipal budget for 2021. I believe the budget allocates
too much money for policing and too little in community programs and assistance.
Bozeman does not need a large police budget to protect our community. Our budget would gofurther (in safety and enrichment) if the Bozeman PD budget was REDUCED and a portion of
those funds moved elsewhere. We should support fixing problems at the root (ie:homelessness, drug addiction, lack of opportunity, discrimination) instead of boosting the
police to clean up after these things have left their mark.
We need more money to be spent on tackling affordable housing, education,employment/training opportunities, and mental health.
I recommend decreasing the BPD budget so that we may instead invest in programs that make
a positive impact on those in our wonderful community. Let's focus on helping those whoneed it instead of locking them up. Let's focus on meaningful change at the city level and
show the rest of Montana, and the country, that it can be done.
Thank you for your service to our community.
Kim KorzymBozeman Resident & Voter
From:Nick Popiel
To:Agenda
Subject:Police Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 3:18:41 PM
I have some comments I would like to voice about the proposed increase in the Police budget.
I believe the City of Bozeman should dismantle or abolish the police department, and allocatethe funds for education, BIPOC members whose economic, food, or health needs are not being
met, and safe places for the homeless to stay. Social services, not punishment.
If we can’t afford to pay for social services, or for homeless people on the streets to havedecent lives, then I do not want my taxes being used to FURTHER increase the police budget,
which is already too high. Defund the police and invest in people! People with guns arerealistically rarely needed, and police are not property trained or equipped to deal with all of
societies problems.
Creating new systems to help people without use of police is a solution that creates more jobsfor people in Bozeman while also providing real help to more people in Bozeman, and would
also benefit the police officers! In my own experience with Bozeman PD, I have beeninvoluntary taken from my home after a wellness check, and it was traumatizing to have
several white men with their hands on their guns at my house commanding me what to do. Ineeded empathy, not authority, and so do most people. Invest in us, not violence police and
Carceral logic!
Nick Popiel 59715
From:Tucker Bowman
To:Agenda
Subject:Proposed Budget for Bozeman
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 3:16:32 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money forpolicing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communitiesfrom crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the UnitedStates are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco. Additionally, police solve a smallpercentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solvesless than 30% of violent crimes in our community. What keeps communities safe fromcrime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the
underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack ofopportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, andadequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much liketo see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so thatthis city can more properly invest in other necessary services. Thank you and I hope youare having a great day.
Best,Tucker Bowman
From:Jo Bechtold
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 3:13:07 PM
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for policing and far too little
for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to
“Defund the Police” all across this country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the
hands of the police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath. These calls
are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities from crime. This is simply
not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United States are arrested on drug charges, and the
majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1).
Additionally, police solve a small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their
investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes of crime; homelessness,
addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable
employment, and adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like to see
the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly
invest in other necessary services(3).
Citations
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.html
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-you-can-find-out
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: 2021 City Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 3:10:44 PM
Chris Mehl
Mayor, City of Bozemancmehl@bozeman.net406.581.4992________________________________________From: webadmin@bozeman.net [webadmin@bozeman.net]Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2020 2:07 PMTo: Chris MehlSubject: 2021 City Budget
Message submitted from the <City Of Bozeman> website.
Site Visitor Name: M3SXRose TothSite Visitor Email: rosetoth@gmail.com
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for policing and far too littlefor funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to“Defund the Police” all across this country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at thehands of the police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath. These callsare not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities from crime. This is simplynot true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United States are arrested on drug charges, and themajority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1).Additionally, police solve a small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PDsolves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not theirinvestments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes of crime; homelessness,addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stableemployment, and adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like to seethe Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properlyinvest in other necessary services(3).Thank you, Rose Toth
From:Erika Share
To:Agenda
Subject:my thoughts on upcoming budget proposal
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 2:35:24 PM
I stand in solidarity with many in my concern for the allotment of funding for policing over
other programs in which trained officials protect our communities through empathetic means.I believe Bozeman is a wonderful home and we can do better, be better for everyone here.
The majority of people arrested every year in the United States are arrested on drug charges,and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is less dangerous than either
alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentage of violent crimes. Themost recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our
community (2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not their investments in police,but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes of crime; homelessness,
addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income housing, qualityeducation, stable employment, and adequate mental-health services are what keep a
community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up afull ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly invest in other necessary
services(3).
Citations
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.html
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-
you-can-find-out
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
Erika Share
636.675.0181Share Productions
From:Brooke S Bocast
To:Agenda
Subject:Municipal budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 2:18:59 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am writing as a citizen of Bozeman with some thoughts on the proposed municipal budget. I
would like to see a reduction in spending on the Bozeman PD and an increase in spending on
social services to improve mental healthcare, homeless services, and drug addiction services in
our community. Let's support all of our neighbors to live healthy and fulfilling lives. Thank you for
your time.
Best,
Brooke Bocast
-- Brooke Bocast, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Montana State UniversityBozeman, Montana 59717USA
From:Molly Melzer
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 1:57:56 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
Thanks,
Molly Melzer
From:Danielle Daley
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns Regarding Proposed Budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 1:50:28 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots too much money for
policing and too little for funds that more effectively strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
While Bozeman is not an urban area, our community has a responsibility to set policy,
budget, and legislative agendas that provide for and protect all members of our hometown.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,Dani
Dani Daley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-daley-1b9251115/
(c) 406.274.0518
(e) danidaley406@gmail.com
From:Heather Myers
To:Agenda
Subject:Decrease the police budget, invest in community programs
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 1:30:13 PM
Hi, my name is Heather Myers, and I am a resident of Bozeman. I am writing in support of
decreasing the budget allocation to Bozeman police.
With the many recent deaths at the hands of police across the United States, it has becomeclear to me that there is a real need for change in our law enforcement systems. We need to
simultaneously decrease our reliance on police to respond to problems in our community andincrease our investment in community programs that will reduce the need for police
intervention.
Many situations police are asked to respond to, such as mental health crises, homelessness,drug overdoses and school discipline situations, would be better handled by other
professionals who have specific training and are unarmed. Some of the police responses tothese types of calls turn tragic.
According to a study by the Treatment Advocacy Center, at least one in four people killed by
police suffers from untreated severe mental illness. The shootings of LaQuan McDonald,Charles Kinsey and Deborah Danner are some of the many examples of this problem.
Meanwhile, police officers in schools have not been shown to increase school safety, but they
do put more students in contact with the law enforcement system for minor disciplinary issues.
Meanwhile, Bozeman has a seriously inadequate safety net for many of its most vulnerableresidents. There is no year-round homeless shelter. There continues to be a shortage of
affordable housing. Mental health care and treatment for addiction aren't accessible enough.
While some are calling for increasing the police budget to fund reforms such as body camerasand increased training, these changes have not had a good track record in effecting change
where they have been implemented. Please invest instead in housing, mental healthcare,addiction programs and school counselors.
Sincerely,
Heather Myers
N 9th Ave, Bozeman
From:Zach Schutte
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 1:00:48 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably
aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this country inresponse to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police, and
the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath. These calls arenot, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities from
crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United Statesare arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a drug that is
less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a small percentageof violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD solves less than 30% of
violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe from crime is not theirinvestments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes of
crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-incomehousing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-health services are what
keep a community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takesup a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly invest in other
necessary services(3).
Citations1. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-
say-no.html2. https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-
you-can-find-out3. https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Kelly Odermann
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 12:40:49 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Thank you for your time and for working for a better Bozeman.
Kelly Odermann
From:Madison N
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 12:31:34 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Thank you for your time.
Best,
Madison Nelson
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Holtquist, Alaina
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 12:24:54 PM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
Thank you for your consideration in change,
Alaina Holtquist
From:Eric Thompson
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns for one third of our budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 11:57:40 AM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money forpolicing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communitiesfrom crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the UnitedStates are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve asmall percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PDsolves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safefrom crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack ofopportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, andadequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much liketo see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so thatthis city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Citationshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-outhttps://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Madeline Vinson
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 11:49:17 AM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:agenda@bozeman.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Thank you for your public comment.
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 11:23:04 AM
A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted.
Form Name:Public Comment Form
Date & Time:06/14/2020 11:22 AM
Response #:421
Submitter ID:27595
IP address:2600:6c67:5180:5728:500a:6c4f:1516:7cc2
Time to complete:12 min. , 19 sec.
Survey Details
Page 1
Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options.
Public comment may also be given at any public meeting.
Email:
agenda@bozeman.net
Mail to:
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
In-person delivery to:
Due to City Hall's closure in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person delivery of comments is not
available until further notice.
First Name Louis
Last Name Walters
Email Address lwknuj@yahoo.com
Phone Number 4066000211
Comments
I would like to see the committee continue to fund the police department, as needed. That being said, we
don't want to just fund an arms race between cops and crime as the city grows. I would also like to see the
commission take proactive steps to reduce crime and the burden on the police and support the growing
population by expanding funding for community services, especially mental health access.
I don't know the current police department hiring criteria, training requirements, or degree of conduct
oversight and accountability enforcement, so no changes may be necessary. But as the Bozeman
population continues to grow and become more diverse the city needs to make sure the police treat all its
citizens equally with dignity and respect.
If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt)
along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure
receipt of all information.
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. Please do not reply
directly to this email.
From:emily kimmel
To:Agenda
Subject:support for rethinking the budget for the police department
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 11:08:18 AM
Hello,
I would like to voice my support for not raising the funding of the police department in this
round of budget negotiations. It is a perfect time to at least freeze the budget and take a look
at how the department functions. I would support the analysis of characterizations of the
various functions that Bozeman police currently perform; in order to ask whether interactions
during mental health crises or issues arising from being homeless, or needing addition
counseling, could be better served by other (perhaps new or refashioned) departments.
I like the ideas being raised around rethinking public safety departments and not having the
police force serve as the umbrella organization that is supposed to meet all needs.
I feel like our current Bozeman system leans toward an outdated "broken windows"
methodology, and I think it's time to set a far different tone and recognize the weaknesses in
that group of theories. My reason for thinking there is a broken windows tilt is having been
pulled over on an approximately monthly basis when I was driving around my raggedy old
1996 Jetta with a taped-over tail light. I am frugal and I wasn't going to replace the car until it
died (in 2019). I was so disappointed to be pulled over so frequently for no other apparent
reason than the car being junky. I didn't receive tickets for infractions. It honestly seemed like
assumptions were being made that someone in such a janky car must be a janky person. It was
so frustrating.
Anyways, I hope you'll hit the pause button on the police budget and investigate some of the
really interesting suggestions being made about how to improve community-tailored public
safety. Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Emily Kimmel
Bozeman, MT
From:Nick Zachman
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 11:06:25 AM
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across thiscountry in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the UnitedStates are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, adrug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve asmall percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safefrom crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attackthe underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack ofopportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much liketo see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so thatthis city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Citationshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-statistics-say-no.html
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-now-you-can-find-outhttps://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
From:Isabel Colón
To:Agenda
Subject:Budget Concerns
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 10:23:10 AM
Hello,
I am a Bozeman resident who has major concerns about the safety of our community if more
money is given to the police budget than to other programs. I am writing to ask that youDECREASE the police budget and instead give that money to programs in our city that will
help decrease crime more than police officers. These programs are: homelessness, education,housing, stable employment, and mental health care. We need money to go to these programs
to make sure our community has equal access to things that will actually keep us safe.Increasing the police budget will only make some feel unsafe. Please decrease the police
budget.
Thank you, Isabel
From:Kristen McDeavitt
To:Agenda
Subject:Proposed budget concerns
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 9:41:27 AM
I wanted to write to express my concern that the proposed budget for Bozeman has
misplaced its priorities. In particular, I am concerned that the budget for police is too high,
and the funding for community services too low.
Police are not the force that keeps our community safe. In fact, it seems that Bozeman
police are already overfunded, and must aimlessly roam the streets waiting for a traffic
violation. They do not need 1/3 of the municipal budget.
Instead, I would rather see that same funding go towards actually building up our
community. Schools, the library, public transportation, affordable housing, parks, mental
health services, the HRDC--that is where I want to see Bozeman allocate its funding.
As many other cities around the nation are calling for defunding the police, I believe
Bozeman should join them. Bozeman is a great place to live--let's make it better.
Thank you,
Kristen McDeavitt
From:Isabel Colón
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 8:29:02 AM
To whom it may concern:
I would like you to decrease the police budget.
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money forpolicing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you areprobably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across thiscountry in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of thepolice, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communitiesfrom crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, adrug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco. Additionally, police solve a smallpercentage of violent crimes. What keeps communities safe from crime is not theirinvestments in police, but their investments in programs that attack the underlying causes
of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and adequate mental-healthservices are what keep a community safe. I would very much like to see the Bozeman PD’sbudget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that this city can more properly
invest in other necessary services.
Thank you, Isabel Colon
From:Amelia Thompson
To:Agenda
Subject:Concerns regarding proposed budget
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 8:06:57 AM
To whom it may concern:
I echo the following letter, which you may have received from others in our community. My
emphasis on the collective concern is that of considering distributing a portion of police funds to
mental health services. It’s largely maxed out in the valley, and that limits access to services to
particularly troubled individuals. In addition to funding mental health services, more funding to aid
organizations that help individuals get back in their feet rather than penalize them - help them find
a decent paying job and housing. These go hand in hand:
To whom it may concern:
I am concerned that the proposed municipal budget for 2021 allots far too much money for
policing and far too little for funds that actually strengthen our community. As you are
probably aware, there has been a tidal wave of calls to “Defund the Police” all across this
country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the
police, and the acts of police brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors in the aftermath.
These calls are not, and should not be, confined to large urban areas.
Many people claim that massive police budgets are necessary to protect our communities
from crime. This is simply not true. The majority of people arrested every year in the United
States are arrested on drug charges, and the majority of drug arrests are for marijuana, a
drug that is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco(1). Additionally, police solve a
small percentage of violent crimes. The most recent data tells us that the Bozeman PD
solves less than 30% of violent crimes in our community(2). What keeps communities safe
from crime is not their investments in police, but their investments in programs that attack
the underlying causes of crime; homelessness, addiction, discrimination, and lack of
opportunity. Access to low-income housing, quality education, stable employment, and
adequate mental-health services are what keep a community safe. I would very much like
to see the Bozeman PD’s budget, which takes up a full ⅓ of the city’s proposal, cut, so that
this city can more properly invest in other necessary services(3).
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Amelia Thompson
Citations
1.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/upshot/is-the-war-on-drugs-over-arrest-
statistics-say-no.html
2.
https://www.npr.org/2015/03/30/395799413/how-many-crimes-do-your-police-clear-
now-you-can-find-out
3.
https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=10356
From:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: Police funds
Date:Sunday, June 14, 2020 6:34:57 AM
Chris Mehl
Mayor, City of Bozemancmehl@bozeman.net406.581.4992________________________________________From: webadmin@bozeman.net [webadmin@bozeman.net]Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2020 11:55 PMTo: Chris MehlSubject: Police funds
Message submitted from the <City Of Bozeman> website.
Site Visitor Name: ShawnaSite Visitor Email: Slongie2003@yahoo.com
To whom it may concern,
It has surfaced that there is a group writing the city commission demanding you to redistribute police funds. I amwriting this email in opposition of their demands and I hope many others will do the same.
As I'm sure you're aware our LEO'S are a vital part to our valley, every community and our whole state. I hope thatyou ALL will go against these demands and shut down the requests to defund or "redistribute" funds. You are ourcity leaders, it's time to take the lead rope and stand up to these people. If you don't take a stand now it's only goingto get worse.
Please, do what is right, do what is hard and please do not fall to their requests. I hope that in your hearts you allknow what is right. It's never easy saying no but it's the right thing to do.
Please share this with your city commissioners. Thank you for your time.
Shawna Longie5th generation MontananSupporter of our LEO'S