HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-22-21 Public Comment - B. Finnegan - BudgetFrom:Benjamin Finnegan
To:Agenda
Subject:[SENDER UNVERIFIED]Public Comment 6/22 re: Police Budget
Date:Tuesday, June 22, 2021 8:19:29 PM
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Dear City Commissioners,
My name is Benjamin Finegan. I am a Bozeman resident at 1010 S 6th Ave.
I wanted to submit public comment in writing regarding the proposed police budget of nearly
$11 million.
As a longtime Bozemanite, young person, person of color, renter, and someone who has hadmany friends and family directly impacted by policing and incarceration, I felt called to
strongly voice my opposition to the proposed police budget, and the budget increase.
More than ever, Bozeman needs every dime we can get to end houselessness, support thosewith mental health and addiction issues, support the education of young and low-income
young people, build community, and care for our community's basic needs. By meeting ourcommunity's basic needs, crimes related to poverty, mental health, addiction, trauma, lack of
community support, etc. are addressed at their source in a sustainable way that does notsubject your community to the violence of policing.
I urge the commission to divest in policing, and invest in long-term social services/programs
and in non-police alternative 911 responders better equipped to de-escalate, support, andresource people. Bozeman's money needs to go towards meeting our needs, not to a larger
police force.