Where's the money?

Let's break down the proposed budget: What does it say about our city's priorities?

​

notes:

Information:

Infographic/visuals: "this is the size of the police budget, this is more than all of these other departments combined"

read the full budget here

[maybe annotated budget? or a breakdown of our analysis/critiques?]

 

Video of press conference - where’s our money??

​

TALKING POINTS (taken from Press Release I don't think we need all this, but some of our own analysis/breakdown of the budget would be good I think)

NOT A “RE-IMAGINED” BUDGET:

• We can not continue to direct millions of unaccountable dollars into a racist police force with supposed training in de-escalation, but no ability to successfully demonstrate that training or display empathy or compassion. They must not be the first responders to a community they antagonize and harass on a daily basis. If the BPD refuses to change, then we must change where we direct our city’s precious resources.
   

• We are tired of seeing those living with mental health conditions targeted, harassed, and sometimes killed by police. Justice for Kayla Moore and Vincent Bryant.

 

• We must give support and attention to the need for a powerful and well funded mental health crisis response program in Berkeley.  Alameda, SF, and Richmond are already cutting police personnel & allocating funds from their police budget to mental health crisis programs, housing programs and tutoring for impacted students instead of cops in schools. 

 

• We must give support, attention and funding to existing organizations that have already proven themselves willing and capable (Berkeley Free Clinic, Voices Against Violence,  Suitcase Clinic, NEED, Where Do We Go Berkeley, Homeless Action Center) in order to build a solid structure of support across the city and make for a smooth implementation of the SCU with funding coming directly out of BPD.

 

• The current budget proposal includes $1 million for security cameras and lighting in areas that have been identified as crime “hot spots”, i.e. inroads from the surrounding communities of color. This is racist rhetoric disguised as community safety and we’re sick of it. Community advocates are challenging the tired refrain that more surveillance will make our community safer. We need to address the roots of crime and the vast array of unmet needs in our city.

 

• More bike and foot patrols are proposed in this budget at a cost of almost $1.4 million dollars. Beyond the propaganda value of having “friendly” cops on the street, the actual impact on community health and safety would be much greater if these funds were used to fund the Special Care Unit or another program that actually provides care to those in need.

 

• This budget proposes $4.4 million for police overtime. Last year the Berkeley Police were budgeted for $2.3 million in overtime and they over spent their budget by more than $5 million. We don’t believe that mismanagement of their overtime budget should be rewarded with increased funding.

 

• The lack of transparency and accountability by BPD has eroded the public confidence. Advocates have tried to gain insights into how the BPD administration determines the need for staffing. Is there a formula? What is it based on? Population? Crime statistics? When almost 10% of the sworn officers earn over $400,000 per year in total compensation, the public has a right to know EXACTLY how these resources will be used.

 

• What measures are being examined to determine the effectiveness of BPD’s crime fighting methods? We need the BPD to disclose its clearance rates for crimes in this city and how often they actually even investigate crimes. This information has NOT been presented publicly. Its long past due.

​

AUDIT STATISTICS

• Less than 1% of all calls for service were for violent crimes and that 55% of calls to Berkeley Police came in on their “non-emergency” line.

• Berkeley police failed to capture data on how many calls involved unhoused people or those with mental health issues

• BPD stopped Black people at a significantly higher rate than their representation in the population (34 percent compared to 8 percent)

• The above statistic is almost identical (36% to 8%) as the data found by the Center for Policing Equity audit released in 2018, pointing to a clear pattern of racial bias in Berkeley policing.

• BPD was most likely to search Black and Hispanic people following a stop.

• Traffic events made up the largest percentage of BPD events, 27%, i.e. events that typically involve enforcement of traffic and parking laws, and management of traffic flows. In addition, these calls may involve events pertaining to vehicles, such as collisions or road hazards. This classification also includes pedestrian, bike, suspicious vehicle, and vehicle stops.

​

BUDGET STATISTICS: 

• The police budget was increased from $77.2  million up to $77.8 million

• This budget is a retreat from the goal of 50% defunding that the council agreed to in July 2020. 

• Includes $336,281 for the Office of the Director of Police Accountability (Is this a salary?). City Council did not select any of the recommendations from community groups for the interview process.

• Includes $4.4 million for budgeted BPD overtime. BPD overspent on overtime by $5 million dollars in the previous fiscal year. As of April of 2021, BPD had spent 80% of budgeted overtime, putting them on track once again to exceed their budget.

• There is a single line item titled “Public Safety Reimaging”, with funding amount listed as TBD. 

• There is no line item for the Specialized Care Unit which community organizations within this coalition are calling for funding upwards of $3 million. 

• The mayor says they are committed to funding the SCU in this budget cycle in June. The city manager didn’t even list it. 

• $150,000 Officer Development Training Programs (Fair and Impartial Policing/Implicit Bias/Hate Crimes). Their “training” has not worked for the last 10 years. How is this going to be different? Why do my tax dollars have to fund another failed experiment while Black lives are on the line?