Police Reform

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Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Eric Garner… These are just a few examples of the tragic killings of Black people in this country at the hands of the police. But this is not a crisis that just affects other parts of this nation; this is a problem right here in Los Angeles. Andres Guardado, an eighteen year old security guard shot by L.A. Sheriffs in June 2020 while running away. Dijon Kizzee, a man shot more than twenty times by L.A. Sheriffs in August 2020, again while running away. These are just two of the names of fellow Angelenos killed by those who are supposed to protect and serve.

Aren't we tired of watching cops murder people without consequences? Aren't we tired of waiting for our leaders to fix things while so many people are dying?

When some people hear slogans like "defund the police," they fear that this will mean more crime, more deaths, and more problems. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our administration will fight to reallocate just some of the $1.7 billion dollars  currently spent on the LAPD yearly, and use it for social workers, mental healthcare, and other social services. When someone is suicidal, the presence of an officer with a gun can make the situation worse. Many people are afraid of police officers: the badge scares them, the threat of jail scares them, a gun scares them. But a mental health professional — someone without a gun, someone trained in crisis intervention and de-escalation — could save a life.

My campaign recognizes that Black Lives Matter and will work to dismantle a system that has allowed members of our community to be intimidated, brutalized, and killed.