Good evening, mayor and councilmembers.
My name is Nalini Gupta, and I am the policy director of the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties.
The city’s proposed budget overinvests in policing and surveillance at the expense of programs that help San Diegans thrive – including youth, housing and arts programs. I’m here to urge you to pass the People’s Budget, one that reflects safe neighborhoods, strong youth programs and thriving communities.
We urge the city of San Diego to end Flock’s contracts, which cost millions of dollars, undermine trust and threaten privacy. Taxpayer money should not be funding increasingly invasive warrantless searches of San Diego residents and visitors.
End overinvestment in policing, and redirect this money to youth programs, libraries, parks and other services and resources that support families, community members and young people every day.
In a moment where civil rights and liberties are being attacked on a national stage, San Diego should choose a budget that invests in people, not surveillance and criminalization.
Thank you.
