At long last: Sacramento council members question a cop budget

Voices: River City

Today we discuss a fascinating Sacramento City Council meeting discussing a proposed Sacramento Police Department budget that left at least three members on the dais questioning why we consider to spend our money on resources that simply do not prevent crime.

First, Councilmember Valenzuela asked the big questions on our city's insufficient data surrounding emergency calls, and whether cops or mental health professionals should be responding to them.

(Valenzuela was also interrupted by an incredibly rude City Manager Howard Chan, who is very defensive of his bad budget choices.)

We then heard from Councilmember Caity Maple, who may have turned over a new leaf. She questions the cops' ShotSpotter program and its efficacy. Should we really be throwing our money toward an unreliable program that yields so few results, or should tax dollars go toward actually helping our most vulnerable neighbors?

Finally, Councilmember Mai Vang asks the big question on why--in a world where Sacramento police can't fill 101 vacant cop positions--they're still allowed to toy with the $14+ million set aside for these roles that will never come to be.

Even Mayor Darrell Steinberg came out with some promising public safety rhetoric.

Is it a new day in Sacramento? The final weeks of budget debate will tell.

Thanks for listening and, as always:

Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you

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