ACTION ALERT: Support Public Safety TOMORROW in Mid-Year Budget Update
Hi Neighbor, With certain crime trends on the rise this year, I am writing to let you know that the City Council will be voting at its meeting TOMORROW, Tues., Dec. 14 on whether to make important public safety investments. Shootings are on the rise, and this violence disproportionately harms West and South Berkeley. Our city has experienced at least 48 confirmed gunfire calls to date in 2021, compared to 39 at this time in 2020, according to Berkeleyside (as of Dec. 9). In 2019, there were 28 shootings for the year. Vehicle theft is also on the rise. At the Nov. 30 Council meeting, Police Chief Jen Louis stated that more than 1,000 vehicle thefts have occurred to date in 2021, compared to 805 cases for all of 2020.…