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Community urges supervisors to reserve $200 million of SFPD budget pending reforms
Summary
Multiple family members, youth and advocacy groups urged the Board to adopt Supervisor John Avalos's proposal to hold $200 million of SFPD funds until mandatory use‑of‑force, early intervention, and other reforms are implemented.
At the Budget & Finance Committee—s public comment session, a broad coalition of community groups, bereaved family members, clergy and youth speakers urged supervisors to support a proposal by Supervisor John Avalos to reserve $200 million of the San Francisco Police Department budget until the department implements specific reforms.
Speakers recounted recent police killings and alleged a pattern of excessive force. Jeremy Miller of the Idris Deli Foundation and others called for a data‑driven approach to accountability and urged the Board to use the budget as leverage to secure mandatory de‑escalation rules and an effective early intervention system. "We wholeheartedly endorse the proposed by Supervisor Avalos in the community," said Jeremy Miller.
Father Richard Smith, who described repeated failures in oversight, said the pace of reforms has not been sufficient and urged supervisors to place funding conditions on the department. Multiple youth speakers and family members of people killed in police encounters asked the Board to require minimal use of force language and public reporting of use‑of‑force incidents.
Proponents framed the reserve as a temporary, conditional measure to create consequences for noncompliance and to redirect funds toward community services if reforms are not achieved. There were no formal votes on the Avalos proposal recorded in this hearing; the session was a public comment day and the committee deferred budget items for further Board action.
