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Berkeley council launches public-safety overhaul but rejects immediate 50% defund motion
Summary
After hours of public comment and debate, the City Council approved an omnibus referral to begin a data‑driven reimagining of public safety (audits, pilot mental‑health responses, a non‑police DOT and planning steps). Councilmember Cheryl Davila’s standalone motion to cut the police budget by 50% and immediately reallocate funds failed to win a majority.
The Berkeley City Council voted late Tuesday to send a consolidated, multi‑part plan to staff for a data‑driven reimagining of public safety while declining a standalone motion to slash the police budget by half immediately. The package approved by the council bundles audits of 911/call responses and police spending, pilot programs to expand non‑police crisis response, and work toward a new Department of Transportation to remove traffic enforcement from armed officers.
The council’s omnibus referral will fund an expanded audit of police calls, budget line items and expenditures to identify which police functions could be reassigned; it also directs staff to stand up community‑centered pilot programs and develop timelines tied to upcoming budget cycles. Mayor (role) said the aim is to “innovate” and produce options that can be implemented in phases, tied to the city’s budget calendar so dollars can be reallocated as alternatives are ready.
Why it matters: Public testimony at the meeting was dominated by hundreds of callers representing every city district who urged decisive action after…
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