Letter to NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer

June 2020
​To the Honorable Scott Stringer,

During these few months of 2020 so many things have happened but the one that shook me to the core was the death of Geroge Floyd and the brutality of police getting out of hand. I am a seventh grade student of Achievement First Apollo Middle in Brooklyn, New York. Police brutality has been happening for years and no matter what people of color did it would never stop. But there was one thing that did shock me which is the amount of funding the police department gets when there are other important services that are not. So, the funding the police get should be decreased because they don’t deserve it when so many problems arise because of them. 

The police department's purpose is to manage crime. But in recent data, it shows that abused women of over 80% said that they wouldn’t call the police because they would be scared that their abuser wouldn’t get the proper convenience and would come back and do it again. In a recent poll of homeless people in Seattle said that they would rather call a mental health technician to help them instead of a cop. Also, as it's a cop job to manage crime it has been said that social services are proven more effective for crime prevention.

While NYC has a budget of $6 billion police itself, Mayor De Blasio had $800 million cuts to the Department of education. There would also be $5 million cuts to the SONYC after school program for middle school students. 4 in 5 people have not called the police in emergencies because they were afraid that the cops wouldn't do anything and that they would only make the situation worse. When social problems are unaddressed they lead to high crime rates because if they fund social services that help people others will get the proper care they need. 
​
Therefore, as a government official, you have the power to help defund the police and use the money to fund more reasonable places that would help NY as a whole. For example like schools so students can get all the resources they need and new experiences through trips. Some of the $6 billion could also go to after school programs so people can feel safe within their community and etc.  If you can help in any way possible please get back to me.

Sincerely,
Oluwadamilola A. Kehinde
8th Grade Student
Achievement First Apollo Middle School