Santa Clara City Council Members Raj Chahal, Kevin Park, Karen Hardy and Suds Jain Voted to Cut Police Dept. Funding
During the March 9, 2021 Santa Clara City Council Meeting, Councilwoman Karen Hardy made the motion to cut the Police Department Budget. It was seconded by Vice Mayor Raj Chahal. Council members Kevin Park and Suds Jain supported the police cuts.
Mayor Lisa Gillmor, Council members Kathy Watanabe and Anthony Becker voted against the police cuts.
Crime Rates Increasing in Santa Clara
Santa Clara Police Chief Police Pat Nikolai responded to City Council questions about crime stats showing a major increases in rape, robbery, and burglary. And there’s a huge increase in vehicle thefts.
That means about 8 fewer police officers will be patrolling Santa Clara streets and 15 total positions will be frozen and could be cut later from our police department.
The Council had a good alternative. They could have taken about $1.6 million in funds from a “rainy day” budget stabilization fund to avoid the cuts, but the majority decided not to.
The fund still has over $57 million in it after the Council decision.
