San Diego Approves Increased Police Budget Amid Cries to "Defund" Police

The San Diego City Council voted 8-1 to adopt the proposed budget for the 2021 fiscal year of that city's police department, increasing funding for the agency by $27 million.

According to NBC News , the newly approved budget includes the creation of a city Office of Race and Equity to tackle racial equity issues.

Councilwoman Monica Montgomery proposed the creation of the new entity, saying, "As elected officials, we must honestly and genuinely address the root causes of the local protests — the inequity in enforcement and the systemic racism that is prevalent in our region."

Councilmember Chris Ward cast the only dissenting vote, saying on Twitter, "We need to allocate more funding into rental assistance, small business assistance, we need to put federal dollars to use for the people who need it. I don't think we've gone far enough."

Anti-police protestors across the country have for several weeks been calling for "defunding" of police agencies following the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May.