Mayor Arreguín and City Council
By email and hand
Re: Use of Measure P funds

Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,

On June 10, 2020, at a Special Meeting of the Homeless Services Panel of Experts (HSPE), Deputy City Manager, David White, presented a plan for the use of Measure P funds to cover gaps left by the current budget deficit. I am writing today on behalf of the League of Women Voters Berkeley Albany Emeryville (LWVBAE) to urge you to ensure that all Measure P Transfer Tax funds be directed specifically to the purpose of alleviating homelessness in our community. The League supports the Measure P budget allocation plan offered last year by the HSPE. We urge the Council to follow the recommendations of the HSPE, allocate all funds generated from the passage of Measure P to directly address and reduce homelessness, and not redirect funds away from this purpose.

In 2018, the LWVBAE came out in strong support of Measure P. We gave our support after assurances by the Mayor and Councilmembers that the funds would be used to help the unhoused in our community. The League co-signed the measure, as well as phone-banked and canvassed for the campaign.

Although we are aware that legally, as Mayor and Councilmembers, you can spend the general funds as you wish, we would like to remind you of the promises made to the people of Berkeley about how the funds would be spent. We supported the measure because of the dire need for homeless services in our city and we urge you now to hold to your promise of spending these funds for their intended purpose.

Sincerely,

Ruby MacDonald, President
president@lwvbae.org