While addressing plans to reform the Los Angeles police department earlier today, Mayor Eric Garcetti said he will not be increasing the police budget.

He explained that “this is bigger than just a budget,” and “it is time to move our rhetoric towards action to end racism in our society.”

He announced that the city had identified $250 million in cuts to be invested in jobs, health, education, and healing, focusing on the city’s black community as well as “communities of color, women, and people who have been left behind for too long.”

Los Angeles Police Commission President Eileen Decker also announced that $100-150 million dollars of cuts from the LAPD’s budget will be identified to further enhance community neighborhood policing.

Decker said the Commission would also:

Support establishing an independent prosecutor outside the county’s district attorney’s office for the prosecution of police officers.
Develop more ways to enhance oversight of officers who have exhibited a pattern of high-risk behavior.
Complete de-escalation training and crowd control training for the entire police department by the end of this year.
Publish a new department policy that requires officers to intervene when other officers use excessive force, and that requires officers to report misconduct.

Mayor Garcetti also addressed the importance of having a civilian oversight team for the police department.

A team of five unpaid volunteers appointed by the mayor will look at policies that guide the police department, oversee its operations, and review all officer-involved shootings, said Garcetti.

The commission and the police chief will have a public meeting every week where residents are given the opportunity to speak directly to the entire leadership of the department, said the mayor.