Dear Friends and Neighbors:
On Thursday, I voted “No” on the Los Angeles City budget. My reasons for voting “No” are not just about what we are investing in, they are just as much about what we are not investing in. This budget included $135 million in additional funding for the LAPD, while at the same time cutting from safety net programs and the neighborhood services that our constituents rely on.
The final budget before us asked departments that provide youth services, senior meals, victim services, animal welfare, small business and entrepreneur support, tenant education and advocacy, and countless other critical services to go without the resources they need to care for our communities. It didn’t include the allocations that we need to actually deliver the basic municipal services that resident need. It wasn’t a proposal that would let us fix our sidewalks, repair our broken street light network, or build safe street infrastructure that will keep our communities safe.
We fought hard to address these gaps, and we introduced 11 different motions throughout Thursday’s budget hearing in an effort to protect critical positions and programs. Studies have shown us again and again that preventing harm and violence is much cheaper than responding to it. Investing in the services that catch our people when they are in crisis is an investment that pays dividends down the line. A budget is a statement of our values, and I couldn’t support a budget that didn’t reflect my values, or the values of my constituents.
Despite our efforts, the budget passed 12-3, with Councilmembers Soto-Martinez and Raman also voting “No”, but the work isn’t done yet. Decisions around how we spend our money are made year-round, and City Council regularly reviews how the City is spending its money. That means that our budget advocacy has to be year-round as well, and I hope you’ll stay plugged in with us as we continue to advocate for investments that truly meets the needs of Angelenos.
