LAPD DEFUNDED TO HELP COMMUNITIES OF COLOR

L.A. Cut Millions From The LAPD After George Floyd. Here’s Where That Money Is Going

 

LAPPL News Watch

May 26, 2021

 

One year after George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, Los Angeles city leaders on Tuesday finalized their plan for spending money that was moved last summer out of the police department and into programs aimed at helping communities of color. 

 

The vote by the City Council means some $89 million originally slated to pay for police services will instead flow to antigang initiatives, universal income programs, homeless services, education and jobs initiatives and more. 

 

The council unveiled an initial list of spending priorities that including youth and recreation programs, neighborhood beautification initiatives, and job and business programs. However, the proposals were criticized by the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing rank and file police officers, for including nuts-and-bolts services, such as tree stump removals and landscaped medians. 

 

Garcetti vetoed the initial proposal and urged the council to instead spend money on racial justice, income inequality and community safety programs. The council reacted to Garcetti’s veto by overriding it and allocating $32 million toward policing alternatives, including community intervention officers, as well as homeless prevention and homeless services. 

 

Tuesday’s vote dealt largely with how to spend the remaining $56 million, as well as some adjustments to the earlier spending plan. 

 

The board of directors of the Los Angeles Police Protective League issued a statement after Tuesday’s vote that was mostly positive about the final spending plan. “The current list of funded projects, although not completely devoid of unproven programs, is a stark improvement over the initial list announced last year that consisted of curb cuts, tree trimming and other political pet projects,” the union statement said. “The council should continue to focus on reinvesting in public safety and ensuring our department is adequately staffed.”