Los Angeles Police Protective League Says YES on 23
Contact: Eric Rose (805) 624-0572
or Paul Haney (626) 755-4759
Los Angeles, August 26, 2010 -- Citing the need to protect the Los Angeles Police Department's already strained budget from further cuts as a result of California's global warming law (AB 32), the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) today announced its support for Yes on 23, the California Jobs Initiative.
"The City's budget deficit has already forced LAPD to cut services and reduce the total hours worked by its officers." said LAPPL President Paul Weber. "For every 100 officers who are pulled from field work to backfill vacant civilian positions, it is the equivalent of removing about 30 police cars citywide.
"With the economy and the City's budget in such dire straits, we should be doing everything we can to avoid more lost revenues and higher costs. Now is not the time to saddle the City with the reduced revenues and increased energy costs it would incur from implementing the global warming law."
The California Legislative Analyst has concluded that Yes on 23 would mean significant savings for local governments by postponing increases in energy costs while simultaneously boosting revenues as economic activity improves due to those same energy cost savings.
"Prop.23 would prevent the diversion of essential resources critical to the ability of LAPD officers to serve and protect," Weber added. The City will have more revenues to keep more public safety personnel on the job, which is essential to protecting life and property. It would also ensure that our officers have the equipment and personnel support necessary to protect them while they are protecting the public.
"In view of the state's economy, our police force has done an exceptional job in providing protection and responding to the needs of our community. But with the City budget already stretched to the limit we have a very real concern that further burdens will impair our ability to continue that protection at the most basic levels.
"The LAPPL's one and only priority is the safety of police officers and the citizens they serve. By supporting Proposition 23, the Los Angeles Police Protective League is living up to its mission of 'protecting those who protect others.'"
About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com.
