The City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee is beginning a series of Monday-night meetings this week to discuss the city budget and what its priorities should be. The first meeting is tonight at 6:00 p.m. at Van Nuys City Hall.

Ironically, today is the same day that the state begins to release over 6,500 prisoners from state prisons and to reclassify people on parole. A great number of these criminals, labeled as “low-level” offenders, have serious criminal records.

A Los Angeles Times editorial this weekend called on city officials to “Spare LAPD from the budget knife.” We wholeheartedly agree. Maintaining public safety and keeping the crime rate at its historically low levels is a prerequisite for the local economy to recover. Yet, on KABC Channel 7 on Sunday, Councilman Parks spoke of the need to not only stop hiring police officers but to also consider officer layoffs.

In our daily LAPPL NewsWatch, we will be calling attention to upcoming meetings and hearings related to the city budget crisis, so that LAPD officers and other interested parties can attend and push for Public Safety First. Nobody knows this issue better than the cops on the front lines. The time to speak up and let our collective voice be heard is now. Please join your LAPD officers and LAPPL Board members at one of the budget hearings listed below.

We understand painful choices must be made in reconciling the city budget with the shrinking available funds. We think the LA Times editorial hit the nail on the head: “The facts of life are that many city programs that do some good are unaffordable and must be cut. City leaders must not try to shelter such programs by undermining the continuing transformation, and success, of the LAPD.”

TAKE ACTION NOW!

A fully staffed LAPD is necessary for the city’s economic recovery. Please tell your Council members to come up with other cost-saving ideas that do not endanger the community. (Note to officers: If you attend the meetings, please do so off-duty and not in uniform.)

Budget on the Road Meetings:

Valley

West L.A.
Hamilton High School - Cafeteria
Monday, Feb. 22, 6:00 p.m.
2955 S. Robertson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034

East L.A.
El Sereno Recreation Center
Monday, Mar. 8, 6:00 p.m.
4721 Klamath St.
Los Angeles, CA 90032

South L.A.
Central Avenue Constituent Services Center
Monday, Mar. 22, 6:00 p.m.
4301 S. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90011