GUEST COMMENTARY-The Los Angeles Police Department is allocated roughly $2.2 billion out of a total City budget of $8.4 billion. So why is it they are begging local Neighborhood Councils for money to repair much needed infrastructure projects?
It has recently come to my attention that SOLID, a fundraising arm of the Devonshire Police Division, has asked for renovation funding totaling $61,900 from many neighborhood councils … more than $13,000 to repair the trailers used by Gang and Narcotics; $25,050 for SLO; $23,050 for CRO units , and $13.800 for lobby renovations .
The organization cites "an urgent need for additional support for two Devonshire renovation projects".
It also states that "it is ONLY with YOUR support that we have been able to improve the Devonshire Station which in turn GREATLY affected the morale of the officers.
They further quote requests made to the following NC's: Chatsworth, Granada Hills North, North Hi8lls West, Northridge East, Northridge South, Northridge West and Porter Ranch.
So, with all of the news lately involving officer involved shootings and issues with LAPD, is it really possible that our City is so broke and broken that even the trailers used are falling apart and the City and Department cannot afford to fix them?
Begging yet another question: Why are NC's giving their money back to departments who claim to be under funded, when their mandate is to do outreach to their stakeholders?And Council President Wesson wants to give Neighborhood Council's $5,000 more?
I personally have serious doubts about the entire NPG funding system and urge the City Council and BONC to revise policy and mandate funding to operations and outreach.STOP the local piggy banks to all. THAT IS NOT WHY NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS WERE CREATED!
(Jay Handal is chair of the West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council and Co-Chairs the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates Committee.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 51
Pub: Jun 23, 2015
