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RANTZ & RAVEZ - Does your local Los Angeles City Councilmember represent your interests in your Quality of Life, Public Safety, and tax spending while earning a six-figure salary and other very generous Tax-Provider benefits?
What are your community concerns and priorities and the effectiveness of your local Councilmember compared to the shrinking number of Dedicated, Effective and Professional Los Angeles City Councilmembers versus the growing number of “CRAZY TRAIN” L.A. City Councilmembers who receive a generous annual salary of $244,729 plus a pension to represent you, your family, the business community and everyone else in the City of Los Angeles. From the San Fernando Valley to San Pedro and from the Fire torn Pacific Palisades to East Los Angeles….the 15 Elected Los Angeles City Councilmembers determine the quality of life in each neighborhood, appropriate funds to operate the 44 Departments and Bureaus from Airports to Zoo tasked to perform a variety of city functions throughout Los Angeles. Have you had enough of their lack of insight, effectiveness and ability to spend the dollars wisely on behalf of the millions of L.A. residents, business owners and visitors? If you like many other residents and business owners are sick and tired of the deteriorating city that we are paying high property, sales and other taxes with each purchase we make in Los Angeles, it might be time to get involved and protest the lack of effectiveness and deteriorating conditions in your community and lack of initiative by your local elected Councilmember. A growing number of community members are fed up with lack of action by city officials and have taken matters into their own hands. A recent example is the number of Large Cement Blocks that have been placed on streets throughout the San Fernando Valley to prevent Homeless from parking vehicles on city streets and living out of vehicles and causing unsanitary conditions and safety hazards for community members and business owners alike.
*Let’s begin with the Homeless. We all witness the continuing and expanding Homeless population throughout Los Angeles neighborhoods. Billions upon Billions of Dollars have been directed to a multitude of Homeless organizations over the past years with little to no reduction in the City’s overall Homeless population. A report by the City Controller reported that nearly half of a record $1.3 billion dollars for fiscal year 2023-24 was not spent. A total of $513 million was not spent on any Homeless program. And the Homeless population continues to grow throughout the Los Angeles region in spite of occasional small reduction numbers now and then.
*Measure H 1/4 – cent Los Angeles County sales tax approved by voters in 2017 is continuing to fund Homeless organizations with little to no reduction in the Homeless population throughout L.A. County. Many Homeless organizations are making significant amounts of money to employ staff and prepare reports with little to no reduction in the overall Homeless population. They do little to reduce the Homeless population that live on the streets in many Los Angeles neighborhoods.
*A March 2024 report estimated that Los Angeles County is spending at least $28,000 per homeless person annually.
*It is estimated that it will take $21.7 BILLLION Dollars and a decade to remove the Homeless population from Los Angeles communities.
*A 2024 state audit found that California invested $24 BILLION dollars over the past five fiscal years to address homelessness. You can see the lack of success in most communities throughout California. Think about that….$24 BILLION TAX DOLLARS for what!
While many Homeless organizations receive millions of dollars in government funds, the reduction in the Homeless population is not reflected throughout the Los Angeles region and the result is money gone and results negative.
When dealing with the Homeless population, remember the United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in the Grants Pass vs Johnson case that the police can fine, arrest, or cite people who sleep or camp on public property. This action is not being enforced in Los Angeles due to the lack of support by city officials.
Our precious tax dollars should be going to fund Public Safety Police and Fire/Paramedic services for the California population. The Golden State has lost the shine and is now dull with a host of community problems. Lack of Police and Fire services to name two of the main issues.
While on the subject of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the most recent controversy involving the LAFD brought Mayor Bass and Fire Chief Crowley to a crossroads and the Chief’s dismissal as the Dept Chief. While the Mayor has the authority to hire and fire certain city officials, I will not get into the conflict that brought about the dismissal of Chief Crowley. While Chief Crowley is no longer the Chief, she can retain a position with the LAFD and remain on the books for Salary, Benefits and a Pension. Chief Crowley can also appeal her dismissal if she wishes to do so. We will see how this unfolds in the weeks ahead.
As far as the LAFD is concerned, I can offer the following facts to consider when reviewing the situation. FACT….The LAFD has been underfunded for a number of years. Funding for this year was cut $17 million dollars. Of the money, $7 million was for overtime. There are approximately 100 various Fire trucks, Ambulances and other Fire vehicles out of service for repair. The lack of mechanics and parts has caused the vehicles to remain out of service for long periods of time. While they remain out of service, the LAFD is limited in what they can do to keep Los Angeles safe. We never know when a fire or earthquake may occur in L.A.
The Fire Contract (MOU) for personnel was due on June 30th. It was not approved until November. Along with the delay in approving the contract is the current computer accounting problems that are causing firefighters not to receive the correct amount of pay they have earned.
The bottom line is very simple…. the City’s elected leadership needs to work with all city officials and city departments for the betterment of the Fire Dept personnel and all other city departments, personnel and operations.
Look for a NEW LAFD Bond Measure coming in the future. It will include over 50 NEW Fire Stations, Fire Apparatus and Fire Personnel. It will increase property tax throughout Los Angeles hundreds of dollars.
(RantZ and RaveZ is written by Dennis P. Zine. Native Angeleno, LAPD Veteran and former L.A. City Councilmember. Dennis can be heard on KABC Radio, Spectrum TV, FOX 11 and other local media outlets discussing a variety of public safety matters.)
