A trendy Los Angeles community voted to cut the law enforcement funding amid the increasing crime rates and public outrage.
Early this year, reports revealed that the crime rate in the county was up by 137%. However, despite the escalating violence-related crime rates, West Hollywood still wants to scale back Los Angeles County sheriff funding.
The decision will leave the community with up to five fewer Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, patrolling throughout the neighborhood.
While the police fund was decreased, an increased funding for a cultural arts festival has been approved by the council amid the crime wave.
The budget was reportedly approved by a narrow 3-2 vote. However, Councilman John Erickson and Mayor Lauren Meister expressed dissent towards the decision.
“Most of the residents and businesses I have heard from are opposed to cutting the Sheriff’s budget. They are outraged that people and organizations from outside our city are dictating to the Council how to run our city. The narrative that we can have ‘either Sheriff’s or social services,’ or ‘either Sheriff’s or unarmed security teams’ is false.” Meister said in a statement.
The decision came after business owners and residents protested against the cutting of the police budget due the increasing crime wave across the county.
“Prioritizing peoples safety doesn’t just mean people with badges and guns on the street. We have to find another way to keep our residents safe in a way that is affordable.” Councilmember Lindsey P. Horvath argued during the meeting.
Mayor Professional Tem Sepi Shyne also reportedly amended the budgets for re-allocation of funds for sheriff’s deputies to the Block by Block program.
“What we all know now is that our residents need foot patrols. We should be fiscally accountable and we’ve all talked for 2 years,” she stated. “Reimagining policing means reallocating funding. You may not simply say it without truly doing it. Interval.”
According to the reports, two officers will withdraw in the fall and the program will be evaluated over six months when the city’s law enforcement presence could possibly be reduced by three more.
“In my mind, this is an increase of safety services with 60 additional eyes on the street working directly with the residents and the sheriff and code compliance and our social services providers and two fewer deputies this fall,” Councilman John D’Amico said in a statement.
