Deal reached by Mayor Karen Bass for resumption of police officer recruitment
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is on a mission to reinstate the axed police recruits, teaming up with City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson to locate the necessary funds. In a turn of events following the approval of the 2025-26 budget, the number of police officers to be hired was reduced from 480 to 240.
Bass didn't hold back in showcasing the agreement with Harris-Dawson in her budget-signing announcement. The deal ensures that council leadership will pinpoint funds for an additional 240 recruits within a 90-day timeframe, starting July 1.
Finding the additional $13.3 million demanded for the coming year to support these recruits may involve exploring multiple strategies. Examining options like tapping the city's reserve fund, renegotiating terms with labor unions, reexamining existing budget allocations, managing legal payouts, or implementing cost-saving initiatives could be potential routes to follow.
It's essential to remember that every dollar needs a home, and should the city find itself in a tough spot, there might be disagreements about what should be trimmed to foot this priority bill. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, a member of the budget committee, expressed his hope for restoring some of the cut police academy classes but stressed that his support doesn't extend to the 90-day promise concerning police spending.
The budget provides funding for six academy classes, with up to 40 recruits per class throughout the upcoming fiscal year. Bass had initially aimed for double that number, facilitating the hiring of 480 recruits.
The road to reviving the remaining 700 layoffs involves reaching an understanding with the city's labor unions regarding additional savings. Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who chairs the budget committee, shares the mayor's goal of reinstating LAPD recruit classes but highlights the importance of doing so in a fiscally responsible way.
- L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson are working together to identify funds for an extra 240 police recruits, aiming to complete this within 90 days, starting July 1, as part of their mission to reinstate the axed recruits.
- Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, a member of the budget committee, has expressed his hope for restoring some cut police academy classes, but has questioned the 90-day promise concerning police spending, implying that general-news discussions about the city's budget may involve debates about what should be reduced to cover this priority expenditure.
- Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, chair of the budget committee, supports the mayor's goal of reinstating LAPD recruit classes, but emphasizes the need to approach this in a fiscally responsible manner, hinting at potential policy-and-legislation changes or negotiations with labor unions to achieve this goal.
