Let’s talk about the fact that the primacy of policing in our cities is a choice our leaders have made.
Politicians have overseen a decades-long spending boom on police. And a major driver of the spending has been large, steady pay increases for sworn officers. (thread)
Politicians have overseen a decades-long spending boom on police. And a major driver of the spending has been large, steady pay increases for sworn officers. (thread)
LA is just one of many US cities that have raised police salaries well above inflation year after year.
The salary budget for officers has increased by an average of 4.3% annually since 2010 -- more than double local inflation -- despite no increase to the number of officers.
The salary budget for officers has increased by an average of 4.3% annually since 2010 -- more than double local inflation -- despite no increase to the number of officers.
Despite no evidence that increased police spending influences crime rates, leaders in LA and so many other American cities have allowed police to take up a larger and larger percentage of our budgets.
In LA, costs associated with LAPD absorb about 53% of our discretionary funds.
In LA, costs associated with LAPD absorb about 53% of our discretionary funds.
Right now, amid an unprecedented revenue crisis and cuts to almost every other city department, LA is looking to pass:
A 4.8% raise for sworn officers, plus $41 million in bonuses for officers with college degrees and a $45 million bump to the already massive overtime budget.
A 4.8% raise for sworn officers, plus $41 million in bonuses for officers with college degrees and a $45 million bump to the already massive overtime budget.
The president of LA’s police union justified the bonuses by arguing, “The nature of police work has evolved… we are also now therapists, drug treatment counselors, social workers and EMTs, among many other things.”
This statement, ironically, articulates the problem perfectly.
This statement, ironically, articulates the problem perfectly.
The social challenges now being delegated to our police should not be handled by a city employee who is carrying a gun.
Officers may call themselves social workers, but social workers do not incorporate the use of lethal force in their crisis mitigation training.
Officers may call themselves social workers, but social workers do not incorporate the use of lethal force in their crisis mitigation training.
LAPD is usually the city's first line of contact with our city's unhoused population.
The result? Far more violent outcomes and much higher cost than if we employed trained social workers to do the job instead.
33% of LAPD uses of force were on unhoused people last year.
The result? Far more violent outcomes and much higher cost than if we employed trained social workers to do the job instead.
33% of LAPD uses of force were on unhoused people last year.
One big reason cities have been so generous with police salaries? Officer unions are major donors to campaigns.
This pattern plays out heavily in LA: the LAPD union spent $45K in the March primary to support my opponent, David Ryu, and $150K against progressive @LoraineforLA.
This pattern plays out heavily in LA: the LAPD union spent $45K in the March primary to support my opponent, David Ryu, and $150K against progressive @LoraineforLA.
We are living in cities where the power of political spending has been used to make police salaries a greater and greater part of our city budgets, which in turn has increased police union spending on political campaigns.
It’s time to break that cycle.
It’s time to break that cycle.
Now is the time to think transformatively about city spending. Time to divest from policing that has fallen unfairly on communities of color.
I stand with @BLMLA and protestors nationwide who are translating their grief into action. #PeoplesBudgetLA
I stand with @BLMLA and protestors nationwide who are translating their grief into action. #PeoplesBudgetLA
