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Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Yes, We Have Money For More Cops

CopsThe Chief posted a link to Hertzberg's analysis, but I think its significant enough to post the executive summary. (You can read his full report here):

An analysis of the city’s general fund revenues and expenditures over the past four fiscal years reveals several key findings, among them:

  • The city’s general fund budget expanded by 14%, growing from $3.2 billion in FY 2001-02 to $3.7
    billion in 04-05.
  • At the same time the general fund budget grew by 14%, the Los Angeles Police Department expanded the number of deployed officers by less than 2%.
  • The hiring of new officers accounts for only 3% of NEW general fund revenue since 2001-02. Fully 97% of new revenue was spent on other priorities.
  • Seventy-five percent of all new revenue since 2001-02 was dedicated to salary increases.
  • As of FY 2004-05, the city had spent less than 0.2% of its $5.4 billion budget on hiring more police officers.
This is significant. If there was one reason not to vote for Jim Hahn, this is it. If Hertzberg has the ability to frame the facts in this manner and actually understands that the City has the money (as we at Mayor Sam have been saying for months) to hire more officers without raising taxes, then he may very well deserve to be the next Mayor.

8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I'm sure the Hahn people have a very good rationale for using 75 percent of the new money on city worker salaries and only using 3 percent on new cops. And I'm sure the Hertzberg people even know what that rationale is but didn't bother to share it with us. But could somebody please explain what the reason for not using the money on cops might possibly be? I don't know anything about the city budget, but it really makes no sense to me.

January 19, 2005 2:59 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

A reason? Hmmm . . . Can you say - LABOR UNION ENDORSEMENTS?

January 19, 2005 3:24 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Meat is gonna hate me with a capital H but in the interest of keeping my fellow bloggers up to date, here it is:

1. JH from day one was always miffed that all the labor endorsements had gone to AV. One of his earliest meetings after being elected was with union big shots... and that is where the city's money was spent. In the matter of 2 months after the election, the stage had been set for the unions to rake it in big time...on the backs of all the rest of the citizens of Los Angeles.

That is paying off for JH presently, with all the labor endorsements going to him.

2. When AV lost, labor felt that it had been punched in the gut big time. It felt (and still does) that AV hald out on them and correctly relized that AV was smoke and mirrors... or more correctly... a two-bit hustler. Labor NEVER forgave him for this. Sources close to the issue about the big democratic refusal to endorse him, confides that it actually was Labor that went out of its way to halt an endorsement (notwithstanding JH taking the credit for it).

3. In regard to the BH report/summary. Sources close to the campaign hint that some city agency personnel may have assited in preparing it because of the arrogance and disdain practiced by JH office on a daily basis towards city folks and all the residents of L.A.

4. More tidbits:

JH: Was heard yelling in a very big way last week at some very senior (campaign?) staff....in his city hall office.

AV: Continues to use council staffers for his camnpaign. His peolple are planning to use all of his funds on massive media blitzes prior to the run-off.

BP: Going...going....going.... GONE! Stick a fork in it...it's over....

RA: Still making us smile.

January 19, 2005 3:45 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I didn't really like Alarcon but after his speech last night I gotta hand it to him. He was passionate and really sounded like he geniuely cares about the people. If AV doesn't make the run off he has my vote. Can someone please find out if Antonio is paying Cerrell for his mayoral commercials. I have a feeling they're free because Antonio gave that $500,000 for Measure A for them to use. A lot of money. People are finally seeing what Antonio is made of. Smoke and mirrors...he talks a good game but he is folding. Why hasn't MEAT posted today? Interesting he hasn't really posted on these hot topics in awhile.

January 19, 2005 4:01 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Let's put the facts on the table. 2 years ago Hahn wanted to give us 320 additional cops. City council didn't think public safety was that important and still don't. So now we have far less officers and two years later our politicans still don't give a crap.

January 19, 2005 4:03 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Labor and Hahn....no kidding.

He reappointed Miguel C. head of the County Fed to the airport commission after terminating him when he didn't support Hahn in the first election......trying to get labor's suppport. Then the fiasco airport 11 billion dollar plan gets pushed by Miguel for labor and gets passed. Then Troy Edwards, the deputy Mayor,who was overseeing airport and other proprietary departments with ZERO experience, now under investigation by the feds and forced to resign looks for a job. Who hires him? A tainted and under grand jury investigation? Miguel C. for the County Fed !!!!!!!!!!!

So, tell me Hahn would do anything for labor? Now labor would do anything for Hahn?

Intersting.

January 20, 2005 8:04 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

So why hasn't the Times picked up on all this?

January 20, 2005 12:07 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

No, Cerrell is not doing ads for Antonio, or anyone else for that matter...and Measure A media was done by Rick Taylor...

January 20, 2005 12:31 PM  

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