L.A. Slashed Fire Department Budget Before Fires

Above, Los Angeles City Hall from Little Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following was posted on Facebook in a comment in The Adventures Continue page (the Adventures of Superman):

' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass oversaw a city budget adjustment which slashed over $17 million from the city's fire department months before Tuesday’s devastating wildfires, information shared by a city official shows.

Thousands fled the Los Angeles area Tuesday as wildfires swept across the area. The fast-approaching flames shut down multiple major roadways, forcing some people to abandon their vehicles.

Los Angeles City Controller Kennith Mejia in October shared to X adjustments made to the city’s fiscal year 2024-2025 budget. Mayor Bass signed the budget in June, according to a press release.

City fire services decreased by $17.6 million through those adjustments, the X post shows. Other impacted services included “street services,” which decreased by $21.4 million, and sanitation, which decreased by $15.1 million.

Among budget items which received extra cash was “zoo,” which increased by $27,000, the information shows. Also receiving increases were “library,” which jumped $14.6 million, and “cannabis regulation,” which increased by $1.8 million.

“As the City of LA goes broke, one of the many questions we get is: ‘WHERE ARE OUR TAX DOLLARS GOING?’” Mejia wrote at the time.

“The City just started a new fiscal year & if you want to know how the Mayor & a majority of City Council increased or decreased departments' operational budget, see below,” Mejia added.'

I can't vouch for its accuracy, but it wouldn't surprise me given that the Democrat Party controls the Los Angeles city government.

UPDATE:

It's true! Go here.