Nearly Two-Thirds of $1 Billion L.A. COVID Relief Funding Went To Police and Firefighters’ Salaries
www.lataco.com
A new report shows that, so far, $0 dollars have been designated for solutions to homelessness like shelters, permanent supportive housing, or homeless services, despite growing crisis.

Also - $0 dollars have been designated for solutions to homelessness like shelters, permanent supportive housing, or homeless services. The first paragraph...

A new report from the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Los Angeles reveals how the city has spent the more than $1 billion received under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The report shows that the majority of the money went to pay the salaries of police, firefighters, park rangers and other city employees. None of the money was allocated toward building housing for the homeless or health initiatives like vaccines.

  • BerserkPoster [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    There's a sentiment around here that park rangers are basically cops. This is true on some level but I also haven't ever had a bad run in with a park ranger, most are pretty helpful and one time I had one basically tell me how to avoid paying for parking lol

    • Kuori [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      i know someone who quit their job as a park ranger during the height of blm because they felt it was too close to being a cop

      despite it being their lifelong dream job

        • fox [comrade/them]
          ·
          2 years ago

          Some do. Some federal rangers are straight up LE and carry, but most are more educators / track maintainers than anything.

          • Frank [he/him, he/him]
            ·
            2 years ago

            Sometimes the nice friendly park ranger leading your tour might have law enforcement and arrest powers because there's no one else for a hundred miles in any direction.

        • Kuori [she/her]
          ·
          2 years ago

          i know for a fact she didn't but i'm not sure how it's determined who gets the gun and who gets the guidebook

    • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      I think it says a lot about how fucked up America is that the question "are public park employees a type of cop" even has to be asked.

    • Shoegazer [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Are park rangers even armed? The type of guys I imagine patrolling parks are just dudes with big Arby’s hats

      • Frank [he/him, he/him]
        ·
        2 years ago

        There are many different kinds of state, local, and federal park rangers and some of them have guns and arrest powers. Some kinds of game wardens can basically flip you upside down and shake you if they decide they want to check if you have any poached game or fish on you. It depends on the agency and jurisdiction.

    • Frank [he/him, he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Park Rangers are complicated because they have both legitimate, justifiable duties and unquestionably cop duties.