Nearly Two Thirds of L.A.'s $1.3 Billion in COVID Relief Funds Went to Cops and Firefighters

[ellisonz]

Nearly Two Thirds of L.A.’s $1.3 Billion in COVID Relief Funds Went to Cops and Firefighters, Zero Went to Building Housing
Instead of spending on policing, local governments could have used the federal funds to acquire land for future development of affordable housing, provide financial assistance to homeowners or provide loans to affordable housing developers, according to the Treasury Department.

2:44 PM PDT on August 17, 2023

By Lexis-Olivier Ray
Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the city of Los Angeles received more than $1.2 billion dollars in COVID relief funds. This funding presented local governments with what the U.S Treasury department described as “a once in a generation opportunity” to invest in affordable housing.

But two years later, the city hasn’t allocated a single cent from the $1.2 billion award towards building temporary shelters or permanent housing for the homeless.

Instead, nearly two thirds of the money has gone to paying the salaries of police officers and firefighters, according to a July report from the City Administrative Officer (CAO).

https://lataco.com/los-angeles-covid-relief-cops

Fund the police?

[msongs]

1. one suspects a huge chunk of that money nationwide went down a rat hole nt

[ITAL]

2. According to the article

It seems that using the funds kept local governments from having to borrow more money to pay their normal commitments. Since all tax revenue was massively down because of the pandemic, paying salaries of public employees was at a premium.

Fire Fighters got a bigger chunk of change than police, Even more so given they have less than half the force as the LAPD does (roughly 3500 LAFD and 9000 LAPD).

[ellisonz]

3. Lots of people have to borrow money.

In fact, most of us do.

Fire and police get so much compensation it doesn't compare to the private sector.

[ITAL]

4. I think you misunderstand

The City of Los Angeles government would have had to borrow money....so us (I love out here). So, if they didn't use COVID funds to pay them, they would have used Bonds which we'd have to pay even more for down the line for the police and fire (and other city services). So using COVID funds saved we the people of LA money.