Los Angeles is barreling into a high-stakes budget showdown, with a nearly $15 billion spending plan, but before a single department defends a dollar, City Hall is handing the floor to activists.
The City Council’s Budget Committee will launch hearings Friday on Mayor Karen Bass’ $14.9 billion proposed spending plan, a blueprint that will shape everything from policing to homelessness spending in one of the largest municipal budgets in the country.
Traditionally, the process starts with budget analysts, department heads and top financial officials laying out the numbers.
Instead, this year’s opening presentation is reserved for Black Lives Matter–Los Angeles and the People’s Budget LA coalition, groups that have spent years pushing to slash police funding and, in some cases, dismantle traditional law enforcement entirely.
The decision is raising eyebrows not just because of what these groups advocate, but because of how they’ve operated inside City Hall.
These are the same activists previously documented by The California Postshutting down public meetings.
Just weeks ago, members of that network were seen outside a downtown police union headquarters, hurling toy pigs at officers at their downtown union headquarters.
“To think, just a few days ago the People’s Budget mastermind Melina Abdullah was tossing miniature toy pigs over a fence at our office and now she will present her confirmation bias-riddled sham of a defund the police budget to the city council—well, it just warms our hearts,” the Los Angeles Police Protective League told The Post.
“Cue the circus music, pop some popcorn and get ready to be entertained with some budget comedy. Keep it classy Melina.”
In January, activists aligned with Black Lives Matter–Los Angelesderailed a meetingof the Los Angeles Police Commission, flooding public comment, chanting over speakers, and forcing officials to shut the meeting down.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
