LA Mayor Slashed Fire Budget Months Before Wildfires Swept City

Thursday, January 09, 2025

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.

Posted by gracieamazed at 12:32 PM | 18 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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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.

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Yes, Los Angeles cut $17.6 million from the fire department's budget
www.krem.com">www.krem.com

... The Los Angeles Fire Department's budget was cut by nearly $17.6 million this fiscal year. That's a roughly 2% decrease from the previous year. ...

As the wildfires burned, multiple social media posts claimed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut fire department funding by $17.6 million, months before the fires broke out. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-01-08 08:08 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Thanks for the clarification in your post #1 gaslighter. From your post:

Yes, Los Angeles cut $17.6 million from the fire department's budget.

The Los Angeles Fire Department's budget was cut by nearly $17.6 million this fiscal year. That's a roughly 2% decrease from the previous year.

As the wildfires burned, multiple social media posts claimed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut fire department funding by $17.6 million, months before the fires broke out.

#2 | Posted by gracieamazed at 2025-01-08 08:18 PM | Reply

Some social media posts suggest that at least some of the LAFD's funding was redirected to the Los Angeles Police Department's nearly $2 billion budget. We can VERIFY that the LAPD did get a nearly $126 million increase in funding this fiscal year

Instead of killing cops because the------------- lost an election, the mayor gave the LAPD a healthy budget increase.

#3 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-01-08 08:24 PM | Reply

@32 ... As the wildfires burned, multiple social media posts claimed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut fire department funding by $17.6 million, months before the fires broke out. ...

I do not disagree that $17.6 million dollars were cut.

But, as I noted, that is a 2% reduction in the budget.

Under different circumstances I'd suspect you would be lauding the Mayor for reducing spending.

So, that leads me to ask ...

Do you think that Government institutions like, e.g., the LA Fire Department should see a funding increase, or a funding decrease?

And, what may be the reasons for your answer?

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-01-08 08:47 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

@#2 ... Yes, Los Angeles cut $17.6 million from the fire department's budget.

The Los Angeles Fire Department's budget was cut by nearly $17.6 million this fiscal year. That's a roughly 2% decrease from the previous year. ...

Ok, that raises an interesting question ...

DOGE wants to reduce government spending. Drastically.

So, how does that DOGE reduction of government spending jibe with your comment?

#5 | Posted by lamplighter at 2025-01-08 09:09 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#5
That sure shut the yip+yappers. ("Burn, baby, burn" is, admittedly, a hard sell.)

#6 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-01-09 05:45 AM | Reply

LA mayor slashed fire budget for homeless

She's toast! (pun intended)

#7 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2025-01-09 07:49 AM | Reply

Good, all those freshly homeless extremely wealthy people who lived where they knew they were at extreme risk from fires will have services they can use.

#8 | Posted by qcp at 2025-01-09 09:07 AM | Reply

@32 ... As the wildfires burned, multiple social media posts claimed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut fire department funding by $17.6 million, months before the fires broke out. ...
..
Do you think that Government institutions like, e.g., the LA Fire Department should see a funding increase, or a funding decrease?
And, what may be the reasons for your answer?
#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-01-08 08:47 PM

Did you break Nomad MK-15c again?! Excellent.

#9 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-01-09 01:14 PM | Reply

What?!? This lady cut government spending? And on safety services to boot? No one, but no one does that...
--The DOGE Zoo Crew of Vivek and Leon, daily 6am-midnight

#10 | Posted by catdog at 2025-01-09 01:31 PM | Reply

I don't know the details, but almost EVERY government agency EVERYWHERE is loaded with waste and mismanagement. It takes a lot of courage to reduce budgets, few politicians can bear the onslaught of this type of cherry picking attack. That is why government budgets rise, and rise, and rise. I'm sure she "took food from the mouths of babies" also. I don't envy her having to deal with this disaster and I don't blame her one bit for walking off the stage when he was asked about the budget cuts.

#11 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-01-09 02:01 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"I don't know the details"

Of course not.

Fixed News is not famous for providing "details". Just propaganda to fit their narratives. And propaganda Werks!

It takes a lot of courage to reduce budgets, few politicians can bear the onslaught of this type of cherry picking attack.

Not really. If you are in government to serve the public and not yourself it is easy. Especially if you are actually qualified for the job you are in.

But no worries. Trumpy has a plan to fix that.

It's called Protect 2025. You think government is filled with waste and abuse now? (I am not saying there are not any problems that need fixing as there are plenty) You think government is not responsive to the people?

You ain't seen nothing yet. Wait until the Party Loyalists come marching in..

#12 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-01-09 02:20 PM | Reply

Typical Faux "News" -------- from the bitter Floribama sea cow.

Go ---- yourself, Gracie. God knows you're the only one who would.

#13 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-01-09 02:24 PM | Reply

If reducing a budget by 2% is "slashing"....

------- REDHAT -------.

#14 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-01-09 02:25 PM | Reply

Cut the fire department, and gave the worthless garbage pigs more money.

Hopefully this will give the people a good enough reason to replace this worthless mayor.

DEFUND THE POLICE.

#15 | Posted by DarkVader at 2025-01-09 03:37 PM | Reply

But WHY was it cut?

Was it because last year they had a budget increase to purchase new equipment that didn't need to be purchased again this fiscal year?

Or were there layoffs this year?

#16 | Posted by Sycophant at 2025-01-09 03:44 PM | Reply

Seems like the real problem has been water pressure, rather than boots on the ground, from what I've read.
But, please, don't let reality get in the way of your perceived opportunity to bag on "those libs".

#17 | Posted by morris at 2025-01-09 06:54 PM | Reply

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass did oversee a budget adjustment that initially reduced the Los Angeles Fire Department budget by approximately $17.5 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. However, the full picture is more complex. The LAFD budget was reduced from $837.2 million in the 2023-2024 fiscal year to $819.64 million for 2024-2025, a cut of about $17.6 million. This reduction was part of a broader budget adjustment in response to financial constraints. Mayor Bass stated, "We knew that we were in tough times." Despite the initial cut, additional funding for the fire department was set aside in a separate fund pending contract negotiations. In November 2024, the city council approved a four-year $203 million contract with the firefighters' union to boost wages and health benefits. After the contract approval, the fire department actually saw a $53 million increase over the previous year's budget, according to a spokesperson for Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield. The current fiscal year budget included funding to hire 220 new firefighters.

Just some more context.

abc11.com
www.latimes.com
www.foxbusiness.com

#18 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2025-01-09 08:06 PM | Reply