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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Thursday, March 20, 2025

In the fiscal year that ended in June 2024, after giving out 2 million parking tickets, the city collected about $110 million in parking fines. Meanwhile, according to Mejia's data, it was spending $88 million on parking enforcement expenses like salaries and equipment. But when the cost of pensions and other obligations and liabilities were added to the mix, that figure jumped to more than $176 million. A $65 million shortfall. A $65 million shortfall when the city is experiencing a significant budgetary crisis that it needs to address.

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---- off you fake ----- bitch ----.

#1 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-03-20 10:33 PM | Reply

Parking laws aren't just about fines exceeding costs.

It's also about making sure that lanes are open during rush hour, that fire hydrants aren't blocked, that parking spots are available for shopping instead of being used for long-term storage of cars, that crosswalks are available for pedestrians, etc...

Basically, ensuring that the basic infrastructure of our roads will function for their intended purposes

#2 | Posted by censored at 2025-03-20 10:52 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Fake ----- ---- lives in Floribama.

#3 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-03-20 11:02 PM | Reply

This is very on point for California. Speaking of that, Legally did you get your FEMA money yet?

#4 | Posted by Bluewaffles at 2025-03-21 02:05 PM | Reply

This is kind of a cousin to Florida and their expenditures to drug test welfare recipients exceeding the reduction in welfare payments. That's been met with fair scrutiny.

But I appreciate what Censored is saying in 2. You can't allow fire hydrants to be blocked and infrastructure to be impeded even if it costs more to collect the fines there has to be some kind of deterrence.

#5 | Posted by eberly at 2025-03-21 02:11 PM | Reply

But I appreciate what Censored is saying in 2. You can't allow fire hydrants to be blocked and infrastructure to be impeded even if it costs more to collect the fines there has to be some kind of deterrence.

#5 | Posted by eberly

That's reasonable, so charge more.

It shouldn't be a loss, but the loss isn't in the operation. It's in the pensions payout, which will only get worse.

#6 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-03-21 03:39 PM | Reply

6

Everyone else seeks efficiency......they shouldn't be any different.

Either cut the expenses or increase the fines....probably a little of both but if I were in charge, I would compel them to close that shortfall. It's ridiculous that shortfall is so large.

#7 | Posted by eberly at 2025-03-21 03:45 PM | Reply

"Staff cuts and open positions left vacant are another main culprit for the decrease in parking enforcement fines. The City eliminated more than 60 positions in the 2024-25 budget, Sweeney said. Dozens of traffic officers have also retired."

Sounds like they tried and failed to fire their way out of the revenue shortfall.

I'd like to see the numbers on that. How much were receipts down, compared to the trend, after they tried to fire their way to solvency? Did they at least move the needle in the right direction?

I would also like to know how much of things like towing is the city paying private companies to do it, and how much the city is paying compared to retail or other businesses that use the same services.

It doesn't make sense to me that retired parking enforcement personnel pensions would be paid out of this budget. Funds from parking tickets are earmarked for the parking ticket enforcement personnel pension plan? That sounds crazy, but it is California.

#8 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-03-21 03:55 PM | Reply

Blue city dems at their best - LOL!

#9 | Posted by MSgt at 2025-03-21 05:25 PM | Reply

Mayor Bass faces nearly $1 billion city budget shortfall, L.A.'s top financial advisor says
ktla.com

Revenues down in LA in general. I saw they were ticketing fire victims, pretty crazy.

Sounds like they tried and failed to fire their way out of the revenue shortfall.

Well it didn't fall too short, just fell alot since COVID, but not much since then.
xtown.la

#10 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-03-21 08:13 PM | Reply

LA parking fines are down because you would be a moron to ever park your car there if you intend to come back and not have your windows smashed by the ever present homeless encampments.

That, and that they have credit card capable readers so not having enough quarters (which I suspect was the main reason for tickets in the past), does not occur any more. They should look at total parking fee collections - I suspect that is still increasing.

#11 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-03-21 08:13 PM | Reply

It doesn't make sense to me that retired parking enforcement personnel pensions would be paid out of this budget.

'budget", you mean the Bureau's total budget?

Maybe each bureau has to fund their own pensions, how else would pensions get funded? idk.. but seems reasonable.

#12 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-03-21 08:15 PM | Reply


LA parking fines are down because you would be a moron to ever park your car there if you intend to come back and not have your windows smashed by the ever present homeless encampments.

Maybe, figure people just aren't going to LA as much given all the craziness in general ... ergo .. revenue down.

#13 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-03-21 08:16 PM | Reply

... In the fiscal year that ended in June 2024, after giving out 2 million parking tickets, the city collected about $110 million in parking fines. Meanwhile, according to Mejia's data, it was spending $88 million on parking enforcement expenses like salaries and equipment. But when the cost of pensions and other obligations and liabilities were added to the mix, that figure jumped to more than $176 million. ...

At what point should law enforcement be judged upon its apparent profitability?

Looked at from a different angle, maybe Los Angeles should just double its parking fines.

Problem solved.

Next ....


#14 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-21 08:30 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"#14 | Posted by LampLighter"

This reminds of my California city where they removed a red light camera at a major intersection because it was too effective in getting people to obey the law so revenue dropped. Basically, revenue generation was more important than the main purpose which was to ensure safety at the intersection. As I posted above, the success should be judged by how much revenue they are collecting on people obeying the law and paying their meters (due to fear of fines) vs. how much is collected on those not obeying. At the end of the day, the purpose of this program is to scare people into compliance and if fines went to zero, that should be considered a success, not a failure.

#15 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-03-21 09:02 PM | Reply

@#15 ... Basically, revenue generation was more important than the main purpose which was to ensure safety at the intersection. ...

Because "revenue generation" is how the operators of those companies sold their product to the city. To that company, yeah, revenue generation was the important aspect of the cameras. Marketing 101.

But are the Los Angeles parking tickets being performed by a private for-profit company? My guess (and it is only that) would be "no."

So the attempted parallel of your current alias' comment seem to be flawed at a basic level.





#16 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-21 09:12 PM | Reply

"Because "revenue generation" is how the operators of those companies sold their product to the city. To that company, yeah, revenue generation was the important aspect of the cameras. Marketing 101."

Any city officials or police that bring in a new technology like a red light camera without the intended purpose being public safety (should be increased public safety at a reduced enforcement cost), should be thrown in jail.

"So the attempted parallel of your current alias' comment seem to be flawed at a basic level.
#16 | Posted by LampLighter "

Actually, my analogy is 100% correct. LA makes money from parking enforcement in 2 ways:

1.) % and amount of people that actually pay - similar to decreasing the get aways for border enforcement
2.) fine collected on those that don't

The positive externalities of public safety increase and better traffic flow don't have a monetary value assigned.

Thus, looking simply at the result for #2 above to judge the cost/benefit is typical smooth-brained liberal logic.

#17 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-03-21 09:24 PM | Reply

@#17 ... Any city officials or police that bring in a new technology like a red light camera without the intended purpose being public safety (should be increased public safety at a reduced enforcement cost), should be thrown in jail. ...

And your point is ....?

From your #15 comment ....

... This reminds of my California city where they removed a red light camera at a major intersection because it was too effective in getting people to obey the law so revenue dropped. ...


So, those red-light cameras seems to work for the purpose of increasing public safety.

Where they seemed to have failed in the ongoing revenue gathered.

But, that's A Good Thing?

Isn't it?


#18 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-21 09:29 PM | Reply

@#17 ... Actually, my analogy is 100% correct. LA makes money from parking enforcement in 2 ways: ...

Wait.

This thread is about Los Angeles losing money due to the enforcement costs of parking fines.

Now, suddenly, your current alias is talking about that "LA makes money from parking enforcement in 2 ways"


Yeah, I think your current aliases need to talk among themselves and proffer a more united view.

Just sayin'

#19 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-21 09:33 PM | Reply

"Where they seemed to have failed in the ongoing revenue gathered.
But, that's A Good Thing?
#18 | Posted by LampLighter"

Yes, it is a good thing. Taking them out so that they have more money to pay police officers is the bad thing. That is government 101 - grow the size regardless if it helps people or not because the intention of government is not 'governing' - it is enriching politicians and government employees and ensuring stable employment for them.

#20 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-03-21 09:35 PM | Reply

"This thread is about Los Angeles losing money due to the enforcement costs of parking fines.
#19 | Posted by LampLighter"

Which I would argue is not happening -------. They are only 'losing money' because you smooth-brained liberals only include half of the equation. My argument is consistent. Your argument, as usual, does not make any sense.

#21 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-03-21 09:37 PM | Reply

This thread is about Los Angeles losing money due to the enforcement costs of parking fines.
#19 | Posted by LampLighter"

No it's not.

#22 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-03-21 10:15 PM | Reply

"No it's not.
#22 | Posted by oneironaut"

You can't fix stupid and lamplighter is exhibit A.

#23 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-03-21 10:43 PM | Reply

Lets do SFO Police department
x.com

#24 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-03-21 10:58 PM | Reply

@#20 ... Yes, it is a good thing. ...

So, your current alias seems to think that it is A Good Thing when a city government seems to operate in an area at a loss?

Good to know.

#25 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-21 11:51 PM | Reply

@#21 ... Which I would argue is not happening -------. ...

OK, so when the illogical aspect of your current alias' post is cited, the best it can do is revert to ad hominem attacks?


So lame.

#26 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-21 11:53 PM | Reply

@22 .. No it's not. ...

It's not about spending more money than what was taken in?

From the thread summary posted by your current alias ...

... A $65 million shortfall. ...


Maybe your current alias and I have a different definition of "shortfall."

So, I ask, what is the definition your current alias is using?

thx.

#27 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-21 11:58 PM | Reply

"So, your current alias seems to think that it is A Good Thing when a city government seems to operate in an area at a loss?
#25 | Posted by LampLighter"

If I run a police department in a major city and zero property crimes occur and thus, I cannot give fines to people committing the property crimes (as there are none) so I am running at a loss, am I doing a good job or not? Wrap your smooth-brain around that -------.

#28 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-03-22 01:26 AM | Reply

@#28 ... If I run a police department in a major city and zero property crimes occur and thus, I cannot give fines to people committing the property crimes (as there are none) so I am running at a loss ...

So, your current alias then seems to agree that enforcement of the laws reduces the fines obtained by violation of those laws?

Good, that's a good start.

Now go back to my comment that if Los Angeles is losing money enforcing the laws vs the collection of fines, maybe Los Angeles should increase the amount of fines levied.


I mean if a positive result in fines collected vs the cost of collecting those fines is your ultimate goal, why not maximize that criterion?

My goal would be, however, to reduce the reason for collecting those fines.

And maybe Los Angeles has been successful in that aspect, and that is why the fines collected have been so small?


#29 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-22 02:22 AM | Reply

Having lived in LA close to 60 years, parking was always a daily test of one's luck. #%?! parking nazis.

#30 | Posted by dutch46 at 2025-03-22 03:07 AM | Reply

Having lived in LA close to 60 years, parking was always a daily test of one's luck. #%?! parking nazis.

#31 | Posted by dutch46 at 2025-03-22 03:07 AM | Reply

Having lived in LA close to 60 years, parking was always a daily test of one's luck. #%?! parking fascists..

#32 | Posted by dutch46 at 2025-03-22 03:08 AM | Reply

WTF? I thought it was squeaking about the use of "nazi,' so I changed it...and got 3 of them with one keystroke.

#33 | Posted by dutch46 at 2025-03-22 03:15 AM | Reply

"I mean if a positive result in fines collected vs the cost of collecting those fines is your ultimate goal, why not maximize that criterion?"

I never said that should be the goal - I stated the exact opposite.

"My goal would be, however, to reduce the reason for collecting those fines.
And maybe Los Angeles has been successful in that aspect, and that is why the fines collected have been so small?
#29 | Posted by LampLighter"

Great, maybe if you learn reading comprehension skills, you could have read any one of my posts above where I made that exact point many times already. I am happy you finally made it to this place in thinking but I am not going to waste my time guiding you there ever again. You are just too damn dense.

#34 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-03-22 05:00 AM | Reply

"I mean if a positive result in fines collected vs the cost of collecting those fines is your ultimate goal, why not maximize that criterion?"

I never said that should be the goal - I stated the exact opposite.

"My goal would be, however, to reduce the reason for collecting those fines.
And maybe Los Angeles has been successful in that aspect, and that is why the fines collected have been so small?
#29 | Posted by LampLighter"

Great, maybe if you learn reading comprehension skills, you could have read any one of my posts above where I made that exact point many times already. I am happy you finally made it to this place in thinking but I am not going to waste my time guiding you there ever again. You are just too damn dense.

#35 | Posted by ScottS at 2025-03-22 05:00 AM | Reply

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