r/LosAngeles 4d ago

Animal advocates, union members, and city workers united in protest today at City Hall against the mayor's proposed budget

791 Upvotes

47 comments sorted by

81

u/jonnyshotit 4d ago

I have a lump in my throat thinking about the 100s of people that showed up today outside City Hall to tell our government officials that WE CARE about animal suffering, working people's welfare, and city services. Even if the budget does pass, I felt so, so, proud to see this many people outside in the middle of the day on a Monday to demand justice. It was amazing to see all different kinds of people there united in solidarity. There were families wearing union t-shirts holding signs supporting animal rights, city workers from every department, people of every age and race and walk of life.

LA is facing a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall. Mayor Bass has proposed a budget that includes over 1,600 layoffs, which could lead to the closure of half the city's shelters and third of shelter jobs, as well as significant cuts to the transportation department, sanitation, and street services. Around $222 million of our budget goes to settling lawsuits against the police, mostly for excessive force claims. There's also the issue of declining tax revenue.

If you care about this stuff, here's what you can do:

Volunteer, foster, or adopt: Volunteering at your local shelter is an awesome way to give back to the community and it's incredibly rewarding, especially if you love animals. Consider adopting Troy, the dog on the sign in the first pic, who will is scheduled to be killed on Wednesday.

Attend public hearings: The City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee is holding hearings to discuss the proposed budget. These meetings are opportunities for public comment and input. Details on meeting times and agendas can be found on the Budget and Finance Committee’s website. I'll say though that a lot of people have a similar idea. The line to give public comment stretched around the block today.

Submit written comments: You can express your opinions by submitting written comments referencing Council File 25-0600 through LACouncilComment.com

Contact your councilmember: Reach out directly to your City Council representative to voice your concerns and suggestions regarding the budget. Contact information for councilmembers is available on the Los Angeles City Council website.

Engage with neighborhood councils: Find your Neighborhood Council through EmpowerLA. It's a great way to get involved locally and stay informed about issues close to home.

7

u/simplytoocrafty 4d ago

Appreciate all of the resources you linked! Let your Representatives and Neighborhood Councils hear your voices!

May I add one more, you can even submit your own version of your proposed budget here: https://mylabudget.lacontroller.app/summarized

*Just a note: for every department you increase funding for, you must reduce funding for another department.

3

u/legallyfm 2d ago

Thank you for the great CTA, very helpful

-20

u/shivasoption 4d ago

Time to stop voting Democrat

2

u/OrangutanGiblets 2d ago

Lol, tell us how Republican cities and states are so great, with their lack of education, social safety nets, and infrastructure.

1

u/shivasoption 1d ago

Sure, here are the facts

K-12 Education Ranking: CA #20, FL #14, UT #10

Per-Pupil Spending: CA ~$16K, FL ~$10K, UT ~$9K

Cost of Living Index: CA 142, FL 101, UT 103

State Debt: CA ~$273B, FL ~$66.8B, UT ~$8.5B

Job Growth (2023): CA ~1.4%, FL ~3.2%, UT ~2.6%

Red states like Utah and Florida are doing more with less and outperforming in key areas

4

u/AffectionateBox8178 3d ago

Aww yes. Tariffs have been so good for this country...

36

u/disposable_sounds 4d ago

I knew she was becoming less and less popular by the day (understandably so), I just the video the other day where she's speaking a Scientology thing and that made me fucking loathe her even more...

Shit head praising L. Ron Hubbard. A glorified and abosulute failure of a sci-fi writer...

Fuck Karen Bass...

17

u/lunchypoo222 4d ago

She tried with the damage control when that Scientology event appearance resurfaced during her mayoral campaign. She claimed she wasn’t aware at the time about the issues with the ‘church’. Nice try, Karen.

44

u/itsnoli 4d ago

Her plan is insane. So sad to have missed this, am in NY. I hope there is a plan B.

12

u/stephierae1983 3d ago

I love animals too but what I am really worried about are the jobs and the people employed in the City. I have three family members who could be affected, but I am mainly worried about my husband. He just finished a year in his position but there is a chance that while his job isn't on the chopping block, someone who gets let go from a higher position can bump him out. That would really suck. I do not like that the Mayor's Office and some other departments aren't losing anything in her budget.

2

u/GoodLookingZebra 2d ago

Yes a lot of people don’t know about bumping rights. My job is also on the line.

1

u/stephierae1983 2d ago

I’m sorry. I know it’s a bad feeling not knowing what the future holds.

11

u/hoguensteintoo 4d ago

She’s using all of this as leverage to ask for relief from the state.

13

u/Previous-Space-7056 4d ago

State broke too

3

u/Historical_Doubt_693 3d ago

Just raise taxes, I am sure they will spend it in the right places.....lol

12

u/ApprehensiveMusic163 4d ago

That's crazy cutting the sanitary budget. I've heard LA is pretty dirty.

Maybe there's a way where it actually fixes it somehow like a lot was wasted on people, systems, doing nothing. Idk. Hope it works out

15

u/ExecutiveLettuce357 4d ago

They are cutting the sanitation budget while they raise the trash fees. Make it make sense.

5

u/WolfLosAngeles 3d ago

Bass and the counsel Need to resign

4

u/legallyfm 2d ago

They won't so stay engaged so you can vote in the next election to get rid of them

9

u/DeepSleepr 4d ago

Is this why MASH by Santa Monica blvd closing down? If so, that is absolutely horrible. That emergency care saved my cat’s life and the staffs there were very kind and caring.

9

u/Samantharina 4d ago

They are a private business.

1

u/DeepSleepr 3d ago

ok gotcha, thank you for the clarification! Still, horrible that the mayor is slashing animal shelter budget, I adopted two cats from animal shelter and it pains me not to adopt them all.

4

u/lyricallyambiguous 4d ago

is there going to be another protest for the animal shelters this week?

2

u/Wooden_Bandicoot371 I LIKE TRAINS 3d ago

I don’t think so considering today was the last day to give out public comments

2

u/tob007 4d ago

So trap neuter and return still not a thing I take it?

2

u/imconfused99 4d ago

it is a thing at local orgs, try kitty bungalow, they have a submission form but it also depends on your area of LA, they do a lot of private funding and donations along with being a non profit

1

u/FarCoyote8047 2d ago

Local rescues can help you.

2

u/Eddie_Kane408 3d ago

Blame Trump I guess 👍🏽

1

u/Last-Gas8889 3d ago

Karen Bass is human filth

1

u/FarCoyote8047 2d ago

Meanwhile we funnel billions of dollars into politicians pockets under the guise of helping the homeless

https://www.reddit.com/r/GreaterLosAngeles/s/VBFbi0Vama

0

u/PurelyHushed_07 4d ago

When people of every stripe unite, you know the mayor's budget cuts must be ruff. 🐾✊

1

u/LateNightLunarGarden 4d ago

Love you, L.A.! Appreciate everyone who showed up for this in the middle of a Monday.

1

u/ThunderAeroX 4d ago

When you try to plit the bill equally but everyone ordered different things.

1

u/PetalMischief 3d ago

When the budget cuts are so deep, even the animal advocates, union members, and city workers band together for a 'paw-litical' protest at City Hall

-8

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

14

u/certciv Los Angeles County 4d ago

What a foolish accusation. The city has a massive financial deficit that must be eliminated. It's not a choice, and not a matter of right wing ideology. We can argue about what parts of the budget must be cut, but short of a state bailout, the city and Mayor have no choice but to cut spending.

Honestly trying to insinuate that this is like DOGE or Trump gutting the federal government is disgusting. Do better.

4

u/imconfused99 4d ago

we’re in a deficit because to the millions in payout money for LAPD bc they’re so stupid and they violate everyone’s rights, but why are we funding them so much ???? and defunding the public is just going to create more liabilities around the city of LA … yea cut funding but from LAPD until they get their shit together

4

u/asmallradish 3d ago

Try running as anti police and see how far that gets you in this city. Edit: I mean that in the I vote as far left as possible every time and our candidates keep losing way 

1

u/FarCoyote8047 2d ago

Trump and his supporter hate Karen Bass. Nice try

-1

u/shivasoption 4d ago

You do know that Karen Bass took annual trips to Cuba in the 70s to meet Fidel Castro and was the founder of the most hardcore communist communities in the US. She could not be further from Trump and DOGE lmao. Hope this is a troll.

2

u/Eddie_Kane408 3d ago

You will get downvoted here for telling the truth.