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Yesterday's City Council motion to remove LAPD from non-violent calls is a huge victory, totally unprecedented.
But it also raises some new issues. LA City Hall is *built* to slow down grassroots momentum -- and motions like these are often how they do it. (thread, sorry)
But it also raises some new issues. LA City Hall is *built* to slow down grassroots momentum -- and motions like these are often how they do it. (thread, sorry)
What happened yesterday: City Councilmembers filed a motion requesting a REPORT from the City Administrative Officer and the Chief Legislative Analyst on removing LAPD from non-violent calls.
That’s always the first step. But these reports can take......... a long time!
That’s always the first step. But these reports can take......... a long time!
Yesterday a vacancy tax report came back to Council after being ordered NINE MONTHS AGO. No reason it took that long. An undergrad could have done it maybe two weeks. But that pace is standard.
And removing LAPD from non-violent calls is *way* more complex than a vacancy tax.
And removing LAPD from non-violent calls is *way* more complex than a vacancy tax.
The long City Hall process means anytime organizers demand big reforms in the next 4-12 months, electeds will be able to point to this motion and say “We’re working on it. It takes time.”
Meanwhile, they are definitely hoping the energy and the pressure on them dies down.
Meanwhile, they are definitely hoping the energy and the pressure on them dies down.
Advertising a big progressive change and then slowly whittling it to something pathetic is the core competency of LA City Hall.
This recently happened to: public banking, cannabis equity, campaign finance, immigrant legal defense, and more. They do nothing and it takes forever.
This recently happened to: public banking, cannabis equity, campaign finance, immigrant legal defense, and more. They do nothing and it takes forever.
There are also, maybe, a couple red flags already.
The motion requested a report-back on how the CAHOOTS non-police response program in Eugene, Oregon works.
Despite responding to 20% of calls, the CAHOOTS budget is $2M -- 3% of Eugene PD’s. https://www.registerguard.com/news/20200609/rsquoreallocatersquo-becoming-rallying-cry-for-eugene-police-money
The motion requested a report-back on how the CAHOOTS non-police response program in Eugene, Oregon works.
Despite responding to 20% of calls, the CAHOOTS budget is $2M -- 3% of Eugene PD’s. https://www.registerguard.com/news/20200609/rsquoreallocatersquo-becoming-rallying-cry-for-eugene-police-money
A big red flag — the LAPD union is on board. They’re simultaneously FLIPPING OUT over a possible 3% budget cut, so that tells you they don’t think this motion will affect their bottom line at all.
It also means someone at City Hall has done backchannel work to win them over.
It also means someone at City Hall has done backchannel work to win them over.
The *vast* majority of LAPD calls are nonviolent. If this motion to remove them from those calls is done right, it means defunding and shrinking LAPD. That goal is within reach.
It could also mean a shitty pilot involving a few social workers and not defunding LAPD at all.
It could also mean a shitty pilot involving a few social workers and not defunding LAPD at all.
None of this is news to @BLMLA and #PeoplesBudgetLA. Look at their statement today. They're celebrating a big victory, but keeping the pressure on. More protests are happening.
But anyone who supports them needs to stay engaged, because this is not done. https://twitter.com/BLMLA/status/1273268445212114944?s=20
But anyone who supports them needs to stay engaged, because this is not done. https://twitter.com/BLMLA/status/1273268445212114944?s=20
