Black Lives Matter LA Friday presented their so-called “People’s Budget” and called on elected officials to divest millions of dollars from the police department in order to fund other long-neglected and critical areas of the city.
On Friday, the City Council’s five-member Budget and Finance Committee began the first of several budget hearings to consider Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed $14.89 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2026-27. The committee is expected to conduct a total of eight public hearings on the proposal, with the final meeting scheduled for May 15.
After hearings have been concluded, the full City Council will take up the matter.
“Today is about hearing from you what matters most in your communities, and what you want this budget to reflect because the decisions we make over the next several weeks should reflect the priorities of Angelenos across the city,” Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, chair of the budget committee, said.
She is expected to give her thoughts on the budget on Tuesday, when they begin hearings with city departments.
Melina Abdullah, an organizer with BLM-LA, BLM Grassroots and a Cal State LA professor of Pan African studies, opened the presentation by stating the names of Black Angelenos whose lives were “stolen as a result of police violence.”
“The presentation that we’re going to give is actually in honor of those and for the benefit of those who are still here,” Abdullah said.
She also represented the People’s Budget Coalition, which was formed in 2022 and consists of several organizations such as the Trans@ Coalition, White People for Black Lives, and CARCEN, among others.
“As City Council members, who are you to beholden to?” Abdullah said. “We know that there’s very narrow special interest lobbying for particular things, specifically the L.A. Police Protective League. Are you going to be in their pockets?”
“Are you going to go along with a mayor, who many of us respect, but don’t agree with her budget proposal,” Abdullah added.
David C. Turner III, a UCLA assistant professor for the Luskin School of Public Affairs, led the discussion on their spending priorities using data charts. For their proposal, Turner said they surveyed more than 35,000 people over the last six years.
“We want to invest in things like housing security, and things like food security, economic assistance, public health and health care, child and youth development, environmental justice and climate change,” Turner said.
He noted the proposal calls for reimagining community safety by investing tax dollars in restorative justice initiatives, neighborhood empowerment, supporting neighborhood councils and promoting mental health and wellness programs.
Turner emphasized that respondents did not desire to invest in law enforcement, the city attorney’s office and parking enforcement.
As part of Bass’ budget, she proposed hiring 510 new police officers. Turner gave what he described as a conservative estimate of nearly $47 million required to pay the salary for those new recruits. He, however, argued that money could be used in different ways that would also serve to bolster public safety.
For example, in fiscal year 2024-25, the city’s Community Investment for Families Department served 1,961 domestic violence victims, helped 7,000 young people and another 12,800 find jobs, with a departmental budget of about $41 million.
Turner says if the CIFD had received an extra $47 million it could mean an additional 6,000 domestic violence victims being helped, and more young people and adults finding employment.
“The street lights on my street don’t work, and when it’s dark outside, bad things tend to happen,” Turner said. “You don’t need abolitionist politics to know that.”
In another example, Turner said $77 million that is spent on traffic enforcement could be allocated for city infrastructure, or if the city transferred 33% of police overtime funding that was paid in fiscal year 2024-25 to the fire department, it would increase the total budget by 11%, or roughly $101 million.
“You have police doing things that they don’t even want to do … but yet, we continue to make them do that because they’re our most funded resource,” Turner added.
Meanwhile, the LAPPL Board of Directors criticized BLM-LA for their proposal, calling it “out-of-touch” during a time when San Fernando Valley residents are suffering through a rash of home burglaries.
“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. Cue the circus music, pop some popcorn and get ready to be entertained with some budget comedy. Keep it classy Melina,” the LAPPL Board of Directors said in a statement, which was posted on social media.
Bass, who is seeking reelection for a second term, has recommended maintaining funding with no major increases to city departments and programs amid efforts to balance the budget.
There are no planned layoffs or furlough days, but Bass proposed the elimination of 149 vacant positions. Her proposal comes one year after she and the City Council closed a nearly $1 billion deficit, as well as averted thousands of layoffs.
The deficit was a result of overspending, an increase in liability settlements, a decrease in projected tax revenue, a response to the January 2025 wildfires and other economic challenges.
On public safety, the proposal is expected to provide the Los Angeles Police Department with approximately $2.11 billion. Total spending for the LAPD is expected to reach more than $3 billion, according to the City Controller’s Office.
Funding will prioritize the hiring of 510 new officers, though officials said they expect attrition of 510 officers as well.
Bass said the city aims to ensure LAPD’s force remains at 8,555 in the coming fiscal year. LAPD would also have funding to conduct use-of-force, de-escalation and mental health intervention training.
