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Dear Friend:
On May 22, the City Council approved a nearly $14 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 after a month of intense discussion and more than a week of public hearings. The City had to close a $1 billion deficit and there were no easy answers. The Mayor’s proposed budget would have laid off more than 1,600 civilian employees, cutting essential services like processing crime scenes and evidence, paving streets, repairing street lights, and maintaining parks, buildings and vehicles. As the Vice Chair of the Council’s Budget & Finance Committee, I fought to preserve core services, restore jobs, find creative solutions that leveraged other funds, and enact efficiencies that saved money without eliminating core functions.
Even with the improvements the Committee was able to make, we took a horrible budget proposal, and we only were able to make it into one that is just very bad.
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Like many of you who responded to my annual community budget survey, I believe public safety must remain our top priority. Next year's budget provides more than $3.3 billion for LAPD and $1.3 billion for the Fire Department, more than 63% of the City’s unrestricted revenues. Although Council eliminated the Mayor’s proposed new team of firefighters to provide street medicine in Skid Row, since other health care providers are a better choice for ongoing medical care for unsheltered people, the LAFD will receive an increase and hire new firefighters this year. In order to avoid the drastic elimination of the civilian police employees (fingerprint experts, crime scene photographers, administrators, etc) that were defunded in the Mayor’s proposed budget, the number of new recruits was reduced to create savings. We can add more recruitment classes during the year should the City’s financial situation allow for it. We have too few sworn officers, but without civilians doing support work, fewer officers would actually be in the field (they would be behind a desk backfilling the civilian job at a much higher cost).
My colleagues and I were able to restore more than 1,000 civilian positions in the public safety, Transportation, Street Services, Street Lighting, Planning, Housing, Animal Services and other departments that the budget survey also identified as top priorities for Third District residents. I am hopeful that, through continued discussions with the City’s labor partners, layoffs may be unnecessary. Again, the goal is not just maintaining jobs, it’s providing services that all Angelenos need and deserve.
Facing the reality of the City’s budget challenges, we are focused on efforts to ensure that your tax dollars are spent well. To that end, the FY25-26 Budget includes measures to improve oversight of homelessness spending; improve delivery of services to families, youth and seniors; and better coordinate programs that provide alternatives to LAPD in responding to non-violent service calls.
A summary of the Council’s budget decisions can be found here. As always, if you have any questions for me or my staff, or would like to get in touch, please do not hesitate to write to us at c03.foryou@lacity.org or call my office at 818-774-4330.
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See You at the Annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade |
This Monday, May 26th, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, local elected officials, veteran organizations, and community members will pay tribute to the individuals and families that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms at the 33rd annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade, the only Memorial Day parade in the City of Los Angeles. For more information about the parade, visit canogaparkmemorialdayparade.com/ |
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Condemning the Midnight Move of Elephants Billy and Tina |
Earlier this week in the middle of the night without notice, the LA Zoo moved elephants Billy and Tina to the Tulsa Zoo. Councilmember Blumenfield has been a longtime advocate for the elephants and he issued the following statement in response to the secret move of Billy and Tina, “I’m not only disappointed and frustrated by the move, I am equally disappointed and frustrated by the lack of transparency and unwillingness to vet this decision publicly as I requested. When you are proud of your actions and secure in the righteousness of those actions you don’t move in the shadow of the night and you don’t hide from public scrutiny.” Read the entire statement here. |
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Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month |
May is Jewish American Heritage Month, and this year, Councilmember Blumenfield and his colleagues honored Jewish composers who shaped Hollywood. Many were Holocaust survivors or descendants who fled Nazi persecution, yet persevered and created iconic music. Legendary composers like George and Ira Gershwin, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, and Irving Berlin transformed adversity into art. Jewish creativity and tradition have long been a source of resilience and survival. Blumenfield is proud to be Jewish and to come from a long line of people who, in the face of danger and hate, refuse to be quiet and sing instead. Happy Jewish American Heritage Month. |
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Each month, Councilmember Blumenfield conducts Small Businesses Outreach by visiting storefronts and offices in different areas of the 3rd District. This month he visited several businesses along Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Canoga Park. These visits provide Blumenfield a chance to share information about City resources and programs to folks who can take advantage of the information to help grow their business. Equally important, it provides an opportunity for him to get direct feedback and learn how his office and the City can better serve and support our local business community.
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Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project Community Meetings |
Metro is conducting an environmental review for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project, which will create a high quality, reliable rail transit service alternative connecting the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. In addition to providing local and regional connections to the existing and future Metro rail and bus network, the project can improve access to major employment, education, healthcare and cultural centers in the greater LA area. Metro is holding virtual community meetings and an in-person meeting this Tuesday, May 27th at 5:30pm at Westfield Topanga Community Center. Click here for meeting info. |
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Upcoming Pure Water Los Angeles Virtual Community Meetings |
The City of Los Angeles is taking action to secure a sustainable and safe water supply for future generations through its water supply program, with a key component being Pure Water Los Angeles. Launched in 2024 by LASAN and LADWP, this initiative will purify recycled water to create a new, reliable source of drinking water. Community input is vital, and two virtual meetings—on May 28 and June 7—will offer residents a chance to learn more, ask questions, and share ideas for future outreach. Learn more here. |
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In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, Councilmember Blumenfield joined the West Valley Warner Center Chamber of Commerce at the 4th annual Valley Asian Cultural Festival at Pierce College to celebrate the diverse and vibrant cultures that make up our community. The day was filled with delicious food, music, art, performances and more. |
Councilmember Blumenfield was excited to cheer on the youth participants at the annual Topanga PALs All-Valley Wrestling Tournament. Blumenfield also thanked Officer Juan Estrada aka Coach Estrada, for his commitment and dedication to the successful wrestling program. |
On Fire Service Day, Councilmember Blumenfield joined the community in thanking West Valley firefighters for their tireless dedication to keeping the community safe and responding to emergencies. |
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This week's photo, taken in 1958 from the Valley Times Collection, is of Canoga Park High School community members dedicating a memorial to school's fallen during Alumni Homecoming Day. Learn more about the photo here. |
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield 200 N Spring Street, Room 465, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
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