As protests erupted last year over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he would slash $250 million from city departments and put the money toward Black communities and other communities of color. Garcetti and the City Council quickly moved to cut $150 million from the Los Angeles Police Department budget, directing a small portion of the money to jobs programs. City Council President Nury Martinez recently spearheaded an effort to spend about $88 million on economic, infrastructure and beautification projects in lower-income neighborhoods. The mayor’s office never publicly announced how Garcetti would use the $250 million he pledged June 3. Advertisement“I have instructed and committed to it in public to [the City Council] that our city, through our city administrative officer, identify $250 million in cuts,” Garcetti said at a news briefing.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 22, 2021 13:02 UTC