Los Angeles city officials are stripping millions of dollars of funding from the fire department in the face of one of the most destructive wildfires in state history, while also cutting back on projects such as a gay men’s choir and housing for homeless transgender people. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been allocated to the funding program.
Deadly fires broke out across Southern California this week, destroying about 10,000 homes and businesses as they were fueled by fierce winds. After fire hydrants ran out of water and homes burned to the ground, residents began criticizing the Democratic-led state leadership, which cut the Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LAFD) budget by $17.6 million just a few months ago.
But even as the department’s funding has been cut, a FOX News Digital review of the L.A. County budget found thousands of dollars spent on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and a program that gives syringes to the homeless. It turns out that the taxpayer has been assigned.
For example, this year’s budget lists “a group that aims to create musical experiences that strengthen leadership roles among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and the performing arts” and “The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. ” has been allocated $14,010. organization. ”
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Firefighters battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
An additional $190,000 will be allocated to homelessness and HIV programs, including a “syringe exchange” program that provides sterile syringes to homeless drug addicts.
An additional $100,000 in county funds was earmarked for Juneteenth celebrations and $13,000 was earmarked for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Heritage Month Programs.
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The Office of Civil Rights, Human Rights, and Equity was also awarded a $100,000 grant to house the Midnight Stroll Transgender Café for homeless transgender people in Hollywood.
The Los Angeles Gay Men’s Choir performs on stage at the 2013 Do Something Awards at the Avalon in Hollywood, California on July 31, 2013 (Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
The county also awarded $13,000 for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Heritage Month Program and $4.5 million for electric vehicle (EV) charger infrastructure. In spending for general city purposes, $250,000 was set aside for “equity and inclusion.”
Funding for homeless assistance exceeded the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget for the second year in a row, according to the report.
Amid the fires in the Los Angeles area, celebrities such as actress Sarah Foster complained to state officials that they had been focused on legislation for years.
Entire blocks of homes can be seen burned in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday. (Mark J. Terrill)
“We pay the highest taxes in California. Fire hydrants were empty. Vegetation was overgrown and brush was not cleared. Reservoirs were emptied by the governor as tribal leaders tried to save the fish. The fire department’s budget has been cut by the mayor. But thankfully drug addicts are getting drug kits,” Foster wrote in a post to X. party. “
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In response to funding cuts, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Malone said Wednesday that “Los Angeles County does not have enough firefighters to fight four separate fires of this size.”
Aubrey Spady is a writer for Fox News Digital.
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