It looks like a recent decision by West Hollywood may put the safety of its residents in jeopardy – and for an arts festival, no less.
The Los Angeles County community recently held a vote to cut law enforcement funding over the next two fiscal years, which will result in less police officers roaming the streets. In return, around $14,000 will be applied to a Russian arts festival for the community, bringing its budget to $50,000.
However, the move is controversial, mainly because the criminal rate for the city has increased 137 percent over the first half of 2022 alone. As a result, many residents have criticized the decision, along with West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister.
Speaking with Fox News, Meister explained, “Most of the residents and businesses I have heard from are opposed to cutting the Sheriff’s budget. They are outraged that people and organizations from outside our city are dictating to Council how to run our city. The narrative that we can have ‘either Sheriff’s or social services,’ or ‘either Sheriff’s or unarmed security teams’ is false.”
As for why the move was made, West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Sepi Shyne explained, “We have all talked for two years about re-imagining policing and reimagining policing means reallocating funding and that’s exactly what that means – you can’t just say it without actually doing it. Period.” They are revamping the program with unarmed security ambassadors who will assist the remaining police forces.
Here to speak to us about this vote is Michael Letts, a pro-police advocate who is founder and CEO of InVest USA. They are an organization that provides bulletproof vests to officers across the country, through various charitable programs and sponsorships. His expertise will provide weight to this matter.
Q&A:
- What do you think about Shyne’s thinking of “re-imagining” what police protection is to this city, especially with an increasingly growing crime rate?
- What concerns do you have for both the residents and the remaining police officers who will continue to patrol the city?
- What kind of risk comes with assigning “unarmed security ambassadors” to assist the remaining sheriffs? Do you think it’s a mistake assigning them to protection duties?
- Do you believe Mayor Meister (along with equally opposing Councilman John Erickson) can do anything to potentially recall the vote and provide funding back into the sheriff’s fund? Or are their hands tied?
- If you were in charge of city funding, would you be more concerned over the safety of your citizens rather than holding an arts festival? $50,000 seems like an extravagant budget for merely showing off art, doesn’t it?
- Where can we learn more about your InVest USA organization?
- You can visit our official website at https://investusa.org.
About Michael Letts…
Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. Those interested in learning more about Letts can visit his official website here.
CONTACT: Gerald McGlothlin at: jerry.specialguests@gmail.com
