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As Los Angeles is mired in an ever increasing budget deficit, community organizations are calling on Mayor Villaraigosa and the City Council to focus resources on social services. The LA Coalition against State Violence is calling on officials to reduce city money allocated for the Los Angeles Police Department and invest instead in public transportation, prevention efforts, and affordable housing among other things. Even though the budget shortfall for the city may top one billion dollars in two years, the LAPD, nevertheless, is planning to move its headquarters to a half-a-billion dollar newly constructed facility this November. Prior to LA’s recent elections, Mayor Villaraigosa and LAPD Chief William J. Bratton announced plans to increase the police force to 10,000 officers. The Coalition, in mapping out its response to this year’s budget, contends that more equitable allocation of city resources would in fact lessen the need for more policing by investing in sustaining communities.

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GUESTS: Becky Dennison, Pete White, Co-Directors of Los Angeles Community Action Network