(Photo by onebyonemedia.com)
Due to the city’s budget deficit, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) will face a 10 percent cut, which totals $39 million from their current $500 million budget. Initially the city planned on a $56 million cut from the LAFD, but after protests from Councilman Paul Koretz, the Mayor requested that City Council funnel funds from the cities reserves to decrease the cut.
Councilman Koretz believes the mayor and the Los Angeles City Council could later possibly be guilty of involuntary manslaughter as a result of their cuts towards the Los Angeles Fire Department. Koretz rationalized since the budget cuts will lead to a slower response by firefighters and paramedics, there will inevitably be a higher probability of death. Officials from the LAFD try to remain supportive of the city’s cut claiming it’s the “best possible solution for firefighter and public safety.” However, LAFD officials admit the 10 percent cut will be problematic during emergency situations.
While there will still be over 1,017 firefighters on duty every day, the 10 percent budget cut will led to a cutback of 87 firefighters daily.
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