Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
LA Sheriff Villanueva May Get Back Some Of His Frozen Money
File: L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva at the graduation ceremony for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy class 433 at East Los Angeles College, Friday, January 4, 2019. (Kyle Grillot for LAist)
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors may give Sheriff Alex Villanueva part of what he wants: They'll consider a motion next Tuesday that would unfreeze $83 million of Sheriff's Department funds.
Villanueva wants all $143 million the supervisors froze last fall in an effort to pressure him to eliminate tens of millions of dollars in red ink. He's still running a deficit.
The sheriff says he needs the money to keep processing rape kits, replace old patrol cars, keep search-and-rescue helicopters aloft, and maintain hygienic conditions in the jails during the pandemic.
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who co-sponsored the motion, says the $83 million "will totally cover everything he said he needed."
The money would include $7.6 million for face shields, gloves, N95 masks, paper jumpsuits, booties, thermometers and cleaning supplies.
READ OUR FULL REPORT:
Sponsored message
LA Supes May Unfreeze $83M Of Sheriff's Budget For Coronavirus, Other Issues
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
