One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Mayor Garcetti turns to YouTube to communicate directly with LAPD officers about contract (updated)
Mayor Eric Garcetti used his social media skills Thursday to communicate directly with LAPD officers via YouTube.
(
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
)
Mayor Eric Garcetti took a digital detour Thursday, using YouTube to communicate directly with LAPD officers about a one-year contract they voted down two weeks ago.
The mayor had intended to visit roll call meetings with officers, but the Los Angeles Police Protective League said that amounted to an unfair labor practice. The union signaled it would file a complaint.
"The law is very clear: City officials are prohibited from communicating with employees concerning subjects of ongoing collective bargaining negotiations," union President Tyler Izen said last week.
On Thursday, the mayor found a way around that by posting a video to YouTube. In the clip, he notes that under the proposed contract, salaries for officers hired during the recession would be increased. Overtime would no longer be given as time off; it would be paid in cash. What Garcetti doesn't mention is that the contract would not provide raises or cost-of-living adjustments.
"The sacrifices you made on overtime were emergency measures -- never intended to be permanent. And I understand the toll these emergency measures have taken. Not just on your pocketbook but on the LAPD as a whole," Garcetti said.
Two weeks ago, rank and file members of the LAPD rejected the one-year contract.
"There is a deep-seeded frustration and anger among the rank and file due to their low pay, working conditions, a disciplinary system that is viewed as biased and unfair and their perception that management is unreceptive to their concerns," Izen said in a statement Thursday.
Video: Garcetti addresses the LAPD
Sponsored message
This post has been updated.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
