Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LAPD Wants Landlords To Help It With Recruiting
LAPD headquarters
(
Chava Sanchez
/
LAist
)
The LAPD is having trouble filling its ranks. Now it’s asking local landlords to help.
Chief Michel Moore told the Police Commission on Tuesday that he’s putting together a proposal that would ask landlords to partially subsidize apartments for police recruits for two years as they go through their training and get started with the department.
The LAPD said it will also ask local businesses, foundations and individuals to chip in to a fund that would help pay rent for new hires.
Last month, Moore told the commission that the department is not on track to hit its staffing goal of 740 new officers by the end of June. On Tuesday, he said LAPD recruiters often hear from potential recruits that the high cost of housing is “a barrier and an impediment” to their joining the force.
Support for LAist comes from
The department had 10,100 officers before the pandemic, and Moore said that number has fallen to 9,390.
The Los Angeles Business Journal first reported on the housing plan on Monday, and Police Commission member Steve Soboroff said there’s already been “an enormous response” from landlords who say they want to rent to new officers or help them pay their rent.
The paper said L.A. developer Geoffrey Palmer, who owns more than 15,000 Southern California apartment units according to his company’s website, is interested in participating in the program.
LAPD recruits are paid an annualized salary of nearly $71,000 during their six-month academy training. That rises to nearly $75,000 during their subsequent 12-month period as a trainee. The salary grows to $80,000 once they complete the training period.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist