With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Police A Leading Issue In LA Mayoral Race
Congresswoman Karen Bass, a leading contender in the L.A. Mayoral race.
(
Leon Bennett
/
Getty Images
)
The primary election for the next mayor of Los Angeles is just four months away, and as campaigning heats up, public safety and law enforcement are becoming key issues.
Fernando Guerra, a political science professor at Loyola Marymount University, moderated a debate between the top five candidates last week.
“The whole idea that ‘defund the police’ is a question in this campaign is not true,” he said. “None of the major candidates, not a single one of them want to defund even one police officer.”
Current L.A. City Councilmember Joe Buscaino, one of the candidates at last week’s debate, said he would boost the L.A. Police Department’s ranks from 9,500 to 11,000 by 2027 if elected.
Sponsored message
City Attorney Mike Feuer, also a candidate, has said in the past that he will work to restore LAPD staffing to 10,000 officers.
Real estate agent Mel Wilson said at last week's debate that he would add 1,500 officers.
And Congressmember Karen Bass, currently the leading candidate, said she would get another 200 officers out on the streets.
In addition to law enforcement, Guerra said he sees the other top issues of the campaign as homelessness, housing affordability, climate change, and the city's response to COVID-19.
"I asked the question ... are there other issues that you think [are important] and of course, many of them pivoted to housing and housing affordability," he said. "There was a lot of focus on that one."
The primary is coming up on June 7, with a general election in November.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
