‘Police Tax’ in South L.A. Assailed by Community Group
A leader of the South-Central Organizing Committee has called a proposal that residents of South Los Angeles pay a special tax for more police a “half-baked, ill-conceived and potentially dangerous idea.”
The City Council agreed Wednesday to a plan by Councilman Robert Farrell to have a ballot measure drafted that would impose a special tax on residents in some parts of South Los Angeles to pay for 300 more police officers. It is estimated that the tax could cost the average homeowner $11.75 a month.
The plan must return to the City Council for a final vote, then be approved by voters in the special tax district before it could take effect.
Gwen CorDova, a spokeswoman for the community group, told a press conference at City Hall on Friday that residents of South-Central Los Angeles need more police because they live in a high-crime area, but they already pay for police protection through their taxes.
CorDova said community organization leaders will try to meet with Farrell to ask him to withdraw his proposal. “If that doesn’t work, we’ll have to take other measures, but we will continue to fight this proposal,” she said.
An aide at Farrell’s office said the councilman was out of town Friday and could not be reached.
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