Posted on 05/11/2012 5:32:49 PM PDT by BenLurkin
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A new report released Friday says that the city’s response to last year’s Occupy Los Angeles protests and the two-month encampment at City Hall cost more than double the original estimate.
A new report from the Public Safety Committee says the cost of Occupy L.A. to the city was $4,710,947, $2 million more than an estimate reported in February. The extra expense comes from newly reported costs to police Occupy L.A. and the price to restore the City Hall Park and monuments, which were damaged by protesters camped at City Hall.
From early October to late November, hundreds of demonstrators camped in tents at the 1.7-acre City Hall Park as part of the national Occupy Wall Street movement. Protestors called for government and corporations to address what activists described as a growing disparity between the rich and the poor.
The encampment ended in a massive overnight raid by the Los Angeles Police Department to clear the park of demonstrators.
City Councilman Mitch Englander, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said the report should make city leaders think twice before they endorse similar movements in the future.
The City Council in October voted 11-0 in support of the “peaceful and vibrant exercise in First Amendment Rights carried out by ‘Occupy Los Angeles.’”
Then City Council President Eric Garcetti told protesters they could stay as along they wanted. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa distributed ponchos to Occupy demonstrators during a rainy stretch.
“For every resolution or position the city might take, there’s a cost,” Englander said. “And we need to weigh that particularly now when we’re going through a budget crisis.”
The city is facing a $237 million budget deficit. Villaraigosa called for 231 layoffs and eliminating another 438 unfilled city positions in his proposed budget.
The city received $411,508 in donations and rebates to cover the cost of restoring the lawn around City Hall, according to the report from City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana.
They keep saying the Tea Party is dead, but I think it is OWS.
Can they send a bill to Soros and/or the other usual suspects?
Who cares....send the bill to “George Clooney and friends”
This unexpected discovery has surprised many experts.
Like the Coffee Party?
It’s funny how the LSM is avoiding the word, “unexpected”!
I haven't noticed that, but I don't get much information directly from the LSM.
Maybe they know they're laughing stocks.
In all honesty, I don't think that's true. So many of them seem to believe they're living in an alternative universe in which their words control physical factors of reality.
As the number of people who believe them shrinks, they tell themselves "well, I'm only writing for the enlightened few."
The answer to your question is: LA is run by liberal Democrats.
Liberal democrats? Pretty redundant here in L.A. It’s like describing water as wet.
No wonder the police were so “hands off” with OWS cretins and the black bloc hoods. Lotsa overtime to be had.
Perhaps George Clooney’s pals will pay up. /bs
True, I’ve lived here since 69 and it keeps getting worse. The Republicans often don’t run a candidate in the area where I live and when they do they don’t have a chance to win and that’s before redistricting.
I thought California was bankrupt. Who’s paying for these costs?
You’ve been here since 69?? Boy, from billboards of movies to be shown to massive billboards of AIDS/HIV testing everywhere in Hollywood.
It’s a money issue. Testing makes big bucks as does the treatment. It also shows sensitivity. In addition Hollywood and West Hollywood has a very high gay population. Hollywood Blvd has always been a cruising spot for female prostitutes and Santa Monica for gay/transvestite prostitutes. Before I retired and had to go into that area at night for business it was always amazing what you saw on those two streets. Haven’t been there in a couple years since I retired. There is also a lot of intervanous drug use in the area (again one of prime vectors for HIV).
The bigger money maker in LA is the marajuana clinics/shops. Take a look at the LA Weekly near the back. The mag is very liberal and the adds that support it are trash but they have the best restaruant reviews and some decent local coverage that the LA Times and Daily News won’t touch. They also do a decent job of covering entertainment venues/clubs.
I live in the more normal area of LA.
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