LA firefighters forced to beg voters for basics as homeless spending soars: Difference between life and death

LA firefighters are being forced to go begging to voters for money to provide what they call basic services — as the city keeps pouring staggering sums into its flailing homelessness programs.Firefighters this week resorted to starting petition drives to try to get a proposition on the November 2026 ballot for a half-cent sales-tax boost as part of a last-ditch bid to pay for more vehicles and employees and to fix crumbling fire stations.The humiliating dire situation is shameful when compared to how easily local pols open taxpayers’ wallets to shell out hordes more dough for the homeless — who are even behind a local surge in blazes, fire-department supporters said.The city now spends roughly $1 billion a year on its homelessness programs.With about 45,000 unhoused people, that works out to more than $22,000 per person a year.By comparison, LA’s fire department operates on about $923 million to protect nearly 3.9 million residents — or roughly $238 per resident.“Due to decades of underinvestment, our fire department currently operates with the same number of firefighters as in the 1960s, six fewer stations, and five times the call load,” said Rich Ramirez, an LAFD paramedic, to The Post.“The LAFD is half the size needed to keep LA safe, so your LAFD firefighters and paramedics are appealing directly to voters to provide funding for more personnel, equipment, and stations so that we can arrive on time to save lives and property when seconds can make the difference between life and death.” Get in early.Be the first to know about launch and home delivery.

Please provide a valid email.By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Never miss a story City Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents the Westside and has been leading efforts to help Pacific Palisades rebuild after a devastating fire, said City Hall has ignored repeated warnings for years — long before flames tore thro...