LAPD union will oppose half-cent sales tax hike pushed by firefighters' union

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Set us as preferred The Los Angeles Police Department’s officer union said Tuesday it will oppose Measure FD, the half-cent sales tax measure on the Nov.3 ballot pushed by the city firefighters union — setting up a bitter and expensive clash between two of the city’s most powerful unions.

The Police Protective League said it plans to spend several million dollars on broadcast and digital advertising as well as mailers to oppose Measure FD, which if approved by voters would direct hundreds of millions dollars annually to the Fire Department to build new stations, hire new firefighters and upgrade equipment.Measure FD was pushed by the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112, the union representing rank-and-file firefighters.

The union says the measure is essential to modernizing the city’s Fire Department to make sure Angelenos are safe.But the PPL is mounting a last-minute campaign to squash the tax.“Our issue is that this is a permanent tax — a forever tax,” said Rick Mendoza, the president of the Police Protective League, in an interview.“We’re 100% for hiring firefighters and prioritizing public safety.

This is not shot at the firefighters.It’s an affordability issue.

No one likes the permanence of a tax with no end in sight.”The firefighters union president, Doug Coates, said the UFLAC respected PPL’s decision, but thought it was a bad idea.“They are choosing to keep the public at risk — especially in our most vulnerable communities,” Coates said.“Measure FD is the most important public safety decision this city has faced in a generation.

We urge everyone to vote yes.”The opposition from PPL led UFLAC to call for a special meeting of its membership on Oct.16, according to an email shared with The Times.

The union’s executive board is asking members to authorize an addition...