While Los Angeles officials Stripping millions of funding From their fire department before one of the most devastating wildfires in state history, hundreds of thousands of dollars were allocated to fund programs like a “gay men’s choir” and housing for transgender homeless people.
Deadly fires The volcano erupted across Southern California this week, exacerbated by strong winds that damaged about 10,000 homes and businesses. After fire hydrants stopped producing water and homes burned to the ground, residents began calling out the state's Democratic-led leadership, which had cut funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) by $17.6 million just months earlier.
But even with the department's funding withdrawn, a Fox News Digital review of Los Angeles County's budget revealed thousands of taxpayer dollars were allocated to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programs that provide syringes to the homeless.
For example, the budget allocated $14,010 to the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles this year, a group that seeks to “create musical experiences that strengthen our role as a leader among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and performing arts.” Organizations.”
Fire crews march as they battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles on Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Another $190,000 was allocated to the homeless and HIV program, which includes a “syringe exchange” program that gives sterile syringes to homeless drug addicts.
An additional $100,000 in county funds was allocated to pay for Juneteenth celebrations, while $13,000 was allocated for “LGBT Heritage Month programs.”
The Department of Civil Rights, Human Rights, and Equity also awarded $100,000 to the “Midnight Stroll Transgender Cafe” to fund housing for homeless transgender individuals in Hollywood.
The Gay Men's Choir of Los Angeles performs on stage during the 2013 Do Something Awards held at the Avalon in Hollywood, California, on July 31, 2013. (Michael Tran/Film Magic)
The county also awarded $13,000 for “LGBT Heritage Month programs” and $4.5 million for electric vehicle charger infrastructure. The city's general purpose appropriation saw $250,000 set aside for “equity and inclusion.”
According to the report, homelessness funding was greater than the LAFD budget for the second year in a row.
Amidst the fires in the Los Angeles area, celebrities, such as actress Sarah Foster, were present. He called state officials For its legislative focus over the years.
Entire clusters of homes were seen burning in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles on Thursday. (Mark J. Terrell)
“We pay the highest taxes in California. Our fire hydrants were empty. Our plants were overgrown, and trees weren’t cleared. Our governor emptied our tanks because tribal leaders wanted to save fish. The mayor cut our fire department budget. But our mayor had cut our fire department budget,” Foster wrote in a post on X: “Praise be to God that drug addicts get their own drug groups.”
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After the funding was cut, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday that “there are not enough firefighters in Los Angeles County to handle four separate fires of this size.”
