LA’s Anti-ICE Protests Cost Taxpayers a Whopping $30M—Here’s the Breakdown
Wait, $30 Million? Seriously?
So, Los Angeles just dropped $30 million dealing with Anti-ICE protests over the past few years. Let that sink in. Most of it—like, $29.5 million—went straight to the LAPD. We’re talking overtime, riot gear, and keeping cops on high alert for days. And honestly? People are pissed. Is this really where our tax dollars should go? That’s the debate burning up right now.
Where Exactly Did All That Money Go?
Cops Got the Big Chunk
No surprise here—the LAPD took almost all of it. SWAT teams, riot control, you name it. They were out in full force, and those overtime hours add up fast. Compared to past protests, this is next-level spending. Makes you wonder if they even checked the price tag before going all in.
The Other Half-Million? Kinda Fuzzy
The rest—about $500K—went to cleaning up after the protests, fixing stuff, and some vague “administrative costs.” But here’s the thing: nobody’s really sure where every penny went. No surprise, folks are demanding answers. A full audit wouldn’t hurt, right?
Why So Expensive? Let’s Break It Down
These Protests Were No Joke
Thousands of people, weeks of chaos, all over LA. Not your average weekend rally. Cops had to be everywhere, all the time. And that? That gets pricey fast.
Did the LAPD Overreact?
Some say the cops went way too hard—riot gear, barricades, the whole show. Others argue it kept things from getting worse. I mean, there were clashes and some property damage. But was the heavy-handed approach worth $30 million? That’s the real question.
What’s Everyone Saying?
Taxpayers Are Fuming
“Thirty million? That’s a slap in the face,” one activist told me. And honestly, I get it. That money could’ve gone to schools, housing, you name it. Instead, it’s paying for cops in riot gear.
City Officials Just Shrug
Of course, the city’s like, “Hey, public safety isn’t cheap.” But advocacy groups aren’t buying it. They think the LAPD inflated costs to justify their already bloated budget. Wouldn’t be the first time, right?
How Does LA Compare to Other Cities?
New York and Portland Spent Too—But Not Like This
Other cities saw protest costs spike, but LA? We’re in a league of our own. Our sprawl and reliance on overtime made it worse. Go figure.
What Now?
Some councilmembers want to cap police overtime during protests. Others say civilian oversight is overdue. Either way, something’s gotta give.
Follow the Money
The LAPD’s Budget Is Already Huge
We’re talking $3.2 billion for 2025. And yet, they always seem to need more. Meanwhile, schools and housing get scraps. Sound familiar?
This Could Hurt Later
If this keeps up, guess who pays? Us. Through higher taxes or cuts to services. No wonder “defund the police” keeps coming up.
The Bottom Line
Thirty million dollars. That’s the cost of “keeping the peace” in LA. Was it worth it? Depends who you ask. But one thing’s clear—we need way more transparency. Because right now? It just feels like our money vanished into thin air.
Source: NY Post – US News
