TITLE
WITHDRAWN
Recommendation to request City Manager and all relevant City departments to seek funding and/or bring back a version of the federal American Rescue Plan funding that would address the increase of violent crime and support the hiring and training of new officers, through two police academies, to replace the officers lost recently to attrition before the department reaches dangerous lows.
DISCUSSION
On March 16, 2020, this council approved <https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/long-beach-city-council-adopts-long-beach-recovery-act/> a guiding document on allocation of federal American Rescue Plan <https://www.whitehouse.gov/american-rescue-plan/> recovery funds.
Earlier this month, the mayor met with <https://www.longbeach.gov/mayor/news/public-safety-20212/> Police Chief Robert Luna and City Manager Tom Modica to discuss our current crime data and map out next steps for public safety <https://longbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9328141&GUID=6BC8B89B-A991-4CFD-BC2B-B468929A7867>.
Since American Rescue Plan funds were last discussed, we have received updated allocation projections, direct feedback from those in need, and federal discussions that funding can be used to hire displaced police officers.
Last year our police department had approximately 10% reduction in sworn personnel with attrition of 80 officers at various ranks. Our expected retirements for fiscal year 2021-2022 are an additional 30 officers.
Just this last week, President Biden gave a call to action <https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/23/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-comprehensive-strategy-to-prevent-and-respond-to-gun-crime-and-ensure-public-safety/> to all cities across the country to follow the lead of other local City officials by using American Rescue Plan funding to launch and strengthen Community Violence Intervention programming. In order to sustain our current violent crime intervention programming, we must move to do just that.
To this end, we move that the Long Beach City Council direct the City manager and all relevant City departments to have an option to adjust the recovery plan and/or seek other funding options to ensure that there is funding to hire police officers before the department reaches dangerous lows.
STATEMENT OF URGENCY
Approval of this recommendation is urgent due to recent federal action by the Biden Administration surrounding national increases in violent crime and gun violence, and to ensure timeliness of discussion as it aligns with the beginning of our Long Beach budget hearings.
FISCAL IMPACT
No Financial Management review was able to be conducted due to the urgency and time sensitivity of this item.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
STACY MUNGO
COUNCILWOMAN, FIFTH DISTRICT
MARY ZENDEJAS
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
SUZIE PRICE
COUNCILWOMAN, THIRD DISTRICT
DARYL SUPERNAW
COUNCILMAN, FOURTH DISTRICT