Hello EHN-LA members and supporters,
As if the criminalization of unhoused people through “special enforcement zones” all over the city isn’t cruel enough, the city council is now considering arming park rangers.
Today at 2pm, the L.A. City Council Arts, Parks, Health, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee will consider a motion by council member Buscaino, seconded by Cedillo, to arm park rangers. It is Agenda Item No. 4
As the LA Times said today, “this is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Please call in at 2PM to 1-660-254-5252
Meeting ID No. 161 368 1180
Press #, and then press # again
Press 9 to ask to speak
Please send a written comment by going to https://t.co/OIDMti5dtD
Click the red “NEW” button at the top of the page to submit your comment on Council File: 20-0190. Your message can be short. Numbers count. Over 600 comments against the motion have been filed so far.
Don’t forget to confirm when they email you after you send your message, or else your comment will not be posted.
L.A. city park rangers have long had an adversarial relationship with the unhoused community. Now they are being used to displace and keep unhoused people from city parks. Existing armed law enforcement agents are already well known for disproportionately shooting people of color and unhoused people. We don’t need armed park rangers shooting them also. What happened to “reimagining public safety?” This is backwards and dangerous.
