Furious Los Angeles firefighters have delivered hundreds of thousands of signatures to City Hall, urging a sales tax increase to address chronic shortages within the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
On Tuesday, firefighters handed over boxes containing 200,000 signatures for a ballot measure to raise the city’s sales tax by half a cent. This initiative aims to fund additional firefighters, ambulances, fire trucks, and repair outdated stations.
LAFD leaders have warned of severe understaffing and financial shortfalls, with some firefighters working unpaid 48-hour shifts. The department’s response times have worsened as they handle over 500,000 emergency calls annually, compared to about 100,000 in 1960. Rich Ramirez, vice president of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112, stated, “We have the same amount of firefighters as we did in 1960, with the call volume five times greater.”
The proposal, which could generate an estimated $324 million annually, now enters a signature verification process. If enough valid signatures are collected, the measure will appear on the November 2026 ballot. The Los Angeles City Council must officially place the measure on the ballot by July 1.
Mayor Karen Bass has faced criticism for not increasing the LAFD’s budget despite a deadly wildfire last year. Although the department’s budget increased with employee raises and new equipment purchases, firefighters argue it remains insufficient. The Palisades Fire exposed significant gaps in the city’s emergency response system, prompting the union’s push for the tax hike.
Councilmember Traci Park, representing Pacific Palisades, supports the measure, stating, “We are not going to solve this inside the four walls of this city budget.” The measure would represent the largest investment in the LAFD since 2000 when Proposition F authorized a $532 million bond for fire stations and facilities.
The proposed tax increase follows a period of turmoil within the firefighter’s union, including the suspension of its president, Freddy Escobar, over financial discrepancies. Despite these challenges, the union remains focused on securing necessary resources for the department’s future.
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