Recent Protests Are Costing Los Angeles Nearly 18-Million Dollars

The recent protests, violence and vandalism are costing the city of Los Angeles, so far, nearly 20-million dollars. Controller Kenneth Mejia says the bulk of that, just over 17-million-dollars, is law enforcement costs. The city does have an emergency fund of about 250-million dollars but with the current fiscal crisis in which the city finds itself, that fund may be dipped-into a few times with any more unforeseen expenses. Mejia says the city was able to close a one-billion-dollar budget shortfall, but at the expense of hiring fewer police officers and firefighters as well as other cuts. Mayor Bass signed the new 14-billion-dollar spending plan this past Friday.