Save Funding for City Parks!

It could happen here!

The following is from Kristin Sabo, parks activist and caretaker for Amir's Garden at Griffith Park. No one in Los Angeles has more insight into how the City's Department of Recreation and Parks operates. Below, she details how the City is "double dipping," taking funds from the parks' budget in an effort to "charge" the department for "services" from the City. These chargebacks do nothing more than help the City hide it's budget deficit due to wasteful spending and take dollars - as mandated by the City Charter - from recreation for children, families and all residents of LA. 

Read more - and then take action...

"Crippling "Chargebacks" covering other departments' budgets by taking funds from Rec and Parks) are killing our S-T parks and Hansen Dam. The Mayor's budget for 2013-14 is even worse, if that is possible.

Please read this document for an explanation of the "chargebacks" and the Recreation and Parks services we've lost so far. It's disgusting.

The $56 million in Chargebacks to Rec and Parks in FY 2013-14 being perpetrated on this City's children and parks users by the Mayor, CAO and the City Council is completely unconscionable.

The budget hearing for Rec and Parks is Wednesday May 1st. Please submit your comments to the Budget and Finance Committee ASAP.

Budget & Finance Committee Hearing
Wednesday, May 1, 1pm
John Ferraro Council Chamber - Room 340
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

If you can't attend that day, please contact the members of the Budget & Finance Committee and let know that you demand an end to Chargebacks and adequate funding for our parks.

Email Councilmember Paul Krekorian, or call him at (213) 473-7002
Email Councilmember Mitch Englander, or call him at (213) 473-7012
Email Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, or call him at (213) 473-7011
Email Councilmember Paul Koretz, or call him at (213) 473-7005
Email Councilmember Tom LaBonge, or call him at (213) 485-3337"