pay for play
In my last post (like a rolling stone), I spoke about government support for the Los Angeles fire victims and the relatively small amount of money FEMA received from the $110 billion Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) from December 2024. Based on my knowledge of the DRF bill, sending 68.1% of taxpayer's money to three giant corporations, I was curious about the taxpayer's funds supporting fire departments in L.A.
To be clear, we pay for essential services like the fire department through our property taxes. However, the percentage of an individual's property taxes allocated to fire departments in the U.S. varies significantly depending on location. Generally, the amount falls within 5-15% of total property taxes, with most localities dedicating closer to the lower end of that spectrum.
In April 2024, Mayor Karen Bass slashed the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget by $17.6 million to $819 million (a 2% reduction). As a result, the cuts led to eliminating 58 vacant positions. Although the budget was increased mid-year due to closed-door negotiations, the earlier cuts did not help firefighters in January 2025.

Pay for play
Meanwhile, billionaire businessman Rick Caruso took proactive measures to safeguard his properties in Brentwood and Pacific Palisades. Notably, he enlisted the services of private firefighting teams to protect his home and the Palisades Village shopping center.
To begin with, Caruso's decision to hire private firefighters underscores a growing trend among affluent property owners in wildfire-prone areas. By employing these specialized teams, homeowners aim to enhance the protection of their assets beyond what public services can provide.
Subsequently, In Caruso's case, multiple private firefighting units protected his Brentwood residence, which was equipped with firetrucks and water resources to combat potential threats.
Private Dancer
Moreover, the deployment of private firefighters extended to Caruso's commercial interests. Palisades Village, a retail and residential complex developed by Caruso, faced imminent danger from the encroaching flames. Likewise, private fire crews were dispatched to the site to mitigate this risk, working diligently to protect the property and its tenants. Side note: Caruso ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2022 and lost to Karen Bass.
Nevertheless, the utilization of private firefighting services has sparked debate. Critics argue that such practices may divert resources and create disparities in emergency response, as not all residents can afford these services. Conversely, proponents contend that private firefighters supplement public efforts, providing additional layers of defense during widespread emergencies.
In short, Caruso's engagement of private firefighting teams during the Los Angeles wildfires highlights a complex intersection of personal initiative and public resource funding. While his actions aimed to protect valuable properties, they also contributed to an ongoing discussion about where tax dollars are really going.

California Dreaming
So, why would Mayor Karen Bass take $17.6 million from the L.A. fire department when they were asking for more money to meet the community's needs? It turns out Bass prioritized spending for the homeless population. Consequently, this suggests that some allocated funds are now part of programs designed to address homelessness in the city.
However, recent information shows that nearly half of Bass' record $1.3-billion homelessness budget for fiscal 2023-24 went unspent. An analysis by the city controller Kenneth Mejia found that only $599 million had actually been spent. Meanwhile, an additional $195 million was encumbered (held), leaving at least $513 million unspent.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is the lead agency responsible for coordinating housing and social services for the homeless in Los Angeles County. Further, between 2015 and 2022, LAHSA's funding increased 13 times, from $63 million to $808 million, while homelessness increased 1.6%.

Follow the Money
As of January 2023, Va Lecia Adams Kellum was appointed as LAHSA's chief executive, receiving an annual salary of $430,000. Dr. Adams Kellum has a close relationship with Mayor Karen Bass and previously ran St. Joseph Center, a homeless nonprofit organization in Venice.
How many homeless live in L.A.? The Homeless Count is a point-in-time census conducted annually by, you guessed it, the LAHSA. Meanwhile, the result of the year's Count, conducted on January 23, 24, and 25, estimated that the homeless population declined by 0.27% to 75,312 in L.A. County and by 2.2% to 45,252 in the City of L.A. Meanwhile, Los Angeles city officials have challenged the accuracy of several annual LAHSA homeless counts, including 2021 and 2022.
Finally, In January 2022, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development released a report identifying significant issues with spending oversight within LAHSA. Similarly, In May 2022, an investigative news report found that LAHSA outreach workers were throwing out food intended for the homeless at the end of each workday.
Non-Judgment Day
Today's topic clearly concerns greed and its effect on humanity. We are taxed to pay for essential services, and then when those services fail, we are told it is due to a lack of funds. Consequently, politicians use the same excuse over and over. When does it stop?
Most importantly, we can talk about how to solve our problems through government agencies for the care and welfare of our citizens. However, we will not move forward until we all recognize the sensation we feel when witnessing selfishness over care for our fellow citizens.
I spoke to my galactic group about this in great detail and asked if humans were responsible for the fires. They said yes. I wondered if those people would be brought to justice. They said no. My final question was, why are we doing this to each other? The response was this: you are here to feel the sensation without judgment. Once you do this, you can move to discernment.
Consequently, I know I don't prefer to witness the continuous cycle of greed and larceny, but I will no longer ignore it. I will feel it, follow where it shows up in my body, and allow the sensation. I was told that is why we are here.

Blinded by the Light
In conclusion, I'll leave you with this last thought: the universe always says yes. For example, I want to be rich. The universe says yes to the word want. I'm so angry that people are suffering. The universe says yes to anger and suffering. Why won't somebody do something about this? The universe did; it gave us free will and each other. Be with the sensation and recognize it, and let's see what happens next.
