Opinion: What the communities that suffer police violence need

To the editor: With the Los Angeles Police Department already commanding about half the city’s budget, an additional $8 million to redress police misconduct seems a bitter pill for taxpayers to swallow. I suggest a remedy for the City Council to consider, though it’s not my idea. (“L.A. to pay more than $8 million to settle lawsuits over deadly shootings by LAPD,” Dec. 13)

Organizations with established roots in communities of color that suffer the brunt of excessive police violence and understand the problem have been talking about such a solution for at least two years.

What those communities really need are jobs, intervention specialists and programs for youth. They don’t need over-policing, which leads too easily to harassment, or a police force reflecting white supremacist values (irrespective of a police officer’s race). The Youth Justice Coalition has calculated that just 1% of the money spent on law enforcement in Los Angeles County would fund 25,000 youth jobs, 50 youth centers and 500 full-time community intervention workers. Why not give it a try?

Regardless of money the city spends on policing, the LAPD continues to fail at breaking cycles of violence, including its own excessive use of force. And in reality, that’s not the LAPD’s expertise.

Karen Hilfman, Los Angeles

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