Earlier this month, LA City Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield and Katy Yaroslavsky proposed a motion to allocate $1 million in city funds to three pro-Israel security organizations, including the Jewish Federation of LA, the Jewish Community Foundation, and the private security firm Magen Am. This motion was introduced in response to the land sale event on June 23rd at Adas Torah synagogue, where protests against the illegal sale of Palestinian land led to violence from pro-Israel counter-protesters, including Magen Am members.

Due to public backlash, Councilmember Yaroslavsky introduced a revised motion, to be voted on on July 31st, which increases the funding to $2 million and removes the specific organizations mentioned, allowing any religious or non-profit group to apply. Despite appearing more inclusive, the revised motion still risks funding groups like Magen Am, which endanger communities by labeling pro-Palestine protesters as “pro-Hamas.”

The motion lacks a guaranteed vetting process for equity and fairness, making it easy for organizations like Magen Am to receive our taxpayer dollars.

Given LA’s budget deficit and cuts to essential services, and the $80 million in state funding already available for nonprofit security, allocating an additional $2 million locally is redundant and wasteful. Furthermore, the LAPD, which already has a substantial budget, should handle community security, not private organizations.

The LA City Council will vote on this motion on July 31st.

Urge the LA City Council to vote "NO" on this motion and express your opposition by emailing them and taking action!