Police stations opening delayed
Plans to open two new Los Angeles police stations - including the $37 million Topanga Police Station in the San Fernando Valley - could be delayed as long as six months amid the city's continuing financial problems.
Daily News.
While the Los Angeles Police Department has increased by more than 300 officers over the past two years, the LAPD said plans to open the new Valley and Mid-City stations can't be finalized until the city approves its budget for the coming year.
That means the stations - set to open late this year - now won't open until early next year as the department waits to learn whether funding is available for staffing and whether the LAPD has enough of certain types of officers to man the stations.
"We have enough patrol officers, but there are concerns if we have enough detectives and administrative personnel," City Councilman Greig Smith said. "We won't know until we take up next year's budget if we will have the staff necessary to open as planned in October or if we will have to wait."
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will release his budget proposal later this month. It will then be reviewed by the council.