Frustrated firefighters in Los Angeles delivered hundreds of thousands of signatures to City Hall, calling for a sales tax increase to address ongoing shortages within the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
LAFD officials have consistently highlighted the severe funding issues that leave the department overextended, with some firefighters reportedly working unpaid shifts that span 48 hours as they battle fires.
Despite this dire situation—including last year’s devastating wildfires—Mayor Karen Bass declined to include the requested funding in last month’s budget.
On Tuesday morning, dozens of firefighters presented a box containing around 200,000 signatures to the city clerk, pushing for a ballot measure to raise the city’s sales tax.
The proposed increase of half a cent aims to provide additional firefighters, ambulances, and fire trucks, while also addressing the urgent need for repairs to aging fire stations.
Firefighters expressed that this initiative is a crucial step to prevent further deterioration in response times in a city that ranks as the second largest in the nation.
Rich Ramirez, vice president of the Local 112 Fire Department, pointed out that while responses were approximately 100,000 calls per year in 1960, that figure has surged to over 500,000 today. He mentioned that response times have worsened alongside this increase.
“Ideally, we should respond in four-and-a-half minutes, but it often takes almost eight minutes before they even call 911,” Ramirez noted, emphasizing that speedy responses are critical in emergency situations.
The signatures will now undergo a verification process, with city officials conducting a random sample to confirm validity within the month. If validated, the Los Angeles City Council must decide by July 1 whether to place the measure on the November 2026 ballot.
Ramirez mentioned that they felt compelled to take these actions after years of warning city leaders about the deteriorating conditions, not only in staffing but also in equipment reliability.
Councilor Tracy Park joined the firefighters to underscore that the city has ignored their concerns.
Ramirez explained that the sales tax increase would facilitate hiring more firefighters, rebuilding outdated fire stations, and acquiring necessary equipment.
The urgency of this measure follows a past fire that revealed weaknesses in the city’s emergency response system, and nonetheless, conditions appear to have worsened since then.
With staffing already cut by 42 positions shortly after the significant fire incident, Ramirez lamented, “We were promised better resources after such events, but we’re still lacking equipment and personnel.”
The proposed tax is expected to generate around $324 million annually, with conditions ensuring that all funds are dedicated to firefighting operations rather than being diverted to the city’s general fund.
As firefighters respond to emergencies like car crashes and fires, they now also find themselves advocating for their department’s urgent needs.
“Our safety is at stake,” Ramirez stated. “If we don’t do something now, it will only get worse.”
