Today, we successfully launched our new Therapeutic Mental Health Van program at Fire Station 77 which will be critical to serving our San Fernando Valley Region. This model appropriately deploys trained Los Angeles County mental health workers to respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises in lieu of fire and police resources.
As a Chair of Public Safety, I led the fight to dedicate $2 million from our city budget to provide five vans staffed 24/7 across the city, including the one located in the Seventh Council District. This is just one example of how we’re leading a shift in public safety response to ensure we’re maximizing taxpayer dollars and improving service to our communities, ensuring police and firefighters can respond to calls for service they were trained to do.
