Actually, unless you live in Los Angeles, these are someone else’s tax dollars, but the fact remains that this is a total waste and abuse of the taxpayers’ money.
On Friday, The Daily Signal reported:
A convicted murderer and alleged gang member was being paid by Los Angeles taxpayers to patrol neighborhoods as a “peace ambassador” until federal authorities arrested him Friday morning. Now, city leaders are facing questions about how he got the job in the first place.
Michael Angel Alvarez, 41, aka “Diablo,” was arrested on Friday during a traffic stop for possession of body armor by a violent felon, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Alvarez was being paid by Los Angeles city tax dollars to patrol as a “peace ambassador,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
A program launched by LA Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, peace ambassadors were meant to be a way “to support Angelenos in moments of crisis” by providing people who are not law enforcement to aid in non-emergency situations, according to Hernandez’s website.
“Each team consists of two unarmed workers who have lived experience in the justice or gang systems and are trained in violence prevention and trauma-informed care,” the website states.
According to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Alvarez earned approximately $58,000 through the program last year. Essayli alleged that Alvarez maintained ties to the 18th Street gang while employed by the city.
I can actually see the value of having a former gang member act as an ambassador to the gangs, but I would want to be absolutely sure that the former gang member had a total change of heart and lifestyle. I also would not be willing to pay him for the work. There have been many people who have come out of very rough situations who have found a relationship with Jesus and totally turned their lives around. I am personally aware of two pastors who spent time in jail and do an awesome job as pastors. However, this is an individual thing, and simply holding out money without thoroughly checking the person’s current alliances is a really bad idea. If someone volunteered without being paid, that might be an indication of a heart that wanted to help.