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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Just weeks ahead of the Olympic Games, police helicopters are grounded, patrol cars are parked and Rio de Janeiros security forces are so pressed for funds that some have to beg for donations of pens, cleaning supplies and even toilet paper, fueling worries about safety at the worlds premier sporting event.Brazil is suffering the worst recession in decades and Rios acting governor has declared a state of financial disaster this month, largely to bolster spending on security as the worlds spotlight turns to the city.How are people going to feel protected in a city without security, Gov. Francisco Dornelles told Rios O Globo newspaper. We can have a great Olympics, but if some steps arent taken, it can be a big failure.Rio state has slashed budgets across the board, including that of the police. Helicopters have been grounded and more than half of the civil polices fleet of cars has been idled in a bid to save on gas. Even officers salaries have been delayed.Angry civil police officers staged a strike on Monday, with one contingent greeting visitors at Rios international airport with a sign reading, in English, Welcome to Hell. Police and firefighters dont get paid; Whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe.The cuts have led to a very big crisis in ... the self-esteem of the policemen, said Ilona Szabo, executive director of the Instituto Igarape, a Rio-based security and social issues think tank.Even so, she said the sheer number of officers on the streets should help avoid a major security breech at Olympic sites and in Rios beachfront neighborhoods. Olympic officials insist Rios fiscal problems wont affect security for the games.Some 85,000 police and soldiers -- roughly twice the security contingent at the London Olympics -- are to be deployed during the Aug. 5-21 games, which are expected to draw an estimated 350,000-500,000 foreigners to a city of 12 million people where armed muggings, stray bullets and turf wars between heavily armed drug gangs are routine.Rios civil police, who oversee investigations while the military police handle patrols, acknowledged in a statement that some stations are receiving donated office supplies.In March, the head of the police station here came to me and said she didnt even have paper to print out the incident reports, said Maria Thereza Sombra, an 81-year-old former teacher who heads the neighborhood association in Rios tony Morro da Viuva area. Thats how far weve fallen. Ive never seen it this bad.The recession that saw Brazils economy shrink by 4 percent last year has taken a particularly tough toll on Rio. During the boom years, the state awarded billions in tax exemptions to companies ranging from industrial giants to small-scale jewelry dealers, nightclubs, restaurants and love hotels. Tax revenues sunk further with the fall of oil prices that fund much of the states budget.Local newspapers recently reported that the balance in state coffers had dwindled at one point to around $10,000. The salaries of some state workers are being paid in installments and some retirees are now receiving their pensions months late.Gov. Dornelles last week declared a state of financial disaster that paved the way for 2.9 billion Brazilian real ($860 million) in emergency aid from the federal government. The funds are earmarked for Olympic security -- fanning hopes that the situation of Rios beleaguered police may improve.In the meantime, donations continue to provide a lifeline for some police stations.Sombra said her neighborhood association turned to local residents for help. Nows the time for us all to unite.The association papered buildings with appeals for donations: paper towels, paper clips, pens and even toilet paper.Some people grumbled. They said, `I already pay taxes, so why should I have to go into my pocket again for this? And I say, `If you get carjacked and you need an incident report for your insurance and the cops cant print it, are you going to be worried about your taxes then? Sombra asked.Civil Police Chief Fernando Veloso declined multiple requests for an interview. He was quoted in a recent interview in O Globo as saying, Were at the limit of our operational capacity, and I cant discard the possibility of a collapse.Theres no way to avoid thinking about more cuts, and these cuts will impact our final product, which is serving the population, he said, adding, Weve had to revise everything, even our operations during the Olympic Games.Beth Penna Pereira, a psychologist from Rios high-end Leblon neighborhood, experienced the cuts first hand when her purse was stolen at a neighborhood bakery. When she went to the local precinct to report the incident she left empty-handed.We dont have paper for the incident report. None of the printers are working ... We havent received any supplies for a while, she recalled the officer saying.Im feeling more insecure, more unprotected, more helpless, she said. Fred Biletnikoff Raiders Jersey . 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How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. NEW ORLEANS -- If Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams keep scoring like this, opponents are going to have trouble matching up with Los Angeles second unit this season.Clarkson scored 23 points, Williams added 21, and the Lakers won for the fifth time in six games, beating the New Orleans Pelicans 126-99 on Saturday night.Me and Lou are going to be real aggressive coming in. Were trying to do a good job of leading this second group, bringing the energy, scoring the ball, pushing the pace, Clarkson said. Coach (Luke Walton) gave that to us. Thats our role and thats what were going to do.DAngelo Russell scored 22 and Nick Young added 15 points for the Lakers, who shot 55.3 percent (52 of 94) overall and made 16 of 30 3-pointers.Combined, Lakers guards scored 84 points.It just shows how much firepower weve got and how deep we can go, Clarkson said. Weve got so many options, its crazy.Anthony Davis scored 34 for New Orleans, but left the game for a pivotal stretch with lower back pain after his layup had cut Los Angeles lead to 63-62 in the third quarter. Davis, who crumpled to the court after his shot fell, went to the locker room and was out of the game for four-plus minutes while the Lakers went on a 14-0 run.It just locked up on me, Davis said of his back. I hate being out, so I tried to do whatever I could to come back.Davis added nine more points after he returned, but New Orleans never recovered, losing for the ninth time in its first 10 games and dropping to 0-5 at home.New Orleans has been without three top players -- guards Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans, and forward Quincy Pondexter -- so far this season. The lack of depth caused by those absences stuck out against a Lakers second unit that has demonstrated exceptional chemistry lately.Their bench totally dominated the game, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. We couldnt get Lou stopped. I thought Clarkson pretty much scored at will.Rookie Buddy Hield scored 18 points and Langston Galloway added 12 for the Pelicans.Young was 5 for 7 from 3-point range, while Clarkson went 4 of 6 and Russell 4 of 7..ddddddddddddRookie Brandon Ingram scored 10 points for the Lakers. He left the game in the second half with what team officials said was a sprained left ankle, but Ingram said he might have returned if his team hadnt built such a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter.TIP-INSLakers: Julius Randle had 11 rebounds to go with eight points. ... Williams entered the game as one of the top scorers in the NBA in a reserve role, averaging 15.9 points. He scored 14 in the first half, hitting six of his first 10 shots, including a 3-pointer. His 21 points tied a season high. ... Young, who entered the game 22 of 22 on free throws this season, did not attempt a foul shot -- nor did any Lakers starter. ... The Lakers 53.3 percent shooting from 3-point range was their best since hitting 14 of 25 (56 percent) in a 111-103 win over Denver on Dec. 30, 2014.Pelicans: Davis reached 30 points for the seventh time in 10 games this season. ... Hield reached double digits in scoring for the fourth time in six games, scoring no fewer than nine points in a game during that span and as many as 18 twice.REMINISCINGWalton and Gentry hugged in the hallway outside the locker rooms before the game. They also reminisced about their time as assistants on the same staff with Golden State during the 2014-15 season, when the Warriors were NBA champions. Gentry said he was not at all surprised to see Waltons early success as a first-year head coach of a young team that won only 17 games last season.Hes got a great feel for the game, but I think more so than that, hes got a great feel for people. He can relate to anyone, Gentry said.Gentry also alluded to a couple of Lakers players whove said they would run through a wall for Walton. In our profession, Gentry began, laughing as he spoke, youve accomplished a lot when an NBA player says something like that about his coach.UP NEXTLakers: Visit Minnesota on Sunday night.Pelicans: Host Boston on Monday night. ' ' '