L.A. City Council's budget committee recommends 1,000 more job cuts

[The Northerner]

Source: Los Angeles Times

The committee's budget plan, which goes to the full council on Friday, omits revenue the mayor expects from privatizing city parking. One councilman called it 'fake money' because the deals aren't final.

The budget roller coaster at Los Angeles City Hall took another sharp turn on Tuesday with the City Council's Budget and Finance Committee calling for the elimination of 1,000 jobs on top of the 761 targeted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in his proposed annual budget.

After a series of 5-2 votes, the committee sent the council a budget that imposes an array of cuts to parks, libraries, animal shelters and anti-gang programs, among other services.

The panel also removed $53 million in revenue that Villaraigosa expects to receive from plans to privatize the city's parking assets — a move that increased the number of job cuts by 1,000 positions.

Councilman Jose Huizar voted against some of the reductions, including plans for closing 24 child-care centers and reducing library services by eight hours per week.

"We're not investing in the future," he said after the vote. "There's no creative thinking."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-la-budget-20100512,0,6176317.story

[flamingdem]

1. thaaanks arnie nt

[slackmaster]

3. What does the Governor have to do with L.A.'s budget problems?

:crazy:

[ixion]

2. I hope the job cuts included the council members themselves

since they're, in part, responsible for the mess.