Posted on 04/11/2008 9:30:10 PM PDT by lainie
LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles must eliminate 767 city jobs by June 30 to reduce a projected multimillion-dollar budget deficit, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Friday.
Unless something is done, the city is expected to spend $406 million more than it takes in during fiscal year 2008-09, which starts July 1, due to a downturn in sales tax receipts, taxes from the sale of residential and commercial properties, and state reimbursements.
When the mayor presents his budget on April 21, city officials will have identified 767 positions that can be eliminated, which will eventually start the city's complicated system of laying off employees.
It is not clear how many employees will actually be fired. Los Angeles employees have not experienced layoffs since 1983 when about a dozen workers were let go.
"The budget that I will present to the City Council next week will include some deep and painful cuts. There will be difficult choices to make but we will preserve our core city services," Villaraigosa said at a Friday afternoon news conference.
Police officers and firefighters will not be laid off, but civilian employees in both departments could be on the chopping block, the mayor said. Employees may also be subject to mandatory unpaid vacations and shortened workweeks.
For months, Villaraigosa has been warning residents and city employees about the projected deficit and the possibility of layoffs. The mayor said his budget will also include revenue-generating initiatives, but he would not talk about possible tax increases.
"Our commitment today is roughly for every dollar in new revenue, we'll propose a $1.50 in cuts, " the mayor said.
"We're going to be looking at issues like full cost recovery ... full cost recovery across the board."
Villaraigosa is expected to discuss the city's budget problems in his State of the City address on Monday. He will also talk about the city's anti-gang programs, which will be consolidated within his office at the start of the new fiscal year.
"I'm glad that the City Council moved ahead and that we're able to come together to take on this real tough issue. I think next week in the State of the City I will make some announcements regarding some of the specifics of that proposal," Villaraigosa said.
Also noted from the LAT article on the same subject:
Villaraigosa refused to reveal what services would be scaled back, saying only that there would be "deep and painful cuts." He also sent strong signals that he will pursue a range of fee hikes, including an increase in the city's trash collection fee.
The mayor has already asked the city's budget analysts to look at increasing the trash fee by up to $12 per month, from to $38 from $26. "We're looking at the biggest budget deficit in L.A. history, so we're going to have to make the tough choices," he said.
1. If even Mayor Reconquista (D-Aztlan) is for, and articulating publicly, layoffs and 'fee hikes' in the same stroke, things must be interestingly worse than we thought. He announced this late on a Friday of course.
2. Fee increases in trash collection are supposed to be for trash expenditures, not more cops or firemen. Public utility increases aren't taxes, but he's afraid to raise taxes. Law enforcement and firefighters are supposed to come from the general fund, not trash pickup fee increases.
3. "Council members have raised the possibility of shifting the cost of sidewalk repairs from city government to property owners. Councilwoman Janice Hahn proposed a new oil extraction fee. And Councilman Bill Rosendahl has proposed a four-fold increase in parking meter fees." See #2.
My not start with the Mayor and his staff?
Leading by example is a very noble endeavor. Alas, the mayor is not very noble.
Leftists in action.
You destroy the economy, then you raise taxes to cover the resultant shortfall, which destroys the economy more, so you have to raise taxes more... Snake eating its tail
The gangbangers will be celebrating this move because they know their homeboy has their back.
And those non tax-payers drain any funds using welfare, wic, medical, emergency etc. services.
Politicians by nature understand only one means of acquiring revenue ... taxes.
Capital idea.
...and the thirteen dumbocrats on the City Council.
My understanding is that most governments show hundreds of phantom "jobs" on the payroll precisely for situations like this. When the government is forced by budget shortfalls to lay off government "workers" those "workers" are simply moved into these phantom positions so they can keep collecting their paychecks and benefits, and accruing time toward their beefy pensions.
I will be amazed if anybody is actually laid off in the true sense of the word.
It's the government, after all - - those pigs know how to take care of themselves.
You might be right in the end, but he specifically says (tonight) that there will be layoffs of existing jobs. Regardless, he’s following his brother-in-arm Arnold’s lead; plus, like I said. Raising city fees does not (and should not) equal tax hikes for more law enforcement. Period. He knows that better than any of us.
If you watch the California city news...from across the state...since mid-2007...several cities are now admitting they are overpaying both cops and firemen...by a tremendous amount of money. Some town in central California...had about five percent of its firemen who made $250k in total pay (including overtime), for 2007. The fault? Unions for both the cops and firemen are utilizing their connections to the city councils and ensuring yearly pay raises that go beyond the norm.
If the mayor was smart...he’d level the cutting toward the fire department and the cops...level out the pay scheme there in LA.
All a town really needs is a sheriff.
I won’t be surprised about anything coming of this, but like I said in #11, he’s specifically saying people will lose their jobs. So, who knows. But I’m sure you’re right, generally speaking. What kind of major metropolitan city, run correctly, hasn’t laid off more than 12 people in 25 years!?
???
Even if there was such a thing as a "major metropolitan city, run correctly", layoffs don't happen.
Can you name a single city that has actually fired workers for real?
Bold words my friend. I don’t know if you mean he actually supports gangbangers, but more like, he is fine with the air of anarchy?
Ah ha ha ha ha.
Really? There aren’t any?
Between the years 1983 and 2008, local governments haven’t had to downsize based on budgets, or technology, or whatever?
I don’t know! Am I naive, or am I just thinking like a businessman?
so-o-o-o-o sorry,
mayor villar!
Oh yeah. I forgot about our worthless Chief of Police.
Bratton is a moron!
The worst thing about coming home to L.A. is seeing that mayor’s face on the wall in the airport.
Did you see this? Ping.
Doesn't happen. Taxes are raised every friggin' time.
No combos of downsizing, mixed with rehiring based on new needs?
Local government is not supposed to be a growth industry!
Like the phantom cops who appeared when katrina hit.
The New Orleans Police Department had 1500 to 1700 officers. Well, not exactly. See, it's like voting, Democratic Party style. In actual fact (article was at allheadlinenews.com/articles/7000310543, but now missing) they might have only had 900 to 1000 actual, living, breathing, uniform-wearing officers. The others might have been shadow people, or there might be corruption involved.
The FBI has started an investigation, and recall that former chief Eddie Compass resigned a couple days ago:
The FBI began investigating the New Orleans police who had abandoned their post during Katrina and of the more than 500 screened so far, 84-percent don't exist…
What about the other half of his relatives?
Thx!
I wondered if he got all the potholes filled?
Have ICE announce they are conducting a city wide raid arresting all illegal aliens in city government. That should get them the number of layoffs they need, and then some.
No surprise there - - it's pretty much standard operating procedure for most governments, particularly city governments. And it's not just the police - - phantom payrolls are spread across the whole spectrum of government bureaucracies. New Orleans may have taken the practice to new levels of corruption, but by no means is New Orleans alone. Ha! Quite the opposite...
Meanwhile, flop open your wallet - - government needs more taxes....
lainie
It doesn't happen. Ever.
Hey Mayor, stop being a sanctary city and get rid of the illegal immigrants in your city and perhaps you would not be spending more than you take in each year.
Los Angeles Times excerpt:
L.A. mayor chides ICE for workplace immigration raids
By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 10, 2008
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has asked the federal government to review its immigration enforcement priorities, warning that work-site raids on "non-exploitative" businesses could have "severe and lasting effects" on the local economy.
"I am concerned that ICE enforcement actions are creating an impression that this region is somehow less hospitable to these critical businesses than other regions," Villaraigosa wrote in a March 27 letter to Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security...
Snip
...In his letter, Villaraigosa said ICE has targeted "established, responsible employers" in industries that have a "significant reliance on workforces that include undocumented immigrants."
"In these industries, including most areas of manufacturing, even the most scrupulous and responsible employers have no choice but to rely on workers whose documentation, while facially valid, may raise questions about their lawful presence," he wrote. He said ICE should spend its limited resources targeting employers who exploit wage and hour laws...
Excerpted. Continuing at: L.A. mayor chides ICE for workplace immigration raids
Los Angeles Times excerpt:
Cardenas seeks city task force for anti-gang services
By Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 15, 2008
Further escalating a City Hall turf fight over anti-gang programs, Los Angeles Councilman Tony Cardenas sought Friday to block a plan that would put the mayor's office in charge of the city's scattered gang-prevention services.
Cardenas and three other council members called instead for an "executive task force" to coordinate the gang programs over the next two years.
Cardenas' task force would include the mayor, a council representative, the police chief and several department heads.
That infuriated City Controller Laura Chick, who in a report last month had proposed concentrating anti-gang services in Villaraigosa's office to improve effectiveness and accountability...
Excerpted. Continuing at: Cardenas seeks city task force for anti-gang services
Judicial Watch.org
Illegal Immigrant Gang Banger Kills Teen Jock
Mon, 03/24/2008 - 11:25 — Judicial Watch Blog
...L.A.’s self-described “Chicano Mayor,” who publicly advocates for illegal immigrants, called on the city to come together to take action and refuse to accept the level of gun and gang violence on “our streets and in our neighborhoods.” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also pledged to make public safety the center of the city’s agenda. No word if that includes allowing the cops to help deport criminal illegal aliens before they murder Americans...
Excerpted. Continuing at: Illegal Immigrant Gang Banger Kills Teen Jock
Potholes? Who would have time for potholes when the Mayor deems it more important to write letters to ICE in protest of ICE's raiding businesses friendly to the Mayor.
"...In these industries, including most areas of manufacturing, even the most scrupulous and responsible employers have no choice but to rely on workers whose documentation, while facially valid, may raise questions about their lawful presence," he wrote. He said ICE should spend its limited resources targeting employers who exploit wage and hour laws..."
Read more here.
P.S. Lainie, thank you very much for posting this! :-)
Pass the taco sauce, please.
Wow. That “ICE should spend its limited resources..” quote is rather telling, isn’t it.
But, to be fair, “cops” aren’t tasked or under oath to deport people in the U.S. illegally (referring to the third quote).
You’re more than welcome about my posting this. I’m happy to hear and learn from those of you who’ve been reading between the lines where Mayor Reconquista is concerned.
Keeping the streets safe and clean should be his number one priority..
Hillary was more than happy to lend him one of her
broomsticks to get the job done.
I guess I have an accountant's view of it, but these people are about the dole.
Are we to the point where we can equate 'being on welfare' to 'having a government job' = being on the dole? I don't know. In a larger sense, I figure you fire the telegraph operator when the telephone is invented, but I guess, really, you just train the telegraph operator on the new equipment. Or pay him to supervise the newbie (train him in the history of the org?), because he "deserves the loyalty for his service."
shrug
It’s just government doing what government does - - sucking the lifeblood out of the citizenry to the greatest extent they think can get away with. Shrug.
Here's how this works, they do it in Illinois all the time:
Trash pickup costs money. "X" amount of that is not covered by existing pickup fees. Current fees are increased by "x". Taxes are not reduced by "x"; it is now reallocated to law enforcement or providing 4-wheeled sleeping quarters for an alderman's son-in-law during working hours.What's yellow and sleeps 4? A Cook County Highway truck.
You’re right. I can’t argue. Guess I’ve reached the end to where and whut my naivete brung me. I feel like a rube tonight.
They refer to that government-doing-as-government-does as the Beast?
I never have that problem when coming home. It's pretty easy to fix. Move.
Removing the last 762 non-hispanic caucasians from the LA city payroll should not be all that difficult. By now, many must be approaching retirement age, anyway.
With the money saved, at least another 100,000 illegal alien families can easily be accommodated.
My heartfelt congratulations to LA on the civic project of replicating a Third World hellhole so authentically that it could be a movie set ... or was that the idea?
¡Viva Aztlán!
The only reason those 12 were laid off is that someone discovered they had all died in the 1950’s.
Speaking of crime, two more police officers were shot tonight, this time in El Segundo.
CBS 2 News
El Segundo Police Officer(s) Shot, 2 Suspects Sought
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) ― Authorities say two El Segundo police officers have been wounded in a shooting at a movie theater.
Officer Julio Martinez says the shooting happened at about 10:15 p.m. Friday at the Pacific Beach Cities Stadium 16 on Nash Street.
Martinez says one officer was hit in the shoulder. He didn't know where the other officer was hit, but says their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Police are searching the area for an unknown number of suspects.
It is unclear why the shootings happened or whether they occurred inside or outside the theater complex.
El Segundo Police Officer(s) Shot, 2 Suspects Sought
Just an aside...Idaho is a shall issue state. Most gun owners get a CCW just for the extra ease of transport. Armed criminals tend to avoid people who can shoot back. In comparison, California is a "may issue" state with endless anti-gun laws on the books. Only the elite (judges and celebrities) have much hope of getting a CCW.
You folks need to learn how to read and parse statements from Leftists...
The headline states that Villaraigosa said the city must eliminate 767 POSITIONS....
These “positions” can be anything from currently unfilled positions, never filled positions or positions from the Kama Sutra.
I will be SHOCKED to hear that more that a few dozen actual bodies on the payroll get fired...
D1, I'm pinging you to another story about the Mayor.
Also, I just posted the latest breaking news about two police officers who were shot in El Segundo tonight.
Also there was another car to car shooting within the past two hours. This one happened in North Hollywood.
Idaho sounds like a place I probably ought to look into moving to.
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