LA mayor lays off 1,000 employees in budget crisis

[The Northerner]

Source: Associated Press

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Thursday announced the layoffs of 1,000 municipal employees as the city struggles to close a $212 million budget gap, and warned of the possibility of more job cuts as revenue continues to slide.

"This is the first phase," he said.

Villaraigosa said 360 of the 1,000 employees would be eligible for transfers to other public agencies that have autonomous revenue streams, such as the city Department of Water and Power, Los Angeles International Airport and the Los Angeles Harbor.

"I'm doing this because I must. We have been living beyond our means," the mayor said at a news conference. "Each day we fail to act we lose an estimated $300,000."

Villaraigosa's move came a day after the City Council voted unanimously to postpone any action on job cuts for 30 days while it explores other options.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_14335932

[Bette Noir]

1. Villaraigosa announces layoffs one day after the Council voted to hold off for a month?

Something's fishy.

Democrat or no, Villaraigosa is one slimy bastard.

[No Elephants]

2. Does seem odd.

[99 Percent Sure]

4. "Yes, he is," says this Los Angeleno. He's on a tear, having also signed a bill to close

most of the med marijuana clinics in 45 days. Guess they're cutting in on his side action.

For someone who has taken the bar 4 or 5 times, yet never passed, he's one shifty player.

[Bette Noir]

3. Here's evidence of how much Mayor Tony is loved by Angelenos:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/cant-agree-with-peoples-choice.html

A local columnist asked for nominations for Worst Angeleno of all time. In spite of a long history of not only crooked politicians, but also infamous serial killers, Mayor Tony came out #1, by a long shot.

[dencol]

5. Why doesn't the federal government bail out states and cities?

Seems it would do a lot better than doing it for the banks. Their government services are especially needed during this crisis... as are the jobs. The vicious cycle must be stopped.

[fujiyama]

6. Because states and local government don't bribe...

Er, I mean contribute to senators, house representatives, and presidential candidates.

[Socal31]

7. That would have been great,

but Bush and Obama have decided to bail out financers instead. At this point we need to be figuring out how to increase real revenue and get rid of waste, not taking more Chinese money.

[Mithreal]

8. Force of habit, indifference, bootstrap thinking

Think of the destruction to New Orleans but drawn out much more slowly in other cities. Easier to blame the people than the conservative economic policies that eroded the majority of Americans' lives.

There will be a reckoning.

[Mithreal]

9. At what point will Dems stop talking like Republicans, "living beyond our means"

It's not just this one. Prominent, powerful Dems are spouting conservatism.

We are defunding government and local economies.

How many other people rely on the spending of those government workers for their jobs?

[Mithreal]

10. He's a DLC'er. Damn, they are everywhere.