Rita pushes back recovery effort (Sep 26) Layoffs mentioned

[preciousdove]

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/newssummary/s_377889.html

After evacuating for Rita last week, crews trickled back into New Orleans Sunday to find much of their work had been undone. In the wealthy Garden District, tree removal experts were hauling away limbs and branches from streets that had been cleared. Utility trucks returned to reconnect power in the city's West Bank and body recovery resumed, ...

Even as Nagin pressed ahead, officials acknowledged a severe financial crunch is affecting teachers, the district attorney's office, hospital workers and the police. Schools are not expected to reopen before January.

The Orleans Parish district attorney's office announced it would lay off more than half its "nonessential, nonlegal" staff primarily because the city of New Orleans has been unable to make its quarterly payment to the office. A statement warned: "Further layoffs may be required without additional funding."