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City Council Moves Toward Layoffs to Solve Budget Problems

By Brian Doherty
September 18, 2009
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As a budget cutting measure, L.A.'s City Council reaches a tentative commitment to get rid of nearly a thousand city workers.

The L.A. Times reports on the developments from earlier this week:

The council will still need to cast a second vote before Sept. 28 for its cuts to go into effect, according to council President Eric Garcetti's office. Such a move would eliminate 926 jobs -- many through layoffs -- and force the employees of the Coalition of L.A. City Unions to take 26 unpaid days off by June 30.Garcetti said Wednesday's 13-0 vote to impose the cuts serves as "an insurance policy" in case the unions and the council are unable to find other budget solutions before Friday, when the next council meeting is expected. Councilman Richard Alarcon said the vote buys the city two more days to create a more financially viable early retirement plan.... Villaraigosa criticized the decision, saying the council should have moved more decisively toward employee layoffs and furloughs at a time when the city is losing $1 million a day.

At Ron Kaye's web site, more details on the "other budget solutions" that the Council hoped to find by today, implying that Garcetti is out to do whatever it takes to not let city workers and their unions take a serious hit in the budget crisis:

If there was any doubt where Garcetti stands, his joint statement issued last night with the Coalition of City Unions makes it clear that whatever deal emerges from these back room talks willl be in the best interests of the unions and not the city unless Councilman Bernard Parks can muster five votes or the mayor lives up to his veto pledge.

More Ron Kaye angerat city workers' unions.

Any laidoff city workers will be far from alone--total California unemployment rate hits a modern record 12.2 percent, as the Daily News reports.

The image associated with this post was taken by Flickr user Mr. Littlehand. It was used under user Creative Commons license.

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