LA financial woes continue to increase. Unfortunately,it is education,
mental health and services for the poor, at risk youth, college students
and the elderly that suffer. There has to be a way that we can live
within our means. Voters in California need to make a choice in terms
of priorities as we move forward. The Police Department in LA has
10,000 officers and 3,000 support staff. In comparison San Francisco
has 2,000 officers in the 2nd most densely populated city in the US.
Granted the size and scope of LA requires a larger force.
Re-negotiating contracts with unions might be another way LA
can find savings within their police departments. Impose a
Hiring freeze to the 5 year plan to replace the 1,000
retiring officers and do not spend the 36.2 million dollars
to replace cars and helicopters for the time being.
-George David Perezvelez
Mayor wants 3-day work week for city services
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
By John North and Leslie MillerLOS ANGELES (KABC) -- With the city of Los Angeles quickly running out of cash, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa calls for a shutdown of non-essential services for two days a week.
There's no end in sight to the budget battle between the Department of Water and Power and the city of Los Angeles. So the mayor is calling for drastic action to cut back on services and jobs.The mayor's proposal would affect nearly every city resident. It would hit departments like sanitation, parks and libraries. Public safety departments would be excluded. Unions say the mayor can't do it.
The proposed three-day work week would apply to all employees paid through the city's general fund. Thousands of city workers who make Los Angeles work would be included.
"I am asking the CAO [City Administrative Office] to develop a plan to shut down all general-funded city services, with the exception of public safety and revenue-generating positions, for two days per week beginning the week of April 12," said the mayor Tuesday.
The mayor's announcement was met by defiance from city workers and their unions. More than 20,000 workers affected by the three-day work week are covered by an agreement signed with the city. In return for concessions, members of the coalition can't be laid off until July 1.
"We will not allow the services provided by our members to the people of Los Angeles to be used as leverage in a political game," said attorney Victor Gordo, the secretary-treasurer for Laborers International Union North America Local 777, a member of the union coalition. "We would like to see a real plan."
The three-day work week was proposed after the Department of Water and Power decided not to give the city $73 million. It's money the city was counting on, money the DWP says it cannot do without.
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