Council chambers overflowed into the corridors with workers, supporters and residents seeking to protect needed services.
During nearly three hours of testimony, 911 operator Alice Goff told Council if they approve almost 1,000
layoffs and 26 furlough days now proposed by the mayor’s new City
Administrative Officer (CAO) Miguel Santana, “Services for residents
will be decimated. Safety and security will be in jeopardy. Library
hours will be cut. Kids will lose that safe haven. Rec programs that
keep kids off the street will be down to almost nothing.”Jake Miller, Animal Care Technician, painted a picture of shelters after 38 proposed layoffs, “Euthanasias will be up. Adoptions will be down. We’ve seen less puppies coming into the shelters because of the spay-neuter ordinance. If we cut it we’ll be backpedaling.”
Council considered the ordinance to implement early retirements as well as the CAO’s recommended layoffs of frontline direct-service workers.
LAPD Mechanic Lou Trinidad spoke today of the struggle to keep police cruisers on the street with diminished resources. “When you hand out layoffs and furloughs, make sure you hand out bus passes to the LAPD.”
Monday the Budget & Finance Committee voted 3-2 to give the Coalition a chance to meet again with the CAO, seeking $60 million more in savings. Meeting late under auspices of the Better Way agreement, the Coalition proposed over $62.9 million without severe impact to services or workers. Coalition Leaders told Council that they were committed to doing whatever it takes to make the plan work.
Tuesday Council took responsibility for reaching a wise decision by canceling their trip to the League of Cities to remain in Los Angeles and tackle the difficult budget deficit which grows by $1 million daily.
Late Tuesday afternoon the Mayor’s spokesman announced to assembled press that he’d veto the early retirement ordinance if Council approved it. Ten of fifteen Council votes are needed to approve the ordinance. Twelve votes would be needed to override a Mayoral veto.
On Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Council voted 13-0 to proceed with contingency plans for layoffs and furloughs but also 13-0 to continue talking to the Coalition seeking an alternative that would preserve services and jobs.
On Thursday, September 17, 2009, the EERC–the Executive Employee Relations Committee, which includes the Mayor and four key Councilmembers–voted unanimously to enter formal discussions with the Coalition to resolve the remaining budget problems, a sign of increased seriousness, with the goal of presenting a comprehensive proposal, including early retirement, to Council Friday, September 18, 2009 at 10am.
City workers should return to City Hall for Friday’s session to keep the importance of quality, essential services for Angelenos front and center in seeking a budget solution that works for everyone.
Contact your Worksite Organizer for more information.
City Hall is at 200 N. Main St., LA 90012