Hundreds Gather to Protect "Heart of LA" Services
Photo: LAPD Garage Attendant Franco Torres
On Valentine's Day, more than 500 Los Angeles City workers and faith and community leaders urged the City Council to stand by the community and stop decimating vital public services.
"Today, I came to support my union brothers and sisters and show my love for city services," said Jimmy Francis, a tree surgeon in the Urban Forestry Division. "This is a show of unity."
Council members Jose Huizar, of Council District 14, and Paul Koretz, of Council District 5, attended the Valentine's Day rally.
City workers urged responsible solutions to handle the budget deficit. In recent weeks, City budget officials have repeatedly called for more service cuts, furloughs, and layoffs as the only fiscal solution. But there are viable alternatives that will not cause harm to city services:
- Cutting unnecessary spending
- Collecting money from companies that owe the City millions
- Ending expensive private contracts for services that City workers can provide for less money
Speakers at the rally encouraged the crowd to vote on March 8 to support city leaders who will collaborate with city workers to restore services.
"On March 8, Angelenos will head to the polls to vote for council district seats, school board positions and measures that will impact every resident," said Nady Maechling, an LA City engineering associate. "We will vote and our voice will be heard."
Watching MSNBC coverage of Wisconsin worker's rally against having their ability to unionize and negotiate - attacking unions have become quite popular throughout the country. Don't you think it's time to show our support for Wisconsin's workers and and rally to support them? Might spark something.
I don't love LAPD.. they are the cause of the deficit and it angers me that the "CITY" doesn't do any cuts on them as in furloughs... stop hiring... It's ridiculous!