Villaraigosa says all L.A. employees -- even police and firefighters -- should take pay cuts to help cut deficit

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Friday called on all city employees to take pay cuts, including police officers and firefighters, saying it would be the only substantive way to alleviate the need to slash 4,000 city jobs.

Villaraigosa also moved forward with plans to eliminate the departments of Environmental Services and Human Services, transferring their essential duties to other agencies and reaping $3.2 million in savings.

He warned that “there will be more" agencies cut as part of his upcoming 2010-11 budget.

The mayor’s actions come a day after the City Council voted to eliminate 3,000 jobs by July 1 to help close the city’s $212-million deficit and larger shortfalls forecast for the years ahead. Those jobs are in addition to the 1,000 positions already being cut, and the 2,400 city workers leaving through an early retirement program.

Villaraigosa said the total number of job cuts could be softened if city unions agree to make major salary concessions. He said a 5% pay cut among all city employees would save $150 million.

“Every employee, from the mayor on down ought to take a cut," Villaraigosa said. “And that means police, that means fire, that means sanitation, that means every single employee."

The council did not exempt police officers and firefighters from the new round of job cuts, but Villaraigosa said he would oppose any effort to shrink the police force.

--Phil Willon at Los Angeles City Hall

Comments

[Astonished]

Really, so he says ALL employees should take cuts to assist with bridging the budget gap. I would love to see documentation proving that he, his staff, the City Council, their staff, and all those Deputy Mayors have or would be willing to do just that. Want to bet not? He's already getting 13% of all the salaries of the EAA members and members of other smaller unions, along with small concessions from the coalition and 721, so maybe he should put his money where his mouth is and do the right thing instead of putting it all on the employees!

[Fred]

I didn't know the mayor had it in him.

[Lead by example]

Lead by example, Mayor. Lay off the additional staff you've added over those of Mayor Hahn and cut your own pay. Then maybe you can ask others to sacrifice.

[Lead by example]

Lead by example, Mayor. Lay off the additional staff you've added over those of Mayor Hahn and cut your own pay. Then maybe you can ask others to sacrifice.

[Julian B Duron]

"Villaraigosa says:"
Come on People of Los Angeles any statement this Patron of a Mayor makes is just the talking head of a Corrupt Political Machine.
These elected officials short sightedness is costing the taxpayers and career employees its future. Even if re-called the damage is done. Actions and lack action taken by these elected officials two years when they knew this financial train wreck was coming shows lack of integrity, character and shows they are morally flawed.
Now these highest paid elected officials in the nation that will not share the sacrifice will decide how they will part out city assets and continue to steal from the cities poorest unions?
This Patron is baiting the Coalition of Unions deliberately by making inaccurate statements to the news media. He claims unions have not taken a cut. Ask all Coalition Union members and EAA members how much they have been robbed of on a monthly basis.
This part time 15% Mayor should show Leadership by example and then take a 85% pay cut. Then follow suit with his Mayoral 30 million dollar staff. How many Deputy Mayors? Look at each Council person’s staff budget. Now we are talking money.

[Smi2le]

The mayor is absolutely right and I salute his courage for saying this.

[Alan]

Firefighters and police would gladly take a 10% paycut and work 20% more overtime

[what the heck]

Talk about a flop flopping politician, he contradicts himself daily

[chuck]

Cutting pay across the board doesn't actually solve anything when cost of living adjustments are eventually going to go through. Cutting excess staff and reducing the overall size of the city workforce does. Layoffs are necessary, and cannot be avoided through salary cuts. All salary cuts do is push the problem off into tomorrow, instead of actually dealing with it today.

[tedson]

There should also be a way to make the pension system more fair. I'm sure there must be a law such as conspiracy or fraud to retract some of these outlandish amounts paid to retired civil servants. Its almost like these crazy bank bonuses. Something has to be done.

[West Valley Dave]

The Midget Mayor needs to layoff about half of his own staff followed by half the staffs of the Spring Street Gang of 15!

[John Clark]

Not "even" police & fire fighters. How about "Especially" police and fire fighters? The ride around or sit around "heroes" that never do an honest days work. Please don't bother to respond with any of that "one day you will need them" garbage. When seconds count the police are minutes away. I've never seen a fire dept. save a house either. I have heard of it but never seen it.

[Henry]

All right it is time for the City of Los Angeles to show some smarts. Let's lay off a few councilpersons and their entire staffs. We would save millions. There is far too much fat at city hall. Hurry up folks a couple of councilpersons todays, but if you wait it will be 3 or 4 coumcilpersons in 2 to 3 months. Come on, let's have some real understanding of this budget crisis.

[Yehudi]

I have a friend who said he may send a small donation (just a retired average fellow) to LA because he lived in the area many years ago and hates to hear of the cut in salaries of the employees including the policemen and firemen. Please give an address to mail this donation to.

This is an honest request!! Thank you!!

[get real]

If these people don't see the connectedness of thier salaries to the shrinking tax base, there'll be a lot of protesting about pay cuts. If these politicians don't see the the connections of the shrinking tax base to "free trade", then they won't be able to stop the shrink. How can we have any money here to pay for anything if everything we use (including services) come from elsewhere. Hard, no, CAN'T compete with slave wages and and a skewed monetary system!

[Enlightenment]

Just because you work for the city doesn't mean you should be above the rest of the world. Real-world businesses cut expenses when times are hard, and so should the city!

#1 - Reduce all paychecks by 5%.

#2 - Reduce all retirement promises!

#3 - Force workers to pay more of their health insurance. Force them to pay more into retirement.

[Steve M.]

I have an idea-

Let's start with Bernie Parks and the other people who are double and triple dipping. As long as he is still on the payroll, why is "Mayor Tony" allowing double and triple dipping?

Isn't Bernie taking the city for a ride at over $250k a year, plus perks?

[No]

Mr. Mayor

Pay cuts will only cause a larger population issues with paying their bills. In American, in slow times we layoff and hire in good ones.

Its the same tactic used on the public to raise taxes. If we don't raise taxes will cut police and fire. Never do you say we will cut one of your lame programs or services. The public does not want to raise taxes, and thats right, the employees that have been there for many years don't want pay cuts or furloughs - that's right, and no one wants to get laid off, but if you need to, to balance the budget, that's right. Stop Playing Games....

If you want pay cuts, eliminate jobs that are not needed first, then ask for pay cuts. People don't want pay cuts just to pay for jobs YOU should be eliminating. SO FAR everyone is just being transferred to another city enitity. Zero jobs have been eliminated, not one. Isn't there at least one job that could be eliminated out 40,000???

[george]

Is the mayor taking a pay cut ???

[TK]

How many cities provide their mayors with mansions? Tell the mayor to pack his clothes and toiletries, and clean out the refrigerator, then put the mansion and its furnishings on EBay. Use the money to buy food, clothing, housing, and medical care for the children of the workers he lays off.

[csar]

not to long ago the mayor was looking to hire i think 1.000 more cops now he wants them take pay cuts.what kinda political game is this .what about the academy by dodger stadium is that still open to recruit or that going down with deficit.....?

[Rosee]

Mr. Mayor,

Consider putting a limit on the years one could serve the city...20-25 years! Other countries do this..a mandatory retirement timeline..not age..but years served! This would open up positions for city employees and others who would love to get a job with the city.

The only exceptions should be, police officers, firefighters and specialized positions within the city.

The cut across the board..does that include DWP who seems to get their raises when others can't.

Pensions should also be looked at. How about having city employees become part of the Social Security family and reducing the city's obigations.

Also, city retirees shouldn't get a raise in the pension checks when their working counterparts get a raise!

[Chicolini]

How about we start at the top, Mr. Mayor?

[Carol]

No, police and fire fighters should NOT take pay cuts.

Dump all the consultants. Close all positions that have been unfilled for 6 mos (guaranteeing they won't be filled, as they are probably unnecessary). Cancel all telephone lines that aren't being used. Have employees use their own cars and cell phones and simply reimburse them for business use.

[VoteEmALLLLLOut]

Wow, another great liberal bastion, living way beyond its means, bites the dust! Good!