L.A. mayor finalizes first list of city job cuts

Pink slips will soon be on their way to Los Angeles city workers now that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his general managers have finalized the first list of 542 positions slated for elimination.

In a memo to 13 general managers Wednesday, Villaraigosa’s chief of staff, Jeff Carr, ordered each agency head to immediately sign off on the proposed layoff list for his or her department, and said he expected “full cooperation” with the directive. The move is intended to help close the city’s $212-million budget shortfall this fiscal year and help shrink next year's $485-million gap.

“If there was any doubt that that city is moving forward on the original 1,000 position eliminations, this confirms that we are moving forward on that,” said City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana. He added that department heads must now determine whether workers in those positions have already been transferred to other positions.

The initial list includes the elimination of 89 child-care workers in the parks department, more than 100 messengers, clerks and librarians in the library department, and about 50 tree surgeons in the bureau of street services (some of whom may move to the Department of Water and Power).

Many of those job eliminations won’t happen until July 1, however, because the workers are protected by an agreement struck last year between city leaders and the Coalition of L.A. City Unions. In the next few months, the most vulnerable workers are those who are not represented by any union or employees who are part of the Engineer and Architects Assn.

Though the City Council approved the elimination of 4,000 positions last month, the list initiating the process seemed to catch some members off guard. Flipping through the thick document on the council floor, Councilman Bill Rosendahl questioned the logic of the list drawn up by general managers and the mayor’s staff. 

“Are these the right jobs to eliminate especially if we want our trees trimmed, our parks open, our libraries going, or is there is another strategy within the department that can be used?” Rosendahl said. “It definitely means a cutback in services.”

Officials said they expect to finalize the remaining positions on the 1,000 job cut list within the next few days. The mayor plans to outline the 3,000 additional job cuts when he presents next year's budget, which is due next month. 

-- Maeve Reston at Los Angeles City Hall

Comments

[Fred]

Great, time to get with the rest of America and clean house. We don't get the services we pay for anyway. Fix the contracts and lay off the duplicating jobs!

[jay]

“It definitely means a cutback in services.”

Can you believe Rosendahl, King of the Venice RV Community, really said that about the LA City budget mess.

Very reassuring to have an astute guy like that on board.

Jay

[Kiljoy616]

I like how its the lowest run on the political ladder are going to be given the pink slip.

So these low paying jobs will save NY 100 of millions over what, the next 20 years.

What a joke.

[Alex]

Why would he choose to fire all these child care workers and libraryans and people of parks n recreation? why not cut the cal trans, and stop spending so much money on those STUPID floral carpets on the side of our freeways, how do those stupid things benefit us Californians?? he like so manny others are just currupt and unfair they don't deserve the position they are in!! L.A Times should do an article on what Californians think about our money being spent on stupid things like those floral carpets that only cost payroll money and landscaping costs and where we think that money should be going instead of throwing it away on such waste!!

[James]

But of course all flunkies, sychophants and relatives will be getting a raise.

[Julian B Duron]

Before the Patron's CAO Taking Head starts lay offs lets see Highest Paid Elected Officials take a Good Faith effort of Sharing the Pain like a 20% Pay Cut of personal salary and staffed positions for a Job Poorly done with the City's finances and being asleep at the wheel for two years. This would come to 10 million Plus.

0004 MAYOR $232,425.72 $232,425.72 N/A
0004-A MAYOR $1.04 $1.04 N/A
Office of the Mayor 93 budgeted positions $25,975,647 with extras, perks and incentives = to 30 million dollars plus
Biweekly Annual
$6,850.16 $178,789.17 X 15=$2,681,837.55

City Council 108 budgeted positions $23,020,968 with extras, perks and incentives = to 25 million dollars
Salary of Elected Officials
Mayor $232,425.72 $232,425.72
Council Members 15 $178,789.17 $2,681,837.55
Mayor's Office 93 Budgeted Positions $25,975,647
City Council 108 Budgeted Positions $23,020,968
excluding, Phones, Cars, Perks etc;.. $51,910,878.27 $51,910,878.27

20% Mayor's reduction salary $185,940
20% Council's reduction in salary $2,145,469
20% reduction staff Mayor 74 Positions $20,780,517
20% reduction staff Council 86 Positions $18,416,774
$41,528,700 ($41,528,700)
Reduction of salary & Staff due to poor performance $10,382,178.27
$10 million will not get us out of the hole but it is a good faith effort by the Elected Officials before they ask any more of the Coalition Unions.

[Dan]

I'm just curious as to why L.A. Times put child-care in blue to stand out? Arn't other positions just as important? My guess, a little sympathy, oh my goodness, child-care positions being cut, foreshame.

[maki chan]

This is an outrage. We are going to need all the police to keep the peace when our libraries and parks close! Thousands of kids attend these places every day throughout the city. What is going to happen to these kids? No summer programs, no sports leagues, no services. I would buy a large dog, because there is a good chance some teenager is going to break in to your house this summer if he/she has no camp to work at or league to play in.

[Alan]

julian,

Best post yet.

[T. A. Hovig]

@Alex: I don't know why you are complaining about l-i-b-r-a-r-i-a-n-s, since you never learned how to spell.

I am usually disturbed when cuts are made to important cultural services, such as libraries, but in this environment, every department should sacrifice. What mandate does Parks and Recreation have that requires child care services?

[Al m]

There's alot of grumbling going on, but government has few options. Where will the money come from? If all City employees work together to reduce salaries, perhaps jobs could be saved. But so far there seems to be little concern to find workable solutions. I guess reality has not yet sunk in. Meanwhile, the deficit gets bigger, potential cuts become more drastic, and the public becomes more inpatient. It reminds me of that old saying: "If you won't decide, then someone else will decide for you".

[Scott]

Why is it that you never hear the mayor or governors office cuttung any of their people or cutting back on compensation,I sure would like to know why nobody wants to lead by example?

[syscom3]

If the unions had agreed to a hiring freeze several years ago, then they wouldn't be in this position they are in now.

[Way too much Alibling]

Let's see mr. mayor the subject is cost savings. Let's cut half of the executive types that are on your staff, let's reduce the city council by 3 heads, and let's reorganize the LADWP. Now, we no longer need layoffs of additional personnel. By the way, let's reduce the city owned motor pool for elected officals to zero they and you also make enough in salary to buy a automobile.
Now the budget is starting to balance.
And my consulting fee for this budget adjustment is free this time.

[xrich]

"Are these the right jobs to eliminate especially if we want our trees trimmed, our parks open, our libraries going, or is there is another strategy within the department that can be used?"

Is this guy serious? if we aren't going to eliminate tree surgeons, who are we going to eliminate? This has to be the least useful government service we have. Sure, its nice to have trees and parks but can't we pay private landscapers to do this for a fraction of the cost of government union compensation packages...We are facing an extremely dire financial crisis and theres no way anyone is going to be able to raise taxes in this climate....We have to cut, theres no choice...I've got nothing against tree surgeons but we just can't afford that now...

[Save our Parks]

Plain and simple, cut back on all the Council pet projects and GET RID THE SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS. Open your eyes the mayor is hiring all is croonies and follows to run a BS program. The core of Recreation programming is being cut while he is still considering keeping parks open late for gang members? Sorry no child care here but bring a gang members and will feed them. Get rid of all Council staff. You just need one person to say "sorry the city no longer provides that service."

[jose]

Why don't the city start with the office of the Mayor and give the Mayor a pink slip? It will sure save the city tons of money!

[Al]

And through all this, DWP employees get their raises approved unanimously by the mayor and the Council. That sounds fair.

[Kim Cooper]

If you are opposed to cuts to Library services, visit the SaveLAPL.org website, where with one click you can send a message to the Mayor and all members of City Council.

http://www.savelapl.org

[NOT LOVING LA SO MUCH]

Exactly why is it that cutting the jobs who directly serve the people of Los Angeles who are also the lowest paying jobs in the city is the decision they have made to better serve this budget crisis. How many high paid general managers does the city need if the subordinates way down at the bottom are the ones taking drastic cuts. It's probably a good idea to cut from the top down and have a trickle down affect that will most likely save more "positions" and leave the city better staffed to serve the people in the communities.

[Darrin B]

Why does the plan proposed by our Mayor, not incorporate his own budget.? If we feel the cuts, so too should he and his operations at hand. We will grow angry at such a politician when it is clear he is more tied to National Issues as he is seldom in CA. He wanted 10,000 officers but he hinders their effectiveness when we have early releases at our prisons.... Anyone see the circle jerk that is occurring. How about the people get more involved and vote on the issues... perhaps the money where it goes, and how it is spent and we show what word of mouth truly is.

[Observing from afar]

"In the next few months, the most vulnerable workers are those who are not represented by any union or employees who are part of the Engineer and Architects Assn."

Please explain. What makes a worker who is part of the EAA union more vulnerable?

[Shannon S.]

If you want to help the librarians, go to www.savethelibrary.org. Especially the "Things You Can Do" page. Join our Twitter Feed @savethelibrary. Check out our Save the Library Facebook page.

[linda]

The city process is long and tedious. Unfortunately cutting at the top eventually means the last hired, first fired because of seniority and layoff process. You can read that on the city webpage. Also, for the comment on the tree surgeon, when one has no place to go but a city park such as Griffith Park, isn't it nice to know that a tree won't fall and kill you? May sound lame to you, but do you know to to care for trees? Can you realize when one is damaged and presents a danger to the community. If that happened, I'm sure you'd be the first to sue the City for failing to provide a safe environment. I'm sure those that enjoy nature appreciate the care that is given to it. Child care workers at Rec & Parks are there to help with the humane side of city service. Lower income people who can't afford expensive outings rely on programs offered free at their local centers. This also helps keep latchkey kids off the streets. How many police officers does it take to do that? How many times have you needed a library book? People pay for all services, not just police. Remove clerical support from police officers and who does the paperwork - more police? I agree, top earning officials can and should pay for their own vehicles and fuel, every other city employee does so. I challenge the mayor to be transparent about the layoffs. How many positions are really filled and how many are vacant and being touted as layoffs? It is all a matter of politics to twist one's hand to get his own way. His vision is not that of LA, but on a grander scale, maybe governor, who knows.

[ounce of prevention]

Kudos for thoughtful post Linda. You sound like a City supervisor. However, if layoffs are necessary, what positions should go first? What services can we do without for a while? I think Libraries and Parks are the ounce of prevention. Although unpopular, what happened to the 5% across the board pay cut suggested by the mayor? And increased pension contributions? Is an open position that is cut considered a layoff? Total number of City positions, and thus payroll goes down right? Lastly, voters will remember this City debacle for a long time. Probably as long as the time between Jerry Brown governorships. That's If he beats Ms. eBay.