Villaraigosa alters course, supports council faction that seeks to avoid layoffs
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa threw a curve ball into the City Council’s budget deliberations Monday afternoon, siding with a faction that opposes many of his proposals for cutting libraries, child-care centers and other municipal services.
Six hours into the session, Villaraigosa issued a letter saying he backed efforts by council members Herb Wesson, Paul Koretz and Jose Huizar to avoid many of the cuts that he had proposed -– at least for now. Instead, the city should continue negotiating with its public employee unions to find concessions, he said.
“As I said in the State of the City address, we can do better than the budget I originally proposed -– but we cannot do it without significant, structural cost-saving measures from our labor partners,” Villaraigosa said in a statement handed out in the council chamber by his spokeswoman, Sarah Hamilton.
The letter arrived hours before the council was expected to vote on a plan to eliminate 761 jobs -– the figure contained in Villaraigosa’s financial plan.
The mayor’s request to hold off on those cuts baffled Councilman Greig Smith, who voted last week to eliminate the positions. Smith warned that Wesson’s budget proposal relies on unrealistic estimates and said the council should move ahead with the job cuts.
“The mayor said just a month ago, ‘If you folks don’t lay off all these people, I’m going to close the city down two days a week,’ ” he said. “So I can’t understand what mayor we’re talking to sometimes. One day he says, ‘Let’s do it.’ The next day he says, ‘Let’s not do it.’”
Added Councilwoman Jan Perry: “Why would you reverse yourself on your own budget?”
Six hours into the session, Villaraigosa issued a letter saying he backed efforts by council members Herb Wesson, Paul Koretz and Jose Huizar to avoid many of the cuts that he had proposed -– at least for now. Instead, the city should continue negotiating with its public employee unions to find concessions, he said.
“As I said in the State of the City address, we can do better than the budget I originally proposed -– but we cannot do it without significant, structural cost-saving measures from our labor partners,” Villaraigosa said in a statement handed out in the council chamber by his spokeswoman, Sarah Hamilton.
The letter arrived hours before the council was expected to vote on a plan to eliminate 761 jobs -– the figure contained in Villaraigosa’s financial plan.
The mayor’s request to hold off on those cuts baffled Councilman Greig Smith, who voted last week to eliminate the positions. Smith warned that Wesson’s budget proposal relies on unrealistic estimates and said the council should move ahead with the job cuts.
“The mayor said just a month ago, ‘If you folks don’t lay off all these people, I’m going to close the city down two days a week,’ ” he said. “So I can’t understand what mayor we’re talking to sometimes. One day he says, ‘Let’s do it.’ The next day he says, ‘Let’s not do it.’”
Added Councilwoman Jan Perry: “Why would you reverse yourself on your own budget?”
Wesson called last week for a budget that includes no layoffs or furloughs. As part of his alternative budget plan, Wesson is seeking $63 million in employee concessions, more early retirement for workers and increased fees for dog licenses, ambulances and other services.
Some figures in Wesson’s budget have been criticized as overly optimistic, such as a plan to get $2.4 million by increasing the amount charged for dog and cat licenses.
By comparison, a proposal from Council President Eric Garcetti would move ahead with Villaraigosa’s plan for cutting jobs starting July 1. Those reductions could be abandoned, however, if the unions offer ways of closing the budget gap.
Union leaders, who have been trying to find eight votes for Wesson’s plan, greeted the mayor’s letter warmly.
“The mayor’s letter allows us to continue to talk,” said Victor Gordo, an attorney for the Coalition of L.A. City Unions.
-- David Zahniser at Los Angeles City Hall
Some figures in Wesson’s budget have been criticized as overly optimistic, such as a plan to get $2.4 million by increasing the amount charged for dog and cat licenses.
By comparison, a proposal from Council President Eric Garcetti would move ahead with Villaraigosa’s plan for cutting jobs starting July 1. Those reductions could be abandoned, however, if the unions offer ways of closing the budget gap.
Union leaders, who have been trying to find eight votes for Wesson’s plan, greeted the mayor’s letter warmly.
“The mayor’s letter allows us to continue to talk,” said Victor Gordo, an attorney for the Coalition of L.A. City Unions.
-- David Zahniser at Los Angeles City Hall
EDITOR'S PICKS:
They'll probably do the same thing they always do. Pass the buck. They will offer a temporary concession while gaining future promises and we will be right back where we started but much worse off.
I don't think it is fair to layoff people who are working while paying people that are not lifting a finger. This system is broken. The Union must completely overhaul the pension systems to survive this mess, if not they can look forward to pennies on the dollar and forced to not live off other peoples money.
Posted by: la rider | May 17, 2010 at 05:58 PM
Please don't sell off our meters. It's a good source of income. If anything, outsource maintaining the meters to private companies. We won't lose any jobs, and the government will cut huge expenses maintaining the parking enforcement division.
Posted by: la rider | May 17, 2010 at 06:00 PM
Such courage. Failure as a mayor, failure as a husband, failure as a leader.
Posted by: Patrick Denny | May 17, 2010 at 06:48 PM
all city hall politicians are out to lunch , there is somthing wrong the mayor is mad ,evry day is like he wakes up and say lest do this and he does not let no one in what he plans are,to much wine or mariguana this man is lost i hope obama give him the job he whants as a abassador thats why he keep on goin to dc is not to for los angeles taxpayers or rate payes is all about the low life mayor what for me.
Posted by: mv | May 17, 2010 at 06:54 PM
Tony hasn't found a direction he wouldn't follow. No matter how many at the same time. Quite a leader, huh?
Posted by: sethook | May 17, 2010 at 07:01 PM
I am so sick of politicians who govern with their next election or job in mind. They do what is best for them, not the electorate. It is clear Antonio is among this group, governing with his future in mind. He'll be moving on to higher office while someone else will have to eventually deal with this budget mess. Nice going Antonio.
Posted by: wilbur post | May 17, 2010 at 07:28 PM
This guy is absolutely NUTSO.
Posted by: DaVinner | May 17, 2010 at 08:13 PM
The Pint Size Mayor does not want his gang program cut 1.3 million while down sizing the library hours, and wants to give money for the truck driving school in Lopez's canyon. Furthermore, he wants to give Eli Broad the building for $ 1.00 a year. He is not thinking about the tax payers, but that is what he wants us to think.
Posted by: TAM | May 17, 2010 at 09:32 PM
mini mayor has no clue....he has no idea what he is doing. Join the recall now~ Recall the worst mayor in history.
Posted by: City Dave | May 18, 2010 at 08:44 AM