Villaraigosa Not Down with City Council Move to Save Jobs

Los Angeles City Hall | Photo by Darren Shannon via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr

Although the L.A. City Council yesterday voted to move forward with cutting close to 1,000 jobs, many through layoffs, and making employees take 26 days off through furloughs, they still plan to negotiate a deal with a union to avoid such action. The council called their move a safety net, buying time so they can find a way to avoid the job cuts and furloughs while still eliminating a $405-million budget deficit.

But Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who threatened to veto any proposal save for the layoffs and furloughs, said the city is losing $1 million a day without direct action. "We need immediate action to give us the flexibility we need to fix the budget crises," he tweeted. "I won't stand by and allow the City's hands to be tied so that we have no choice but to lay off police and drastically cut fire service. Let me be crystal clear: I will veto any proposal that ties our hands and could lead to draconian cuts to our police and fire services."

Earlier this summer, the Coalition of L.A. City Unions and city struck a deal that would allow 2,400 workers to retire with full benefits up to five years early. But last week, city analysts said that move was only going to save a mere $12 million this year.