In a preview of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's budget proposal for the next fiscal year--it will be released in full on Tuesday--the panic of 4,000 layoffs has been erased. Under the plan 3,546 position would be eliminated, but those comprise mostly of early retirements (2,400 people), those already laid off, people who have transferred to different jobs or those slated to be laid off next fiscal year, which begins in July. That puts the number of total layoffs around "several hundred," as the LA Times puts it. The LA Weekly says 750 will be either laid off or transferred to other jobs. more ›

One day before Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is set announce his budget for the next fiscal year (it begins in July), city trash workers from SEIU Local 721 and the Coalition of LA City Unions hit the streets with a campaign protesting worker layoffs and furloughs and cuts to programs and services. more ›

The plan to freeze police hiring, which would deplete the force as officers retired, was rejected by the L.A. City Council yesterday and sent to committee for further study, according to the LA Times. That move, however, comes as job cuts continu across the city, including civilian positions within the police department. "The impacts are very real, as officers are forced to stay at home because of overtime concerns and fill in for furloughed civilians or vacant civilian jobs," said Paul Weber of the L.A. Police Protective League, the union that represents more officers. “I never thought I would be in a position where we’re choosing between libraries and parks staying open, and a well-staffed Police Department. I don’t really like making those choices.” said Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who voted to reject the freeze. more ›

The standoff between L.A. elected officials and the L.A. Department of Water and Power may finally come to an end after the City Council yesterday agreed to raise rates for a three-month period. The 0.6 cent per kilowatt increase is pretty much the same as the one the group approved earlier this month, but which ultimately did not happen after the Board of Water and Power Commissioners rejected the rate in lieu of a 0.7 increase, which the Council then rejected. The Board will meet today to consider the recommended rate increase. more ›

The city budget crisis continues to potentially affect the LAPD. One idea, in order to keep officers on the street handling critical situations, is to stop some services like having officers respond to damage-only vehicle collisions, nighttime front desk officers and timely police reports. "In the end, the way the public will feel it, there will be some reduced 'nice-to-have' services by the Los Angeles Police Department,'' Chief Charlie Beck said, according to the LA Weekly. more ›

Since everyone's eyes are on Los Angeles' budget these days, here's a preview of Monday's 1 p.m. Budget Committee meeting (.pdf). Committee members will discuss the Financial Status Report from Friday. It brings the news that the city has a bigger deficit than before, now at $222.4 million (see LAist's breakdown of this report here). more ›

Along with her proposal to tax oil drilling in Los Angeles, Councilmember Janice Hahn last week submitted a motion to tax the cultivation of medical marijuana. It's in an effort to help bring in revenue to the city, which currently is facing a budget crisis. more ›

California is in severe financial distress. And, as a result, all voter approved environmental projects, totaling $420 million, have stopped, according to the Los Angeles Times. The projects have included the clean up of the Santa Monica Bay, bike paths in San Bernandino and Orange Counties, and the restoration of the Matilija Reservoir. Sadly, without the funding for the completion of these projects, also means no funding for the jobs created with these projects. In Santa Monica alone it would have given $12 Million to pay for jobs in construction, engineering and design. more ›

Getting to LAX is not usually a pleasant experience, between the traffic, the crowds, and the anticipated ordeal that is checking in and being screened. Add to that the fact that getting to the city's major airport by public transit is more challenging than perhaps it should be, and it's no wonder that despite fewer flights taking off, more people are turning to affordable ways to get themselves to LAX. more ›