As the City Council prepares to vote on laying off 1,000 employees in order to help save teh $208-million budget shortfall, Westside Councilmember Bill Rosendahl is unwilling to bend on one issue in particular: calligraphy, which is a $1 million affair at city hall. During Monday's budget hearing, he said "whatever we need to do to preserve it, I want to do." That's quite a shift from 2009 when he told the LA Weekly "if it comes down to fixing the pothole or giving out a certification, I’ll fix the pothole.” more ›

Los Angeles has been in a large deficit for the past year--this year it could up to $530 million--forcing City Council to raise parking meter fees, citations and cut or delude city programs. However, that hasn't stopped them spending $1 million each year on "hand-inked calligraphy scrolls that bestow commendations on everyday folk, celebrities and supporters," the LA Weekly finds: more ›