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Morning Briefing: City Employees Brace For Layoffs
City Hall from Grand Park on Tuesday March 24. (Chava Sanchez/ LAist)
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Layoffs have come to City Hall.
As officials predict a budget shortfall for the city of L.A. between $200-400 million, Mayor Eric Garcetti told department managers to find places to cut costs, including identifying so-called “non-critical” positions and services. That’s in addition to an existing hiring freeze, employee buyouts and possible furloughs, reports KPCC’s Libby Denkmann.
Meanwhile, protesters across the city are calling for the defunding of LAPD, but raises for the department are still scheduled to take effect.
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Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
The Past 24 Hours In LA
Wildfires: The El Dorado Fire has burned 13,920 acres, and is at 37% containment. The Bobcat Fire has burned 26,368, and is at 6% containment. And yellow-brown fog covered the San Gabriel foothills this week.
California Kids: A group of parents, teachers and administrators came together to produce a plan to help kids transition from early learning programs to kindergarten.
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The Best Laid Plans: Employees at Cal State University are concerned that the school’s COVID-19 prevention protocols aren't enough to curb the virus’ spread, following outbreaks at campuses in Chico and San Diego. A new memo from Mayor Garcetti warned city departments to be prepared for layoffs.
Broken Systems: Emon Barnes was released from jail after being sentenced to 40 years for a crime he says he didn’t commit.
First Person: A racial slur was part of Omar Amr’s first experience playing Division I water polo at UC Irvine. Erick Galindo headed to Plaza Mexico in Lynwood to get an on-the-ground reality check from folks in the community, about whether or not they’ve filled out their census forms, and why.
Weekend Reads
There's a lot going on in the world right now, and it’s hard enough to keep up with our day-to-day lives, let alone to stay current on the news. But if you have some time this weekend, these articles provide some much-needed insight into the current moment in L.A., as well as some news you may have missed:
A new report overwhelmingly demonstrates the existence of structural racism in L.A., and outlines a plan of action to combat it. (Capital & Main)
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USC students are worried about how they’ll pay off their loans after the university went ahead with a tuition increase for the 2020-21 school year, putting the annual cost of attendance at $59,260. (Daily Trojan)
California’s wildfires are threatening the state’s cannabis businesses. (Marijuana Business Daily)
As American society reckons with Black Lives Matter protests and the push for basic equality, Anthony R. Jerry, an assistant professor of anthropology at UC Riverside, explores “how might we talk about a deep fear that Black people have of non-Black society? Let’s call it Black Fear.” (L.A. Watts Times)
Cooks, dishwashers, and busboys have been overwhelmingly impacted by job loss due to COVID-19 – and this labor organizer is there to help. (KCRW)
The death of the California dream, one apocalyptic blaze at a time. (LA Mag)
Tensions are reaching a boiling point between the community, the Sheriff’s Department, and the L.A. County Supervisors over LASD’s refusal to work cooperatively with the County’s inspector general. (WitnessLA)
These artisanal ice creams and sorbets are made with love by Mercedes Saucedo, a transgender Latina chef who sells her delightful concoctions out of her home. (LA Taco)
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Is there anything Gen Z can’t do? Their latest endeavor: making zines their own. (LA Mag)
Photo Of The Day
A man bikes through smoky streets in the San Gabriel Valley as smoke from the Bobcat Fire blankets the area.
(Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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A man bikes through smokey streets in the San Gabriel Valley as smoke from the Bobcat fire blankets the area.
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The news cycle moves fast. Some stories don't pan out. Others get added. Consider this today's first draft, and check LAist.com for updates on these stories and more. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
This post has been updated to reflect changes in what's coming up for today.
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