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Taken in August from Bunker Hill | Photo by Andy Kennelly via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
John North at ABC7 this afternoon took a great look at the salaries of Los Angeles City Councilmembers. The question is, with a $179,000 salary and other compensation -- you'll often hear people say this makes them the highest paid councilmembers in the nation -- how can they justify furloughing city employees during this massive budget deficit?
According to North, 10 councilmembers are currently taking paycuts in addition to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (16% cut) and City Controller Wendy Greuel (7% cut).
The five who are not taking cuts are Richard Alarcon, Bill Rosendahl, Greig Smith, Herb Wesson and Bernard Parks, who also earns a $262,000 pension after 40 years of service in the LAPD, including his tenure as Chief. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is also not taking a cut.
Three councilmembers -- Tom LaBonge, Jan Perry and Janice Hahn -- are taking 5% cuts. The rest are taking 10%.