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Draft Plan to Lay Off 1,000 City of L.A. Employees Surfaces
L.A. City Hall | Photo: sirimiri via LAist Featured Photos/Flickr
Amid the process of letting 2,400 city of Los Angeles employees retire early--a move to help save a dwindling city budget--a draft internal letter obtained by the Los Angeles Times indicates plans to sack at least 1,000 employees. "Revenues are significantly lower than original projections and we are prepared to make tough decisions, including layoffs and cuts in less-essential city services to our constituents," notes the letter, referring to tax revenues.The budget deficit, which has recently doubled to $200 million (it was over $400 million earlier this summer, then $100 million at the end of November), is expected to grow to $1 billion within a few years.
Other budget saving moves could include "privatizing city-owned parking garages, golf courses and airports in Van Nuys and Ontario," reported the Times. Another idea--not mentioned by the paper--that has been floated in the past has been to privatize parking meters, something the city of Chicago did in 2008, much to the disdain to many of its residents.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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