Fewer Layoffs in Villaraigosa's Budget

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.