Angelenos vent outrage over mayor's budget, proposed staff and service cuts

More than 200 people showed up at a City Council public hearing in Van Nuys on Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed budget Friday, with almost all warning that her plan to lay off over 1,600 people would devastate a wide range of city services.

Facing a nearly $1 billion dollar shortfall, Bass has proposed 1,647 layoffs across departments or about 5% of the city workforce, including 403 civilian support staff at the Police Department, more than 260 people at the Transportation Department and 130 workers at the Bureau of Street Services, which oversees street repairs.

Concerns from city workers, residents

Many of those who attended the hearing were city workers worried about both their jobs and service cuts. “This budget is nothing short of a decimation of our workforce,” said Thea Trindle, a planner in the Planning Department. “These drastic cuts will be felt by Angelenos for decades.”

Residents also spoke out.

Maria Fernandez said she worried her 88-year-old mother would no longer receive hot meals at home through the Department of Aging, which would be closed under the mayor’s budget and merged with the Community Investment for Families Department.

“That program has been so essential for us,” Fernandez said. “She’s not able to cook. She’s not able to go shopping.”

Many of the people who spoke Friday protested cuts at the Department of Animal Services, which stands to lose 62 employees or 16% of its workforce.

“We’re already so bare bones funded,” said Jake Miller, who coordinates volunteers at the department.

What’s next?

The City Council will conduct another public hearing on the budget Monday, April 28 at 4 p.m. in the John Ferraro City Council Chambers at City Hall.

Neighborhood Council and labor union leaders are scheduled to address the council at that meeting as well.