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Labor union leaders and their members told a Los Angeles City Council budget committee on Monday that Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed budget cuts cause a reduction in services to residents that will likely result in dirtier streets and more accidents on sidewalks, among other problems. Bass has proposed 1,647 layoffs across departments to deal with a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall. That’s about 5% of the city’s workforce.
The layoffs include 403 civilian support staff at the Police Department, more than 260 Transportation Department workers and 130 people at the Bureau of Street Services, which oversees street repairs. The concerns The mayor’s plan to lay off workers will have a wide-ranging impact on the city, union leaders told the council’s Budget and Finance Committee. “There will be an increase in hazardous waste buildup on the public streets and in homeless encampments,” said Marleen Fonseca, executive director of the Engineers and Architects Association.
“There will be an increase in illegal dumping and industrial waste abuse.” The association represents a range of workers, including street clean-up crews in the Sanitation Department. Some labor union leaders warned the city’s already skyrocketing liability costs will go even higher because of the layoffs.
“You will have more workplace accidents because we’re short staffed,” said Lisa Palombi, president of the Librarians Guild. “You will have more accidents on sidewalks because services are being reduced across the city.” Neighborhood leaders weigh in Neighborhood Council leaders also denounced the budget cuts, which include reducing the budget for each neighborhood council from $32,000 to $25,000.
“A budget cut would be devastating to NC’s who have little more than enough funds to cover their basic expenses,” said Kay Hartman, budget advocate for Region 11. Jack Humphreville of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council called for deeper reforms to the city’s budgeting processes. “The city should establish an office of transparency and accountability that would provide independent real time information and advice on the city’s budget and finances.
” What’s next The City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee will hear presentations from city departments over the next two weeks. The first one is Tuesday at 1 p.m.
inside City Council chambers. Here’s the schedule for the remaining budget meetings..
