The City Council Budget and Finance Committee meets in a “special” meeting at 1:15 p.m. today with only 24-hour notice to discuss CAO Miguel Santana’s latest attempt to mask the depths of the budget crisis with one-time savings. (Budget Meeting.pdf)
Santana’s 27-page report offers a department by department breakdown on what the impact would be of imposing 10 more furlough days on civilian workers through June — spending cuts needed.because of the uncertainty of the P3 parking lot fire sale going through.
In a word, the impact would be devastating — if the department’s reports are to be believed. Criminals going free, public safety jeopardized, administrative chaos
So Santana offers a variety of budget tricks, fund-transfers and other alternative one-time solutions to end the fiscal year with a “balanced budget” but do little or nothing to solve the $350 million or more deficit for next year.
“In light of the projected year-end deficit if the revenues from the P3 transaction do not materialize and the limited time remaining in the fiscal year
to implement reductions, it is
imperative that immediate action be taken on these proposed department reductions to ensure the City ends the year with a balanced budget,” Santana said.
Even by the low performance standards set by City Hall, it’s more than a little shocking that seven months into the financial year they are still dickering with one-time payroll and service cuts and bookkeeping tricks.
The financial crisis hit three years ago and nothing has been done to fix the fundamental structural problem that city government costs too much and delivers too little.
They must be held accountable on March 8.
Gosh, it would be a tragedy if we had to lay off the Mayor’s bar-fighting “gang experts,” or cut back on welfare for politically connected millionaires and billionaires.
I’m sure the Spring Street Gang will do whatever is necessary to keep “selling” buildings appraised at $4 million to their friends and family for $825,000. And that, after all, is THE core function of government: reward contributors.
Meanwhile, no one can listen on Councilphone to the meeting because the Councilphone system has been down since October. They cluged it so the public can listen to City Council, BUT THAT’S ALL.
@Anonymous on January 24, 2011 11:37 AM
Yes, I used to call into Council phone when I was not at a computer or TV. When you called in, the system gave you choices to “dial into the meeting of your choice” Now when I tried it, it just says connecting to the City Council. I hang up after that so I didn’t catch if it even connected to City Council.
Alarcon is in deep trouble.
Court orders Emanuel off mayoral ballot
Judge ruled against his residency. This is major news all over the internt
Councilman Alarcon, we are very disappointed with you and the rest of latino leaders that are being investigated, Jose Huizar takes the cake, and APPARENTLY THE CLARTS funds, is an ambarrasement to Latinos. And what is wrong with the rest of the Council members to allow this year after year. Boyle Heights is a poor community, dealing with high unemployment, and homelessness, there is a family with seven children homeless, because of foreclosure. Huizar theres take money away from us, when neighbors are purchasing electric water pumps to get the water out of large potholes in front of their drive ways. The list that Huizar created, I hope the rest don’t practice that. We knew about some type of list, because some of us would not get calls back or answers from Huizar’s Office.
@bhnative on January 24, 2011 1:56 PM
I assuming you don’t mean anything negative, but the fact that Alarcon and Huizar are Latino is irrelevent. Corruption knows no ethnicity. Just look at James Hahn (and Janice Hahn for that matter).
Jim Hahn had the fund raising Commissioners (LAX stood out) Flieshman Hillard, etc.
City Hall is engaged in complete secrecy now in its operations, so forget the Brown Act, this is just a complete breakdown in City Government that needs to stop, and be stopped IMMEDIATELY! No one knows what the hell is going on over there at Spring St, except Trutanich, who has abdicated his role as City Attorney, spoke out about budget cuts at his Dept. and how that makes LAPD charge more overtime to the City. Is Nuch on drugs or insane? He wasn’t like this in 2009, not close. I think he’s suffered a stroke, as I’ve seen some people act this incompetent after having one that goes undiagnosed. He’s so completely out of it!
I think Villar is partially retarded. This Santana guy just can’t understand what the hell to do but report data to the over-their-heads Clowncil.
People are going to need a strategy to leave the City if this shit with this lunatics at Spring St. doesn’t get stopped and monitored by a Federal Judge, the State A.G., or Cooley’s office (but’s he too wounded politically to have the guts to do anything about it.)
When the City goes formally into Bankruptcy proceedings, homeowners could very well be “creditors” and will need to claim damages (cash) if the City sells hard assets to cover their stupid asses.
If you had a Board of Supervisors made up of non-schmucks, they would IMPOUND the property taxes L.A. City receives and refund or credit that share of it back to property tax payers who are CURRENT with them. If John Noguez (new L.A. County assessor) would do this for aggrieved property owners, HE’D BE MAYOR OF L.A. FOR 2013!
Hey, just wishful thinking, but maybe John would think about it.
City Hall is engaged in complete secrecy now in its operations, so forget the Brown Act, this is just a complete breakdown in City Government that needs to stop, and be stopped IMMEDIATELY! No one knows what the hell is going on over there at Spring St, except Trutanich, who has abdicated his role as City Attorney, spoke out about budget cuts at his Dept. and how that makes LAPD charge more overtime to the City. Is Nuch on drugs or insane? He wasn’t like this in 2009, not close. I think he’s suffered a stroke, as I’ve seen some people act this incompetent after having one that goes undiagnosed. He’s so completely out of it!
I think Villar is partially retarded. This Santana guy just can’t understand what the hell to do but report data to the over-their-heads Clowncil.
People are going to need a strategy to leave the City if this shit with this lunatics at Spring St. doesn’t get stopped and monitored by a Federal Judge, the State A.G., or Cooley’s office (but’s he too wounded politically to have the guts to do anything about it.)
When the City goes formally into Bankruptcy proceedings, homeowners could very well be “creditors” and will need to claim damages (cash) if the City sells hard assets to cover their stupid asses.
If you had a Board of Supervisors made up of non-schmucks, they would IMPOUND the property taxes L.A. City receives and refund or credit that share of it back to property tax payers who are CURRENT with them. If John Noguez (new L.A. County assessor) would do this for aggrieved property owners, HE’D BE MAYOR OF L.A. FOR 2013!
Hey, just wishful thinking, but maybe John would think about it.
What inflation!?….No more Clown Hamburgers for me.
Hard to take serious those calling for reform against political business as usual when they are willing to look the other way when their guy engages in the same thing with the same special interest they are now critizing. Bad begining for a movement calling for reform and an end to the back room deals.
Can someone please explain why the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment failed to submit a report like the other departments. Why do they get a pass in the CAOs report. How can we make a determination of our position if departments like DONE and those heading their governing committees fail to follow the rules? No decision can be made until all departments are held accountable.
Wayne from Encino wrote:
“Trutanich, who has abdicated his role as City Attorney,”
The City Charter prevents the City Atty from investigating the City, the council, or its staff. The City Atty is the City’s attorney and he owes fiduciary duties to his clients, the mayor, councilmembers, the city staff, the CRA, etc.
That is why we need a City Prosecutor in addition to the City Attorney. That is the system the County has: A County Counsel to advise the County and a District Attorney to prosecute crime.
Cooley will not investigate the City of LA as long as the ex-DA’s little boy is Council President. That is why we need an FBI Investigation. There are enough RICO violations with just the CRA to force the FBI to double its Los Angeles staff.