Council Member Defends Fancy Lettering
LA city budget still at impasse
By MARK WALTERS
Updated 6:19 AM PDT, Thu, Feb 4, 2010
When it comes to LA's current city budget woes, one thing is certain -- tough choices must be made. Everyone has priorities, nobody wants to make cuts.
But one particular budget item remains untouchable for Westside Councilmember Bill Rosendahl: calligraphy.
That's right, those lovely, hand-scribed proclamations commemorating your service to the community, or perhaps Sea Otter Awareness Week, are a million-dollar-a-year issue at city hall. Elected officials love handing them out to constituents as acknowledgements for volunteerism and other civic contributions.
During Monday's hearing on the budget, when it comes to the fancy wall hangings, Rosendahl said, "Whatever we need to do to preserve it, I want to do it."
That's quite a turnaround from 2009, when he was quoted in LA Weekly as saying "If it comes down to fixing the pothole or giving out a certification, I'll fix the pothole."
Meanwhile, the City Council is considering laying-off 1,000 city workers to help make up the city's $208 million budget shortfall.
On Tuesday, five council members serving on the Budget and Finance Committee refused to sign off on the layoff plan, resulting in no recommendation being made. Some members suggested borrowing money, some balked at spending the city's reserve fund, while others objected to the elimination of some smaller departments.
The council will revisit the layoff proposal at its Wednesday meeting, where the votes of eight of the 15 council members are needed for passage.
First Published: Feb 3, 2010 1:27 PM PDT
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