Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sent a letter to city departments Wednesday demanding a freeze on much of their spending, from the purchase of new furniture to the use of food and beverages at city events.
With the city facing a $484-million shortfall in the fiscal year that starts July 1, Villaraigosa also instructed several departments to halt negotiations for leased office space and barred any efforts to remodel city offices.
The memo does not apply to several city departments, including the Department of Water and Power, the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Airports and two agencies that oversee pension funds for retired and civilian city workers.
Villaraigosa, who was in Washington, D.C., Thursday on a lobbying trip, said in the letter that the freeze would not apply to lobbying trips to Washington or Sacramento.
The letter, which was also signed by City Controller Wendy Greuel, said the City Charter gives the mayor and the city controller power to seek such spending limits.
— David Zahniser at Los Angeles City Hall
Photo: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
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