<\/img> <\/p>\n
Hundreds of advocates for police officers, firefighters, the arts, senior programs, AIDS services and other municipal programs turned out Wednesday\u00a0morning to urge the Los Angeles City Council not to cut 1,000 jobs to balance the budget.<\/p>\n
With city officials\u00a0looking for ways to close a $208-million gap, Council President Eric Garcetti said that council members had received 89 requests to speak on the job-cut plan. That number was expected to rise as more people moved through the council chamber. You can watch the hearing here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The proposal submitted to the council would scale back the workforce in 33 departments while shielding key positions, particularly police officers. But employees and activists said several other city agencies also play a critical role in protecting public safety.<\/p>\n Backers of the Human Services Department, which is slated for elimination, said\u00a0the agency\u2019s conflict- resolution mediators have helped\u00a0reduce ethnic tensions since the 1965 Watts riots. Supporters of libraries\u00a0said their books and computers keep students out of trouble after school.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t let our city experience a bankruptcy of spirit, a bankruptcy of culture,\u201d said Roy Stone, president of the Librarians\u2019 Guild within the American Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees Union Local 2626. \u201cThat is far worse than the financial bankruptcy you\u2019re considering.\u201d<\/p>\n Other labor leaders argued that officials should drop the layoff plan and go after uncollected debts, which they estimated at $600 million. \u201cMaybe a hundred of those attorneys that are scheduled for layoffs could help,\u201d said Bob Schoonover, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721.<\/p>\n Whether the proposal will be approved by\u00a0the council is unclear. At least a third of its 15 members spoke out against the job reductions earlier this week. And Wednesday\u00a0morning,\u00a0members signaled support to advocates for various programs and agencies\u00a0who were in the audience.<\/p>\n Backers of the Cultural Affairs Department, which is slated to lose at least 16 positions, showed up wearing stickers such as \u201cArt Fuels L.A.\u201d and \u201cArt Feeds L.A.\u201d Councilman Tom LaBonge, who represents part of Hollywood, quickly grabbed one of those stickers and put it on his own lapel as the testimony began.<\/p>\n Adolfo Nodal, a onetime general manager of\u00a0the\u00a0department, urged the council to confer with the agency\u2019s current\u00a0manager and its volunteer board to find more surgical ways to reduce arts programs.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can work with you to make the right cuts,\u201d he said. \u201cBut don\u2019t destroy us.\u201d<\/p>\n — David Zahniser at Los Angeles City Hall<\/p>\n Photo: Council members listen to City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana give layoff recommendations during a council meeting Wednesday. Credit: Allen J. Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times<\/em><\/p>\n \nMore breaking news in L.A. Now:<\/strong><\/p>\n Former teen idol Leif Garrett arrested on charge of possession of heroin<\/a> <\/p>\n Baby gray whale ‘putting on quite a show’ off Malibu Pier<\/a><\/p>\n LAPD’s Jim McDonnell named next chief of Long Beach Police Department<\/a><\/p>\n Stanford is top fundraiser among U.S. colleges in 2009<\/a><\/p>\n Marijuana seized in banana shipment at San Diego border crossing<\/a><\/p>\n Crews work to repair water main breaks in Northridge, Gardena<\/a><\/p>\n L.A. wants to double red-light camera program: safety measure or revenue generator?<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Jackson death investigation may be coming to a conclusion<\/a><\/p>\n L.A. activists float idea of \u2018freeway\u2019 system for bikes<\/a> <\/p>\n